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/pHE  TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  WATERBURY, 
^  CONNECTICUT.  FROM  THE  ABORIGINAL 
PERIOD  TO  THE  YEAR  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED 
AND  NINETY-FIVE. 


EDITED  BY  JOSEPH  ANDERSON,  D.  D. 

0 


VOLUME   I. 
BY  SARAH  J.  PRICHARD  AND  OTHERS. 


NEW  HAVEN : 

THE  PRICE  &  LEE  COMPANY. 

1896. 


lOAN  STACK 

Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1896, 

By  the  price  &  LEE  COMPANY, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


PREFACE. 

THE  publication  of  a  new  History  of  Waterbury  was  first 
seriously  considered  by  the  firm  of  Price,  Lee  &  Co.  in  the 
summer  of  1887.  The  undersigned  was  invited  at  that  time 
to  take  in  hand  the  preparation  of  such  a  work,  but  felt  compelled 
to  decline  the  task.  He  gave  to  the  publishers,  however,  the 
names  of  two  writers  whom  he  regarded  as  well  fitted  for  the 
work,  and  in  September  the  following  notice  appeared  in  the  public 
prints:  "Price,  Lee  &  Co.  of  New  Haven  announce  that  their  His- 
tory of  Waterbury  is  in  course  of  preparation, — the  first  hundred 
years  in  charge  of  Miss  Sarah  J.  Prichard,  and  the  last  hundred 
years  in  charge  of  Miss  Anna  L.  Ward."  More  than  a  year  after 
this  (on  November  16,  1888)  the  firm  issued  a  circular,  in  which, 
after  referring  to  the  publication  of  Bronson's  History  in  1858  and 
to  the  remarkable  development  of  Waterbury  since  then,  and 
expressing  the  conviction  that  the  time  had  come  for  a  new  history 
of  the  town  and  city,  they  announced  that  arrangements  had  been 
completed  for  the  preparation  of  such  a  work,  and  solicited  the 
cooperation  of  those  interested  in  the  subject.  In  addition  to  Miss 
Prichard  and  Miss  Ward,  "the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Anderson,  the 
Hon.  F.  J.  Kingsbury  and  Mr.  H,  F.  Bassett "  were  mentioned  as 
having  been  engaged  to  contribute  chapters  upon  special  topics 
or  periods.  From  that  time  until  now  the  work  has  been  going 
forward  with  but  little  interruption,  and  in  addition  to  those  already 
mentioned  several  other  writers  have  been  enlisted,  as  indicated 
in  the  table  of  contents. 

Up  to  the  date  of  the  issue  of  the  circular  just  referred  to,  but 
little  had  been  done  toward  putting  on  record  the  history  of  Water- 
bury. Interesting  references  to  the  town  had  occasionally  been 
made  by  the  early  writers,  as  for  example  by  President  Timothy 
Dwight  in  his  "Travels  in  New  England  and  New  York";  Barber 
in  his  "  Historical  Collections,"  in  1836,  had  devoted  to  it  an  enter- 
taining chapter  (prepared,  by  the  way,  by  Judge  Bennet  Bronson); 
Charles  Burton  had  published  in  the  National  Magazine^  in  1857,  his 
articles  on  the  "  Valley  of  the  Naugatuck,"  two  of  them  relating 
to  Waterbury;  Orcutt  had  issued  in  1875  his  "History  of  Wolcott," 
covering  an  important  section  of  the  old  town;  biographies  of 
Waterbury  men  had  appeared  in  such  works  as  the  "  Biographical 


566 


iv  PREFACE, 

Encyclopedia  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,"  and  the  "  Repre- 
sentative Manufacturers  of  New  England,"  and  in  the  Leaven- 
worth, the  Benedict,  the  Terry  and  the  Hoadley  genealogies; 
special  subjects  had  been  touched  upon  in  such  books  or  pamphlets 
as  those  of  Chauncey  Jerome  and  Henry  Terry  on  clock  making, 
and  those  by  Messrs.  Kingsbury  and  Anderson  enumerated  on 
pages  959-962  of  our  second  volume;  the  Waterbury  Almanac,  begun 
in  1853,  had  garnered  from  year  to  year,  so  long  as  its  issue  con- 
tinued, the  facts  not  only  of  the  passing  time  but  of  the  earlier 
days;  the  newspapers,  for  nearly  half  a  century,  had  been  making 
their  daily  or  weekly  record,  and — most  important  of  all — Dr. 
Bronson  had  published  his  History,  embodying  in  it  materials 
derived  by  his  father  from  documents  that  have  entirely  disap- 
peared. But  Dr.  Bronson's  work  was  completed  within  five  years 
after  Waterbury  became  a  city,  and  was  practically  limited  in  its 
scope  to  the  period  that  closes  with  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
account  of  "  manufacturing  in  Waterbury,"  for  instance,  fills  less 
than  four  pages.  There  was  a  clear  field  for  the  modern  historian, 
and  much  interesting  material  in  reference  to  the  earlier  times 
which  had  not  yet  been  made  use  of.  The  claim  of  the  circular, 
that  in  view  of  the  rapid  growth  of  Waterbury,  the  "  marvellous 
development  of  the  industries  by  which  it  has  became  known 
throughout  the  world,"  and  the  additional  facts  concerning  its  earlier 
period  that  had  come  to  light,  the  time  had  arrived  for  a  new  his- 
tory of  the  town  and  city,  seemed  fully  justified. 

The  plan  of  the  work,  as  indicated  fiiom  the  start,  contemplated 
a  book  divided  into  two  volumes,  embracing  about  a  century  each. 
After  a  time  the  accumulation  of  materials  for  the  modern  period 
was  so  great  that  it  became  necessary  that  as  much  as  possible 
should  be  crowded  into  the  first  volume.  The  line  separating  the 
two  volumes  was  accordingly  drawn  through  1825,  the  year  of  the 
organization  of  Waterbury  as  a  borough,  and  this  involved  the 
division  of  the  history  of  the  First  church,  of  St.  John's  parish  and 
the  cemeteries  of  the  town  into  two  parts,  the  earlier  of  which  is 
to  be  found  in  Volume  I  and  the  later  in  Volume  III. 

A  recognition  of  the  successive  territorial  partitions  of  the 
original  township  involved  our  including  in  our  scheme  the  history 
of  Watertown  and  Plymouth  to  1780,  of  Wolcott  to  1796,  of  Middle- 
bury  to  1807,  of  Prospect  to  1826  and  of  Naugatuck  to  1844.  The 
earlier  history  of  these  derivative  towns  is  covered  substantially  by 
the  narrative  in  Volume  I,  the  only  important  exception  being  the 
history  of  Salem  society  (now  Naugatuck)  from  the  Revolution 
to  its  incorporation  as  a  town,  which  it  seemed  best  to  leave,  with 


PREFACE,  V 

the  exception  of  the  Salem  church,  to  some   future   historian   to 
reproduce  on  a  scale  commensurate  with  its  importance. 

The  narrative  of  the  colonial  and  revolutionary  periods  is  the 
result  of  an  independent  study  by  Miss  Prichard  of  the  original 
sources,  including  documents  that  have  come  to  light  since  Dr. 
Bronson's  History  was  written.  This  study  was  pursued  with  but 
little  reference  to  Bronson,  although  the  value  of  his  labors  was 
known  from  the  beginning.  It  ought  to  be  understood,  however, 
that  it  was  not  the  purpose  of  the  author  or  the  editor  to  super- 
sede the  earlier  work ;  on  the  contrary,  certain  subjects  to  which 
Bronson  devoted  special  attention  are  in  this  History  passed  over 
lightly  for  that  reason.  It  may  be  added  that  Dr.  Bronson,  to  the 
hour  of  his  death,  was  deeply  interested  in  the  present  enterprise. 

The  outline  given  at  the  opening  of  the  second  volume  indicates 
the  largeness  of  the  plan  upon  which  the  modern  history  of  the 
town  and  city  was  projected.  It  has  been  carried  out  with  a  ful- 
ness of  detail  hardly  anticipated  even  by  the  editor  when  he 
prepared  the  schedule  of  topics  for  the  guidance  of  his  collabora- 
tors. It  is  therefore  safe  to  say  that  this  History  is  more  extended 
in  its  scope  and  more  exhaustive  in  details  than  any  town  history 
thus  far  published.  This  is  made  evident  in  the  treatment  given  to 
the  several  departments  of  the  city  government,  and  to  special  topics 
not  heretofore  included  in  local  histories,  as  shown  in  the  chapters 
on  street  names,  corporations,  inventors  and  their  patents,  college 
graduates,  philanthropic  institutions,  amusements  and  fraternities. 
While  the  fact  has  never  been  lost  sight  of  that  Waterbury  is  a  great 
manufacturing  centre,  while  the  manufactories  and  the  men  who 
have  controlled  them  have  had  justice  done  to  them,  at  the  same 
time  a  serious  effort  has  been  made  to  represent  the  many  other 
phases  of  the  life  of  a  prosperous  modem  city.  By  following  a 
plan  constructed  with  some  reference  to  modem  sociology,  the 
History  has  become  almost  cyclopaedic  in  its  character,  and  instead 
of  being,  as  the  prospectus  proposed,  a  work  "  in  two  volumes,  of 
about  500  pages  each,"  has  grown  into  three  volumes,  with  a  total 
of  2250  pages.  The  liberality  of  the  publishers  in  furnishing  to 
subscribers  so  much  more  than  was  promised  deserves  to  be  recog- 
nized here,  and  this  may  serve  at  the  same  time  as  an  explanation 
of  the  delay  in  the  completion  of  the  work. 

In  view  of  the  attention  given  to  details,  the  casual  reader  will 
be  surprised  at  certain  omissions  and  discrepancies  which  he  is 
likely  to  discover.  The  probability  of  the  occurrence  of  error  is 
increased  in  any  work  when  it  is  accomplished  by  collaboration. 
But  in  the  present  case  the  chief  explanation  of  omissions  and 


vi  PREFACE. 

irregularities  is  to  be  found  in  the  lack  of  cooperation  on  the  part  of 
the  public.  For  the  earlier  history  of  the  town  the  sources  are  of 
course  documentary,  and  were  therefore  at  the  command  of  the 
author.  For  the  later  history  resort  must  be  had  to  living  men,  as 
individuals  or  as  official  representatives  of  organizations,  and  in 
many  instances  repeated  appeals  had  to  be  made  in  order  to 
secure  a  satisfactory  statement  of  essential  facts.  If  the  amount  of 
correspondence  and  of  personal  effort  on  the  part  of  the  compiler 
required  to  secure  the  data  for  some  of  our  chapters  could  be 
known,  it  would  serve  as  a  revelation  in  regard  to  the  indifference 
of  the  great  majority  to  matters  of  history,  and  the  difficulties  that 
beset  the  local  historian.  Should  omissions,  then,  be  discovered,  it 
may  be  that  others  than  the  compiler  or  the  editor  are  to  be  blamed 
for  them.  It  may  be  presumed  at  all  events  that  omissions  are  not 
accidental,  or  the  result  of  the  want  of  a  plan,  but  were  allowed  for 
some  good  reason.  In  the  field  of  manufactures  and  trade,  for 
example,  it  was  found  necessary  to  limit  the  record  to  corporations, 
and  not  to  touch  upon  unincorporated  business  firms  unless  inci- 
dentally. There  was  of  course  no  intention  of  slighting  anybody  or 
neglecting  any  "  interest." 

In  a  work  like  this,  one  of  the  matters  difficult  to  deal  with  is 
the  biographical  element.  Who  among  the  living  or  the  dead  shall  be 
selected  for  biographical  treatment?  and  who  shall  be  omitted?  In 
answering  these  questions  it  was  found  impossible  to  draw  a  line 
which  any  two  persons  could  agree  upon.  It  should  be  said,  how- 
ever, that  the  classification  and  grouping  of  biographies  under 
different  departments  naturally  led  to  including  persons  who  might 
otherwise  have  been  omitted,  while  others,  of  no  less  value  in  the 
eyes  of  the  community  and  in  their  influence  upon  it,  were  passed 
by.  In  some  cases,  in  which  a  formal  biography  is  not  given,  the 
significant  facts  of  the  life  are  mentioned  incidentally,  and  can 
readily  be  discovered  by  help  of  the  index.  If  some  biographies 
seem  needlessly  long  and  others  too  brief,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  most  of  the  sketches  were  prepared  from  materials  furnished 
by  the  persons  themselves  or  by  their  relatives.  A  similar  remark 
may  be  made  in  regard  to  the  genealogical  data.  The  appendix  of 
"  Family  Records  "  in  our  first  volume  must  be  of  the  highest  value 
from  the  genealogist's  point  of  view,  but  our  History,  nevertheless, 
was  not  intended  to  be  a  genealogy,  and  makes  no  claim  to  be  so 
considered.  When,  however,  the  names  of  a  second  or  third  gener- 
ation and  the  birth-dates  of  male  children  were  furnished,  especially 
in  families  fully  identified  with  Waterbury,  we  put  them  on  record 
almost  as  a  matter  of  course. 


PREFACE,  vii 

The  authorship  of  our  History  affords  a  fine  illustration  of  the 
modern  tendency  to  cooperative  work  in  literature.  The  original 
plan,  which  placed  the  first  hundred  years  in  charge  of  Miss 
Prichard  and  the  second  hundred  years  in  charge  of  Miss  Ward,  has 
been  substantially  followed  out,  although  in  each  volume  a  group 
of  writers  is  represented.  Miss  Prichard,  in  pursuance  of  her  task, 
after  years  of  patient  and  loving  research,  contributed  to  the 
History  an  elaborate  and  vivid  narrative  covering  the  colonial  and 
revolutionary  periods,  and  prepared,  in  addition,  chapters  on  the 
old  highways,  on  early  place-names,  on  the  history  of  the  First 
church  and  on  the  church  in  Salem  society.  The  relation  of  her 
work  to  Dr.  Bronson*s  has  been  already  referred  to,  but  it  would 
not  be  easy  to  set  forth  the  entire  newness  of  the  picture  she 
has  painted,  and  the  amount  of  well-established  detail  she  has 
introduced  into  it.  As  we  read  her  story,  the  Waterbury  of  the 
eighteenth  century  comes  back  to  us,  vital  with  the  old  colonial 
life  and  clothed  at  the  same  time  in  that  rich  and  tender  coloring 
which  the  past  so  naturally  takes  on  at  the  magic  touch  of  a  pen 
like  hers. 

From  the  nature  of  the  case  Miss  Ward's  work  was  entirely 
different.  As  already  indicated,  the  sources  she  had  to  draw  upon 
were  living  men  and  existing  organizations,  and  much  labor  was 
required  in  securing  the  cooperation  even  of  those  who  were  them- 
selves subjects  of  the  history.  The  newspapers  of  half  a  century 
had  to  be  searched,  an  extended  correspondence  had  to  be  carried 
on  and  personal  interviews  held,  for  the  securing  of  materials,  and 
after  all  this  came  a  task  of  preliminary  editorship,  ere  these 
materials  could  be  handed  over  to  the  writers  who  were  to  prepare 
the  several  narratives.  Such  work  can  never  secure  the  recognition 
it  deserves,  because  it  is  work  beneath  the  surface;  but  such  work  as 
this  underlies  our  second  and  third  volumes  throughout,  and  without 
it  our  history  of  modern  Waterbury  could  not  have  come  into  being. 
Miss  Ward's  relations  to  the  people  of  the  present  time  made  her  a 
representative,  to  a  certain  extent,  of  the  business  aspects  of  the 
publication,  and  in  this  field  also  she  has  exhibited  decided  ability. 
The  numerous  illustrations  with  which  the  book  is  adorned  have 
been  in  her  charge,  and  the  elaborate  index  is  the  fruit  of  her  skill 
in  a  field  in  which  she  is  known  as  an  expert. 

Among  the  collaborators  there  are  two  who  ought  to  be  specially 
mentioned  because  of  the  large  amount  of  work  done  by  them. 
One  of  these  is  Miss  Katharine  Prichard,  who  prepared  with  pains- 
taking labor  the  invaluable  appendix  containing  a  transcript,  with 
important  additions,  of  the  records  of  the  town  in  relation  to  births, 


viii  PREFACE. 

marriages  and  deaths.  The  other  is  Mr.  Kingsbury,  who  has  not 
only  written  a  number  of  chapters,  but  has  served  continually  as  a 
repository  of  genealogical  and  other  facts,  ever  ready  to  be  drawn 
upon  and  always  reliable.  The  others  who  have  cooperated  in  the 
production  of  the  several  narratives  are  designated  in  the  table  of 
contents  prefixed  to  each  volume.  A  helper  who  has,  perhaps,  done 
more  for  the  work  than  is  thus  indicated  is  Benjamin  F.  Rowland, 
who  has  assisted  Miss  Prichard  in  following  out  many  lines  of  re- 
search. Another  is  Professor  David  G.  Porter.  Another  is  Miss 
Mary  De Forest  Hotchkiss,  whose  services  have  been  chiefly,  but  by 
no  means  exclusively,  clerical.  The  editor  takes  the  liberty  of  say- 
ing that  he  regards  the  men  and  women  who  have  contributed  to 
this  History  as  constituting  a  corps  of  workers  of  exceptional  ability 
— some  of  them  filling  the  position  of  specialists  in  the  fields  in 
which  they  have  labored. 

With  so  large  a  variety  of  authors,  it  was  inevitable  that  there 
should  be  considerable  diversity  of  style  and  treatment,  and,  as 
already  suggested,  occasional  repetitions  and  contradictions.  The 
diversity  of  style  and  treatment  is  probably  an  advantage.  As  for 
contradictions  and  repetitions,  they  have  been  eliminated,  so  far  as 
a  laborious  editorial  revision  could  accomplish  this.  The  editor  is 
not  responsible  for  Miss  Prichard's  narrative,  but  only  for  its  place 
in  relation  to  the  work  as  a  whole.  As  for  the  other  chapters,  he 
has  taken  it  upon  himself  to  shape  them  with  reference  to  a  certain 
editorial  standard,  which  included  such  minor  matters  as  punctua- 
tion and  capitalization,  and  the  omission  of  the  titles  "Mr."  and 
"  Miss,"  and  of  the  name  of  the  state  after  places,  when  that  state 
is  Connecticut.  It  included  also,  within  certain  limits,  the  literary 
form  of  the  chapters. 

That  some  parts  of  the  History  are  brought  down  only  to  1894 
and  others  to  the  end  of  1895  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  work 
has  been  going  through  the  press  for  two  years.  Many  changes 
have  taken  place  in  the  community  in  the  meantime,  the  most 
important  of  which  is  probably  the  securing  of  a  new  charter  for 
the  city  and  the  reorganization  under  it  of  the  municipal  depart- 
ments. (As  the  first  volume  was  printed  before  the  division  into 
three  volumes  was  decided  upon,  some  of  the  references  therein  to 
Volume  II  should  read  **  Volume  III.**) 

Since  this  work  was  first  projected,  several  books  and  pamphlets 
have  appeared,  relating  to  the  history  of  Waterbury.  Among  these 
are:  "  Waterbury  and  Her  Industries,"  published  in  1888;  "  Water- 
bury  Illustrated,"  published  by  Adt  &  Brother  in  1889;  "The  Book 
of  the  Riverside  Cemetery,"  1889;  "Waterbury,  its  Location,  Wealth, 


PREFACE.  ix 

Finances,  etc.,  published  by  the  Board  of  Trade,"  1890;  "The  Mili- 
tary History  of  Waterbury,"  1891;  "The  Churches  of  Mattatuck," 
1892,  and  "  The  History  of  New  Haven  County"  (Volume  II,  Chapter 
XV)  1892.  It  is  pleasant  to  note  that  all  these,  except  the  last,  were 
prepared  by  writers  belonging  to  our  corps  of  collaborators,  and 
were  not  designed  to  supersede  this  work  or  any  part  of  it. 

A  fact  which  ought  not  to  pass  without  mention  here  is  that  sev- 
eral of  those  who  have  been  engaged  upon  this  work  did  not  live  to 
see  it  completed.  Of  the  writers  whose  names  appear  in  our  table  of 
contents  four  have  finished  their  earthly  course  since  the  History 
was  begun:  Nathan  Dikeman,  Israel  Holmes,  2nd,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1895,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Duggan,  who  died  November  10, 1895, 
and  Thomas  S.  Collier  of  New  London.  The  widely-known  en- 
graver, Alexander  H.  Ritchie,  by  whom  most  of  the  steel  plate 
portraits  in  this  History  were  executed,  died  September  20,  1895,  in 
his  seventy-fourth  year.  He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  an  artist 
in  oil  colors,  and  for  twenty-five  years  a  member  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Design.  He  had  frequently  expressed  a  desire  to  com- 
plete this  series  of  portraits,  upon  which  he  had  been  at  work  for 
seven  years,  and  during  his  last  illness  had  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  his  hope  had  been  realized.  It  is  to  be  added  that 
Greorge  S.  Lester,  who,  as  a  representative  of  the  publishers,  was 
for  some  time  closely  connected  with  the  History,  and  well-known 
in  Waterbury,  died  on  April  20,  1893. 

The  editor  ventures  to  say  a  word  in  conclusion  in  reference  to 
his  own  work.  It  was  understood  at  the  outset  that  the  three 
gentlemen  mentioned  in  the  prospectus  should  constitute  a  kind  of 
editorial  board,  to  whom  the  various  doubtful  questions  likely  to 
arise,  as  well  as  the  general  shaping  of  the  work,  should  be  sub- 
mitted. This  position  they  have  not  abdicated  and  their  advice 
has  continually  been  sought,  but  as  the  work  advanced,  its  editorial 
management  devolved  more  and  more  upon  the  undersigned,  and 
became  by  degrees  a  close  supervision,  extending  not  only  to  the 
general  plan  and  outline  but  to  innumerable  details  of  form  and 
arrangement,  to  say  nothing  of  the  composition  of  entire  chapters 
of  the  narrative.  The  duty  of  supervision,  which  the  editor 
thought  of  in  advance  as  but  little  else  than  a  pastime,  proved  for 
various  reasons  to  be  a  prolonged  and  laborious  task.  The  plan  of 
the  History  was  so  extensive,  and  the  standard  adopted  so  high, 
that  a  much  greater  burden  of  labor  came  upon  him  than  he  antici- 
pated when  he  accepted  the  position.  His  professional  duties,  of 
course,  could  not  be  transferred,  and  this  special  work  must  there- 
fore be  performed  at  odd  times  and  during  summer  vacations  and 


X  PREFACE. 

in  midnight  hours.  If  it  is  not  what  it  ought  to  be,  he  hopes  that 
these  facts  may  serve  to  explain  deficiencies.  Looking  back  over 
the  past  four  years,  he  is  inclined  to  appropriate  as  his  own  the 
quaint  language  of  Anthony  k  Wood  in  the  preface  to  his  History 
of  Oxford:  "A  painful  work  it  is,  I'll  assure  you,  and  more  than 
difficult, — wherein  what  toyle  hath  been  taken,  as  no  man  thinketh 
so  no  man  believeth,  except  he  hath  made  the  trial."  A  "painful 
work,"  but  a  work  that  has  had  its  pleasures;  and  not  the  least  of 
these  has  been  the  close  association  into  which  it  has  brought  the 
editor  with  the  other  workers  in  the  same  field.  That  it  has 
also  opened  up  to  him  a  richer  and  more  detailed  knowledge  of  this 
noble  old  town,  of  which  he  has  been  a  citizen  for  more  than  thirty 
years — a  town  remarkable  for  its  strong  men  and  for  its  marvel- 
lous development  as  an  industrial  centre — is  something  for  which 
he  cannot  cease  to  be  grateful. 

JOSEPH  ANDERSON. 


Waterbury,  February  22,  1896. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 

CHAPTKR  PACB 

I.     PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS i 

By  Homer  F.  Basset t,  M.  A. 

II.    ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 14 

By  the  Rev.  Joseph  Anderson,   D,  D,    Also  the  three 
following  chapters, 

III.  INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES 26 

IV.  INDIAN  GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES. 39 

V.     STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK 56 

VI.     LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY,  .  77 

By  Miss  Sarah  J,  Prichard.  This  and  the  following 
chapters  to  Chapter  XXXIV  were  written  by  Miss 
Prichard, 

VII.     MASSACHUSETTS  BAY'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTI- 
CUT,   91 

VIII.     CONNECTICUT'S  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUCK,           .  116 

IX.     MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION, 127 

X.     MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION 144 

XI.     ORDERS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY'S  COMMITTEE,    .  .150 

XII.     MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION 158 

XIIL     MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION, 176 

XIV.     THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1686, 185 

XV.     WATERBURY  IN  1689 203 

XVI.     FROM  1685  to  1691, 215 

XVII.  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  WATERBURY 224 

XVIII.  MEADOWS,  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS. 237 

XIX.     DURING  QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR, 248 

XX.     THE  SCOTT  FAMILY 257 

XXI.     THE  COMMON  FENCE 264 

XXII.     TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN,    .        .  277 

XXIII.  THE  NEW  INHABITANTS 292 

XXIV.  EARLY  NORTHBURY 311 


V 


« 


xii  CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  1. 

CHAPTBR  PACK 

XXV.     EARLY  WESTBURY, 320 

XXVI.  EVENTS  FROM  1732  TO  1741,     .        .                         -                .    332 

XXVII.  THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  JUDD'S  MEADOWS,      .        ,        .342 

XXVIII.  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS,     .                 .353 

XXIX.     1742- 1760 366 

XXX.    WATERBURY  IN  THE  COLONIAL  WARS 383 

XXXI.  WATERBURY'S  LATER  YEARS  AS  A  COLONIAL  TOWN.    398 

XXXII.  WATERBURY  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION,    .    409 

XXXIII.  WATERBURY  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 433 

XXXIV.  WATERBURY  IN  THE  REVOLUTION  ...    445 

XXXV.    AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION.     .        .  .        .     488 

By  Arthur  Reed  Kimball. 

XXXVL     LIFE  IN  THE  AGE  OF  HOMESPUN. 520 

By  Mrs.  Emily  Goodrich  Smith  {with  additions). 

XXXVII.     OLD  HIGHWAYS  AND  STREETS, 548 

By  Miss  Sarah  J,  Prichard  and  Benjamin  K  How  land. 

XXXVIII.     OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES,  .        .     572 

By  the  Hon.  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury^  LL.  D. 

XXXIX.    THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND  THE  FIRST  ACADEMY,   .     592 

By  Miss  Charlotte  Benedict;  the  First  Academy  by  the 
late  Israel  Holmes^  2nd, 

XL.    THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  1825;  ALSO   THE  CHURCH  IN 

SALEM 601 

By  Miss  S.  J.  Prichard  {pp.  601-616;  640-646)  and  Dr. 
fosepk  Anderson.  The  biography  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Hopkins  by  Miss  Benedict, 

XLI.    THE  EPISCOPAL  PARISH  TO  1830, 647 

By  F.  J.  Kingsbury,  LL.  D. 

XLII.     BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  TOLLING  BELLS,     .        .        .666 

By  Miss  Katharine  Prichard  {pp.  666-63o)  and  Dr.  Joseph 
Anderson. 

XLIIL     ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  OF  MATTATUCK,      .        .        .685 

By  Miss  S.  J.  Prichard  and  Benjamin  F.  Howland. 

APPENDIX.     FAMILY  RECORDS pp.  1-166 

By  Miss  Katharine  Prichard. 


PORTRAITS   IN    THIS   VOLUME. 


Anderson,  Joseph, 


ON   STEEL. 


Frontispiece. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Bronson,  Alvin, 
Bronson,  Josiab, 
Cook,  Lemuel, 
Hopkins,  Samuel,  D.  D., 


PACB 

518 
515 
315 
634 


ILLUSTRATIONS   IN  THIS   VOLUME. 

John  Warner's  staff,  ....... 

Tree  in  the  rock  on  the  old  Cheshire  road,  .... 

A  western  war-club,  scalp-locks  attached,  and  old  Waterbury  buttons  marked 

"  Scovills  &  Co.  extra,"  ...... 

Pestle  of  Turkey  hill  Indians,         ...... 

Indian  pipes,  ........ 

Implements  found  in  Naugatuck,    ...... 

Soapstone  dish  and  chipped  implements.  Hospital  bluff,  Waterbury,   . 
Dish,  axes  and  *•  Chungke  stone,"  Waterbury,     .... 

Specimens  found  near  Bunker  Hill,  ..... 

Pestle  and  soapstone  dish  from  Watertown,  .... 

Toy  implements  from  a  child's  grave,        ..... 

Articles  of  agreement  and  association  adopted  by  the  planters  of  Mattatuck; 

first  page,  ........ 

Articles  of  agreement;  second  page,  .  . 

Articles  of  agreement;  reverse,       ...... 

The  old  Town  Plot,    ........ 

House  lots  of  Mattatuck,  168 1,         ...... 

Dr.  Henry  Bronson's  map,    ....... 

The  oldest  gravestone,  ....... 

The  Indian  deed  of  February  20,  1684,      ..... 

The  Three  Sisters,  alias  the  Three  Brothers,        .... 

Waterbury  township  of  1686;  view  from  Malmalick  hill,  ] 

Proprietors'  book  of  record,  1677-1722,       ..... 

Hop  Meadow  hill;  the  sections  remaining  in  iEqi, 

Looking  down  upon  Steel's  meadow  and  plain,     .... 

Pine  meadow,  looking  southward  from  Reynolds  bridge. 

Jericho  rock  and  Buck's  Meadow  mountain,         .... 

The  Rock  house         ........ 


PAGE 

xiv 
6 

25 
34 
38 
60 

65 
66 

67 
68 

71 

128 
129 
130 
132 
160 
161 

173 
192 

193 
98,  199 

216 
241 
242 

243 
244 

259 


XIV 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Steel's  meadow  along  the  river, 

Map  of  survey,  1715, 

Entrance  of  Beacon  Hill  brook  into  the  Naugatuck  river  at  the  straits, 

House  built  by  the  Rev.  John  Tiumbull, 

The  valley  of  '*  the  small  river  that  comes  through  the  straits 

Lebanon,"         .... 
Pac-simile  of  invitation  to  a  ball,     . 
House  built  by  William  Adams, 
Factory  of  J.  M.  L.  &  W.  N.  Scovill,  1835, 
Third  house  of  worship  of  the  First  church,  1796  to  1840 
Fac-simile  of  receipt  given  by  Andrew  Eliot, 
Fac  simile  of  receipt  given  by  Thomas  Ruggles, 
St.  John's  church,  1795, 
Gravestone  of  Hannah  Hopkins,     . 
The  Porter  house  at  Union  City, 
The  house  site  of  Ebenezer  Richards, 
The  old  mill  at  Grey  stone,    . 
Some  autographs  of  early  settlers. 


P^CB 

• 

• 

266 

• 

283 

straits. 

284 

« 

328 

northward  of 

• 

543 

y 

538 

• 

562 

• 

574 

• 

614 

• 

624 

• 

625 

• 

657 

• 

668 

• 

715 

• 

717 

• 

718 

• 

168 

Ap. 

JOHN   WARNKR's  staff. 
<DBACON    JOHN    WARNKK   OF  NORTHBURY,    BORN    170O,    DIED    1795.^ 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  ANCIENT  TOWN — ITS  BOUNDARIES — ITS  TOPOGRAPHY — ITS  STREAMS 
— ITS  GEOLOGY — THE  GLACIAL  AGE — ITS  MINERALOGY,  BOTANY 
AND    ZOOLOGY. 

ANCIENT  WATERBURY  embraced  a  territory  lying  on  both 
sides  of  the  Naugatuck  river  and  extending  from  the  point 
where  Beacon  Hill  brook  joins  that  stream,  or  the  southern- 
most limit  of  the  town  of  Naugatuck,  to  the  northern  line  of  the 
towns  of  Plymouth  and  Thomaston,  or  even  further  north.  The 
length  of  this  tract  is  not  less  than  sixteen  miles  and  the  average 
breadth  about  eight,  and  it  contains  nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty 
square  miles.  Lying  near  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Green 
Mountain  range,  it  has  a  surface  consisting  of  several  low,  parallel 
ridges,  with  narrow  valleys  between,  which  trend  almost  without 
exception  to  the  south.  The  unevenness  of  the  surface  produces 
numerous  watersheds  of  limited  extent,  from  which  small  streams 
find  their  way  to  the  Naugatuck.  Only  one  of  these  is  called  a 
river,  and  this  is  hardly  more  than  a  good  sized  brook.  So  numer- 
ous are  these  streams  that  they  are  supposed  to  have  suggested 
the  name  given  to  the  territory  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a 
town. 

One  of  the  largest  tributaries  of  the  Naugatuck  is  Lead  Mine 
brook,  which  takes  its  name  from  a  hill  in  the  town  of  Harwinton, 
where  a  mine  of  black  lead  was  supposed  to  exist.  This  stream 
enters  the  Naugatuck  a  short  distance  south  of  the  present  northern 
line  of  Plymouth,  but  there  are  good  reasons  for  believing  that  the 
original  boundary  was  further  north  and  that  Lead  Mine  hill  was 
within  the  limits  of  ancient  Waterbury.  Northfield  branch  enters 
the  Naugatuck,  from  the  west,  at  the  village  of  Thomaston.  A 
mile  south  of  this,  at  Reynolds  Bridge,  West  branch,  which  rises 
in  the  town  of  Morris,  flows  into  the  river,  also  from  the  west.  It 
is  generally  called  "the  Branch."  The  next  tributary  is  Hancock 
brook,  which  unites  with  the  main  stream  at  Waterville.  It  drains 
a  long,  narrow  valley,  east  of,  and  nearly  parallel  with,  the  Nau- 
gatuck. Steele's  brook,  whose  watershed  embraces  the  eastern  and 
northern  parts  of  Watertown,  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  west 
about  half  way  between  Waterville  and  Waterbury.     The  largest 


2  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT, 

and  most  important  branch  of  the  main  stream,  within  the  limits  of 
the  ancient  territory,  is  Mad  river.  This  stream  has  its  source  in 
Cedar  swamp,  which  lies  partly  in  the  town  of  Bristol  and  partly 
in  Wolcott,  and  was  so  named  when  it  was  covered  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  white  cedars.  A  dam  of  very  moderate  height,  across  the 
outlet,  has  converted  it  into  a  large  reservoir,  and  its  waters  are 
used  by  the  factories  along  the  stream.  Mad  river,  on  its  way  to  the 
Naugatuck,  receives  several  tributaries.  The  largest  of  these  are 
Lily  brook,  Lindley  brook  and  Chestnut  Hill  brook.  They  furnish 
a  large  quantity  of  most  excellent  water,  and  are  considered  of 
great  importance  to  Waterbury  as  the  probable  source  of  a  future 
water  supply.  A  small  stream  known  as  Smug's  brook  enters  the 
Naugatuck  from  the  east,  at  Hopeville,  and  a  larger  one,  called 
Fulling-mill  brook,  at  Union  City.  The  next  two  tributaries  are 
from  the  west.  The  first,  Hop  brook,  joins  the  river  between 
Union  City  and  Naugatuck,  and  the  other.  Long  Meadow  brook,  at 
the  lower  end  of  Naugatuck  village.  Beacon  Hill  brook,  the  south- 
ernmost tributary  within  the  limits  of  our  territory,  is  historically 
interesting  as  the  ancient  boundary  between  Waterbury  and  Derby. 
It  unites  with  the  Naugatuck  just  where  the  hills  converge  to  form 
the  gorge  below  the  village  of  Naugatuck.  It  is  thought  that 
during  the  glacial  period  this  gorge  was  closed  by  ice  or  other 
obstructions,  and  that  a  lake  occupied  the  valley  for  many  miles 
above. 

The  Naugatuck  itself  is  formed  by  the  union  of  two  streams 
which  come  together  at  Torrington.  The  eastern  branch  rises  in 
the  town  of  Winchester  and  flows  nearly  south  ;  the  western  rises 
in  Norfolk  and  flows  southeasterly.  Besides  the  streams  we  have 
mentioned  there  are  numerous  unnamed  brooks  which,  after  a 
brief  course,  fall  into  the  main  river.  All  the  streams  are  fed 
largely  by  springs  of  pure  water  and  were,  in  earlier  times,  the 
trout  fisher's  paradise. 

There  are  no  lakes  in  this  territory,  although  Quassapaug  is  at 
one  point  only  **  eighty  rods  "  from  the  line  that  bounded  ancient 
Waterbury  on  the  west.  Neither  are  there  any  large  swamps. 
There  are  many  small  ones  and  not  a  few  pools  and  temporary 
lakelets  that  disappear  in  the  dry  season.  These  are  formed  in  the 
slight  depressions  in  the  underlying  mica -slate  and,  as  many  of 
them  have  no  visible  inlet  or  outlet  and  are  slowly  filling  up  with 
vegetable  and  other  matter  falling  into  them,  they  make  a  sort  of 
rude  gauge  by  which  we  may  roughly  estimate  the  length  of  time 
that  has  elapsed  since  these  basins  were  formed.  Some  of  them 
are  filled  with  peat  moss,  and  attempts  have  been  made  to  use 


PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS.  3 

the  peaty  deposits  for  fuel,  but  with  unsatisfactory  results.  A  few 
have  been  drained  and  reclaimed  and  are  now  productive  lands.* 

One  very  important  feature  of  this  region  remains  to  be  noticed. 
It  is  the  alluvial  deposits  along  the  Naugatuck  river  and  some  of 
its  branches.  At  the  time  of  its  settlement  by  the  whites  these 
were  natural  meadows.  They  were  not  peculiar  to  these  streams, 
but  it  was  their  existence  here  that  led  the  settlers  to  choose  this 
territory.  They  are  of  limited  area,  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil 
caused  the  natives  to  destroy  the  forests  which  covered  them,  if 
such  ever  existed. 

The  geological  history  of  Waterbury  is  short  but  interesting. 
All  that  the  surface  reveals,  even  to  the  eye  of  the  geologist,  is  the 
existence  of  the  same  mica-slate  and  semi-crystalline  rock  that 
forms  the  foundation  of  the  entire  Green  Mountain  range,  a  super- 
ficial deposit  of  drift  and  the  insignificant  alluvial  deposit  already 
referred  to.  The  two  formations  first  named,  though  in  contact 
are  widely  separated  in  time,  but  how  widely  geologists  do  not  tell 
us,  as  the  age  or  relative  place  of  the  Green  Mountain  mica-slate  is 
a  question  on  which  they  fail  to  agree.  All  admit  that  it  is  one  of 
the  oldest  of  the  stratified  rocks,  but  whether  it  antedates  organic 
life  on  the  planet,  or  is  among  the  earliest  of  the  formations  that 
bear  traces  of  life  is  not  definitely  settled.  At  some  time  in  the 
history  of  the  strata,  either  before  they  had  become  hardened,  or  if 
later  when  they  had  been  made  plastic  through  the  agency  of  heat 
they  appear  to  have  been  subjected  to  a  lateral  pressure  so  intense 
that  they  were  curved,  crinkled  and  twisted  into  the  strange  forms 
they  now  present.  Later,  when  they  had  reached  their  present 
solid  condition,  they  were,  by  the  same  internal  force,  raised  up, 
tilted,  broken  and,  in  parts,  completely  overturned  as  we  see  them 
to-day.  Striking  illustrations  of  the  tilting  of  vast  ledges  of  these 
rocks  can  be  seen  on  the  west  side  of  the  Naugatuck  river  at 
Hinchliffe's  bridge.  The  effects  of  lateral  pressure  on  a  large 
scale  can  be  seen  in  the  gorge  below  the  old  clock  factory  at 
Hoadley's  station  on  the  New  York  and  New  England  Railroad. 
Veins  of  granite  occur  in  many  places.  They  are  supposed  to  have 
been  forced  up  through  rifts  in  the  slate  rock  from  underlying 
molten  masses.  Some  of  these  veins  are  of  such  extent  and  the 
granite  is  of  so  fine  a  quality  that  they  are  worked  as  quarries. 
The  be'st  quarries  thus  far  opened  are  near  the  Naugatuck,  one  at 

*  The  names  attached  to  many  of  the  hills,  valleys,  streams,  and  swamps  are  commemorative  of  persons 
or  events,  and  such  localities  as  Spindle  hill,  Buck's  hill,  Breakneck  hill,  Withington  hill,  Woodtick,  Mill 
plain  and  Wooster  swamp  are  chiefly  interesting  in  connection  with  the  circumstances  which  gave  them 
name.    They  are  located  and  described  in  the  history  which  follows. 


4  HI8T0BT  OF  WATERS UBT, 

Rattlesnake  hill,   the   other  a  mile  above   Reynolds  bridge  and 
known  as  Plymouth  quarry. 

It  is  evidently  a  long  time,  even  as  geologists  measure  time, 
since  changes  of  position  or  serious  disturbances  of  any  sort  have 
taken  place  in  the  rocks  that  form  the  Green  Mountain  range. 
How  much  they  have  been  changed  on  the  surface  by  the  slow 
action  of  the  elements,  how  often,  through  repeated  subsidences 
and  upheavals  of  the  crust  of  the  earth,  they  had  been  submerged 
in  ancient  seas  and  raised  again  above  their  surface  before  the  ice 
age  began,  can  never  be  known.  Some  conception  of  the  length  of 
time  that  elapsed  between  the  completion  of  the  mica-slate  forma- 
tion and  the  beginning  of  the  ice  age  can  be  gained  from  the  fact 
that  at  least  fifty  distinct  formations  were  begun  and  finished 
within  that  period.  The  possibility  that  some  of  these  were 
contemporaneous  is  admitted,  but  the  relative  position  of  most  of 
them  is  such  that  this  could  have  been  the  case  in  only  a  few 
instances.  Standing,  as  one  may  in  many  places  on  our  hills,  with 
one  foot  on  the  ancient  slate  rock  and  the  other  on  the  drift  that 
partially  covers  it,  one  becomes  a  sort  of  Colossus  of  time,  and  the 
immensity  of  the  period  thus  spanned  quite  overpowers  the  mind. 

It  is  probable  that  much  of  the  rounding  and  polishing  of  the 
boulders,  pebbles  and  gravel  which  constitute  so  large  a  portion  of 
the  drift,  was  done  by  water  before  the  glacial  era  began.  The  ice 
in  its  course  took  up  this  material,  but  deposited  much  of  it 
unchanged.  Long  ago,  as  we  reckon  time,  but  quite  recently,  if 
we  reckon  by  geologic  eras,  seas  washed  the  base  of  the  Green 
Mountain  range  and  sandstone  deposits  of  considerable  extent  were 
formed.  In  these,  remains  of  animal  and  vegetable  life  are  found 
which  show  that  the  higher  forms  of  both  lived  on  the  land  in 
great  numbers  and  for  a  long  period.  But,  if  they  lived  within  the 
limits  of  the  territory  we  are  describing,  all  traces  of  them  have 
disappeared. 

The  loose,  unstratified  deposit  of  clay,  sand,  gravel,  cobble- 
stones and  boulders  that  covers  nearly  all  the  northern  part  of 
North  America  is  known  as  "drift."  It  is  a  heterogeneous  mass 
of  material  that  has  been  transported  by  some  means  from  places 
often  hundreds  of  miles  away,  and  always  from  points  northward 
of  its  present  location.  The  study  of  glaciers  as  they  exist  to-day 
in  various  parts  of  the  world  shows  that  the  drift,  whatever  the 
history  of  the  parts  of  which  it  is  composed  may  be,  has  come  into 
its  present  position  through  glacial  agencies.  So  well  are  these 
agencies  now  understood  that  an  explanation  of  most  of  the  feat- 
ures presented  by  the  drift  in  this  region  is  not  difiicult. 


PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS,  5 

The  ice  age  was  formerly  looked  upon  as  a  completed  period  in 
the  geological  history  of  the  earth,  but  it  is  no  longer  so  considered. 
It  may  be  nearing  its  close,  for  ice  fields  cover  far  less  territory 
than  they  covered  in  the  past,  or  it  may  be  that  the  recession  of 
the  glaciers  to  higher  altitudes  and  polar  latitudes  is  only  tem- 
porary, and  that  they  will,  sometime,  reoccupy  their  former  limits. 
Evidence  is  accumulating  which  shows  that  the  advance  and 
retreat  of  the  ice  fields  occurred  once  or  more  than  once  before. 
Vast  regions  in  the  polar  zones  are  covered  with  ice,  and  glaciers 
fill  the  higher  valleys  in  many  mountain  ranges  in  the  temperate 
zones,  and  in  the  aggregate  millions  of  square  miles  are  to-day 
undergoing  a  grinding  and  smoothing  process  precisely  like  that 
which  smoothed  and  polished  our  hills  of  mica-slate.  The  study  of 
existing  glaciers  shows  them  to  be  moving  bodies  and  recent 
observations  on  some  of  the  Alaskan  ice  fields  prove  that  their 
velocity  varies  from  a  few  inches  to  more  than  sixty  feet  in  a  day. 
Without  stopping  to  consider  the  cause  of  this  motion,  it  is 
suflScient  for  our  purpose  to  say  that  the  moving  fields  of  ice  trans- 
ported innumerable  boulders  far  from  their  original  beds  (leav- 
ing them  in  many  instances  on  the  summits  of  high  mountains), 
formed  kames,  drumlins  and  kettle  holes,*  and  on  melting  left  the 
general  deposit  of  clay,  sand,  gravel  and  loose  rocks  that  covers  all 
our  hills  and  valleys.  At  almost  any  point  where  the  removal  of 
the  drift  has  laid  the  rocks  bare,  grooves  and  striae  can  be  seen  that 
were  made  by  the  slow  but  resistless  movement  of  the  ice  and  the 
sand  and  the  fragments  of  rock  imbedded  in  it.  They  are  parallel 
and  can  often  be  traced  for  a  long  distance.  Their  direction  in 
this  region  is  a  few  degrees  east  of  south.  It  is  an  interesting  fact 
that,  although  their  course  is  rarely,  if  ever,  deflected  to  the  right 
or  left  by  any  obstacle,  they  follow  vertically  every  elevation  and 
depression  except  the  most  abrupt.  This  was  explained  when  it 
was  found  that  glacial  ice  is  not  the  rigid  solid  it  seems  to  be, 
but  yields  under  its  own  weight  to  all  the  inequalities  of  surface 
beneath  it.  It  would  be  easy  to  show  that  this  pressure  must  mani- 
fest itself  vertically  and  not  laterally.  On  all  our  hills  of  slate 
rock  the  easy  acclivities  are  almost  invariably  on  the  northern 
side,  and  the  cliffs,  where  such  exist,  are  as  constantly  found  on 

*  A  **  drum  "  or  "  drumlin  "  is  defined  as  a  long  narrow  ridge  or  mound  of  sand,  gravel  and  boulders;  a 
name  given  by  Irish  geologists  to  elevations  of  this  kind,  believed  to  have  been  the  result  of  glacial  agencies. 
A  "  kame  "  is  a  peculiar  elongated  ridge  made  up  of  detrital  material.  A  **  kettle-moraine  "  is  an  accumula- 
tion of  detrital  material  with  kettle-like  depressions.  These  depressions  are  called  kettle -holes.  (A  fine 
example  of  this  sort  is  the  north  Spectacle  pond  on  the  Meriden  road  near  Silver  street.)  The  chief  differ- 
ence between  drumlins  and  kames  is  in  the  arrangement  of  the  materials  composing  them  and  the  time  of 
their  formation,  the  kames  being  of  more  recent  date.   It  is  only  in  the  kames  that  the  kettle-holes  are  met  with. 

The  explanation  here  given  of  these  terms  seems  called  for,  as  they  have  but  recently  appeared  in 
geological  writings. 


6  HISTOBT  OF  WATERBUUr. 

the  southern  or  southeastern  side.  This  shows  not  only  that  the 
denuding;  force  which  smoothed  the  hills  came  from  the  north  and 
expended  its  energy  against  the  rocky  obstacles  in  its  course,  but 
that,  being  a  semi-fluid,  it  did  not  accommodate  itself  to  sudden 
and  abrupt  changes  of  level  as  readily  as  a  fluid  would  have  done. 
Boulders  are  found  everywhere.  They  belong  to  various  geological 
formations,  but  always  to  such  as  may  be  found  at  some  point 
further  north.  This  may  be  near  at  hand  or  hundreds  of  miles 
away.  Some  are  rounded  as  if  water  worn  in  pre-glacial  seas. 
Others  are  angular  as  if  they  had  been  subjected  to  little  more 
than  the  ordinary  action  of  the  elements.  Their  situation  often 
indicates  very  clearly  the  means  by  which  their  removal  was 
effected.  They  are  as  often  found  stranded  on  the  highest  points 
of  our  hills  as  in  the  vales  below — left  there  when  the  sea  of  ice 
melted  away.     One  of  the  largest  of  these  stray  rocks,  in  this  re- 


gion, stands 
southeast  of 
ton  Hitch- 
Waterbury 
judge   from 
mineralogi- 
a  great  way 
from  its  ori- 
ginal  bed. 
So   nicely 
balanced 
are  some  of 
these  bould- 
ers    that 
they  can  be 
moved  by 
the  hand, 
are  called  rocking 
stones.      A   remark- 
able bftulder  is  st.cn 
on  the  old  Cht^shiru 
road,  near  the    tl";!- 
denceof  John  Mix   It 
is  above  the  ordinary 
size,  and  out  of  a  rift 
on  its  highest  point 
a  large  and  wide 
spreading  white  oak 
tree  has  grown. 


a  little  distance  to  the 

idence  of  Shel- 
i  k,  on  the  road  from 
Southington,  and,  to 
i  angularity  and  its 
.1  character,  it  is  not 


PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS,  7 

During  the  last  thirty  years  several  hills  within  the  city  have 
been  leveled.  Others,  especially  along  the  line  of  the  railroads 
below  the  city,  are  fast  disappearing.  Very  few  remain  intact. 
Their  removal  has  afforded  to  those  interested  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity for  studying  their  structure.  They  are  composed  of  sand, 
gravel  and  boulders,  and  are  unquestionably  of  glacial  origin.  So 
also  are  the  similar  deposits  that  skirt  the  hillsides  along  the 
Naugatuck  and  its  principal  branches.  The  peculiar  arrangement 
of  the  material  composing  them  is  not  easily  accounted  for.  It  is 
not  stratified,  in  the  sense  in  which  that  term  is  usually  understood, 
nor  is  it  without  a  kind  of  stratification.  Sorted,  expresses  best  the 
arrangement  of  the  sand,  clay,  gravel  and  boulders.  The  hills  have 
usually  a  linear  arrangement  in  the  line  of  the  glacial  movement, 
and  in  this  locality  they  are  always  found  where  some  valley,  large 
or  small,  opens  out  into  a  plain.  South  of  West  Main  street  two 
parallel  ranges  of  hills  exist;  the  range  nearest  the  river  consisting 
of  material  brought  down  the  Steele  Brook  valley,  and  the  other 
and  much  longer  one,  of  material  brought  down  the  Naugatuck 
valley.  Each  of  the  brooklets  that  flow  from  the  north  through 
the  city  has  its  hill  of  drift,  or  terminal  moraine,  as  they  were 
formerly  called,  at  the  point  where  the  stream  enters,  or  formerly 
entered,  the  plain.  The  moraine  of  Little  Brook  valley  was  the 
hill  (now  removed)  that  extended  from  where  Dr.  Alfred  North's 
residence  stands  to  the  fountain  at  the  east  end  of  the  green. 
Spencer  hill  and  the  hill  on  which  the  High  School  building 
stands,  mark  the  termination  of  Great  Brook  valley.  The  entrance 
of  Carrington  Brook  into  Mad  River  valley  is  marked  by  an  exten- 
sive deposit  of  drift  of  the  same  general  character  as  the  others  we 
have  named,  and  similar  examples  may  be  seen  in  many  other  places. 

As  already  remarked,  the  transportation  of  earth  and  boulders 
by  glaciers  is  going  on  in  many  parts  of  the  world  to-day,  but  I 
do  not  find  that  any  observer  has  satisfactorily  explained  the  pro- 
cess by  which  the  different  materials  in  our  hills  were  sorted  and 
deposited.  A  careful  study  of  their  structure,  based  on  observa- 
tions made  while  some  of  them  were  being  removed,  has  led  to  the 
belief  that  they  were  formed  near  the  close  of  the  ice  period,  not 
by  river  currents  but  in  temporary  lakes.  The  closing  of  the 
gorge  (already  referred  to)  below  Naugatuck  would  have  resulted 
in  the  formation  of  a  lake  where  Waterbury  now  stands,  deeper 
than  the  height  of  the  highest  drift  hills  in  this  region.  Admitting 
the  existence  of  such  a  lake,  we  may  suppose  that  the  field  of 
glacial  ice  extended  over  its  entire  surface,  and  that  glacial  rivers 
carried  earthy  materials  across  the  ice.     A  deposit  must,  of  course. 


8  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URY. 

have  been  formed  at  the  termination  of  the  ice  field,  the  same  as  if 
it  were  on  the  land,  and,  as  by  irregular  stages  the  ice  retreated,  a 
line  of  hills  would  have  been  left.  The  sorting  would  depend  upon 
the  volume  and  strength  of  the  currents  of  water  flowing  over  the 
surface  of  the  ice,  and  these  would  vary  with  the  seasons  and  from 
various  other  causes.  The  structure  of  the  hills  is  just  what  it 
would  be  if  a  feeble  current  bearing  clay  or  sand  for  a  time^  till  a 
hillock  of  such  materials  was  formed,  had  been  succeeded  by  a 
flood  strong  enough  to  bear  along  the  heavier  matter  that  had  been 
left  behind.  The  advance  or  retreat  of  the  ice  field  even  for  a  few 
feet,  or  any  variations  in  the  course  of  the  currents,  would  change 
the  place  of  the  deposits,  and  bring  about  just  such  an  arrangement 
as  we  actually  find.  This  explanation  accounts  for  the  limited  area 
covered  by  the  several  deposits  and  their  great,  relative  thickness; 
also  for  the  varying  inclinations  they  present.  As  a  rule  they  dip 
to  the  north  or  in  the  direction  from  which  the  material  must  have 
come,  but  it  is  not  rare  to  find  the  inclination  towards  other  points 
of  the  compass,  and  occasionally  a  deposit  caps  the  cone-like  hill, 
falling  down  to  the  base  on  every  side.  How  far  the  features  here 
described  are  local  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  there  are,  in  several 
geological  works,  cuts  showing  sections  of  drift  hills  in  various 
localities,  and  in  some  of  them  the  structure  is  apparently  the  same 
as  in  our  hills. 

One  other  feature  of  these  hills  is  to  be  noted.  Over  the  entire 
surface  of  most,  and  perhaps  all  of  them,  there  is  a  thin  layer  of 
drift,  rarely  more  than  one  or  two  feet  in  thickness,  which  differs 
from  the  layers  beneath  it  in  that  the  sand,  gravel  and  boulders 
of  which  it  is  composed  are  intimately  mixed  and  without  any 
stratification  whatever.  As  river  currents  capable  of  moving  this 
material  would  have  demolished  the  hills  themselves,  it  is  probable 
that  it  was  formed  from  detritus  from  floating  ice  after  the  glacier 
had  retreated  to  the  northern  shores  of  the  lake. 

On  the  road  from  Waterbury  to  Meriden,  not  far  from  Silver 
street,  there  were  a  few  years  ago  two  deep  holes,  partly  filled  with 
mud  and  water,  known  as  the  Spectacle  ponds.  One  of  them  still 
remains,  but  the  other  has  been  drained  by  the  removal  of  the 
bank  of  drift  which  separated  it  from  Mad  river,  and  the  peat  has 
been  carried  away.  They  are  very  near  together,  there  being  only 
a  narrow  roadway  between  them,  and  their  small  diameter,  circular 
outline  and  great  comparative  depth  suggest  the  name  of  kettle 
holes,  which  is  now  generally  given  to  similar  depressions  every- 
where. The  kettle  hole  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  does  not 
exceed  three  hundred  feet  in  diameter  at  the  top  and  its  depth  is 


PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS.  9 

between  thirty  and  forty  feet  if  we  include  the  water  and  mud 
which  fill  the  bottom.  The  steep  bank  is  composed  of  drift,  but  a 
ledge  of  rocks  approaches  very  near  to  it  on  the  northern  side. 
The  kettle  holes  were,  for  a  long  time,  a  puzzle  to  geologists,  but  it 
is  now  generally  believed  that  they  mark  places  where  detached 
masses  of  ice  of  moderate  extent  but  of  great  thickness  were  sur- 
rounded by  and  covered  over  with  drift  at  the  close  of  the  ice 
period.  As  the  ice  melted,  the  debris  on  the  surface  would  fall 
outward  from  the  middle,  and  when  all  was  gone  a  kettle  hole 
would  remain.  This  explanation  does  not  militate  against  the 
theory  that  a  lake  covered  this  region  at  the  time  these  were 
formed,  for  beds  of  ice  of  immense  thickness  are  often  covered 
with  drift  to  the  depth  of  many  feet  and  of  sufficient  weight  to 
strand  the  whole  mass.  Few  regions  illustrate  better  than  ours  the 
principal  features  of  the  ice  age. 

No  rich  deposits  of  the  metals  have  ever  been  found  within  the 
limits  of  ancient  Waterbury.  It  is  said  that  traces  of  gold  and 
silver  exist  in  several  places,  and  indications  of  copper  are  not 
rare,  but  the  eflEorts  that  have  been  made  at  mining  for  these 
metals  have  not  been  successful.  Early  explorers  of  the  region 
reported  the  discovery  of  graphite,  and  samples  of  the  mineral 
seem  to  have  been  carried  away,  but  the  location  of  the  mine,  if 
there  was  one,  was  lost  and  has  never  been  re-discovered.  There  are 
traces  of  graphite  in  our  mica  slate  in  many  places,  but  nowhere  in 
such  quantity  as  could  be  called  a  black  lead  mine.* 

A  list  of  the  trees  and  plants  growing  in  Waterbury  at  the  time 
of  its  first  settlement  would  be  interesting  as  showing  how  many 
of  the  native  plants  have  become  extinct.  No  such  list  exists,  and 
there  are  very  few  references  in  ancient  records  to  particular 
species  even  of  the  useful  forest  trees.  Sometimes  a  particular 
species  is  mentioned  as  marking  a  boundary,  but  that  is  all.  The 
original  forests  have  been  cut  down  and,  though  there  are  more 
acres  of  woodland  than  there  were  even  thirty  years  ago,  the  trees 
are  everywhere  of  recent  growth.     Probably  the  chestnut  (Castanea 


*  As  remarked  in  the  description  of  the  geological  features  of  this  region,  the  country  is  dotted  all  over 
with  boulderSf  and  it  is  plain  that  these  came  from  places  north  of  where  they  now  lie.  Now  it  is  well 
known  that  graphite  is  abundant  at  Hinsdale,  Mass.,  at  Brandon,  Vt.,  at  Ticonderoga  on  the  west  shore 
of  Lake  Champlain,  and  at  many  places  north  of  the  Naugatuck  valley.  Is  it  not  quite  probable  that  a 
boulder  containing  graphite  from  some  of  these  places  was  found  on  Lead  Mine  hill,  and  that  the  small 
quantity  thus  secured  was  taken  as  an  indication  of  a  large  deposit  ?  There  is  a  boulder  on  a  hillside  half 
a  mile  south  of  Bristol,  Conn.,  that  contains  a  small  amount  of  pure  graphite.  This  rock  must  have  come 
from  a  long  distance  to  the  north,  as  there  are  no  other  rocks  of  the  same  kind  in  that  vicinity.  A  limestone 
boulder  containing  a  vein  of  sulphate  of  strontia,  was  found  a  few  years  ago  in  the  drift  overlying  the  clay 
slate  at  Middleburg,  Ohio,  although  the  nearest  locality  where  strontia  is  found  in  place  is  on  Strontian 
island  in  Lake  Erie,  nearly  one  hundred  miles  from  where  the  boulder  lies. 


lo  HISTORY  OF   WATERBURT. 

vesca)  was  then  as  now  the  most  abundant  species.  This,  with  the 
white  pine  (Pinus  strobus),  the  sugar  maple  (Acer  saccharinum) 
and  four  or  five  of  the  eight  or  nine  species  of  oak  found  here, 
formed  the  greater  and  more  valuable  part  of  the  forests.  Two 
species  that  were  sparingly  found  here  thirty  years  ago  have  since 
become  extinct, — the  black  spruce  (Abies  nigra)  and  the  paper  or 
canoe  birch  (Betula  papyracea).  The  former  once  grew  in  the 
swamp  south  of  the  Middlebury  road,  and  the  latter  was  found  in 
several  deep  ravines.  One  species,  the  common  locust  (Robinia 
pseudacacia),  has  become  naturalized  in  a  few  places. 

Inasmuch  as  complete  catalogues  of  the  plants  of  this  state,  or 
of  special  districts,  are  easily  accessible  to  botanists,  it  is  quite 
unnecessary  to  attempt  a  full  list  here.  What  follows  relates 
mostly  to  plants  that  are  believed  to  be  extinct  or  are  becoming  so, 
and  to  others  that  are  interesting  because  of  their  habits,  their 
beauty  or  their  rarity,  although  not,  perhaps,  rare  in  other  places. 

Hepatica  (Hepatica  triloba),  is  becoming  rare,  being  much 
sought  after  for  its  beautiful  and  very  early  flowers.  Gold  thread 
(Coptis  trifolia),  a  plant  in  some  repute  for  its  medicinal  properties, 
and  abundant  a  few  years  ago  in  the  vicinity  of  Waterbury,  has 
become  rare  through  the  clearing  up  of  its  habitat — boggy  swamps 
and  wet  thickets.  The  tulip  tree  (Liriodendron  tulipifera),  the 
whitewood  of  the  western  states,  is  occasionally  met  with,  but  the 
finest  specimens  are  dwarfs  beside  the  majestic  trees  of  this  species 
found  in  the  west  and  south.  Canadian  moonseed  (Menispermum 
Canadense),  never  common   here,  seems    to  have  entirely  disap- 

m 

peared.  The  May  apple  or  mandrake  (Podophyllum  peltatum) 
grew  not  many  years  ago,  within  a  limited  area,  a  short  distance 
above  Waterville.  Sarracenia  purpurea,  best  known  as  the  pitcher 
plant  or  the  side-saddle  flower,  was  once  very  abundant  in  the  peat 
swamp  south  of  the  Middlebury  road,  but  disappeared  when  the 
fire  overran  the  bog  a  few  years  ago.  It  is  doubtful  whether  it  can 
now  be  found  within  our  limits,  though  very  plentiful  in  localities 
not  distant. 

The  climbing  fumitory  (Adlumia  cirrhosa),  often  cultivated  for 
festoons  and  bowers,  was  for  several  years  common  along  the 
rocky  banks  of  Hancock  brook,  above  Waterville.  The  pale 
corydalis  (Corydalis  glauca)  is  sometimes  met  with  on  the  bare 
summits  of  the  hills,  where  it  finds  root  in  the  seams  and  rifts  of 
the  rocks.  We  have  ten  or  twelve  species  of  the  wild  violet.  The 
round-leaved  (Viola  rotundifolia)  is  the  rarest  of  these,  being  found 
here  only  in  cool,  springy  places.  It  is  abundant  further  north, 
and  this  is  its  extreme  southern  limit,  unless  it  be  met  with  in  the 


PHYSICAL  CIIABACTEBI8TIC8.  ii 

Alleg^hany  Mountains.  The  violet  wood-sorrel  (Oxalis  violacea), 
often  cultivated,  grew  wild  for  a  time  on  the  hillside  near  the  resi- 
dence of  Wallace  H.  Camp.  Rhus  typhina,  the  stag  horn  sumach, 
is  rare  in  this  region,  a  few  specimens  being  found  in  the  rocky 
vallej'  of  Hancock  brook,  below  Hoadley's  station.  The  bladder  nut 
(Staphylea  trifolia)  grows  at  the  base  of  the  hill  in  the  meadow  west 
of  the  Waterbury  Brass  Company's  mill,  and  in  a  few  other  places. 

The  striped  maple  (Acer  Pennsylvanicum)  and  the  mountain 
maple  (A.  spicatum)  are  found  in  the  ravine  at  the  foot  of  Eagle 
rock,  near  Reynolds  Bridge.  The  fringed  polygala  (Polygala 
paucifolia)  sometimes  called  flowering  wintergreen,  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  our  early  spring  flowers.  It  is  not  a  rare  plant, 
but  is  always  a  puzzle  to  young  botanists.  The  prickly  pear 
(Opuntia  vulgaris)  is  common  on  the  summit  of  Beacon  Hill,  just 
south  of  the  line  of  ancient  Waterbury,  but  does  not,  so  far  as  I 
know,  occur  within  our  limits.  The  bristly  sarsaparilla  or  wild 
elder  (Aralia  hispida)  is  found  in  the  ravine  between  Waterville 
and  Hoadley's  station.  It  is  very  abundant  further  north  on  the 
Green  Mountains.  Four  other  species  of  this  genus  are  found  here. 
Flowering  dogwood  (Comus  florida)  is  met  with  in  all  parts  of  our 
territory  and  is  quite  abundant  on  ihe  hills  west  of  Thomaston. 
The  dwarf  cornel  (Comus  Canadensis)  grows  in  a  swamp  half  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  Spindle  Hill  school-house  in  Wolcott.  It  is 
very  common  on  the  hills  further  north.  The  cranberry  tree 
(Viburnum  opulus)  was  found,  a  few  years  ago,  on  the  hill  west  of 
the  Waterbury  Brass  Company's  mill,  and  the  hobble-bush  (V. 
lantanoides)  grows  in  the  ravine  at  Reynolds  Bridge.  The  com- 
mon May-weed  (Maruta  Cotula),  introduced  from  Europe,  was 
formerly  one  of  the  most  common  weeds  seen  by  the  roadside.  A 
few  years  ago  it  almost  disappeared  from  this  region,  and  for 
several  seasons  could  scarcely  be  found.  Lately  it  has  reappeared, 
but  is  still  rare. 

The  ox-eye  daisy  (Leucanthemum  vulgare),  that  beautiful  foreign 
pest  which  some  have  named  as  the  national  floral  emblem,  is  so 
common  that  when  it  is  in  blossom  in  June,  our  hills  are  as  white 
as  if  covered  with  snow.  The  creeping  snowberry  (Chiogenes 
hispidula)  was  quite  abundant  in  Cedar  Swamp  before  that  was 
made  a  reservoir;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  can  be  found  within 
our  limits.  The  trailing  arbutus  (Epigea  repens),  once  common, 
has  almost  disappeared  through  the  ravages  of  Mayflower  hunters, 
who  take  it  root  and  branch,  flowers  or  no  flowers,  wherever  they 
can  find  it.  Jamestown  weed  (Datura  stramonium),  not  rare  thirty 
years  ago,  is  rarely  if    ever  seen    now.      The    fringed    gentian 


12  HISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

(Gentiana  crinita)  is  rather  common,  but  is  certain  to  share  the  fate 
of  the  arbutus,  as  its  very  pretty  flowers  are  just  scarce  enough  to 
be  sought  after.  The  five-flowered  gentian  (G.  quinqueflora)  occurs 
in  Litchfield  and  in  Bristol,  and  should  be  found  in  Plymouth  and 
Thomaston.  A  thrifty  patch  of  buckbean  (Menyanthes  trifolia) 
was  found,  a  few  years  ago,  by  J.  G.  Jones  (who  has  detected  several 
rare  plants  in  this  region),  in  a  muddy  pool,  beside  Chestnut  Hill 
brook,  in  Wolcott.  It  has  since  disappeared.  Wild  ginger  (Asarum 
Canadense)  was  once  common  along  the  banks  of  Hancock  brook, 
above  Waterville. 

A  tree  that,  whether  cultivated  for  shade  or  growing  wild, 
exceeds  all  others  in  luxuriance,  is  the  American  or  white  elm 
(Ulmus  Americana).  It  flourishes  everywhere,  on  high  lands  and 
on  low,  in  wet  and  dry  soils  alike.  Its  winged  seeds  take  root  and 
grow  in  every  thicket,  in  cultivated  fields,  in  gardens  and  even 
between  the  paving  stones  of  gutters  and  sidewalks.  It  is  a 
favorite  shade  tree  throughout  New  England,  and  it  thrives 
nowhere  better  than  in  the  Naugatuck  valley.  The  slippery  elm 
(U.  fulva)  is  rather  rare,  and  seldom  reaches  a  large  size  in  this 
region.  The  hop  (Humulus  lupulus),  introduced  from  Europe, 
grows  spontaneously  along  the  Naugatuck  river.  The  family  of 
oaks  is  represented  by  the  following  species:  Quercus  alba,  Q. 
montana,  Q.  bicolor,  Q.  prinoides,  Q.  ilicifolia,  Q.  tinctoria,  Q. 
coccinea,  Q.  rubra,  and  Q.  palustris.  The  pine  family  is  represented 
by  the  pitch  pine  (Pinus  rigida)  and  the  white  pine  (P.  strobus). 
The  latter  seems  to  have  been  abundant  here  in  early  times  and 
to  have  furnished  much  valuable  timber.  The  hemlock  and  the 
black  spruce  grew  here.  The  former  is  now  quite  rare  and  the 
latter  exists  only  as  a  shade  tree  around  old  homesteads.  The 
tamarack  or  black  larch  (Larix  Americana),  once  common,  is  now 
nearly  extinct.  The  white  cedar  (Cupressus  thyoides)  was  once 
abundant  in  Cedar  swamp,  and  a  few  scattering  trees  of  small  size 
still  grow  on  the  borders  of  the  reservoir  which  occupies  its  place; 
but  it  is  not,  so  far  as  I  know,  found  within  our  limits. 

The  Indian  turnip  (Arisaema  triphyllum)  is  very  common,  but 
the  dragon  root  (A.  dracontium)  is  rare.  It  was  growing,  a  few 
years  ago,  along  the  Naugatuck,  just  below  the  Watertown  railroad 
bridge  and,  in  a  gully  now  filled  up,  near  the  New  England  station 
in  Waterbury.  The  water  arum  (Calla  palustris)  grows  in  Wolcott, 
in  a  swamp  northwest  from  the  Spindle  Hill  school-house,  also  in  a 
swamp  near  the  Middlebury  road.  Three  species  of  lady's  slipper 
(Cypripedium  pubescens,  C.  parviflorum,  C.  acaule)  occur  in  this 
territory.    C.  acaule  is  quite  common,  the  others  are  very  rare.     At 


PHTSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


13 


least  twenty-five  species  of  ferns  are  found  in  this  region.  One 
species,  the  walking-leaf  fern  (Camptosorus  rhizophyllus),  has  dis- 
appeared from  the  only  locality  where  I  have  found  it  growing. 
This  was  in  Watertown,  near  Nonnewaug  river,  almost  due  west 
from  the  Watertown  fair  grounds. 

In  nothing  else  does  the  subjugation  of  a  wilderness  by  man 
work  such  change  as  in  its  zoology.  The  larger  wild  animals  are 
killed  or  driven  away,  and  domesticated  species,  either  useful  or 
otherwise,  take  their  places.  The  smaller  animals  change  their 
haunts  and  to  some  extent  their  habits.  Waterfowl  desert  the 
lakes  and  rivers,  and  other  game  birds  become  scarce  and  shy,  and, 
though  a  few  species  of  small  birds  may  increase  in  numbers,  most 
of  them  grow  scarcer  and  some  disappear,  and  the  birds  of  prey 
follow  the  kinds  they  subsist  upon.  Fish  are  taken  to  an  extent 
that  exceeds  their  increase,  and  their  homes  are  poisoned  by 
sewage  or  closed  by  obstructions,  till  they  die  out,  or  they  are  only 
saved  from  extinction  by  a  re-stocking  of  their  haunts.  Reptiles, 
from  their  habits,  are  less  aflEected  than  other  orders,  but  these 
also  suffer  through  the  reclamation  of  waste  places  and  the  war 
of  extermination  that  is  ever  waged  against  the  noxious  kinds. 
Among  the  lower  orders,  especially  among  insects,  these  changes 
mean  the  destruction  of  many  of  the  original  tribes  and  the  intro- 
duction of  others. 

We  have  no  complete  lists  of  the  animals  living  here  at  the  time 
of  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  but  we  know  that  many 
changes  have  taken  place.  Bears,  deer  and  wolves,  once  common, 
are  no  longer  found.  Wild  geese  and  ducks  and  other  waterfowl, 
though  formerly  here  in  countless  numbers,  are  rarely  if  ever  seen 
on  the  ponds  and  running  streams,  and  grouse  and  quail  would 
long  ago  have  become  extinct  had  not  the  law  given  them  protec- 
tion. The  streams,  poisoned  by  factories,  are  destitute  of  fish,  and 
it  is  only  in  the  small  spring  brooks  among  the  hills  that  the  trout 
now  finds  refuge.  Civilization  and  cultivation  mean  extermination 
to  the  aborigines,  whether  wild  animals  or  wild  men.  All  give 
way  to  civilized  man,  for  not  his  "  rights  "  but  his  ambition  and 
selfishness  **  are  paramount,"  and  they  have  "  no  rights  that  he  is 
bound  to  respect."  In  enlightened  man  the  cruel  instincts  of  the 
savage  have  not  yet  died  out,  and  he  gloats  over  his  more  perfect 
devices  for  destroying  helpless  creatures  that  while  living  are 
harmless,  and  when  dead  are  of  no  value  to  him. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Aboriginal  Mattatuck — The  Indian  Race— The Algonkian  Stock 
IN  New  England — Indians  of  Connecticut  River,  of  Long 
Island  Sound — Mattatuck  claimed  by  both — Aboriginal 
Life — The  Tribe  and  the  "Gens" — Tribal  Ownership  of 
Land — Employments — Useful  Arts — Implements  of  Stone — 
Language — Character. 

THE  history  of  Waterbury  begins  with  its  settlement  by  white 
men.  But  there  are  certain  well  known  or  ascertainable 
facts  concerning  its  condition  previous  to  the  earliest  visits 
of  Europeans  which  some  readers  will  expect  to  find  included  in 
the  narrative,  and  which  for  the  sake  of  completeness  ought  to  be 
put  on  record.  These  facts  relate  not  only  to  the  topography,  the 
geology  and  the  natural  history  of  the  region  formerly  called  Mat- 
tatuck, but  to  its  aboriginal  inhabitants. 

These  inhabitants  belonged,  of  course,  to  the  American  Indian 
race.  It  is  possible  that  the  Naugatuck  valley  was  at  some  far  oflE 
time — say  during  the  last  glacial  period — occupied  by  a  prehistoric 
people,  represented,  as  some  think,  by  the  Eskimos  of  the  present 
day.  But  in  the  absence  of  any  remains  which  can  be  positively 
assigned  to  such  a  people,  it  is  unneccessary  to  take  this  possibility 
into  account.  The  only  inhabitants  with  whom  we  need  concern 
ourselves  are  the  Indians  of  whom  the  first  settlers  purchased  the 
territory  and  their  predecessors.* 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  America,  and  at  the  settlement  of 
Connecticut  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  later,  the  entire  North 
American  continent  was  overspread  by  a  people  constituting  quite 
certainly  a  single  race.  With  the  possible  exception  of  the  Eskimos, 
they  possessed  physical  and  linguistic  peculiarities  which  differ- 
enced them  from  other  races  of  men  and  set  them  apart  as  a  people 
by  themselves.  At  the  same  time  this  widely  extended  race  was 
divided  into  distinct  stocks  or  peoples,  separated  from  one  another 
not  only  by  geographical  position  but  by  the  possession  of  totally 
distinct  languages.  There  are  those  who,  like  Roger  Williams  in 
his  "  Key,"  speak  of  "  the  language  of  America "  as  if  there  were 

*  Chipped  implements  have  been  found  in  the  gravel  of  the  Delaware  river,  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  which  from 
their  position  must  apparently  be  assigned  to  a  glacial  era.  (See  Abbott's  "Primitive  Industry,"  chapter 
xxxiii.)    But  no  great  antiquity  can  be  claimed  for  any  remains  thus  far  discovered  in  the  Naugatuck  valley. 


ABORIGINAL   INHABITANTS. 


15 


only  one  American  Indian  language,  apparently  ignorant  of  the 
fact  that  the  Indian  languages  are  numbered  by  hundreds,  if  not 
thousands.  But,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  these  languages  are 
not  all  distinct  from  one  another,  nor  is  the  relationship  between 
one  and  another  in  all  cases  the  same.  Some  are  as  closely  related 
as  Spanish  and  Portuguese  are,  others  as  remotely  as  English  and 
Welsh,  and  others  are  as  completely  separated  from  one  another  as 
are  Greek  and  Hebrew.  As  in  Europe  and  Asia  there  is  an  Aryan 
family  of  languages  descended  with  all  their  diversities  from  a 
common  parent  language,  and  a  Semitic  family  descended  from  an- 
other common  parent,  so  is  it  with  the  languages  of  America.  They 
exist  in  larger  or  smaller  groups,  each  group  entirely  distinct  from 
the  others,  and  each  consisting  of  several  languages  having  a  com- 
mon parentage,  and  characterized  by  certain  close  affinities.  There 
is,  for  example,  an  Iroquois  group,  numbering  seven  or  eight  lan- 
guages, a  Dakota  group,  numbering  eighteen,  a  Shoshonee  group, 
numbering  thirty-two  languages  and  dialects,  and  an  Algonkin 
group  numbering  seventeen.  The  seven  or  eight  members  of  the 
Iroquois  group  are  evidently  sister  tongues,  possessing  to  a  large 
extent  a  common  vocabulary  and  other  common  characteristics; 
the  same  is  true  of  the  seventeen  members  of  the  Algonkin  group. 
But  between  the  Mohawk  language  of  the  Iroquois  group,  and  the 
Mobegan  language  of  the  Algonkin  group,  although  the  two  ex- 
isted for  a  long  time  side  by  side,  there  was  no  more  relationship 
than  between  English  and  Hungarian.  There  was  a  certain  resem- 
blance between  them  in  structure,  but  between  their  respective 
vocabularies,  that  is,  between  the  stock  of  words  used  by  a  Mohawk 
and  the  stock  of  words  used  by  a  Mohegan,  no  resemblance  or  rela- 
tionship can  be  discovered. 

It  may  not  be  strictly  scientific  to  divide  oflE  and  classify  the 
peoples  speaking  these  various  languages  according  to  the  group- 
ing which  the  languages  suggest,  but  it  is  very  natural  to  do  so, 
and  is  not  likely  to  be  seriously  misleading.  While  therefore  we 
speak  of  the  American  race  as  one,  we  speak  of  it  as  divided  into 
"  races  "  or  peoples.  Of  all  these,  the  Algonkians — that  is,  the  tribes 
speaking  the  various  languages  of  the  Algonkin  stock— were  geo- 
graphically the  most  widely  distributed.  They  extended  "from 
Labrador  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  the  Churchill  River  of 
Hudson  Bay  to  Pamlico  Sound  in  North  Carolina."*  Some  of  these 
— for  example,  the  Crees,  Chippeways  and  Delawares — were  numer- 
ous and  were  spread  over  wide  regions.  But  in  the  territory  now 
known  as  New  England  the  population  was  broken  up  into  compar- 

*  J.  C.  Pilling's  "  Bibliography  of  the  Algonquian  Languages,"  p.  iii. 


1 6  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7, 

atively  small  divisions, — the  various  tribes  or  bands  speaking 
closely  related  languages,  or  dialects  of  the  same  language.  In 
Southern  New  England  the  tribes  best  known  to  us  were  the  Mas- 
sachusetts, the  Nipmucks,  the  Narragansetts  and  the  Mohegans,  to 
whom  the  Pequots  were  closely  related.* 

Taking  our  position  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  say 
at  Hartford,  we  find  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  an  Algonkian  people 
extending  for  some  distance  up  and  down  the  river,  divided  into 
tribes  or  bands,  and  perhaps  loosely  organized  into  a  kind  of  con 
federacy.  We  can  not  accurately  define  the  nature  or  extent  of 
their  organization,  but  we  learn  from  the  records  of  the  time  that 
at  the  first  coming  of  the  English  a  certain  sachem  named  Sequas- 
sen  sold  land  to  them  extending  as  far  west  as  the  country  of  the 
hostile  Mohawks.  The  tribe  of  which  Sequassen  was  a  sachem 
must  have  included  the  Indians  of  the  Farmington  river,  some  of 
whom  had  their  principal  seat  at  Poquonnock,  a  dozen  miles  to  the 
north  of  Hartford,  and  others  at  the  bend  in  the  river,  eight  or  ten 
miles  to  the  west,  where  Farmington  was  afterward  settled.  From 
this  bend  in  the  Farmington  river,  or  from  the  name  of  the  place 
at  which  the  bend  occurs,  these  Indians  were  called  the  Tunxis.  f 
In  Barber's  "  Connecticut  Historical  Collections  "  they  are  spoken 
of  as  "numerous  and  warlike,"  but  Mr.  J.  W.  DeForest  in  his 
"  History  of  the  Indians  of  Connecticut  '*  estimates  their  number 
at  "eighty  to  one  hundred  warriors,  or  about  four  hundred  indi- 
viduals." The  first  Poquonnock  chief  known  to  the  English  was 
Sehat,  who  was  succeeded  by  Nesaheagun,  whose  name  has  been 
perpetuated  in  that  of  the  first  Waterbury  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  J 
The  Farmington  Indians  had  a  camping-ground  at  Simsbury  also, 
some  miles  west  of  Poquonnock,  and  claimed  ownership  of  the 
lands  west  of  there,  as  far  as  the  Housatonic  river.  All  the  ter- 
ritory comprised  within  the  original  bounds  of  Mattatuck  was 
included  in  their  claim. 


*  By  some  writers  the  lutme  Mohegan  is  used  to  designate  all  the  Indians  between  the  Narragansetts  and 
the  Hudson  river.  "  The  Muhhekantew  or  Stockbridge  Indians,  as  well  as  the  tribe  at  New  London,  are  by 
the  Anglo-Americans  called  Mohegans.  .  .  .  This  language  is  spoken  by  all  the  Indians  throughout  New 
England.  Every  tribe,  as  that  of  Stockbridge,  that  of  Farmington,  that  of  New  London,  has  a  different  dia- 
lect; but  the  language  is  radically  the  same.  Mr.  Eliot's  translation  of  the  Bible  is  in  a  particular  dialect  of 
this  language."  P.  5  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards's  '*  Observations  on  the  Language  of  the  Muhhekaneew 
Indians.   New  Haven,  1788." 

t  **  The  locality  to  which  the  name  originally  belonged  was  the  *  bow '  or  *  turning '  of  the  river,  where  *  it 
bends'  {wui-funJksAau)  from  a  southeasterly  to  a  northerly  course."  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull's  **  Indian  Names 
of  Places,"  p.  74. 

The  name  "  Tunxis  "  survives  in  the  designation  of  a  "  tribe  "  or  lodge  of  the  "  Order  of  Red  Men/*  in 
Waterbury. 

t  The  old-fashioned  e  of  the  early  scribes  having  been  mistaken,  as  it  often  is,  for  an  Oy  the  name  has  been 
transformed  into  "  Nosahogan.'* 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 


n 


Leaving  the  centre  of  the  state  and  going  southward  to  the 
shore  of  Long  Island  sound,  we  enter  the  country  of  the  Quiripi 
Indians,  who  were  known  around  New  Haven  harbor  as  the  Quin- 
nipiacs.  Their  territory  extended  from  the  Connecticut  river  to 
the  western  bounds  of  the  state.  To  the  west  of  the  New  Haven 
Indians  was  another  Quiripi  tribe  or  band  claiming  ownership  on 
both  sides  of  the  Housatonic.  Their  territory  extended  from  West 
river  (which  flows  between  New  Haven  and  Orange),  or  at  any  rate 
from  Oyster  river  (which  flows  between  Orange  and  Milford),  all 
the  way  to  Fairfield.  Those  who  lived  to  the  east  of  the  Housa- 
tonic, whose  chief  seat  was  near  the  mouth  of  the  Wepowaug  (or 
Milford)  river,  were  known  as  Wepowaugs;  those  to  the  west  and 
north  were  called  Paugasetts  or  Paugasucks.* 

On  the  west  of  the  Housatonic  the  Paugasucks  claimed  the  terri- 
tory now  comprised  in  the  towns  of  Stratford,  Bridgeport,  Trum- 
bull, Huntington  and  Monroe,  and  on  the  east  of  that  river  lands 
extending  northward  beyond  Beacon  Hill  brook,  including  what 
lies  between  the  Housatonic  and  the  Naugatuck,  and  embracing  the 
Mattatuck  bounds.  Although  their  well-known  sachem  Ansanta- 
way  t  is  said  to  have  had  his  wigwam  on  Charles  Island,  the  chief  seat 
of  the  Paugasucks  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  Naugatuck.  On  the 
tongue  of  land  between  the  two  rivers,  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  above  their  junction  and  close  to  the  Housatonic  bank,  they 
had  a  kind  of  fortress  to  which  they  were  accustomed  to  resort  in 
times  of  danger. 

It  appears,  then,  that  at  the  date  of  the  settlement  of  Mattatuck, 
the  country  lying  to  the  east  and  northeast  of  it  was  occupied  by 
an  Algonkian  tribe,  having  for  its  natural  eastern  boundary  the  Con- 
necticut river,  and  claiming  jurisdiction  far  to  the  west,  while  the 
country  lying  to  the  south  was  occupied  by  another  Algonkian 
tribe,  having  for  its  natural  southern  boundary  Long  Island  sound, 
and  claiming  jurisdiction  far  to  the  north.  Mattatuck  itself — as 
any  one  may  see  by  a  glance  at  the  map  of  Connecticut — lay  at  the 
intersection  or  overlapping  of  the  two  claims,  and  was  the  common 
meeting-ground  of  both  tribes.  If  the  tribes  had  been  hostile 
rather  than  friendly,  the  meeting-ground  would  have  been  a 
battle-ground;    but    not    only    was    there    a   good    understanding 

*  Ifi  the  records  of  New  Haven  colony,  the  name  appears  as  Paugasset ;  in  the  records  of  the  Connecticut 
colony,  Paugasuck.  It  designated  the  lands  '*  by  Derby  ferry  and  about  Derby  neck,"  and  was  superseded 
by  the  English  name  Derby  by  vote  of  the  General  Court  in  May,  1675.  It  denotes,  according  to  Dr.  Trum- 
bull ('*  Indian  names,"  p.  ^6)  *'a  place  at  which  a  strait  widens,  where  the  narrows  open  out,"  and  is  descrip- 
tive of  the  junction  of  the  Housatonic  and  Naugatuck  rivers.  The  name  was  applied,  naturally  enough,  to 
the  Indians  who  had  their  chief  seat  there. 

i  Like  Nesaheagun,  his  name  is  perpetuated  in  that  of  an  Odd  Fellows'  organization  in  Waterbury— the 
Ansantawae  Encampment. 
2 


i8  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

between  them,  there  are  indications  in  the  various  deeds  of  land 
signed  by  their  representatives,  that  some  of  them  were  inter- 
related. 

At  the  time  of  their  first  contact  with  Europeans,  the  American 
Indians  in  different  regions  were  found  in  different  stages  of  devel- 
opment. Those  of  Central  America,  Mexico  and  New  Mexico  lived 
in  villages  (pueblos)  and  depended  almost  entirely  on  horticulture 
for  subsistence.  There  were  other  tribes  that  did  not  cultivate  the 
ground,  but  depended  entirely  upon  fish,  game  and  bread-roots. 
Between  these  two  extremes  there  were  tribes  which  combined  both 
these  modes  of  life  in  different  degrees.  They  depended  partly  on 
horticulture  for  subsistence,  but  could  not  be  considered  village 
Indians.  To  this  class  belonged  the  Indians  of  the  Atlantic  coast, 
including  those  of  Connecticut.  They  had  their  established  camp- 
ing-grounds, but  they  were  a  roving  people.  This  was  true  of  those 
from  whom  the  territory  of  Waterbury  was  purchased.  The  Farm- 
ington  river  Indians  had  their  camping-grounds  at  Poquonnock, 
Farmington  and  Simsbury,  and  the  Paugasucks  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Naugatuck.  But  we  must  not  think  of  them  as  dw^elling  perma- 
nently at  these  places,  but  rather  as  frequenting  the  entire  region 
which  they  claimed  as  their  own,  establishing  a  temporary  camp 
now  at  one  place  and  now  at  another,  according  to  the  season  of  the 
year  and  the  opportunities  afforded  for  hunting  and  fishing, — an 
annual  visit  to  the  salt  water  being  a  matter  of  course  even  with 
those  who  lived  at  a  considerable  distance  from  it.*  Dr.  Bronson 
says:  f  '*  It  is  believed  that  at  the  time  of  its  discovery  no  Indian 
settlement  existed  within  the  limits  of  ancient  Waterbury."  Even 
if  this  was  the  case,  it  does  not  follow  that  the  region  was  not  occu- 

*  "  They  remove  house  upon  these  occasions  :From  thick  warm  valleys,  where  they  winter,  they  remove 
a  little  nearer  to  their  summer  fields.  When  'tis  warm  spring,  then  they  remove  to  their  fields  where  they 
plant  corn.  In  middle  of  summer,  because  of  the  abundance  of  fleas,  which  the  dust  of  the  house  breeds, 
they  will  fly  and  remove  on  a  sudden  from  one  part  of  their  field  to  a  fresh  place.  And  sometimes,  having 
fields  a  mile  or  two  or  many  miles  asunder,  when  the  work  of  one  field  is  over,  they  remove  house  to  another. 
If  death  fall  in  amongst  them,  they  presently  remove  to  a  fresh  place  ;  if  an  enemy  approach,  they  remove 
into  a  thicket  or  swamp,  unless  they  have  some  fort  to  remove  unto.  Sometimes  they  remove  to  a  huniing- 
house  in  the  end  of  the  year,  and  forsake  it  not  until  snow  lie  thick,  and  they  will  travel  home,  men,  women 
and  children,  through  the  snow,  thirty,  yea  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  But  their  great  remove  is  from  their  sum- 
mer fields  to  warm  and  thick  woody  bottoms  where  they  winter.  They  are  quick  ;  in  half  a  day  yea,  some- 
times at  few  hours'  warning  to  be  gone,  and  the  house  up  elsewhere,  especially  if  they  have  stakes  ready 
pitched  for  their  mats.  I  once  in  travel  lodged  at  a  house,  at  which  in  my  return  I  hoped  to  have  lodged 
again  there  the  next  night ;  but  the  house  was  gone  in  that  interim,  and  I  was  glad  to  lodge  under  a  tree." 
(Roger  Williams's  "  Key/'  pp.  46,  47.) 

"  Towns  they  havfe  none,  being  always  removing  from  one  place  to  another  for  conveniency  of  food,  some- 
times to  those  places  where  one  sort  of  fish  is  most  plentiful,  other  whiles  where  others  are.  I  have  seen  half 
a  hundred  of  their  wigwams  together  in  a  piece  of  ground,  and  they  show  prettily;  within  a  day  or  two,  or  a 
week,  they  have  been  all  dispersed.  They  live  for  the  most  part  by  the  seaside,  especially  in  the  spring  and 
summer  quarters  ;  in  winter  they  are  gone  up  into  the  country  to  hunt  deer  and  beaver."  (John  Jossclyn's 
"*'Accouni  of  Two  Voyages  to  New  England,  made  during  the  years  1638,  16*^)3,"  p   99  of  reprint.) 

+  "  History  of  Waterbury,"  p.  2. 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS.  19 

pied,  in  the  way  already  indicated.  As  we  shall  see  (in  the  follow- 
ing chapter),  there  are  remains  which  go  to  show  either  that  it  was 
more  widely  occupied  than  we  are  wont  to  suppose,  or  else  that  the 
period  of  its  occupancy  extended  over  hundreds,  if  not  thousands, 
of  years. 

What  kind  of  people  were  these  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  Mat- 
tatuck  ?  The  ordinary  reader  doubtless  believes  that  he  has  a  toler- 
ably correct  conception  of  them — although  his  views  may  be  derived 
from  newspaper  estimates  of  the  present-day  Indians  of  the  west- 
ern plains.  But  concerning  the  essential  facts  of  aboriginal  life 
and  character  most  of  us  are  thoroughly  ignorant.  This  is  not  the 
place  for  elaborate  dissertation  or  minute  description;  but  there 
are  important  facts — some  of  them  bearing  directly  upon  the  trans- 
fer of  the  territory  from  barbarian  to  civilized  hands — which  ought 
to  be  placed  on  record  in  such  a  history  as  this. 

Among  the  Indians  as  first  known  to  Europeans  a  tribal  organ- 
ization was  universal.  Whatever  classification  into  groups  or  lin- 
guistic families  may  be  suggested  by  a  study  of  their  languages,  we 
must  not  fail  to  recognize  their  division  into  tribes,  each  tribe 
claiming  possession  of  a  territory  of  its  own,  having  a  name  of  its 
own,  and  distinguished  by  a  special  dialect,  the  result  of  its  separa- 
tion in  area  from  others  speaking  the  same  mother  language.  It  is 
not  generally  known,  but  it  is  a  well  established  fact,  that  within 
the  limits  of  every  tribe  was  another  organization —perhaps  we 
should  say,  an  "  institution  " — which  has  received  the  name  of  clan 
or  gens.  The  gens  is  a  very  ancient  form  of  social  organization, 
which  can  be  traced  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  globe  among  savage 
and  barbarous  peoples,  and  which  existed  in  full  development 
among  the  American  aborigines  at  the  time  of  the  discovery.  A 
gens  consisted  originally  of  a  group  of  persons  related  by  ties  of 
kindred,  who  "traced  their  descent  from  a  common  female  ancestor 
through  females,  the  evidence  of  the  fact  being  their  possession  of  a 
common  gentilic  name.  It  included  this  ancestor  and  her  children, 
the  children  of  her  daughters,  and  the  children  of  her  female 
descendants,  through  females,  in  perpetuity;  while  the  children  of 
her  sons,  and  the  children  of  her  male  descendants  through  males, 
would  belong  to  other  gentes^  namely,  those  of  their  respective 
mothers."*  Every  tribe,  therefore  contained  at  least  two  gentes, 
while  in  some  tribes  the  number  had  increased  by  subdivision  to 
more  than  twenty.  Each  gens  was  distinguished  by  its  name  and 
totem  (usually  the  name  of  some  animal  or  bird) ;  its  members  pos- 
sessed certain  rights  in  common  and  were  bound  together  by  cer- 

*  L.  H.  Morfran's  "Ancient  Society,"  pp.  67,  68. 


20  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

tain  mutual  obligations,  the  most  important  of  which  was  the  obli- 
gation not  to  marry  in  the  gens.  It  was  to  the  gens,  and  not  to  the 
tribe,  that  the  right  belonged  of  electing  sachems  and  chiefs.  The 
office  of  sachem  (whose  duties  were  confined  to  affairs  of  peace)  was 
hereditary  in  the  gens,  that  is,  it  was  filled  by  election  as  often  as  a 
vacancy  occurred;  other  chiefs  were  elected  in  recognition  of  per- 
sonal bravery,  wisdom  or  eloquence.  In  these  elections  all  adult 
persons,  both  men  and  women,  had  a  right  to  take  part,  so  that  the 
organization  was  on  a  purely  democratic  basis.  The  gens  held  the 
right  also  of  deposing  those  whom  it  had  elected,  so  that  the  term 
of  office  was  practically  "  during  good  behavior."  It  ought  to  be 
added  that  the  office  of  sachem,  in  order  to  remain  within  the  gens 
(the  line  of  descent  being  on  the  female  side),  must  pass  from 
brother  to  brother  or  from  uncle  to  nephew,  never  from  father  to 
son.  Property  also  was  hereditary  in  the  gens,  and  under  a  similar 
law. 

There  is  good  evidence  that  these  forms  of  organization — the 
tribal  and  the  gentilic — existed  among  the  Indians  of  Connecticut 
no  less  than  among  the  other  aborigines  of  America.  We  have 
already  pointed  out  certain  lines  of  tribal  division  and  centres  of 
tribal  life.  There  is  no  doubt  (in  view  of  modern  investigations) 
that  through  these  various  tribes  the  existence  of  three  ancient 
gentes  (the  Wolf,  the  Turtle  and  the  Turkey),  which  belonged  to 
the  Indians  of  Connecticut  in  common  with  the  Delawares  dwelling 
further  to  the  south,  could  have  been  traced,  and  that  these  had  in 
the  course  of  centuries  been  subdivided  until  they  numbered 
eleven,  each  having  its  special  name.  Among  the  modern  descend- 
ants of  the  Mohegans  the  division  into  eleven  gentes  still  exists.* 

A  fact  of  more  importance  (not  intrinsically,  but  in  order  to  a 
correct  understanding  of  the  relations  of  the  aborigines  to  the 
first  settlers)  pertains  to  the  ownership  of  property.  Among  people 
in  the  "  lower  status  of  barbarism,"  the  amount  of  personal  property 
is  always  small.  It  consists  of  one's  personal  effects,  together  with 
possessory  rights  in  garden-beds,  and,  among  some  tribes,  in  joint- 
tenement  houses.  Among  the  Indians,  the  ownership  of  these  was 
hereditary  in  the  gens.  But,  except  among  the  Aztecs,  who  had 
advanced  somewhat  further  than  the  northern  tribes,  the  owner- 
ship of  lands  inhered  not  in  the  gens  but  in  the  tribe.  The  condi- 
tion of  things  existing  among  the  Cherokees  and  other  tribes  of 
the  Indian  Territory  to-day,  was  universal  among  the  aborigines — 
namely,  tribal  ownership  of  land  and  no  ownership  in  severalty. 
The  territory  of   a  tribe  "consisted  of   the  area  of   their  actual 

♦"Ancient  Society,"  pp.  173,  174,  100. 


ABORIOINAL  INHABITANTS.  21 

settlements  and  so  much  of  the  surrounding  region  as  the  tribe 
ranged  over  in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  was  able  to  defend  against 
the  encroachments  of  other  tribes."  Outside  of  this  area  was  a 
margin  of  neutral  ground,  separating  the  tribe  from  other  tribes, 
and  claimed  by  neither.  When  the  neighboring  tribe  spoke  a 
different  language,  this  neutral  area  was  likely  to  be  broad;  when 
they  spoke  dialects  of  the  same  language,  it  was  narrower  and  less 
clearly  marked.*  The  fact  that  there  were  no  definite  boundary 
lines  may  serve  to  explain  the  rival  claims  of  different  bands 
which  the  settlers  of  Mattatuck  had  to  recognize,  involving  repeated 
purchases  by  them  of  the  same  territory. 

The  kind  of  life  which  the  aboriginal  occupants  lived  may  be 
partly  inferred  from  what  has  been  said  in  regard  to  their  means  of 
subsistence.  Their  chief  dependence  was  upon  fishing  and  hunting, 
which  were  the  sole  employments  of  the  men;  the  cultivation  of 
the  ground  was  left  entirely  to  women.  Whatever  pertained  to 
in-door  life — the  wigwam  with  all  its  belongings — was  under  the 
care  of  the  women;  the  men,  when  not  occupied  in  the  chase,  or 
engaged  in  war,  lived  a  life  of  leisure,  diversified  by  the  manufac- 
ture of  bows,  arrows,  axes  and  pipes.f 

It  must  be  remembered  that  these  people  belonged  to  what  has 
been  termed  the  stone  age,  and  had  not  emerged  from  the  lower 
level  of  barbarism.  They  knew  nothing  of  iron,  and  almost  noth- 
ing of  copper.  But  the  number  of  things  which  they  could  do, 
without  metals  of  any  kind,  is  greater  than  any  one  would  imagine 
who  had  not  made  a  special  investigation  of  the  matter.  They 
possessed  the  art  of  striking  fire;  they  made  bows  and  arrows 
— the  bowstrings  of  sinew,  the  arrow-heads  of  stone  or  bone;  they 
manufactured  various  other  stone  weapons  and  implements  (some 

♦*' Ancient  Society,"  p.  X 12. 

^  Roger  Williams,  in  his  **Key,"  says  that  the  men  **  commonly  get  and  fix  the  long  poles,  and  then  the 
women  cover  the  house  with  mats,  and  line  them  with  embroidered  mats  which  the  women  make,— which 
amongst  them  make  as  fair  a  show  as  hangings  with  us  "  (p.  32,  first  edition.)  He  says  in  the  same  chapter : 
*^  Their  women  constantly  beat  all  their  corn  with  hand  "  in  their  pounding  mortar  ;  **  they  plant  it,  dress  it, 
gather  it.  barn  it,  and  take  as  much  pains  as  any  people  in  the  world.  .  .  .  It  is  almost  incredible  what 
burthens  the  poor  women  carry  of  com,  of  fish,  of  beans,  of  mats,  and  a  child  beside."  '*  Generally  all  the 
men  throughout  the  country  have  a  tobacco-bag,  with  a  pipe  in  it,  hanging  at  their  back.  Sometimes  they 
make  such  great  pipes,  both  of  wood  and  stone,  that  they  are  two  foot  long,  with  men  or  beasts  carved,  so 
big  or  massy  that  a  man  may  be  hurt  mortally  by  one  of  them  ;  but  these  commonly  come  from  the  Mau- 
quauwogs  [Mohawks],  or  the  men  eaters,  three  or  four  hundred  miles  from  us"  (pp.  37,  38,  44,  45.) 

Wood,  in  his  *'New  England's  Prospect,^'  says  that  the  women  in  their  care  of  the  cornfield,'*  exceed  our 
English  husbandmen,  keeping  it  so  clear  with  their  clam-shell  hoes,  as  if  it  were  a  garden  rather  than  a 
cornfield,  not  suffering  a  choking  weed  to  advance  his  audacious  head  above  their  infant  corn,  or  an  under- 
mining worm  to  spoil  his  spurns."  He  adds  that  '^  in  winter-time  they  are  their  husbands'  caterers,  .  .  . 
and  their  porters  to  lug  home  their  venison,  which  their  laziness  exposes  to  the  wolves  till  they  impose  it 
upon  their  wives'  shoulders."  "They  are  often  troubled,  like  snails,  to  carry  their  houses  on  their  backs, 
sometimes  to  fishing- places,  other  times  to  hunting-places,  after  that  to  a  planting  place,  where  it  abides  the 
longest "  (part  2,  chapters  19,  20.) 


22  HISTORY  OF  WATERBVRT. 

of  them  chipped,  others  ground),  such  as  axes,  hammers,  chisels, 
knives,  drills,  fish-spears,  net  sinkers,  mortars,  pestles,  pots,  pipes, 
ceremonial  and  ornamental  objects,  and  implements  for  use  in 
athletic  games.  They  made  vessels  of  clay  mixed  with  sand  and 
hardened  by  fire.  They  had  learned  how  to  cure  and  tan  skins, 
and  of  these  made  moccasins,  leggins  and  other  wearing  apparel. 
They  made  nets  and  twine  and  rope  from  filaments  of  bark,  and 
wove  the  same  material  into  belts,  sashes  and  burden  straps.  They 
made  baskets  of  osier,  or  cane,  or  splints;  canoes  of  birch  bark  or 
skins,  or  dug-out  logs,  and  houses  of  poles  covered  with  skins. 
They  had  also  invented  musical  instruments,  such  as  the  flute  and 
the  drum.  They  cultivated  maize,  beans,  squashes  and  tobacco,  and 
made  unleavened  bread  of  pounded  maize  boiled  in  earthern  ves- 
sels.* Of  the  various  objects  manufactured  by  the  aborigines  of 
Connecticut  only  those  made  of  stone  have  escaped  the  tooth  of  time, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  specimens  of  pottery,  most  of  them 
fragmentary.  The  stone  implements,  however — especially  the 
small  implements  made  by  chipping — are  numerous,  and  are  valu- 
able as  indicating  the  kind  of  life  which  the  primitive  man  lived 
and  the  various  places  occupied  by  him  in  the  course  of  centuries. 
Within  the  bounds  of  ancient  Mattatuck,  as  everywhere  else  in 
America,  we  can  trace  the  red  men  by  the  stone  "  relics"  they  have 
left  behind  them.  We  can  see  them  moving  from  place  to  place, 
establishing  their  camping-ground  now  on  the  river-bank,  now  by 
the  brook-side,  now  on  some  commanding  bluff,  and  again  at  some 
perennial  spring.  The  arrow-maker's  hut  had  its  place  in  each 
camp,  and  the  chips  which  he  made  still  testify,  in  many  a  quiet 
spot,  to  his  industry  and  skill. f  That  there  were  well-worn  paths 
across  the  tribal  territory,  made  by  these  roving  bands  in  the 
course  of  centuries,  is  altogether  probable,  and  it  is  also  probable 
that  some  of  the  roads  of  the  present  day  follow  the  trails  of  our 
aboriginal  predecessors.  To  what  extent  during  their  long  occu- 
pancy they  had  carried  the  task  of  clearing  the  land  of  forests,  it  is 
impossible  to  say.  Perhaps  they  had  done  more  in  this  direction — 
especially  at  certain  tribal  centres — than  they  usually  receive  credit 
for. 

Our  outline  would  be  very  imperfect,  did  we  make  no  reference 
to  the  language  of  these  aborigines.  As  already  indicated,  the  dia- 
lects spoken  on  the  Connecticut  and  on  Long  Island  sound,  were 
dialects  of  an  Algonkin  language  common  to  all  the  tribes  between 
the  Kennebec  river  and  the  Hudson.     This  language  has  been  pre- 

*  L.  H.  Morgan,  '*  North  American  Review,"  October,  1868;  "Ancient  Society/*  pp.  69,  70. 
t  Compare  Abbott's  "  Primitive  Industry,''  pp.  455-459. 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS.  23 

served  to  the  present  day  in  John  Eliot's  Indian  Bible  and  other 
translations,  in  Roger  Williams's  "  Key  into  the  Language  of 
America," and  in  Abraham  Pierson's  "Some  Helps  for  the  Indians." 
The  work  by  Pierson,  who  was  the  father  of  the  first  rector  of  Yale 
College,  is  "  a  catechism  in  the  language  of  the  Quiripi  Indians," 
and  represents  "a  dialect  having  a  place  between  the  dialects  of 
Massachusetts,  Narragansett  and  eastern  Connecticut,  and  those  of 
the  middle  states;  showing  nearer  affinity  than  other  New  Eng- 
land dialects  to  the  true  Delaware  or  Renapi  of  New  Sweden."  * 

This  is  the  dialect  which  was  spoken  by  the  Paugasucks  of  the 
Naugatnck  river,  who  claimed  ownership  of  the  lands  to  the  north, 
including  the  territory  of  Mattatuck,  and  must  have  differed  some- 
what from  that  spoken  by  the  Farmington  Indians.  The  nature  of 
the  differences  between  the  dialects  is  indicated  by  Roger  Williams 
in  his  "  Key,"  under  the  word  anum^  meaning  "  a  dog."  He  says:  **  The 
variety  of  their  dialects  and  proper  speech  within  thirty  or  forty 
miles  each  of  other  is  very  great,"  and  illustrates  this  by  the  differ- 
ent forms  of  this  word.  In  the  Cowesit  dialect  it  is  anum,  in  the 
Nipmuck  alum^  in  the  Narragansett  ayim^  and  in  the  Quinnipiac 
arum.  "  So  that,"  he  adds,  "  although  some  pronounce  not  /  nor  r,  yet 
it  is  the  most  proper  dialect  of  other  places,  contrary  to  many 
reports."  f  Eliot  in  his  "  Indian  Grammar  Begun "  refers  to  the 
same  variations:  "We  Massachusetts  pronounce  the  «,  the  Nip- 
muck  Indians  pronounce  /,  and  the  Northern  Indians  pronounce  r;" 
and  we  have  a  further  instance  in  the  different  forms  of  the  name 
by  which  the  Indians  of  southwestern  Connecticut  are  designated. 
"  Quinnipiac  {quinni-pe-auke)  means  *  long- water  land  '  or  country.  . 
.  .  In  the  Mohegan  and  Narragansett  dialects  the  first  syllable  was 
pronounced  quin^  by  the  Connecticut  river  Indians  quil,  and  by  the 
Indians  west  of  the  *  long  water'  quirJ'  J  Similar  dialectic  peculiari- 
ties can  be  traced  in  the  names  signed  to  the  deeds  given  to  the  set- 
tlers of  Mattatuck  by  the  Paugasuck  Indians,  who  were  undoubt- 
edly Quiripis,  when  compared  with  the  names  of  the  Indians  of 
Farmington  river.  Of  the  dialect  actually  spoken  in  the  Naugatuck 
valley,  a  few  words  have  been  preserved  by  Mr.  J.  W.  DeForest,  in 
the  appendix  to  his  "History  of  the  Indians  of  Connecticut."  In 
this  brief  list  the  same  dialectic  differences  can  be  traced.  For  ex- 
ample, the  word  for  "  man,"  which  in  the  Narragansett  was  nnin,  was 
in  the  Naugatuck  dialect  rinh;  the  word  for  "  fire,"  which  in  the 
Massachusetts  was  nootau  and  in  the  Narragansett  note  or  yote,  was  in 

♦Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull's  reprint  of  Pierson  (Hartford,  1873),  p.  ii. 

+  "  Key,"  p.  X07. 

X  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull's  "  Indian  Names,"  p.  61. 


24  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  Naugatuck  ruuhiah.  The  other  Naugatuck  words  are,  wenih^ 
woman,  keesoop,  day,  toofku,  night,  nuppehy  water,  tookh^  tree,  awaususo, 
bear,  and  sepu,  river,  —  for  each  of  which  a  corresponding  word, 
closely  resembling  it,  may  be  found  in  the  related  dialects.  * 

The  language  of  which  this  was  one  of  the  dialects  has  been 
carefully  studied  in  modern  times  by  DuPonceau,  Pickering,  Dr.  J. 
Hammond  Trumbull,  and  others;  its  structure  has  been  examined 
and  its  grammatical  characteristics  have  been  placed  on  record.  Its 
peculiarities  can  not  be  here  explained,  but  it  may  be  worth  while 
to  mention  that  in  its  structure  it  was  "  polysynthetic,"  like  all  the 
Algonkin  languages  (perhaps  we  may  say,  all  the  aboriginal  lan- 
guages of  North  America) ;  that  its  vocabulary,  contrary  to  the  pop- 
ular impression,  was  abundant  rather  than  scanty,  and  that  it  was 
as  completely  subject  to  strict  grammatical  laws  as  the  languages 
of  the  civilized  world.  Any  one  who  fancies  that  the  aboriginal 
occupants  of  Mattatuck  were  poorly  furnished  with  means  of  inter- 
communication by  speech,  or  had  to  make  use  of  a  rude  and  form- 
less dialect,  would  do  well  to  examine  the  paradigms  of  the  verb  in 
Eliot's  grammar,  or  the  vocabularies  in  Williams's  "  Key,"  or  the 
questions  and  answers  in  Pierson's  catechism.  A  close  study  of 
these  remains  of  an  extinct  speech  would  inevitably  result  in  height- 
ening the  respect  of  the  student  for  the  mental  characteristics  of 
the  people  upon  whose  lips,  in  the  course  of  ages,  it  developed  into 
a  symmetrical,  copious  and  expressive  language. 

Of  the  Tunxis  and  Paugasuck  Indians,  as  they  were  at  the  time 
of  the  settlement  of  Mattatuck — their  numbers,  their  condition  as  a 
people — we  have  little  or  no  information,  except  that  which  may  be 
drawn  from  the  deeds  by  which  they  conveyed  their  lands  to  the 
settlers,  the  signatures  attached  to  those  deeds  and  the  very  slight 
personal  allusions  connected  therewith,  or  found  in  the  colonial 
records.  We  have  no  description  of  these  people  from  the  pen  of 
any  early  traveller,  nor  record  of  them  in  any  journal  of  trader 
or  missionary.  Any  one  threading  his  way  through  the  elaborate 
metaphysical  definitions  of  the  catechism  prepared  for  the  Quiripi 
Indians  in  1658  would  be  justified   in  inferring  that   the  Quiripis, 

*  The  following  is  the  Quiripi  version  of  the  first  three  petitions  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  as  given  in  Pier- 
son's  catechism  (p.  59  of  the  reprint),  with  Dr.  TrumbuH's  literal  translation  into  English.   The  translation 
is  here  made  interlinear,  to  indicate  the  order  of  the  words  in  the  Indian  rendering. 
"  Noushin  auseqiiamuk  terre, 

"  Our-Father  the-place-of-light  in, 
Werrettepantammunatch  kowesewunk. 

Let-it-be-well-regarded  thy-name. 
Peamoutch'  kukkussootummowunk. 

Let-it-come-hither  thy-great-rulership. 
Knrantammowunk  neratch  sket'  okke  nenar  auscquamuk  terre." 
Thy-thinking  bc-it-so  on-the-face-of  earth  even-as  the-place-of-light  in." 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 


"5 


and  therefore  the  Paugasucks,  must  have  been  a  people  of  great 
intellectual  ability.  But  the  more  correct  inference  would  be  that 
the  devout  Pierson  had  sadly  misconceived  the  method  to  be 
employed  in  evangelizing  a  barbarous  and  ignorant  race.  There  is 
nothing  to  indicate  that  the  Indians  of  Mattatuck  differed  in  any 
important  respect  from  the  other  aborigines  of  New  England  with 
whom  the  early  writers  have  made  us  acquainted.  They  had  the 
virtues  and  the  defects  of  other  barbarous  peoples.  If  their  virtues 
were  not  developed,  certain  it  is  that  new  vices  were  superadded, 
as  the  result  of  their  contact  with  Europeans.  But  this  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at.  When  we  consider  the  red  man's  nature  and  dis- 
position, the  stage  of  development  he  had  reached  and  the  severe 
ordeal  involved  in  his  being  brought  suddenly  in  contact  with  an 
aggressive  civilization,  his  conduct  in  this  trying  period  of  his  his- 
tory seems  upon  the  whole  worthy  of  high  commendation.  How- 
ever cruel  and  bloodthirsty  he  may  have  been  by  nature,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  in  his  intercourse  with  peaceable  white  men  he  was  peace- 
able; if  they  showed  themselves  friendly,  he  was  their  faithful  and 
useful  friend.* 

•The  gradiial  wilhdnii»l  ind  dJH^purance  uC  ihi  Paugaiucli  and  I'lmiii  Indians  before  the  advance  of 

17  uid  Febniary  ij,  iSj*  and  publiihed  Id  the  '■  Waterbury  American  ■'  (weekly  edition)  of  Febniary  ^  and 
Uanh  ;.    These  leelura  were  aftcmard  embodied  in  Ihe  "  Indian  Hiilory"  prefiied  lo  Orcutt'a  "  History 


CHAPTER   III. 

ABORIGINAL  REMAINS  —  INDIAN  DEEDS — LAND  SALE  OF  1658 — TKE 
THREE  DEEDS  GIVEN  BY  THE  FARMINGTON  TRIBE — DEED  GIVEN  BY 
THE  DERBY  INDIANS — PERSONAL  NAMES  ATTACHED  TO  THE  SEV- 
ERAL DEEDS — RELATIONSHIPS  INDICATED  BETWEEN  INDIVIDUALS 
AND    BETWEEN    TRIBES. 

OF  the  aboriginal  occupants  of  Mattatuck  the  traces  that  remain 
are  of  three  kinds:  First,  the  deeds  which  record  the  transfer 
of  their  lands  to  the  early  settlers;  secondly,  the  Indian  place- 
names  which  under  forms  more  or  less  disguised  have  survived  in  the 
town  records  or  in  tradition,  and  some  of  which  are  in  common  use  at 
the  present  day;  and  thirdly,  the  stone  implements  scattered  over  the 
region,  many  of  which  have  been  found  and  have  passed  into  the 
hands  of  collectors.  What  follows  is  an  attempt  to  describe  these 
several  kinds  of  remains. 

The  author  of  "Good  News  from  New  England,"  writing  of 
Indian  customs,  says:  "  Every  sachem  knoweth  how  far  the  bounds 
and  limits  of  his  own  country  extendeth;  and  that  is  his  own  proper 

inheritance In  this  circuit  whosoever  hunteth,  if  they 

kill  any  venison,  bring  him  his  fee."  It  was  natural  for  Europeans 
familiar  with  the  institutions  of  feudalism  and  royalty,  to  suppose 
that  among  the  barbarous  tribes  found  occupying  the  new  world 
government  was  monarchical,  as  among  themselves.  To  them  a 
sachem  was  a  petty  king,  the  people  of  the  tribe  were  his  subjects, 
and  the  tribal  territory  was,  as  in  the  passage  just  quoted,  "  his  own 
proper  inheritance."  But  if  this  was  true  at  all,  it  was  only  in  the 
narrowest  sense.  The  territory  belonged  to  the  sachem  simply  as 
the  official  representative  of  his  people.  An  Indian  tribe  was  a 
democracy;  the  sachemship  was  an  elective  office,  and  the  lands 
belonged  no  more  to  the  sachem  than  to  the  others.  They  belonged 
to  the  tribe.  The  true  state  of  the  case — however  the  early  settlers 
may  have  misunderstood  it — comes  to  view  in  the  large  number  of 
Indian  names  usually  attached  to  an  Indian  deed.  The  list  may  not 
in  any  case  have  included  all  the  adult  males  of  the  tribe,  but  as  a 
rule  the  tribe  was  well  represented,  and  the  sachem's  name  seldom, 
if  ever,  stood  alone.  The  settlers  had  no  real-estate  transactions 
with  individual  Indians,  and  on  the  other  hand  they  did  not  allow 

ividual  white  men — in  Connecticut,  at  any  rate — to  buy  of  the 


INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES,  27 

• 

Indians,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  land  or  timber  "or  candle- 
wood  or  trees  of  any  sort  or  kind,"  without  authority  from  the  Gen- 
eral Court.*  The  first  purchase  of  land  within  the  limits  of  Matta- 
tuck  with  reference  to  a  settlement  was  made  by  a  committee  of  the 
General  Court  in  behalf  of  the  settlers,  and  subsequent  purchases 
were  made  through  a  committee  appointed  by  the  settlers  them- 
selves, or  rather,  by  a  company  known  as  the  "  proprietors  of  Mat- 
tatuck." 

The  Indian  deeds  relating  to  the  transfer  of  Waterbury  terri- 
tory from  the  aboriginal  owners  to  white  men  are  six  in  number. 
The  earliest  of  these  antedates  by  seventeen  years  the  first  regular 
purchase  with  reference  to  a  plantation  at  Mattatuck.  It  appears 
that  two  of  the  inhabitants  of  Farmington,  Stanley  and  Andrews 
by  name,  in  their  excursions  westward  had  somewhere  discovered 
a  deposit  of  graphite,  or  something  which  they  mistook  for  that 
valuable  mineral. f  Their  discovery  attracted  some  attention  and 
doubtless  led  to  what  appears  to  have  been  the  first  purchase  of 
land  lying  within  the  Naugatuck  valley.  In  the  curious  deed  that 
relates  to  it,  dated  February  8,  1657  (O.  S.),  and  recorded  in  the  town 
records  of  Facmington,  the  purchase  is  described  as  "  a  parcel  or 
tract  of  land  called  Matetacoke  [Mattatuckok'e'],  that  is  to  say,  the 
hill  from  whence  John  Stanley  and  John  Andrews  brought  the 
black  lead,  and  all  the  land  within  eight  mile  of  that  hill  on  every 
side,'* — making  a  circular  area,  sixteen  miles  in  diameter.  The  pur- 
chasers were  William  Lewis  and  Samuel  Steele  of  Farmington,  and 
the  grantors  were  Kepaquam,  Queromus  and  Mataneg.  It  appears 
from  a  deed  of  17 14,  relating  to  the  same  tract  of  land,  that  a  con- 
siderable part  of  it  was  "comprised  within  the  bounds  of  Water- 
bury."  But  such  were  the  terms  of  the  grant,  and  such  was  the 
action  of  the  General  Court  in  the  final  disposal  of  the  territory, 
that  this  earliest  purchase  need  not  be  further  considered  here.J 
When,  on  August  11,  17 14,  this  same  tract  was  conveyed  anew  to 
Stanley,  Lewis  and  their  associates  and  successors,  the  deed  was 
signed  by  Pethuzo  and  Toxcronuck,  who  claimed  to  be  the  succes- 
sors of  Kepaquam,  Queromus  and  Mattaneag,  and  in  October  fol- 
lowing it  was  signed  by  four  other  Indians,  Taphow  the  younger 
and  his  squaw,  Awowas  (or  Wowowis)  and  Petasas,  a  female  grand- 


*  See  Colonial  Records  of  Connecticut,  Vol.  I,  p.  214  ;  New  Haven  Colony  Records,  Vol.  II,  pp.  593,  594. 
There  are  cases  on  record  like  this,  under  date  of  May  12,  1679  :  '*  This  Court  grants  liberty  to  Lieutenant 
Samuel  Steele  to  purchase  of  Nesahegen  one  acre  of  land  in  Farmington  meadow."  (Conn.  Col.  Records, 
Vol.  Ill,  p.  29.) 

^  See  Chapter  I,  p.  9,  and  note. 

X  The  history  of  this  tract,  which  was  for  some  time  a  bone  of  contention  in  the  colony,  is  given  in  some 
detail  in  the  lecture  entitled  **  Footprints  of  the  Red  Man  in  the  Naugatuck  Valley,"  referred  to  on  p.  25. 


28  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7. 

child,  probably  of  Awowas.  Some  of  these  names  we  shall  refer 
to  subsequently. 

Of  the  four  deeds  obtained  by  the  proprietors  of  Mattatuck  from 
the  aboriginal  owners,  the  first  is  dated  August  26,  1674.  It  con- 
veyed a  tract  of  land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Mattatuck  river, 
measuring  ten  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  six  miles  in  breadth. 
The  second  deed  was  given  ten  years  later— April  29,  1684 — and 
nearly  doubled  the  area  of  the  town  by  the  addition  of  a  tract  lying 
on  the  north  of  the  previous  purchase.  The  third  deed,  given 
December  2,  of  the  same  year,  refers  to  the  purchase  made  by  the 
committee  of  the  General  Court  in  1674,  and  in  consideration  of 
nine  pounds  received  from  the  agents  of  the  proprietors,  conveys 
certain  lands  additional.  These  three  deeds  were  given  by  the 
Tunxis  or  Farmington  Indians;  the  fourth,  dated  February  20,  1685, 
was  given  by  the  Paugasuck  or  Derby  Indians,  and  conveyed 
twenty  parcels  of  land,  designated  in  the  deed  by  their  Indian 
names,  probably  most  of  them  comprised  in  the  first  and  third 
purchases  from  the  Farmington  tribe.  A  sufficient  explanation  of 
these  purchases  of  the  same  territory  from  two  different  tribes 
within  the  space  of  three  months,  is  afforded  by  what  has  been  said 
with  regard  to  the  limits  of  tribal  territory  and  the  conflict  of 
claims  concerning  the  "  neutral  area." 

Of  two  of  these  deeds — that  of  December  2,  1684  and  that  of 
February  20,  1685 — the  original  autographs  were  discovered  in  1890, 
bearing  the  names  of  the  aboriginal  proprietors  (representatives  of 
their  tribes),  and  over  against  their  names  their  respective  "marks," 
made  with  their  own  clumsy  fingers.  Copies  of  these  deeds  and 
of  the  other  two  are  preserved  in  the  Waterbury  Land  Records, 
and  they  bring  before  us  the  red  man  at  his  point  of  closest 
approach  to  us.  In  the  light  of  these  interesting  documents  we  see 
him  standing  for  a  little  while  upon  the  threshold  of  our  history, 
and  then  turning  away  to  vanish  into  darkness.* 

It  is  not  our  object  just  now,  to  set  forth  the  relations  of  these 
deeds,  or  of  the  purchases  which  they  represent,  to  the  settlement 
of  Mattatuck;  but  rather  to  obtain  from  an  examination  of  the 
names  attached  to  them,  and  from  any  slight  hints  they  contain,  as 
definite  a  conception  as  possible  of  the  Indians  from  whom  the 
lands  were  purchased,  who  may  with  some  propriety  be  considered 
the  aboriginal  occupants  of  Waterbury.  In  a  deed  given  by  the  Farm- 
ington tribe  to  the  town  of  Farmington,  May  22,  1673,  we  read,  "  These 
are  the  names  of  the  Indians  that  are  now  present,  the  day  and  year 


♦The  four  deeds  are  recorded  in  Vol.  11.  of  the   Land  Records,  pp.  224-231,  but  not  in  chronological 
order. 


INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES, 


29 


aforesaid."  At  the  several  sales  of  Mattatuck  territory  the  red  men 
atid  their  squaws  were  doubtless  present — assembled  at  some  one 
place — and  if  the  modern  photographer  could  only  have  been  stand- 
ing near  with  his  camera  we  should  now  have  representations  of 
the  aboriginal  grantors  which  would  enable  us  to  estimate  them 
more  correctly.  But  we  have  only  their  names  and  some  few  indi- 
cations of  their  relations  to  one  another,  and  there  are  reasons  why 
the  names  of  persons  and  of  relationships  should  both  be  mislead- 
ing. The  place-names  which  have  come  to  us  from  the  red  man 
were  so  constructed  that  they  can  be  analyzed  and  interpreted;  with 
their  personal  names  the  case  is  different.  Even  if  we  could  trans- 
late them  into  English,  as  we  do  the  names  of  the  modern  Indians 
of  the  west,  they  would  probably  be  to  us  without  significance;  and 
as  regards  relationships,  their  mode  of  designating  them  was  so 
different  from  ours  that  even  the  commonest  terms  were  liable  to 
be  misunderstood.  In  the  system  of  consanguinity  which  prevailed 
among  our  aboriginal  predecessors  (and  which  prevails  to-day 
throughout  the  American  race)*  a  man  called  his  sister's  children 
nephews  and  nieces  (as  with  us),  and  they  called  him  uncle;  but  his 
brother's  children  he  called  sons  and  daughters,  and  they  called 
him  father.  A  woman  called  her  brother's  children  nephews  and 
nieces  (as  with  us),  but  she  called  her  sister's  children  sons  and 
daughters,  and  they  called  her  mother.  My  father's  sister's  chil- 
dren and  my  mother's  brother's  children  are  my  cousins;  but  my 
father's  brother's  children  and  my  mother's  sister's  children  are  my 
brothers  and  sisters.  And  these  designations  represent  an  elabo- 
rate scheme,  no  part  of  which  corresponds  closely  to  our  own.  It  is 
obvious,  therefore,  that  if  in  the  several  deeds  not  only  the  names 
but  the  relationships  of  the  grantors  were  invariably  given  (as  they 
are  in  some  instances),  this  would  not  greatly  aid  us  in  reconstruct- 
ing the  aboriginal  tribe  or  band;  we  should  still  have  only  a  list  of 
names  before  us. 

But  notwithstanding  the  scantiness  of  our  material,  it  may  be 
worth  while  to  see  what  we  can  do  with  it. 

Unfolding  before  us  the  first  of  these  Indian  deeds — that  of 
August  26,  1674 — we  find  that  the  persons  designated  as  the  "own- 
ers and  proprietors  "  of  the  "  tract  of  land  called  by  the  name  of 
Mattatuck  "  are  fourteen  in  number,  and  bear  the  following  names: 
Nesaheagin,  John  Compound,  Queramouch,  Spinning  Squaw,  Tap- 
how,  Chere,  Aupkt,  Caranchaquo,  Patucko,  Atumtucko,  James, 
Uncowate,  Nenapush  Squaw,  Allwaush.     The  order  in  which  the 

*  See  L.   H.  Morgan^s  '*  Systems  of  Consanguinity  and  Affinity  of  the  Human  Family,"  Smithsonian 
Contributions  to  Knowledge,  Vol.  XVII  ;  "  Ancient  Society,*'  pp.  435-452. 


30  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

names  are  here  given  is  that  which  is  followed  in  the  body  of  the 
deed;  the  order  in  which  the  grantors  affixed  their  marks  to  trie 
original  document  may  have  been  different,  and  we  find  among  the 
signatures  the  statement  that  "  Patucko  promises  for  James,"  from 
which  it  is  natural  to  infer  that  James  was  not  present  with  the 
others.     Among  the  witnesses  is  mentioned  "  Robin,  the  Indian." 

In  the  second  deed, — given  nearly  ten  years  later,  that  is,  April  29, 
1684,  and  relating  to  the  northern  purchase — three  of  these  names 
appear  again,  namely,  Patucko,  who  signs  "  in  the  name  and  behalf 
and  by  order  of  Atumtucko,"  and  Taphow.  To  these  may  probably 
be  added  AUwaush,  although  somewhat  disguised  under  the  form  of 
Wawowus.  These  are  the  four  that  come  first  in  order,  and  follow- 
ing these  we  have  Judas,  Mantow,  Momantow's  Squaw,  and  Mary  or 
Mercy,  who  is  describeji  as  Sepus's  Squaw,* — making  eight  in  all. 
Among  the  signatures  we  find  the  additional  name  of  Quatowque- 
chuck,  Taphow's  son,  with  the  statement  that  "  though  Taphow's 
son's  name  is  not  in  the  deed  above,  yet  he  doth  agree  to  the  sale 
with  the  rest,  this  30th  of  April,  1684."  Among  the  witnesses  to 
this  deed  is  named  "  Momantow,  Indian,"  whose  squaw  is  mentioned 
among  the  grantors,  and  who  must  therefore  be  distinguished  from 
Mantow,  also  one  of  the  grantors.  These  persons  are  described  in 
the  body  of  the  deed  as  "  Indians  now  belonging  to  Farmington." 

In  the  third  deed,  the  original  autograph  of  which  is  preserved 
— that  of  December  2,  1684 — the  names  of  John  a  Compowne,  Man- 
tow, Atumtucko  and  Spinning  Squaw  reappear,  and  in  addition  to 
these  we  have  Worun  Compowne,  and  instead  of  Patucko,  Patucko's 
Squaw,  who  is  designated  Atumtucko's  mother  (which,  however, 
may  mean  his  aunt),  and,  second  in  the  list,  a  new  name,  Hachatow- 
suck.  The  name  Sebocket,  which  appears  among  the  signatures 
under  the  form  of  Abuckt  or  Abucket,  is  probably  the  same  which 
occurs  in  the  first  deed  as  Aupkt.  The  names  given  in  the  body  of 
this  third  deed  are  seven  in  number;  among  the  additional  signa 
tures  at  the  end  are  "  James's  daughter,  by  Cockoeson's  sister,"  "  also 
Cockocson's  sister's  daughter,  as  also  Abuck."  We  learn  from 
another  memorandum  that  Cockoeson's  sister  was  "Patucko's 
squaw,"  and  that  Warun  Compowne  was  "  Nesaheg's  son,"  perhaps 
his  nephew. 

Counting  the  several  distinct  names  that  appear  in  the  three 
deeds  given  by  Farmington  Indians,  we  find  that  they  number 
twenty-five.  Mr.  J.  W.  De  Forest  has  been  quoted  as  assigning  to 
the  Farmington  tribe  a  population  of  "  eighty  to  one  hundred  war- 

♦  Sepus's  name  is  preserved  in  Waterbury  (but  in  incorrect  form)  in  Sequcses  Council,  Degree  of  Poca- 
hontas, of  the  *•  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men." 


INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES.  31 

riors,  or  about  four  hundred  persons."  But  Mr.  De  Forest  frankly 
confesses  *  that  his  estimate  is  "  based  upon  nothing,'*  and  in  all 
probability  it  is  too  large.  There  must  have  been  at  this  time  a 
good  many  Farmington  Indians  besides  these;  in  the  deed  already 
referred  to,  given  to  the  town  of  Farmington  in  1673,  the  following 
names  are  found  in  addition  to  those  already  enumerated:  Nona- 
wau,  Onkawont,  Skerawagh,  Wauno,  Seacut,  Wonkes,  Aslanaugh, 
Wasamock,  Cochemhoote  and  Nocimamon.  The  number  of  signers 
on  that  occasion,  including  two  sons  of  James  and  several  squaws, 
was  twenty-five.  But  the  tendency  of  the  latest  investigators  is 
to  the  belief  that  our  estimates  of  the  Indian  population  have 
hitherto  been  entirely  too  high,  and  sympathizing  with  this  view 
we  venture  the  opinion  that  the  twenty-five  men  and  women  who 
signed  the  Mattatuck  deeds  constituted  a  fair  representation  of  the 
Farmington  tribe.  If  we  are  to  distinguish  in  any  way  between 
the  signers  of  the  deeds  and  others  who  did  not  sign,  we  may  sup- 
pose that  the  signers  (excepting,  of  course,  the  sachem  and  perhaps 
members  of  his  family)  belonged  to  a  band  that  had  from  time 
to  time  occupied  a  camping  ground  within  Mattatuck  bounds  and 
thus  secured  a  special  claim  to  the  territory. 

Examining  the  names  themselves,  what  do  we  find  ?  John  Jos- 
selyn,  in  his  "Two  Voyages  to  New  England,"  f  says  that  the  Indi- 
ans "covet  much  to  be  called  after  our  English  manner,  Robin, 
Harry,  Philip,  and  the  like."  In  each  of  these  deeds  we  find  this 
preference  illustrated.  Among  the  names  mentioned  in  the  first 
are  included  (besides  the  witness,  Robin)  a  John  and  a  James;  in 
the  second  we  find  a  Judas  and  a  Mary  or  Mercy,  and  in  the  third 
John  appears  again.  The  first  deed  mentions  also  a  Chere  (written 
afterward  Chery),  which  may  possibly  stand  for  Cherry,  and  in 
both  the  first  and  the  third  deed  Spinning  Squaw  holds  a  prominent 
place.  We  may  readily  believe  that  the  English  proper  names  were 
attached  to  the  Indians  who  bore  them  in  a  hap-hazard  way;  but 
the  designation  "Spinning  Squaw"  invites  inquiry.  Is  it  to 
aboriginal  spinning  (making  thread  from  filaments  of  bark)  that 
reference  is  made?  or  had  this  woman  learned  to  spin  from  her 
white  neighbors  of  Farmington,  and  become  so  devoted  to  that  kind 
of  work  that  it  gave  her  a  name  ?  It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  this 
woman's  name  became  connected  at  an  early  day  with  a  locality  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  town.  The  purchase  described  in  the  deed 
of  April  29,  1684,  is  spoken  of  as  having  upon  its  southern  boundary 


♦  •'  History  of  the  Indians  of  Connecticut,"  p.  52. 

+  "  An  Account  of  Two  Voyages  to  New  England,  Made  during  the  Years  1638,  1663.    By  John  Jossclyn, 
Gent.;"  reprint  of  1865.  p.  100. 


32 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UB 7. 


"that  which  was  formerly  Spinning  Squaw's  land;"  in  other  words, 
her  land  was  at  the  northern  end  of  the  purchase  of  1674.  But  how 
this  case  of  individual  ownership  came  to  pass  (if  such  it  was)  there 
is  nothing  to  indicate. 

Of  the  Indian  names  in  the  deed  of  1674,  the  first  in  order,  and 
doubtless  the  first  in  importance,  is  Nesaheagun.  The  name  is 
spelled  in  a  variety  of  ways,  and  seems  to  be  identical  with  Neesou- 
weegun,  a  name  found  attached  to  an  agreement  with  the  towns- 
men of  New  London  in  1651.*  But  the  bearer  of  the  name  (known 
also  as  Daniel)  could  scarcely  have  been  the  same  person.  Nesahea- 
gun seems  to  have  been  the  successor,  and,  in  accordance  with 
Indian  law,  the  nephew  of  Sehat  (Seocut  ?)  who  was  the  first  sachem 
of  the  Farmington  tribe  with  whom  the  English  became  acquainted. 
Nesaheagun  is  spoken  of  as  "  sachem  of  Poquonnock  in  Windsor," 
and  about  the  year  1666  sold  a  tract  of  land  measuring  twenty-eight 
thousand  acres  to  certain  agents  of  that  town.  His  name  does  not 
reappear  in  the  second  and  third  deeds;  but  the  first  name  in  the 
third  deed  is  John  a  Compound,  which,  by  the  way,  stands  next  to 
Nesaheagun's  in  the  first,  and  the  fourth  is  Warun  Compound,  who 
is  described  as  "  Nesaheg's  son,"  which  may  mean  his  nephew.  If 
John  a  Compound  was  also  a  nephew  of  Nesaheagun,  or  his  brother, 
he  may  have  been  his  successor  in  the  sachemship.  This  name. 
Compound,  if  not  of  English  origin,  has  been  forced  into  a  strange 
resemblance  to  English;  but  there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  it  is  an 
Indian  name  in  disguise,  possibly  a  place-name.  In  the  third  deed 
— that  of  December  2,  1684 — the  full  name  is  given  as  John  a  Com- 
powne.  The  chief  who  figures  most  prominently  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Virginia  was  named  Powhattan,  from  the  falls  in  the  river 
{pauat'hanne)  near  which  he  lived.  Is  it  not  possible  that  the 
"  Indian  proprietor "  who  here  comes  before  us  may  have  been 
named  in  a  similar  way  from  the  "other-side  falls,"  wherever  these 
may  have  been  ?  At  all  events,  acompown-tuk  (if  there  were  such  a 
name)  would  mean  "  the  falls  on  the  other  side,"  and  might  easily 
have  been  transformed  by  "  otosis "  into  "  a-Compound."  The 
name  Compounce,  attached  to  a  pond  in  the  north-western  part  of 
Southington,  is  usually  regarded  as  a  corruption  of  "Compound's;" 
but  in  this  latest  form  it  resembles  more  closely  the  name  as  it 
appears  in  the  Farmington  deed  of  1673,  where  it  is  given  as  Com- 
paus. 

The  third  name  in  the  deed  of  1674,  Queramouch,  is  interesting 
as  being  identical  with  one  of  the  three  Indian  names  already  men- 
tioned in  the  curious  deed  of  1657,  where  it  appears  as  Querrimus 

•  President  Stiles,  First  Series  Mass.  His.  Coll.,  Vol.  X,  p.  xoi. 


INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES.  33 

or  Queromus.  His  associates  in  the  deed  of  1657  were  Kepaquamp 
and  Mataneag.  This  last  name  may  afford  another  instance  of  the 
naming  of  a  chief  from  the  place  where  he  lived.  There  was  a  place 
called  Mattaneaug,  or  Matianock,  near  the  mouth  of  Farmington 
river  in  Windsor.  In  the  Colonial  Records  of  1640  it  is  called  Mat- 
tanag.  Arramamet,  described  in  1636  as  "  sachem  of  Matianocke," 
lived  near  the  present  line  between  Windsor  and  Hartford,  and 
twenty  years  later — in  1657 — the  same  sachem  or  his  successor  may 
have  been  designated  by  the  name  of  the  place  at  which  he  resided.* 

Of  the  names  Uncowate  and  "  Nenapush  Squaw "  we  know 
nothing  further.  But  Patucko,  whose  name  is  the  first  in  the  deed 
of  April,  1684,  and  who  is  superseded  in  the  deed  of  December 
following  by  "  Patucko's  squaw,"  ought  to  interest  us  especially  as 
the  source  of  one  of  the  place-names  that  have  survived  to  the  pres- 
ent day.  One  would  hardly  suspect  a  connection  between  Tucker's 
Ring,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town  of  Wolcott,  and  this 
Indian  "  proprietor,"  but  such  a  connection  exists.  A  suggestion  of 
it  is  found  in  the  name  Ptuckering  Road,  and  in  a  deed  of  1731,  cited 
in  Dr.  Bronson's  "  History  of  Waterbury,"  Potucko's  Ring  is 
definitely  mentioned.  If  the  story  is  true  that  he  "  kindled  a  fire 
in  the  form  of  a  large  ring  around  a  hill,  in  hunting  deer,  and  per- 
ished within  it,"  that  may  account  for  the  place-name.  At  the  same 
time  it  is  worthy  of  mention  ihQX  potucko  (in  the  Narragansett  dialect 
puttukki^  in  the  Massachusetts, /<f/«>^^///)  means  round.  Dr.  Trumbull 
calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  "  a  Patackhouse,  sister  of  Nessahe- 
gen  of  Pequannoc,  signed  a  deed  to  Windsor  in  1665."!  If  Potucko 
lost  his  life  (in  the  way  indicated  by  tradition,  or  otherwise) 
between  April  and  December,  1684,  the  substitution  of  his  squaw's 
name  for  his  in  the  later  deed  would  readily  be  explained. 

Attention  has  already  been  called  to  the  fact  that  while  Moman- 
tow's  squaw  is  named  as  one  of  the  grantors  in  the  deed  of  April, 
1684,  Momantow  himself  was  among  those  who  witnessed  it.  This 
would  indicate  that  the  wife  had  certain  rights  in  the  second  grant 
of  land  in  which  the  husband  did  not  share.  Whether  this  was  the 
case  with  other  squaws  who  are  named  in  the  deed  as  grantors,  it  is 
difficult  to  say;  but  this  can  hardly  be  the  explanation  of  the  substi- 
tution of  Potucko's  squaw  for  Potucko  himself  in  the  deed  of  Decem- 
ber, 1684,  because  the  land  therein  described  is  substantially  the 

*S€e  Trumbuirs  '*  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  p.  27. 

t  *'  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  p.  57.  In  several  of  the  Algonkin  versions  of  the  Lord^s  prayer, 
Petukkentag  ox  woxci^  cognate  word  is  used  for  "bread,'*  meaning  *' something  round/'  In  the  Mohegan 
dialect  it  is  ^tqw>ffk:  in  the  Virginia   tuckahoe^  whence  the  modem  "  hoe-cake." 

Potucko^s  name  is  perpetuated  in  another  way  in  Waterbary — in  Potucko  Assembly  (No.  sag)  of  the 
**  Royal  Society  of  Good  Fellows,"  an  insurance  fraternity. 


34  HISTORY  OF  WATEBBUBT, 

same  as  that  which  Potucko,  with  others,  deeded  ten  years  before. 
It  is  nevertheless  true  that  a  study  of  these  names  and  relationships 
inevitably  suggests  that  the  grns^  as  distinguished  from  the  tribe, 
had  come  to  be  somehow  recognized  in  the  ownership  of  land  as 
well  as  of  personal  property.  The  rule  which  (as  we  have  seen)  had 
become  well  established  among  the  Aztecs  may  have  begun  to 
operate  among  the  Indians  of  Connecticut. 

The  only  other  names  in  the  three  Farmington  deeds  that 
require  notice  are  Quatoquechuck,  who  has  already  been  referred 
to  as  Taphow's  son,  and  Hachatowsuck.  This  last  name,  under 
the  form  "  Hatchetowset,*'  occurs  frequently  in  the  Woodbury  and 
Litchfield  records,  but  evidently  as  designating  another  person.  He 
is  mentioned  in  the  Litchfield  Land  Records  as  buying  and  selling 
land  as  late  as  1736,  and  in  1741  he  petitioned  the  General  Court  to 
help  him  to  a  division  of  the  Indian  lands  at  Pootatuck,  at  which 
date  his  eldest  child  was  aged  sixteen.  It  is  evident  from  these 
facts  that  the  Pootatuck  Indian  could  not  be  identical  with  the  signer 
of  the  deed  of  1684.  One  who  was  sufficiently  prominent  at  that 
date  to  stand  second  among  the  native  "  proprietors  "  of  Mattatuck, 
would  hardly  be  speculating  in  land  fifty-two  years  afterward. 
Besides,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  same  name  frequently 
belonged  to  persons  of  different  tribes.  If  we  could  analyze  Indian 
personal  names,  we  should  probably  find  it  to  be  a  matter  of  course 


I'BSTLB  OF  TURKEY    HILL  INDIANS.*       (sEK  NEXT   I'AGE). 

that  there  should  be  a  Hachetowsuck  in  the  Tunxis  tribe  and  an 
Atchetouset  among  the  Pootatucks.  But  it  illustrates  the  curious 
changes  to  which  Indian  names  were  subject  on  European  lips,  to 

*  This  "  pestle  *'  was  found  in  1883,  in  a  cave  (afterward  destroyed  by  quanryinfi:)  at  Turkey  Hill,  near 
Turkey  Brook,  Derby.  It  is  17  inches  long  and  2>^  by  s^i  inches  in  diameter  at  the  middle.  The  mate- 
rial is  a  compact  mica  slate.     It  is  worn  smooth  on  one  side,  but  not  at  the  ends. 


INDIAN  DEEDS  AND  SIGNATURES.  35 

find  that  the  Pootatuck  Atchetouset,  in  his  petition  to  the  General 
Court,  appears  under  the  guise  of  **  Hatchet  Tousey."  Many  years 
later  a  squaw  of  the  Turkey  Hill  band,  near  Derby,  bore  the  name 
of  Moll  Hatchet.  She  was  said  to  have  been  so  called  from  the  fact 
that  she  habitually  carried  a  hatchet  with  her;  but  the  name  seems 
to  have  belonged  to  her  family  and  was  very  probably  a  remnant  of 
some  such  genuine  Indian  name  as  Hatchetowsuck.  In  "  Hatchet 
Tousey  "  the  transformation  may  be  seen  taking  place. 

When  we  turn  to  the  deed  given  by  the  Paugasuck  or  Derby 
Indians,  we  find  an  entirely  new  set  of  names  before  us,  represent- 
ing another  and  for  the  most  part  a  distinct  tribe.  The  names 
mentioned  in  the  body  of  the  deed,  and  at  the  end  of  it,  are  as 
follows :  Awawus,  Conquapatana,  Curan,  Cocapadous,  Cocoeson, 
Tataracum,  Kekasahum,  Wenuntacun,  Wechumunke,  Weruncaske, 
Arumpiske  and  Notanumhke.  Of  the  twelve  persons  thus  desig- 
nated the  first  eight  appear  to  have  been  men,  the  other  four  were 
women.  Of  the  relations  of  the  grantors  to  one  another  and  to 
other  Indians,  there  are  some  slight  indications.  Although  the 
name  of  Awawus  comes  first  in  the  list,  it  is  Conquepatana  who  is 
designated  "sagamore,"  that  is,  sachem.*  But  Awawus,  as  the 
position  of  his  name  indicates,  must  have  been  sufficiently  promi- 
nent among  the  grantors  to  hold  a  representative  place;  for  in  a 
memorandum  attached  to  the  deed  by  Governor  Robert  Treat  of  Mil- 
ford,  he  calls  him  "the  Indian  proprietor."  "Awawas,  the  Indian 
proprietor,"  he  says,  "  appeared  at  my  house  and  owned  this  deed 
above  mentioned  to  be  his  act,  and  that  he  has  signed  and  sealed  to 
it."  On  the  i8th  of  April,  Conquepatana  made  a  similar  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  deed  before  the  governor,  "and  said  he  knew  what 
was  in  it,  and  said  it  was  weregeny  f    The  relation  between  the  name 

*The  impression  is  prevalent — based  upon  the  positive  statements  of  some  of  the  earlier  writers — that  the 
terms  "  sachem"  and  *'  sagamore"  designated  two  distinct  offices,  the  second  inferior  and  subordinate  to  the 
first.  But  there  seems  to  be  no  good  ground  for  such  a  representation.  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull,  in  his  edition 
of  Roger  Williams's  **  Key,"  note  392,  says  that  a  comparison  of  the  several  forms  of  the  word  as  found  in 
different  Algonkin  dialects  "establishes  the  identity  of  sachem  with  sagamore." 

In  the  Massachusetts  vocabulary  attached  to  Wood's  *'  New  England's  Prospect,'*  published  in  1635,  sag- 
amore and  sachem  are  said  to  be  the  same,  although  Wood  says  elsewhere  (in  the  monarchical  phraseology  so 
generally  adopted)  that  '*a  king  of  large  dominions  hath  his  viceroys  or  inferior  kings  under  him,  to  agitate 
his  state  affairs  and  keep  his  subjects  in  good  decorum.  Other  offices  there  be,"  he  adds,  "  but  how  to  distin- 
guish them  by  name  is  something  difficult  "  (p.  90,  reprint  of  1865).  Daniel  Gookin,  on  the  other  hand, 
writing  about  1674,  seems  to  make  a  difference  between  the  two  terms.  He  says,  speaking  of  the  Pequots  : 
**  Their  chief  sachem  held  dominion  over  divers  petty  sagamores."    (First  Series  Mass.  His.  Coll.,  vol.  I.  p. 

M7)- 

f  W'eregen  means  "a  good  thing.''*  In  the  form  Wauregan  the  w^ord  has  been  appropriated  as  the  name 
of  a  manufacturing  company  and  a  village  in  eastern  Connecticut.  Dr.  Trumbull  ('*  Indian  Names,**  p.  79) 
says:  **  It  was  doubtless  suggested  by  a  line  in  Dr.  Elisha  Tracy's  epitaph  on  Sam  Uncas  in  the  Mohcgan 

burying-ground  in  Norwich  : 

'  For  courage  bold,  for  things  wauregan 

He  was  the  glory  of  Moheagon.*  '* 


36  HISTORY  OF  WATEEBUBT, 

of  the  sagamore  and  the  fourth  name  in  the  list,  Cocapadoush, 
is  not  apparent  at  first  glance,  but  comes  to  view  when  we  give 
them  as  they  are  given  in  another  deed  (April  i,  1709),  where  they 
are  written  "  Cockapotanah,"  and  "  Cockapotoch."  The  sagamore 
ig  known  in  later  records  as  Konkapot,  and  he  who  stands  fourth  in 
the  list  was  Konkapot-oos,  perhaps  Little  Konkapot.  It  may  be 
worth  while  to  mention  in  this  connection  that  Konkapotanah  lived 
until  1731,  and  that  on  June  28,  1711,  he  and  his  son  "Tom  Indian** 
deeded  to  the  proprietors  of  Waterbury,  for  a  consideration  of 
twenty-five  shillings,  "a  small  piece  of  land"  north  of  Derby 
bounds,  west  of  the  Naugatuck  river,  and  south  of  Toantuck  brook.* 
In  a  deed  given  by  Nonnewaug  and  other  Pootatuck  Indians,  in 
1700,  to  the  people  of  Woodbury,  Konkapotana's  son  is  included 
among  the  signers,  and  also  another  of  the  grantors  we  are  just 
now  considering,  Wenuntacun;  from  which  it  would  appear  that 
close  relationships  existed  between  the  Paugasucks  and  the  Poota- 
tucks  similar  to  those  between  the  Paugasucks  and  the  Tunxis.  Of 
the  other  four  men  in  our  list,  namely  Curan  and  Cocoeson,  two  are 
represented  not  only  personally,  but  by  the  women  whose  names 
follow.  One  of  these,  Arumpiske,  is  said  to  be  Curan's  squaw,  and 
another,  Notanumke,  Curan's  sister.  The  other  two  women, 
Wechumunke  and  Weruncaske,  are  designated  as  Cocoeson's  sis- 
ters. 

By  the  mention  of  Cocoeson's  sisters  we  are  brought  to  a  consid- 
eration of  the  relation  of  this  fourth  deed  to  the  other  Waterbury 
deeds,  or  rather,  the  relation  of  these  Paugasuck  Indians  to  the 
Farmington  tribe  in  the  ownership  of  Mattatuck  territory.  It  has 
already  been  suggested  that  Wawowus  of  the  second  deed  (April 
29,  1684)  was  identical  with  Alwaush  of  the  first.  Is  it  not  proba- 
ble that  Awawus,  whose  name  comes  first  in  this  Paugasuck  deed — 
the  "  Indian  proprietor  "  who  appeared  before  Governor  Treat — is 
the  same  person  ?  It  is  possible,  too,  that  the  Curan  of  this  fourth 
deed  is  identical  with  Caran-chaquo,  of  the  first,  and  the  position 
of  his  name,  between  Conkapotana  and  Conkapotoos,  suggests  a 
relationship  between  him  and  them.     But,  however  this  may  be,  we 

*  It  would  b«  interesting  to  know  whether  there  was  any  relation  of  kinship  between  Konkapotana  and 
Captain  Konkapot,  who  figures  so  prominently  among  the  Stockbridge  Indians  of  the  upper  Housatonic.  A 
deed  of  the  territory  comprising  the  **  upper  and  lower  Housatonic  townships,'*  made  in  ^1724,  was  signed  by 
Konkapot  and  twenty  others.  He  received  his  captain's  commission  from  Governor  Belcher,  in  1734,  was 
baptized  in  1735,  and  died  previous  to  1770— one  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  mission  to  the  Housatonic  Indians, 
of  which  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  born  in  Waterbury,  was  the  founder. 

The  name  is  perpetuated  in  Konkapot  river  in  North  Canaan,  and  in  Konkapot's  brook  in  the  southeast- 
em  part  of  Stockbridge,  Mass.  This  latter  stream  has  become  in  the  mouths  of  the  people  "  Konk's  brook," 
and  latterly,  with  the  help  of  "  otosis  "  has  been  degraded  into  "  Skunk's  brook.'*  Thus  is  the  stately  name 
of  the  sachem  of  the  Paugasucks  reduced  to  an  offensive  monosyllable! 


INDIAN  DESDS  AND  SIGNATURES.  37 

may  feel  certain  that  the  sisters  of  Cocoeson  mentioned  here  are 
identical  with  the  "  Cocoeson's  sisters "  who  signed  the  deed  of 
December  2,  1684.  And  this  being  the  case,  we  are  in  a  position  to 
make  still  further  identifications.  We  learn  from  the  deed  of 
December  2  that  Cocoeson's  sisters  were  James's  daughters,  and  that 
one  of  them  was  Patucko's  squaw  and  Atumtucko's  mother.  This 
establishes  the  fact,  suggested  by  his  name,  that  Atumtucko  was 
Patucko's  son;  it  also  explains  why,  in  the  deed  of  1674,  Patucko 
"promised  for  James,"  and  suggests  to  us  that  we  are  to  look  for 
this  James  among  the  Paugasucks.  In  a  deed  of  1659,  by  which  the 
Paugasucks  sold  to  Lieutenant  Thomas  Wheeler  the  land  between  the 
Housatonic  and  Naugatuck  rivers,  we  find  the  name  of  "  Pagasett 
James."  It  is  almost  impossible  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  this 
Paugasuck  James  was  the  James  who  was  the  father  of  Cocoeson 
and  his  sisters,  and  that  the  sister  who  in  the  fourth  deed  is  desig- 
nated a  squaw,  that  is,  Wechumunke,  was  Patucko's  squaw  and 
Atumtucko's  mother.  At  the  sale  of  December  2,  it  would  appear 
that  "Atumtoco's  mother,  Jemes's  dafter,"  was  not  present,  but 
was  represented  by  the  other  sister^  Werumcaske.  "  Cockeweson's 
sister's  dafter  "  is  also  mentioned  as  among  the  signers. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  to  what  extent  these  twelve  grantors 
were  representative  of  the  Paugasuck  tribe,  or  whether  there  were 
any  other  connections  by  marriage  between  the  Paugasucks  and 
the  Tunxis  than  the  two  deeds  reveal  to  us.  Besides,  in  attempting 
to  interpret  and  estimate  the  very  slight  data  afforded  us,  we  must 
remember  what  has  been  said  in  regard  to  Indian  systems  of  con- 
sanguinity, and  the  risk  of  our  being  misled  by  English  terms,  mis- 
takenly applied  to  Indian  relationships.  If  our  supply  of  facts 
were  larger,  we  might  find  among  the  aboriginal  proprietors  of 
Mattatuck  unquestionable  evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  gens,  of 
inheritance  through  the  mother  (as  in  so  many  of  the  Indian 
tribes),  and  of  the  descent  of  the  sachemship  not  from  father  to 
son,  but  from  uncle  to  nephew.  Such  facts  as  we  have  brought  to 
view  seem  to  point  in  that  direction. 

The  results  of  such  an  examination  as  this  of  old  records  must 
seem  trifling  and  unsatisfactory.  But  it  will  be  worth  while  to 
have  labored  over  them  if  the  aboriginal  owners  and  occupants  of 
Waterbury  are  thus  brought  more  distinctly  before  us.  It  gives  us 
a  somewhat  firmer  hold  upon  these  flitting  forms  of  the  wilderness 
to  know  their  names  and  some  of  the  ties  which  bound  them  to  one 
another.  We  see  them  roaming  the  forests  and  threading  their  way 
along  the  river  banks,  and  when  the  white  man  comes  with  his  money 
and  coats  and  axes  and  hoes  we  see  them  gathering  from  the  "  long 


38  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

river  "on  the  east  and  the  Housatotiic  on  the  south  for  a  confer- 
ence and  a  sale,  and  after  the  deeds  have  been  drawn  up  and 
signed,  and  marked  with  the  red  man's  "marks,"  returning  to  their 
camping-grounds  little  aware  of  the  meaning  of  the  bargain  they 
have  made.  When  Governor  Treat  made  his  memorandum  on  the 
Pangasuck  deed  that  Conquepatana  had  appeared  before  him  and 
acknowledged  it,  he  added  that  the  sagamore  "said  he  knew  what 
was  in  it  and  said  it  was  jveregen  "  [good].  But  how  little  he  knew  ! 
How  little  he  appreciated  the  far-reaching  significance  of  the  trans- 
action that  had  taken  place  a  few  weeks  before  on  the  banks  of  the 
Naugatuck.  But  it  was  a  peaceable  and  friendly  sale,  and  so  were 
the  others  that  had  preceded  it.  The  rival  claimants  were  not  hos- 
tile but  friendly  tribes,  and  the  friendship  of  both  of  them  for  the 
white  man  remained  unbroken  to  the  end. 


■hawk  pipn  o( 

.nM,M=,d.j..    Ui.o 

ckllcilcly  tnera 

vcdiina.    iu  length 

perhips  aliM  I 

ii.  drillioK  iht  h 

ok  thmutrh  the  stem 

bowl,    Th«.m 

•p«>>l>»o(.l>" 

The  p.p.  wilh 

(Me  «id  figure  upon 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ABORIGINAL  PLACE-NAMES  OF  MATTATUCK — OBSOLETE  NAMES  IN  THE 
PAUGASUCK  DEED  OF  1685 — NAMES  WHICH  STILL  SURVIVE — NAMES, 
NOT    INDIAN,    CONTAINING    REMINISCENCES    OF    INDIAN    OCCUPANCY. 

OF  the  several  deeds  referred  to  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the 
fourth,  given  by  the  Paugasuck  Indians  on  February  20, 1685, 
is  of  peculiar  interest  for  two  reasons— because  of  the  vari- 
ous memoranda  which  accompany  the  signatures,  and  because  of 
the  remarkable  list  of  Indian  place-names  which  it  contains. 

This  deed  conveys  to  the  settlers  of  Mattatuck  **  twenty  parcels 
of  land,  by  their  names  distinguished;"  but  the  "parcels"  were 
evidently  small,  and  they  are  designated  only  by  their  Indian 
names,  and  with  one  or  two  exceptions  are  not  "distinguished" 
otherwise.  The  names  seem  to  have  been  recorded  with  unusual 
accuracy  (as  were  also  the  personal  names  in  the  deed),  and,  taken 
as  a  whole,  present  an  inviting  but  unproductive  field  for  linguistic 
and  topographical  investigation.  The  tract  conveyed  lay  on  both 
sides  of  the  Naugatuck  river,  so  that  the  "  twenty  parcels  of  land  " 
are  in  two  groups.     The  eastern  section  is  described  as  follows  : 

"[i]  Wecobemeas,  the  land  upon  the  brook  or  small  river  that 
comes  through  the  straits  northward  of  Lebanon,  and  runs  into 
Naugatuck  river  at  south  end  of  Mattatuck  bounds,  called  by  the 
English  Beacon  Hill  brook,  and  [2]  Pacowachuck  or  Asawacomuck, 
and  [3]  Watapecke,  [4]  Pacoquarocke,  [5]  Megunhuttake,  [6]  Mus- 
quanke,  [7]  Mamusqunke,  [8]  Squapnasutte,  and  [9]  Wachu  ;  which 
nine  parcels  of  land  lie  on  the  east  side  of  Naugatuck  river,  south- 
ward from  Mattatuck  town  ;  which  comprises  all  the  land  betwixt 
the  forementioned  river,  or  Beacon  Hill  brook,  and  the  brook  at  the 
hither  end  of  Judd's  Meadows,  called  by  the  name  Sqontk  ;  and  from 
Naugatuck  river  to  run  eastward  to  Wallingford  and  New  Haven 
bounds ;  with  all  the  lowland  on  the  two  brooks  forementioned." 

And  this  is  the  account  of  the  western  section  : 

"And  other  parcels  on  the  west  side;  the  first  parcel  called  by  the 
name  Saracasks  ;  the  rest  as  follow  :  [2]  Petowtucke,  [3]  Weqarunsh, 
[4]  Capage,  [5]  Cocumpasucke,  [6]  Mequenhuttocke,  [7]  Panootan, 
[8]  Mattuckhott,  [9]  Cocacocks,  [10]  Quarasksucks,  [11 J  Towantucke  ; 
and  half  the  Cedar  swamp,  with  the  land  adjacent  from  it  eastward; 
which  swamp  lies  northward  of  Quassapaug  pond  ;  we  say,  to  run 


40  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

an  east  line  from  thence  to  Naugfatuck  river ;  all  which  parcels  of 
land  forementioned  lying  southward  from  the  said  line,  and  ex- 
tend or  are  comprised  within  the  hutments  following :  From  the 
forementioned  swamp  a  straight  line  to  be  run  to  the  middle  of 
Towantucke  pond  (or  the  Cedar  swamp  a  south  line),  which  is 
the  west  bounds  toward  Woodbury,  and  an  east  line  from  Towan- 
tucke pond  to  be  the  butment  south,  and  Naugatuck  river  the  east 
butment,  till  we  come  to  Achetaquopag  or  Warunscopage,  and  then 
to  but  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river  upon  the  forementioned 
lands." 

The  general  outline  of  this  tract  of  land — at  any  rate,  of  that 
division  of  it  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  river — is  not  difficult  to 
trace  ;  but  to  distinguish  the  **  twenty  parcels,"  and  to  identify  them 
at  the  present  day,  is  quite  impossible,  and  would  probably  be 
impossible  even  if  we  knew  the  meaning  of  their  Indian  names. 
The  southern  boundary  of  the  eastern  section  is  distinctly  stated 
to  be  Beacon  Hill  brook,  and  the  northern  boundary  "the  brook 
at  the  hither  end  [that  is,  the  northern  end]  of  Judd's  Meadows, 
called  by  the  name  Sqontk,"  which  must  be  the  stream  known 
to-day  as  Fulling  Mill  brook,  which  empties  into  the  Naugatuck  at 
Union  City.  The  limits  of  the  western  section  are  not  clearly 
stated,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  line 
running  easterly  from  Cedar  swamp  (**  which  swamp  lies  northward 
of  Quassapaug  pond")  to  the  river,  and  on  the  south  by  a  line 
running  from  Towantuck  pond  to  the  river,  and  on  the  west  by 
Woodbury.  The  west  bank  of  the  Naugatuck  was  to  be  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  upper  part  of  this  western  tract,  but  below 
Achetaquopag  (or  Warunscopag)  it  was  "  to  abut  upon  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  upon  the  forementioned  lands."  In  other  words,  the 
native  proprietors,  claiming  ownership  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
below  Fulling  Mill  brook,  claimed  ownership  also  of  the  river  itself. 

By  observing  closely  the  indications  thus  given,  we  are  enabled 
to  "  locate  "  a  few  of  these  parcels  of  land  with  some  certainty.  We 
know  "  Towantuck  "  because  the  name  has  survived  to  the  present 
day — the  only  one  of  these  twenty  names  that  has  not  become 
obsolete.  The  pond  with  which  it  is  here  connected,  is  now  better 
known  as  Long  Meadow  pond  (in  Middlebury,  near  the  Oxford  line), 
but  the  name  has  become  attached  to  a  station  on  the  New  England 
railroad,  and  has  also  been  selected  as  the  designation  of  a  "  tribe" 
of  the  *^  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,"  organized  in  Waterbury  in 
1892.  We  know  also  the  land  designated  by  the  name  "  Wecobe- 
meas,"  because  it  is  distinctly  described  as  "the  land  upon  the 
small  river  that  comes  through  the  straits  northward  of  Lebanon 


INDIAN  GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES.  41 

Improbably  where  Straitsville  is  now  situated],  called  by  the  English 
Beacon  Hill  brook."*  And  there  is  another  name,  although  not  in- 
cluded among  the  twenty,  which  the  language  of  the  deed  enables 
us  to  fix  somewhat  definitely.  In  the  phrase,  "the  brook  at  the 
hither  end  of  Judd's  Meadows,  called  by  the  name  Sqontk,"  the 
name  seems  to  belong  to  the  stream  rather  than  the  meadows,  and 
in  that  case,  as  has  already  been  said,  represents  the  well-known 
Fulling  Mill  brook  of  the  present  day.  If  it  refers  to  the  meadows, 
its  identity  is  equally  well  established.  In  this  neighborhood, 
apparently,  we  must  fix  other  two  names.  According  to  the  inter- 
pretation already  given,  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  tract  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Naugatuck  was  the  west  bank  of  that  river  down  to 
a  certain  point,  and  below  that  the  east  bank  of  the  river  was  the 
boundary.  The  point  at  which  the  boundary-line  crossed  the  river 
is  named  "  Achetaquopag  or  Warunscopage ;"  and  if  the  claim  of 
the  Paugasucks  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Fulling  Mill  brook,  as  seems  evident,  then  must  the  spot 
designated  by  these  two  names  have  been  near  the  mouth  of  that 
brook.  Whether  the  "  Copage  "  which  is  mentioned  among  the 
twenty  parcels  of  land  is  identical  with  one  or  both  of  these,  must 
be  considered  further  on.  Of  the  other  names  in  the  list  of  twenty 
there  is  none  that  can  be  positively  identified,  and  only  a  few  whose 
meaning  can  be  ascertained  with  any  certainty.  Foremost  among 
these  is  "Wachu,"  the  ninth  name  in  the  first  group.  Wadchu 
always  means  mountain  or  hill,  and  we  should,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
connect  it  with  Beacon  Mountain,  were  it  not  for  the  indications  in 
the  deed  that  Beacon  Hill  brook,  which  flows  north  of  it,  was  the 
southern  limit  of  the  eastern  tract.  There  are  other  heights  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  in  that  vicinity,  but  none  to  which  the  name 
**  Wachu  "  could  be  so  fittingly  applied.  Although  there  is  nothing 
in  the  deeds  to  help  us  to  further  identifications,  there  are,  never- 
theless, two  or  three  points  worth  noticing.  There  is,  for  instance, 
a  "  Megunhuttake  "  (Mequenhuttocke)  in  both  groups  of  names ;  but 
it  does  not  follow  that  there  were  two  distinct  and  widely  separated 
parcels  of  land  thus  designated ;  the  name  was  doubtless  applied  to 
a  tract  bordering  on  the  river  and  extending  along  both  banks.  A 
connection  between  "Copage,"  which  stands  fourth  in  the  second 

*}.  W.  Barber,  writing  in  1836,  or  earlier,  says:  ''About  fourteen  miles  from  New  Haven  the  main 
road  to  Waterbury  passes  by  Beacon  Mountain,  a  rude  ridge  of  almost  naked  rock,  stretching  southwest.  At 
this  place  is  Collins's  tavern,  long  known  as  an  excellent  public  house,  and  the  Straitsville  post  office.  About 
half  a  mile  south  of  Mr.  Collins's  the  road  passes  through  a  narrow  defile  formed  by  a  gap  in  the  mountain 
[doubtless  the  ** straits"  referred  to  in  the  deed],  barely  sufficient  in  width  for  a  road  and  a  small  but 
sprightly  brook  which  winds  through  the  narrow  passage.  On  both  sides  the  cliffs  are  lofty,  particularly  on 
the  west ;  on  the  east,  at  a  little  distance  from  the  road,  they  overhang  in  a  threatening  manner."  (*'  Con- 
necticut Historical  Collections,"  p.  x86,  fi^t  edition). 


42  HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT. 

group,  and  the  two  names  "  Achetacopag  "  and  "  Warunscopag  "  has* 
already  been  suggested.  The  close  connection  between  the  sixth 
and  seventh  names  in  the  first  group—"  Musquanke  "  and  "  Mamus- 
qunke  " — is  obvious  ;  and  the  same  is  true,  so  far  as  the  structure  of 
the  words  is  concerned,  of  "  Pacowachuck "  and  "  Pacoquarocke." 
The  piece  of  land  known  as  "  Pacowachuck "  was  known  also  by 
another  name  entirely  different,  "  Asawacomuck." 

As  regards  the  meanings  of  these  names,  it  would  be  interesting 
to  know  them,  even  if  the  places  to  which  they  belonged  could  not 
be  identified.  Every  Indian  name  had  a  meaning,  and  was  "so 
framed  as  to  convey  that  meaning  with  precision ; "  every  place- 
name  "described  the  locality  to  which  it  was  affixed."*  But  the 
names  in  the  list  before  us  are  in  the  Quiripi  dialect,  and  do  not 
readily  lend  themselves  to  any  such  analysis  as  can  now  be  made. 
The  most  that  can  be  done  is  to  throw  out  a  few  suggestions  and  to 
adduce  an  occasional  parallel. 

The  first  name  in  the  list  of  twenty— "Wecobemeas" — bears  a 
close  resemblance  to  "Wecuppeemee,"  the  name  of  a  small  river  in 
Bethlehem  and  Woodbury,  one  of  the  three  streams  which  unite  to 
form  the  Pomperaug.  The  stream  seems  to  have  derived  its  name 
from  an  Indian  chief  (Wickapema,  Weekpemes)  who  is  on  record  as 
a  witness  to  certain  Woodbury  deeds.  The  name  means  "bass- 
wood"  or  "linden."  But  whether  Wecuppeemee,  the  chief,  called 
himself  "the  Linden,"  or  was  so  denominated  by  the  English 
because  he  lived  at  a  place  where  lindens  grew,  is,  as  Dr.  Trumbull 
remarks,  doubtful.  The  name  which  in  Woodbury  is  connected 
with  a  stream  is  applied  in  the  list  before  us  to  "the  land  upon 
Beacon  Hill  brook."  It  probably  designated  a  spot  where  bass- 
wood  trees  grew,  and  which  could  easily  be  distinguished  in  this 
way.  In  the  second  name,  "  Pacowachuck,"  one  readily  recognizes 
wachu,  "mountain"  or  "hill,"  as  a  component  part,  and  \i  paco  is  a 
variation  of  pahque^  as  it  frequently  is,  the  entire  word  must  mean 
"at  the  clear  (or  open)  mountain,"  and  the  reference  must  be  to 
some  hill  divested  of  woods.  A  similar  analysis  would  give  us  as 
the  meaning  of  Pacoquaroke  "  clear  long  place,"  referring  perhaps  to 
some  strip  of  meadow  on  the  river-bank,  or  some  smooth  place  in 
the  river  itself.  The  alternative  designation  of  "Pacowachuck," 
which  is  " Asawacomuck "  (ashaway - commok)  seems  to  mean  "an 
enclosed  place  between."  In  the  name  "  Musquanke  "  a  resemblance 
may  be  traced  to  Massacunnock  {Mas/iequanoke),  the  Indian  name  of 
Falcon  Island,  south  of  Guilford,  which  means  "  place  of  fish-hawks," 

*  Dr.  Trumbull,  "  Composition  of  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  in  V^ol.  II.  of  "  Collections  of  the  Conn. 
His.  Society,"  pp.  3,  4. 


INDIAN  OEOORAPHWAL  NAMES. 


43 


or  the  root  of  the  name  may  be  m'squammaug^  meaning  "red  fish," 
that  is,  salmon.    But  the  name  **  Mamusquunke  "  which  is  associated 
with  the  other,  suggests  a  derivation  different  from  both  of  these. 
In  the  third  name  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  "  Wequarunsh,"  the 
prefix  wequa  is  a  familiar  one,  meaning  "at  the  end,"  and  thence  "a 
point."     It  is  possible  that  in  the  remainder  of  the  word  we  have  the 
inseparable  generic  - ^w/j>&  ("a  standing  rock"),  in  which  case  the 
name  would  mean  "at  the  end  of  the  ledge,"  or  would  designate 
some  place  or  point  with  an  "upright  rock  at  the  end."*     In  "Pan- 
ootan,"  one  can  hardly  help  suspecting  that  the  n  of  the  first  sylla- 
ble ought  to  have  been  written  «,  in  which  case  we  should  find  in 
the  word  a  reminder  of  our  old  friend  Powhattan  and  the  "  falls  " 
which    gave   him  his  name.f     Pauat-han  means   "falls   in   a  rapid 
stream ;"  but  whether  there  are  falls  or  even  rapids  in  the  Nauga- 
tuck,  within  the  limits  indicated  by  the  deed,  of  sufl&cient  import- 
ance to  justify  such  an  appellation,  may  be  open  to  question.     In 
the  name  which  follows  this,  "  Mattuckhott,"  the  first  syllable  may 
represent  matta^  "without,"  which  appears  again  in  "Mattatuck,"  or 
the   whole  word  may  stand  for  nCtugk-ut^  meaning  "at  the  tree." 
The  only  other  name  of  the  twenty,  of  which  anything  definite  can 
be  said  is  "Capage."     It  is  substantially  the  same  as  Cupheag,  the 
old  name  of  Stratford,  (the  same  as  Quebec  also)  and  means  "  a  place 
shut   in,"   "narrows"   or   "a  cove."     The  writer   of    this   chapter 
suggested,  in  the  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt's  "History  of  Derby," J  that 
the  name  designated  "possibly  the  narrows  in  the  river  at  Beacon 
hill."      If  this  "Capage"  is  identical  with  the  copage  in  "Acheta- 
quopag  or  Warunscopage  " — the  point  at  which  the  eastern  bound- 
ary line  crossed  the  Naugatuck — then  must  we  locate  it  at  the  north- 
ern rather  than  the  southern  end  of  the  eastern  section  of  the 
Paugasuck   grant — that  is,  at  Fulling  Mill  brook,  rather  than  at 
Beacon  hill.      But  there  is  no  good  reason  for  insisting  on  their 
identity.     As  for  "Warunscopage,"  perhaps  we  have  here  a  personal 
name  associated  with  a  place-name  in  a  quite  unusual  way.     Among 
the  signers  of  the  deeds  given  to  Waterbury,  Warun  Compound  holds 
a  leading  place.      May  not  this  spot  at  which  the  boundary  line 
crossed  the  river  have  been  known  as  Warun's  Copage  ?  and  in 


*In  the  a]^eeraent  made  May  22,  1674,  between  New  Haven,  Milford,  Branford  and  Wallingford  wiih 
reference  to  their  bounds,  in  the  memorandum  attached  to  the  New  Haven  and  Milford  section,  we  read  of 
^*a  straij^ht  line  up  into  the  country,  which  line  shall  run  upon  the  rock  or  stone  called  'the  beacon,*  which 
lieth  upon  the  upper  end  of  the  hill  called  Heacon  hill,  and  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the  bounds"  (Conn. 
Col.  Records,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  233). 

t  See  p.  32. 

X  *•  Indian  Names  of  Places,"  pp.  xciii— xcvii.  of  Orcutt's  "  Derby  ;"  see  also  Dr.  Trumbull's  "  Indian 
Geographical  Names,"  pp.  8,  23. 


44  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UR7. 

Acheta-copag    may    we    not    recognize    another    of    our    signers, 
Achetowsuck  ?    These,  however,  are  mere  possibilities.* 

In  our  interpretation  of  the  deed,  we  have  brought  these  last 
mentioned  names  into  close  association  with  "  Sqontk,"  a  name 
attached,  apparently,  to  "the  brook  at  the  hither  end  of  Judd's 
Meadows,"  which  we^have  identified  as  Fulling  Mill  brook.  The 
name,  "Squaniuck,"  is  attached  to  a  tract  of  land  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Housatonic  river,  at  the  mouth  of  Four  Mile  brook,  in  Sey- 
mour, and  to  a  settlement  of  a  dozen  houses  at  that  point.  In  a 
Derby  deed  of  1678  it  is  described  as  "a  certain  tract  called  and 
known  as  Wesquantook  and  Rockhouse  hill,"  whence  it  appears 
that  **  Squantuck"  is  an  abbreviated  form  of  the  original  name,  the 
meaning  of  which.  Dr.  Trumbull  says,  "is  not  ascertained.**  It  is 
doubtful  whether  the  name  "Sqontk,"  which  we  have  connected 
with  Fulling  Mill  brook,  is  to  •be  considered  etymologically  the 
same  as  the  Squantuck  in  Seymour,  or  is  rather  to  be  identified 
with  Scantic,  the  name  of  a  stream  in  another  part  of  the  state — 
between  East  and  South  Windsor.  The  latter  Dr.  Trumbull  derives 
from  peska-tuk,  "where  the  river  branches'*  —  a  meaning  which 
would  be  sufficiently  applicable  to  the  place  at  which  Fulling  Mill 
brook  empties  into  the  Naugatuck.  In  this  connection  it  is  worthy 
of  remark  that  in  Pierson's  Catechism,  which  represents  the  dialect 
of  the  Paugasuck  Indians,  the  word  squanta  is  used  as  the  rendering 

for  "gates.**  t 

We  have  given  our  attention  thus  far  to  the  obsolete  place- 
names  in  the  Paugasuck  deed.  But  besides  these,  and  besides 
"  Towantuck,*'  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  there  are  other 
geographical  names  mentioned  here,  which  are  by  no  means 
obsolete,  but  are  in  daily  use  and  have  attained  to  no  little  import- 
ance. These  are  "  Naugatuck  '*  and  "  Quassapaug,"  and  we  may  add 
"  Mattatuck.** 

"  Mattatuck  "  is  mentioned  in  the  deed,  first  as  the  name  of  the 
"township**  which  the  grantees  represent,  and  secondly,  as  an  alter- 
native name  of  the  river.  The  stream  which  was  known  in  the 
lower  part  of  its  course  as  the  Naugatuck,  was  known  further  north 
as  the  Mattatuck,  and  afterward  also  as  the  Waterbury  river.  By 
the  help  of  early  records,  the  history  of  the  name  can  readily  be 

*  By  mistake  of  the  copyist,  the  name  Waninscopage  appears  in  the  Waterbury  Land  Records  as  Marusco- 
pag,  the  initial  W  having  been  taken  for  an  M.  In  this  incorrect  form  it  was  transferred  to  the  list  in 
Orcutt's  "  History  of  Derby,"  p.  xcv,  and  thence  into  Dr.  Trumbull's  "  Indian  Geographical  Names/'  pp. 
3,  8,  23.  In  the  original  deed  (the  discovery  of  which  is  referred  to  elsewhere)  the  name  is  plainly  **  Wanins- 
copage.*' In  the  list  in  Orcutt's  **  Derby,"  the  name  Quarasksucks— the  nineteenth  in  our  list  of  twenty — 
was  given  as  "  Gawuskesucks,"  having  been  incorrectly  deciphered. 

t  **  Some  Helps  for  the  Indians/'  p.  65  of  Dr.  Trumbull's  reprint. 


JNDIAN  QEOORAPHIGAL  NAMES, 


45 


traced.  Its  first  occurrence  is  in  the  deed  of  February  8,  1657-8, 
already  referred  to,  by  which  certain  lands  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
Naugatuck  valley  were  granted  to  William  Lewis  and  Samuel  vSteele, 
of  Farmington.  The  deed  reads,  "  A  parcel  or  tract  of  land  called 
*  Matetacoke,'  that  is  to  say,  the  hill  from  whence  John  Stanley 
and  John  Andrews  brought  the  black  lead,  and  all  the  land  within 
eight  mile  of  that  hill  on  either  side."  "  Matetacoke "  evidently 
stands  for  Matuhtugk-ohke^  meaning  a  "place  without  trees,"  and  was 
probably  an  accurate  description  of  the  hill  referred  to,  or  of  some 
spot  in  its  neighborhood.  If  applied  to  a  hill,  it  must  have  been  a 
bare  and  treeless  hill,  and  might  with  equal  propriety  have  been 
described  by  the  name  "  Pacowachuck,"  referred  to  above.  The 
next  occurrence  of  the  name  is  fifteen  years  subsequent  to  the  deed 
to  Lewis  and  Steele.  It  is  in  a  document  embodying  the  report  of  a 
committee  of  the  General  Court  sent  out  in  behalf  of  the  people  of 
Farmington  to  inquire  in  regard  to  a  place  for  a  new  settlement  in 
the  Naugatuck  valley.  They  say  they  "  have  been  to  view  Matituc 
oocke  in  reference  to  a  plantation,"  and  "do  judge  it  capable  of  the 
same."  The  Farmington  people  immediately  petitioned  the  Court 
for  permission  to  make  a  settlement,  and  in  their  petition  they 
speak  of  "  having  found  out  a  tract  at  a  place  called  by  the  Indians 
Matitacoocke^  which  we  apprehend  may  sufficiently  accommodate  to 
make  a  small  plantation."  As  the  reference  here  is  unquestionably 
to  the  meadows  of  Waterbury,  we  must  suppose  that  an  Indian  name 
belonging  to  a  place  a  number  of  miles  further  up  the  river  was 
used  by  a  kind  of  accommodation,  or  that  during  the  interval  of 
fifteen  years  the  scope  of  the  name  had  been  gradually  enlarging 
until  in  popular  use  it  covered  the  entire  region,  or  else  that  the 
same  name  was  independently  given  to  two  distinct  localities — to 
the  place  where  the  black  lead  was  found,  because  it  was  a  bare  and 
treeless  hill,  and  to  the  Waterbury  meadows  for  a  similar  reason, 
because  they  were  destitute  of  trees.  Since  every  Indian  place- 
name  was  a  description  of  the  locality  to  which  it  was  affixed,  such 
a  coincidence  as  this  might  easily  happen. 

In  each  instance  of  its  occurrence  thus  far,  the  name  appears  in 
its  larger  form,  terminating  in  oke  or  oocke.  It  occurs  in  this  form 
in  the  petition  to  the  General  Court  in  October,  1673.  But  in  the 
record  of  the  action  of  the  Court  on  this  petition,  the  name  is  given 
in  the  shortened  form,  "  Mattatock,"  and  this  form  came  immedi- 
ately into  use.  The  committee  appointed  to  explore  the  region 
speak  in  their  report,  made  in  April,  1674,  of  having  "viewed  the 
lands  upon  the  Mattatuck  river,"  and  in  the  record  of  the  Court, 
May  18,  the  expression  used  is  "a  plantation  at  Mattatuck."     From 


46  HISTORY  OF  WATEHBURY. 

this  time  onward  until  1686,  the  place  and  also  the  river  were  known 
by  this  name.  In  the  records  for  May  13,  1675,  we  read  of  "the  new 
town  going  up  at  Mattatuck,"  and  a  little  further  on,  Mattatuck  is 
mentioned  in  connection  with  Derby  and  Woodbury  (whose  names 
had  recently  been  changed)  and  Pottatock  and  Wyantenuck  (whose 
names  were  afterward  changed  to  Southbury  and  New  Milford)  as 
towns  whose  boundaries  required  to  be  immediately  ascertained 
and  established.  In  the  record  for  May  15,  1686,  we  read  :  "This 
Court  grants  that  .Mattatuck  shall  be  and  belong  to  the  County  of 
Hartford;  and  the  name  of  the  plantation  shall  be  for  the  futuie 
Waterbury. ''* 

Although  "  Mattatuck "  was  not  retained  as  the  name  of  the 
town,  and  has  been  superseded  by  "  Naugatuck  "  as  the  name  of  the 
river,  nevertheless  it  has  not  become  extinct.  It  was  duplicated  on 
Long  Island  as  early  as  1658,!  and  survives  there,  in  the  form  "Mat- 
tituck,"  as  the  name  of  a  pleasant  little  village,  situated  between 
Long  Island  sound  and  Great  Peconic  bay.  It  has  survived  also  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  Naugatuck  valley  almost  to  the  present  time  ; 
at  all  events,  it  was  customary  a  few  years  ago  to  speak  of  East 
Litchfield  as  Mattatuck.  The  name  is  attached  to  a  street  in  the 
city  of  Waterbury  —  that  which  runs  northward  from  West  Main 
street  along  the  eastern  channel  of  the  Naugatuck  river ;  also  to  a 
local  Historical  society,  organized  in  1878,  which  has  for  its  field  the 
territory  embraced  within  the  ancient  town.  The  "Mattatuck 
Manufacturing  company,"  established  in  1847,  has  become  extinct; 
but  the  name  is  connected  with  other  organizations.  There  is  a 
Mattatuck  Council  of  the  "Royal  Arcanum"  (an  insurance  frater- 
nity), and  a  Mattatuck  Drum  Corps.  The  name  occurs,  finally,  in  the 
title  of  a  book  published  in  1892 — "The  Churches  of  Mattatuck" — 
which  contains  the  record  of  the  celebration  of  the  bi-centenary  of 
the  First  church  in  Waterbury  (November  4  and  5,  1891),  with 
sketches  of  all  the  Congregational  churches  within  the  ancient 
domain. 

The  name  "  Naugatuck,"  which  appears  in  the  Paugasuck  deed  as 
the  established  designation  of  the  Mattatuck  river,  was  originally 
used   in   a   very  restricted  sense,  but  is  now  the  most  frequently 


♦Conn.  Col.  Records,  Vol,  II,  pp.  210,  224,  249,  253;  Vol.  Ill,  p.  197. 

According  to  Dr.  Bronson  (*'  History  of  Waterbury,"  p.  67),  the  new  name  was  selected  as  descriptive. 
**  The  new  town  took  its  name  of  Waterbury  on  account  of  its  numerous  rivers,  rivulets,  ponds,  swamps, 

*  boggy  meadows'  and  wet  lands."     '*  It  is  a  pity,"  adds  Dr.  Bronson,  *'  that  the  beautiful  old  Indian  name 

*  Mattatuck  '  was  not  retained.     But  our  Puritan  ancestors  regarded  these  native  words  as  heathenish,  and 
were  in  haste  to  discard  and  forget  them.*' 

t  New  Haven  Col.  Records,  Vol.  II,  pp.  233,  302,  462,  463:     "A  parcel  of  land  called  Mattatuck  and 
Akkabawke"  [Aquebogue]. 


INDIAN  QEOORAPHICAL  NAMES,  47 

mentioned  and  most  widely  known  of  all  the  aboriginal  names  in  the 
valley.  The  first  instance  of  its  occurrence  is  in  the  Records  of  the 
Jurisdiction  of  New  Haven  for  May  27, 1657.  Among  the  conditions 
proposed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Paugasuck,  upon  which  they  were 
willing  to  "submit  themselves  to  the  Jurisdiction,"  the  first  was  in 
these  words :  "  That  they  have  liberty  to  buy  the  Indians'  land, 
behind  them,  that  is  over  Naugatuck  river,  and  not  toward  New 
Haven  bounds,  and  also  above  them  northward,  up  into  the  coun- 
try/'* In  a  deed  to  Thomas  Wheeler,  the  same  year,  the  name 
occurs  again ;  and  again  in  a  deed  to  Joseph  Hawley  and  Henry 
Tomlinson,  of  Stratford,  August  16,  1668,  and  frequently  afterward 
in  the  Derby  records  and  the  colonial  records  of  New  Haven  and 
Connecticut.  This  was  the  name  by  which  the  river  was  known  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  valley.  Yet  in  a  report  made  to  the  General 
Court  by  a  Derby  and  Mattatuck  committee,  in  May,  1680,  it  is 
designated  once  as  "  Mattatock  river,*'  and  twice  as  the  **  Nagotock 
or  Mattatock."  When  the  plantation  of  Mattatuck  became  the  town 
of  Waterbury,  the  name  Waterbury  was  also  applied  to  the  river, 
but  did  not  retain  its  hold  upon  it.f  Of  course  it  is  impossible  to 
say  at  what  date  the  name  "  Naugatuck  '*  achieved  a  complete  vic- 
tory, but  it  appears  to  have  had  the  field  to  itself  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years  past.  And  being  used  to  designate  the  river,  it  came 
to  be  applied  as  a  matter  of  course  to  the  valley  through  which  the 
river  flows. 

This  was  the  only  use  of  the  name  until  1844,  when  it  was 
adopted  as  the  name  of  a  new  town.  At  the  May  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  that  year,  that  part  of  Waterbury  embraced 
within  the  society  of  Salem,  with  portions  of  Bethany  and  Oxford, 
was  "  incorporated  as  a  distinct  town,  by  the  name  of  Naugatuck."  \ 
A  year  later  (May,  1845),  the  legislature  incorporated  the  **  Nauga- 
tuck Railroad  company,"  and  from  that  time  the  old  aboriginal 
name  became  a  household  word  to  thousands  who  might  not  other- 
wise have  known  it. 

Besides  the  larger  uses  of  the  name  thus  far  indicated,  it  is 
applied  to  several  organizations  in  the  town  of  Naugatuck.  These 
are  the  Naugatuck  Electric  Light  company,  the  Naugatuck  Electric 


*  New  Haven  Col.  Records,  Vol.  II,  p.  223. 

t  For  example,  in  the  petition  of  the  people  of  Westbury  (afterward  Watertown)  for  "  winter  privileges," 
in  October,  1733,  they  speak  of  being  separated  from  the  meeting-house  by  '^  a  great  river  which  is  called 
Waterbury  river,  which  for  great  part  of  the  winter  and  spring  is  not  passable."  In  the  Litchfield  records 
this  is  the  name  generally  used. 

$  Resolutions  and  Private  Acts,  pp.  86-89.  Dr.  Bronson  says,  in  his  "History  of  Waterbury,"  p.  67  : 
"  Our  friends  down  the  river  showed  their  good  sense  when  they  called  their  new  town  Naugatuck  (another 
beautiful  name)— where  the  second  settlement  in  the  vallcv  was  made." 


48  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 

Time  company,  the  Naugatuck  Malleable  Iron  company,  the  Nauga- 
tuck  Water  company,  and  the  Naugatuck  Musical  Union.  It  may 
be  added  that  since  1870,  the  name  "Naugatuck  Valley"  has  been 
applied  to  a  newspaper — the  "  Sentinel,"  published  at  Ansonia.  In 
1879  the  same  designation  was  given  to  a  newly  organized  Associ- 
ation of  Congregational  ministers,  and  in  1883  to  a  new  Conference 
of  Congregational  churches. 

As  regards  the  meaning  of  this  name,  the  traditional  derivation 
is  given  in  Dr.  Bronson's  "History  of  Waterbury."*  Naukotunk^  the 
original  form  of  the  word,  is  there  said  to  mean  "  one  large  tree,'* 
and  to  have  been  the  original  name  of  Humphreysville  (now  Sey- 
mour), which  was  so  called  from  a  large  tree  formerly  standing 
near  Rock  Rimmon  at  Seymour.  The  same  derivation  is  given  in  a 
letter  from  Stiles  French  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  formerly  of  Sey- 
mour, who  received  it  from  the  Rev.  Smith  Dayton,  whose  authority 
was  Eunice  Mauwee,  the  daughter  of  "  Chuce."  Mr.  French  says  : 
"  She  told  Mr.  Dayton  that  the  name  Naugatuck  meant  *  one  big 
tree,*  and  was  pronounced  by  the  Indians  Naw-ka-tunk.  This  *  one 
big  tree'  stood  about  where  the  Copper  works  in  Seymour  now 
are,  and  afforded  the  Indians  a  shade  when  they  came  to  the 
Rimmon  falls  to  fish."  This  tradition  is  apparently  direct  and 
authentic.  It  was  probably  the  foundation  for  the  statement  of  Mr. 
J.  W.  DeForest  (a  native  of  Seymour)  in  the  preface  to  his  "  History 
of  the  Indians  of  Connecticut,"  that  "  Naugatuck  was  not  anciently 
the  name  of  the  river  to  which  it  is  now  attached,  but  of  a  place  on 
the  banks  of  that  river."  In  Mr.  DeForest's  brief  list  of  words  in 
the  Naugatuck  dialect  the  word  for  "tree"  is  tookh ;  in  Pierson's 
Catechism  it  is  p'tuk.  The  usual  form  in  the  vocabularies  is  mihtuck 
or  mektug,  but  the  initial  m  does  not  belong  to  the  root.  The  last 
syllable  of  Nauga-tuck  may  therefore  very  well  stand  for  "tree/* 
but  the  remainder  of  it  is  not  so  easily  identified.  Dr.  Trumbull 
accepts  the  traditional  derivation, /Mr«^£7/-/««^>^,  meaning  "one  tree;" 
but  in  so  doing  he  seems  to  disregard  an  important  verbal  distinc- 
tion upon  which  he  has  elsewhere  laid  stress. f   There  is  documentary 


♦  p.  15,  note.  A  writer  in  the  "  Watcrbury  American"  of  May  i,  1879,  mentions  two  entirely  distinct 
interpretations  which  he  has  met  with  :  '*  Some  say  that  '  Naugatuck  '  means  '  rushing  water,'  others,  *  beauti- 
ful vale.*  '*     There  is  no  foundation  for  either  of  these. 

+  In  his  reprint  of  Roger  Williams's  "  Key,''  Dr.  Trumbull  says:  "  The  primary  signification  of  nquit 
seems  to  be  *  first  in  order,'— the  beginning  of  a  series  or  of  progression  not  yet  rDmpleted ;  while 
pavasuck  denotes  '  one  by  itself,'  a  unit,  without  reference  to  a  series ; "  and  this  seems  to  be  sustained  by 
Pierson's  Catechism,  which  translates,  '"  first "  by  negonne,  but  when  it  refers  to  the  '*  one  true  God  "  renders 
"one"  hy  pasuk.  (Trumbull's  *' Indian  names,"  p.  36;  Williams's  "Key  into  the  Indian  Language  of 
America,"  Trumbull's  reprint,  p.  50;  "  Some  Helps  to  the  Indians,'^  pp.  11,  13.)  One  would  suppose  that  if 
the  distinction  was  ever  a  real  one,  it  would  be  made  in  such  a  case  as  this,  that  i«,  in  designating  a  well  known 
and  apparently  isolated  tree. 


INDIAN  QEOQRAPHIGAL  NAMES. 


49 


evidence  to  sustain  the  statement  that  "Naugatuck"  was  at  first 
not  the  name  of  the  river,  but  of  a  place  on  the  river ;  for  in  the 
report  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  General  Court  (February, 
1676)  "to  order  the  settlement  of  the  lands  at  Derby,"  we  meet  with 
the  expression,  "the  river  that   cometh   from   Nawgatuck."     The 
phrase  reveals  the  process  by  which   the  place-name,  more  than 
twenty  years  before  this,  had  come  to  be  attached  to  the  river. 
But  whether  the  derivation  of  the  name  received  from  the  Squaw 
Eunice,  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  later,  was  anything  better  than 
an  etymological  venture  on  her  part,  is  perhaps  an  open  question. 
Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  in  hi^  "  Observations  on  the  language  of  the 
Muhhekaneew  Indians,"  informs  us  that  the  Indian  name  of  Stock- 
bridge,  Mass.,  was  WnogquetookokCy  and  Dr.  Trumbull  says  that  this 
means  a  "  bend-of -the-river  place."     In  view  of  the  decided  bend  in 
the  river  at  Seymour,  why  may  we  not  suppose  that  it  is  this  that 
is  represented  in  the  name  "Naugatuck,"  rather  than  some  tree 
standing  by  itself — especially  when  Naukot-tungk  would  have  meant 
not  "a  single  tree,"  but  one  of  a  series  of  trees?    Waiving  this 
objection,  we  should  have  had  in  the  one  case  Naukot-tungk-oke,  and 
in  the  other,  Wnogko-tuck-oke,     The  oke  is  dropped  in  either  case,  and 
there  are  numerous  instances  of  the  dropping  of  the  slight  sound 
represented  by  the  initial   W,      In  a  Derby  deed  dated  April  22^ 
1678,  "the  fishing  place  at  Naugatuck"  is  definitely  mentioned; 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  ancient  "Naugatuck  "which 
gave  the  river  its  name,  was  at  or  near  the  spot  where  Seymour 
now  stands.     But  it  is  quite  as  likely  to  have  been  designated  the 
"  fishing-place  at  the  bend  in  the  river,"  as  "  the  fishing-place  at 
the  one  tree."     When  "Chuce"  went  there,  with  his  band,  about 
1720,  it  was  the  only  piece  of  land  in  the  town  of  Derby  which  the 
Indians  had  not  sold.      Because  of  its  value  as  a  "  fishing  place  " 
they  clung  to  it  to  the  last. 

Another  geographical  name  found  in  the  Paugasuck  deed  is 
"Quassapaug" — applied  to  the  beautiful  lake  which  lies  just  west 
of  the  western  boundary  of  Mattatuck,  part  of  it  in  Middlebury  and 
part  in  Woodbury.  In  a  Woodbury  deed  of  October  30,  1687,  it  is 
spoken  of  as  "  the  pond  called  and  commonly  known  by  the  name 
Quassapaug,"  and  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town  is  said  to  be 
"  four  score  rod  eastward  of  the  easternmost  of  the  pond."  Although 
it  does  not  lie  within  Waterbury  territory,  it  has  long  been  a  place 
of  resort  for  Waterbury  people,  and  its  name  is  mentioned  more 
frequently,  perhaps,  than  any  other  of  the  aboriginal  names  belong- 
ing to  the  region.  It  is  drained  by  the  Quassapaug  river,  or  Eight 
Mile  brook,  which  empties  into  the  Housatonic  at  Punkups.     Mr. 

4 


so 


BISTORT  OF  WATEBBURY, 


William    Cothren,   in    his   "History    of    Woodbury,"    speaking-  of 
Captain  John   Miner,  says :   "  To  the  lovely  lake   on  the  eastern 
borders  he  applied  the  name  Quassapaug,  or  *  The  Beautiful  Clear 
Water.'     This  pleasant  sheet  of  water,  so  cosily  nestling  among 
the  verdant  hills,  furnished  one  of  the  first  fishing  places  to  the 
new  settlers,  cut  off  as  they  were  from  the  seaboard  by  the  bound- 
less forests  lying  between  them  and  the  sea."     On  a  subsequent 
page,  Mr.  Cothren  suggests  another  interpretation  of  the  name — 
"Rocky  pond"*  —  on  the  supposition  that  the  first  two  syllables 
represent  qussuky  meaning  "rock"  or  "stone."      But  this  word  for 
"  rock,"  Dr.  Trumbull  says,  is  seldom,  perhaps  never,  found  in  local 
names,  the  "  inseparable  generic  "  -  omfsk  being  used  instead.     Be- 
sides, there  would  seem  to  be  no  special  appropriateness  in  such 
a  designation.     In  regard  to  the  meaning  of  paug  there  can  be  no 
doubt.     It  denotes  "water  place"  {pe-auke)y  is  used  for  "water  at 
rest,"  or  "standing"  as  distinguished  from  "flowing"  water,  and 
is    a    frequent    component    of   names    of   small    lakes    and   ponds 
throughout  New  England.f     But  the  proper  interpretation  of  the 
first   part  of  the   word   is   somewhat  uncertain.      The   Rev.  Azel 
Backus,  in  1812,  in  his  "  Account  of  Bethlem,"  interpreted  the  name 
as  signifying  "  Little  pond,"  apparently  deriving  it  from  okosse-paug; 
but   in   Dr.   Trumbull  s  judgment  "he  certainly  was  wrong;"  for 
"  Quassapaug  is  not  a  small,  but  the  largest  pond  in  that  region." 
The  author  of  this  chapter,  in  his  list  of  place-names  in  the   Rev. 
Samuel   Orcutt's   "  History   of  Derby,"   suggested  that   the  name 
might  possibly  represent  quunnosu-paug^  that  is,  "  Pickerel  pond,"  and 
found  incidental  support  for  this  opinion  in   Mr.  Cothren's  refer- 
ence to  the  good  fishing  which   the  lake   furnished   to   the  early 
settlers.     Dr.  Trumbull,  in  his  "  Indian  Names  of  Places  in  Connec- 
ticut," rejects  this  interpretation  (but  on  insufficient  grounds)  and 
proposes  another.  J     He  says  it  "  may  have  been  denominated  k'che- 
paug^  that  is,  *  greatest  pond' — a  name  easily  corrupted  to    Quassa- 
paug.'*   Such  a  change  does  not  seem  an  "easy"  one,  but  there  is 
documentary  evidence  in  support  of  this  interpretation.   In  a  report 
concerning  boundaries,  made  by  the  agents  of  Woodbury  and  Matta- 

*  Colhren's  Woodbury,  pp.  844,  877. 

tDr.  TrumbuU's  "Composition  of  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  p.  15. 

t  He  says  :  '^  Dr.  Anderson,  in  Orcutt's  **  Derby,'*  proposes  qunnosu-paugy '  pickerel  pond,*  to  which  the 
only  objection  is  that  after  names  of  fish,  maugy  'fishing  place,'  was  used,  instead  of  Paug^  *pond,'  or 
tuck^  *  river.' "  But  if  Noosup-paugy  '*  Beaver  pond,**  is  allowable  (see  p.  40),  why  not  QuunnosH-^augf 
Besides,  in  his  paper  on  the  "  Composition  of  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  Dr.  Trumbull  suggests  the  very 
analysis  which  is  here  proposed.  He  says  (p.  43) :  **  Quinshepaug  or  Quonshapaug^  in  Mendon,  Mass., 
seems  to  denote  a  *  pickerel  pond  '  {quMnasu-paug).^*  The  opinion  expressed  in  his  **  Indian  Names  in  Con- 
necticut "  may  be  the  result  of  later  investigation  ;  but  may  it  not  be  possible  that  maug  was  used  of  fishing- 
places  in  rivers^  rather  than  in  ponds  ? 


INDIAN  GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES.  51 

tuck,  June  29,  1680,  we  find  the  expression,  "  the  great  pond,  com- 
monly called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Quassapaug."  It  would  seem 
as  if  here  the  Indian  name  and  the  English  translation  of  it  had 
been  brought  together.* 

Mr.  Cothren,  in  the  "History  of  Woodbury,"  speaks  of  "the  care 
with  which  our  fathers  gathered  up  and  applied  the  beautiful 
Indian  names  which  abound  in  our  territory."  He  says  elsewhere 
that  "  no  town  of  equal  dimensions  within  the  writer's  knowledge 
has  retained  so  many  of  them,*'  and  refers  to  the  fact  that  in  the 
neighboring  town  of  Watertown  not  a  single  Indian  place-name 
reraains.f  Ancient  Mattatuck,  taken  as  a  whole,  has  not  been  quite 
as  unfortunate  as  that  part  of  it  now  known  as  Watertown  ;  but  the 
real  Indian  place-names  which  have  come  down  to  us,  in  addition  to 
those  included  in  the  Paugasuck  deed,  are  very  few, — not  more  than 
a  half  dozen,  all  told. 

The  first  to  be  mentioned  (following  the  alphabetical  order),  and 
perhaps  the  most  interesting,  is  "Abrigador."  This  is  the  name  of  a 
high  hill  half  a  mile  southeast  of  Centre  square,  Waterbury, — now  a 
thickly  settled  district  of  the  city.  The  residents  of  the  district 
sometimes  speak  of  it  as  "  the  Abligator,"  and  the  transition  from 
this  to  "  Alligator  "  is  occasionally  made.  In  the  list  of  place-names 
in  Mr.  Orcutt's  "  History  of  Derby,"  the  opinion  was  expressed  that 
this  name  was  not  of  Indian  origin,  but  was  a  Spanish  word  {abri- 
gadd)  meaning  "a  place  of  shelter."  That  it  was  not  an  Indian  name 
was  formerly  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Trumbull  also  ;  but  in  his  "  Indian 
Names  of  Places  in  Connecticut "  he  derives  it  from  ahigad  or  abiguat^ 
meaning  "  covert "  or  "  hiding  place,"  and  quotes  from  the  list  of 
names  in  the  "History  of  Derby  "the  statement  that  **  there  is  a 
cleft  rock  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  hill  which  used  to  be  called 
the  Indians'  house."  That  it  should  be  an  Indian  name  in  disguise 
is  not  remarkable ;  but  it  is  certainly  a  remarkable  coincidence  that 
in  the  form  in  which  it  occurs  in  Waterbury  it  should  correspond 
so  closely  to  a  Spanish  word  having  the  same  meaning.J 

♦  Bronson*s  Waterbury,  p.  74. 

tCothren*s  "Woodbury,"  pp.  844,  58-60.  He  attributes  the  preservation  of  the  aboriginal  names  in 
Woodbury  in  part  to  Captain  John  Miner,  "  the  leading  man  among  the  colonists,"  who  had  been  educated 
as  missionary  to  the  Indians,  understood  their  language,  and  was  the  surveyor  for  the  town  (p.  844). 

tOrcutt's  "Derby,"  p.  xcvi ;  Trumbull's  "  Indian  Names,"  pp.  i,  2.  Dr.  Trumbull  points  out  that  we 
have  the  same  Indian  word  in  "  Abagadasset "  ("at  the  place  of  shelter  "),  a  name  found  at  Merry-meeting 
bay,  Maine,  and  probably  in  the  name  "  Pictou  "  also.  Another  instance  which  he  gives  illustrates  in  a 
striking  way  the  changes  through  which  Indian  place-names  sometimes  pass.  The  bay  of  Castine,  Me.,  was 
called  by  the  Abnakis  Matsi-abigivadoos^eky  which  means  "  at  the  bad  small  shelter  place  "  or  "  cove."  This 
long  descriptive  name  was  shortened  to  "  Chebeguadose,"  and  finally  corrupted  to  "  Bigaduce,"  and  then  its 
origin  was  traced  by  process  of  the  imagination  to  a  supposed  ("rench  officer.  Major  Biguyduce,  said  to  have 
come  to  Maine  with  Baron  Castine.     See  also  "  Composition  of  Indian  Geographical  Names,"  pp.  38,  39. 


52 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


The  name  "  Compounce,"  attached  to  a  pond  in  the  northwest 
part  of  Southington,  has  already  been  referred  to.  This  pond  also, 
like  Quassapaug,  is  a  place  of  summer  resort  for  Waterbury  people. 
That  it  derived  its  name  from  one  of  the  "native  proprietors,"  John 
Compound,  or  a-Compaus,  is  unquestionable  ;  but  the  origin  and 
significance  of  the  personal  designation  is,  as  we  have  seen,  a 
matter  of  uncertainty.* 

Between  two  and  three'miles  southwest  of  the  centre  of  Water- 
bury  is  a  high  ridge  or  knoll,  close  to  the  road  which  runs  parallel 
to  the  Town  Plot  road,  some  distance  to  the  west  of  it,  known  locally 
by  the  name  of  "Malmalick"  or  **  Malmanack."  In  1882,  the  Rev. 
Eli  B.  Clark  (since  deceased)  wrote  of  it  as  follows :  "  My  father, 
Eli  Clark,  owned  and  for  more  than  fifty  years  lived  upon  a  farm 
in  the  southwesterly  portion  of  the  town,  nearly  three  miles  from 
the  centre,  embracing  within  its  limits  what  was  then  known  as 
Malmanack  hill — the  highest  ground  for  miles  around,  and  com- 
manding a  fine  prospect  in  all  directions."  This  hill  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  site  of  an  Indian  camp,  and  Mr.  Clark  in  his  letter 
speaks  of  the  numerous  arrow  heads  and  other  chipped  implements 
which  used  to  be  found  there  in  considerable  numbers.  The  name 
is  probably  of  Indian  origin,  but  so  disguised  that  its  derivation 
cannot  be  traced  with  any  certainty.  It  may  possibly  mean  "  barren 
place." 

In  the  Waterbury  records  for  November,  1729,  mention  is  made 
of  the  lay-out  of  a  highway  towards  Westbury  (now  Watertown), 
which  is  said  to  have  begun  "  at  the  road  on  the  hill  against 
Manhan  meadow."  "The  Manhan"  is  a  name  which  is  still  in 
common  use  in  Waterbury,  designating  a  locality  about  half  a 
mile  west  of  Centre  square,  and  generally  applied  to  the  canal 
or  mill-race  which  supplies  water  to  the  mills  of  the  Waterbury 
Brass  company.  The  manufactory  itself  is  also  popularly  known 
as  "the  Manhan."  In  the  record  referred  to,  "Manhan  meadow" 
means  "  island  meadow,"  and  is  a  precise  designation  of  the  piece 
of  land  lying  between  the  line  of  the  Naugatuck  railroad  and  the 
main  channel  of  the  Naugatuck  river.  Dr.  Bronson  in  his  "  His- 
tory "  says :  "  There  are  indications  (or  used  to  be)  that  Manhan 
meadow  was  once  an  island,  and  that  a  part  of  the  river,  at  a  not 
very  distant  period,  ran  down  upon  the  east  side  next  the  hill,  in 
the  course  of  the  canal  of  the  Water  Power  company,  continuing 
through  the  old  *  Long  cove  *  and  along  the  line  of  the  Naugatuck 
railroad  till  it  met  Great  brook.  This  was  low  ground,  and  through- 
out its  extent  there  was  (in  the  writer's  memory)  a  chain  of  minia- 

•  See  pb  32. 


INDIAN  GEOORAPHICAL  NAMES,  53 

ture  lakes  or  ponds."*  The  same  name  occurs  in  Easthampton, 
Mass.,  applied  now  to  a  river,  and  is  readily  recognized  in  such 
names  as  Manhannock,  and  Manhasset  (or  Munhansick),  but  not  so 
readily  in  Montauk,  Manhattan  and  the  Grand  Menan.  In  recent 
years,  it  has  been  aiBfixed  to  a  Waterbury  street — that  which  runs 
northward  from  West  Main  street,  between  Fairview  and  Mattatuck 
streets.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  it  was  not  given  to  the  street 
which  runs  nearest  to  the  "  canal,"  and  thus  nearest  to  the  "  island  " 
from  which  it  derives  its  name. 

Another  genuine  Indian  appellative  has  survived  in  the  name  of 
one  of  the  school-districts  of  Waterbury,  "Oronoke."  In  the  final 
syllable,  we  recognize  the  familiar  terminal,  meaning  "  place,"  but 
what  particular  place  within  the  region  extending  from  West-side 
hill  to  Middlebury  furnished  the  name  which  now  designates  the 
entire  district,  it  would  probably  be  impossible  to  discover.  The 
name  occurs  in  other  parts  of  the  state  under  the  varied  forms, 
Woronock,  Waronoco,  and  perhaps  Orenaug  (in  Woodbury). 

The  only  Indian  place-name  that  remains  to  be  mentioned  is  one 
that  belongs  to  the  present  town  of  Wolcott  and  has  been  already 
referred  to.f  On  March  31,  1731,  John  Alcock,  of  New  Haven, 
bought  a  piece  of  land  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  Waterbury  which 
is  described  (in  the  record  of  that  date)  as  "near  Ash  swamp  or 
Potucko's  ring."  In  an  entry  in  the  Land  Records  for  December  3, 
i795>  ^  certain  boundary  line  is  described  as  "crossing  Ptuckering 
road,  so  called,"  at  two  different  points.  This  road  is  now  called 
"Tucker's  Ring  road,"  and  the  Indian  origin  of  the  name  would 
hardly  have  been  suspected,  were  it  not  for  the  connecting  links 
which  the  local  records  furnish.  As  we  have  already  seen,  Potucko 
was  one  of  the  first  signers  of  the  first  Waterbury  deeds  ;  but  whence 
comes  the  name  "  Potucko's  ring  ? "  and  what  is  its  significance  ? 
The  traditional  explanation  is  given  in  Dr.  Bronson's  "History:" 
"  So  called  from  Potucko,  an  Indian,  who  having  fired  a  ring  of 
brushwood  to  surround  and  catch  deer  and  other  game,  was  himself 
entrapped  and  consumed."  J  There  is  nothing  essentially  improb- 
able in  the  story,  and  some  slight  support  for  it  may  be  derived 
from  the  fact  (already  referred  to)  that  while  Potucko's  name 
appears  among  the  signatures  attached  to  the  deed  of  April  29, 
1684,  it  is  not  among  those  in  the  deed  of  December  following,  but 
is  substituted  by  that  of  Potucko's  squaw.     The  fact  of  the  close 

*  Branson's  *'  History  of  Waterbury,"  note  to  p.  96. 

+  See  p.  33. 

$*' History  of  Waterbury,"  note  on  p,  462.  Sec  also  the  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt's  "  History  of  Wolcott," 
note  on  p.  xP?. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 


connection  of  the  name  with  the  word  petukki^  which  means 
"round,"  becomes  specially  interesting  in  the  light  of  the  tradition 
concerning  Potucko's  death  in  a  ring.  Did  the  Indian  derive  his 
name  from  a  practice  of  hunting  deer  in  the  way  the  tradition 
indicates — as  if  he  were  known  as  "the  man  of  the  ring"?  Or  was 
the  story,  like  some  other  traditional  tales,  invented  to  account  for 
the  name  ? 

To  this  brief  list  of  names  in  the  Indian  language  should  be 
added  some  others  which,  although  not  of  Indian  origin,  contain 
reminiscences  of  the  Indian  period  and  of  Indian  occupancy. 

Following  again  the  alphabetical  order,  we  begin  with  "  Jack's 
cave."  The  old  Indian  trail  between  Farmington  and  the  Nauga- 
tuck  valley,  which  afterward  became  a  travelled  road,  passed  through 
the  northwest  corner  of  what  is  now  Wolcott.  According  to  tradi- 
tion the  road  ran  close  to  the  place  where  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Levi 
Atkins  now  stands,  but  the  Indian  trail  passed  a  little  further  to 
the  north,  "near  a  large,  shelving  rock  called  Jack's  cave."  In  Mr. 
Orcutt's  "History  of  Wolcott"  it  is  added  that  "the  Indians  en- 
camped under  this  rock  at  night,  in  passing  between  Farmington 
and  Woodbury,"  and  that  near  it  stood  a  large  chestnut  tree  from 
which  Mr.  Timothy  Bradley  cut  two  hundred  bullets,  shot  into  it 
by  Indians  while  shooting  at  a  mark.  *  This  does  not  prove 
conclusively  that  the  Jack  of  Jack's  cave  was  an  Indian  ;  but,  all 
things  considered,  it  is  a  name  which  ought  probably  to  be  included 
in  this  list. 

"Spinning  Squaw's  land,"  a  locality  mentioned  in  the  early 
deeds,  and  apparently  well  known  in  the  early  days  of  Waterbury, 
is  sufficiently  described  in  the  preceding  chapter.f 

"  The  Wigwam  "  is  the  name  given  to  a  strip  of  land,  a  mile  long, 
lying  on  "West  branch,"  which  empties  into  the  Naugatuck  near 
Reynolds  bridge.  It  is  said  to  have  been  occupied  by  an  Indian  in 
recent  years.  A  small  stream  which  empties  into  West  branch  is 
known  as  "Wigwam  brook." 

There  is  another  locality  in  which  the  memory  of  a  wigwam  sur- 
vives. In  1684  the  proprietors  of  Mattatuck  granted  to  Daniel 
Porter  "  four  acres  in  the  Wigwam  swamp,  as  near  the  lower  end  as 
may  be,  so  as  to  have  the  breadth  of  the  swamp."  In  a  deed  bearing 
date  a  hundred  and  ten  years  later  (December  3,  1795)  we  read  : 
"Land  in  the  sequester  at  the  west  end  of  *  Wigwam  swamp,'  so 
called,  on  the  brook  which  runs  out  of  said  swamp  into  Hancox 
brook  "  ;  and  in  a  later  deed  :     "  Land  in  the  northern  part  of  the 

•Orcutt's  "  Wolcott,"  p.  197  and  note. 

t  Sec  pp.  31,  3a. 


INDIAN  OEOQRAPHICAL  NAMES, 


55 


sequester  in  the  First  society  of  Waterbury,  at  the  western  end  of 
'Wigwam  swamp/  so  called,  and  lying  upon  the  brook  which  runs 
out  of  said  sw^amp  into  Hancox  brook/'*  It  has  been  suggested 
that  Spinning  Squaw's  land  was  here,  and  that  it  was  Spinning 
Squaw's  wigwam  which  gave  its  name  to  the  swamp. 

"  The  Old  Canoe  place  "  is  the  name  applied  to  a  spot  in  the  Nau- 
gatuck  river  below  Hopeville,  behind  the  house  which  stands  nearly 
opposite  the  residence  of  the  late  Isaac  M.  Thomas.  There  are 
rapids  above  and  below,  but  here  the  water  is  smooth  and  compara- 
tively deep.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  place  where  canoes  were 
kept,  or  where  the  river  was  crossed  by  canoes. 

It  may  be  added  in  this  connection  that  Mattatuck  seems  to  have 
had  its  Indian  burying  ground.  It  was  situated  on  what  is  now 
Johnson  street,  north  of  Sperry  street. 

Reference  may  be  made,  in  conclusion,  to  another  spot  which  has 
aboriginal  associations  connected  with  it  of  quite  recent  date.  A 
few  rods  south  of  the  city  line  (in  Simonsville),  on  the  east  side  of 
the  highway,  which  here  runs  close  to  the  river,  there  is  a  bit  of 
elevated  meadow,  formerly  surrounded  by  a  wood,  some  trees  of 
which  still  remain.  Within  the  memory  of  persons  now  in  mature 
life  it  was  the  site  of  a  wigwam  and  the  home  of  a  solitary  squaw. 
There  was  a  kind  of  dam  across  the  Naugatuck  at  this  point,  and  it 
was  a  good  fishing  place,  f 


*  Land  Records,  Vol.  XXV,  pp.  30a,  407  ;  Vol.  XXVI,  p.  427. 

t  Reference  has  been  made  to  the  fact  that  in  the  town  of  Watertown,  which  belonged  to  ancient  Mat- 
tatuck, there  is  an  entire  absence  of  Iildian  local  names.  An  Indian  name  has  recently  been  introduced  which 
is  likely  to  secure  a  permanent  foothold  in  the  town.  The  proprietors  of  **  Wattles  Pond,"  desiring  to  give  it 
a  more  euphonious  name,  in  connection  with  a  plan  to  make  it  a  place  of  resort  for  summer  visitors,  applied 
to  the  writer  of  this  chaiAer  for  aid  in  selecting  one.  Instead  of  resorting  (as  is  usually  the  case)  to  borrow- 
ing, a  name  was  made  to  order,  according  to  the  laws  which  govern  the  construction  of  Indian  place>names. 
The  pond  being  a  *^  fine  fishing-place  "  was  called  IVinnitftaug^^  and  is  likely  to  be  known  by  that  name  in 
the  time  to  come.  Some  future  explorer,  failing  to  light  upon  this  statement  respecting  its  origin,  may 
regard  it  as  a  genuine  survival  of  the  aboriginal  period. 

(  The  author  cannot  refrain  from  adding  here  that  while  the  proofs  of  this  chapter  were  passing  through 
his  hands,  tidings  were  received  of  the  sudden  death  of  Samuel  McLean  of  Watertown,  who  is  referred  to 
in  this  note,  and  also  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt,  whose  '*  History  of  Derby"  and  **  History  of  Wolcott*' 
are  quoted  above,  and  who  was  the  author  of  other  voluminous  town  histories.  Both  of  these  gentlemen 
were  killed  by  railroad  trains  at  Bridgeport,  within  a  few  days  of  one  another — January  10  and  14,  1893. ) 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  "stone  age"  IN  CONNECTICUT — STONE  IMPLEMENTS,  CHIPPED  AND 
GROUND—USES  TO  WHICH  THEY  WERE  APPLIED,  IN  PEACE  AND 
IN  WAR  —  PLACES  WITHIN  MATTATUCK  TERRITORY  WHERE 
REMAINS  OF  THE  STONE  AGE  HAVE  BEEN  FOUND  —  ACCOUNTS  OF 
VARIOUS  "  finds"  between  BEACON  HILL  BROOK  AND  LITCHFIELD 
— IMPLEMENTS    DESCRIBED. 

IN  Europe  the  long  prehistoric  period  has  been  roughly  divided 
by  archaeologists  into  three  ages — the  Stone  age,  the  Bronze 
age  and  the  Iron  age.  This  division,  based  upon  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  prehistoric  remains  that  have  been  collected,  is  not 
entirely  applicable  to  the  western  hemisphere,  yet  we  may  speak  of 
the  aboriginal  population  of  America  at  the  time  of  the  Discovery 
as  belonging  to  the  Stone  age,  and  some  tribes  or  families  as  having 
passed  upward  into  what  may  be  designated  the  Copper  age.  The 
Indians  of  New  England  were  still  in  the  Stone  age  at  the  coming 
of  the  first  settlers.  They  seem  to  have  used  to  a  very  limited 
extent  implements  and  weapons  of  hammered  copper,  obtained 
through  traffic  with  other  tribes,  and  there  is  evidence  that  they 
had  learned  to  make  pottery.  But  their  dependence  for  useful 
implements,  for  weapons  of  war  and  for  cooking  utensils  was 
almost  entirely  upon  stone  and  wood. 

We  should  hardly  expect  articles  of  wood  to  resist  decay  until 
modem  times  (although  in  a  few  instances  wooden  objects  have 
survived),  but  implements  of  stone  in  large  numbers  lie  scattered 
on  the  surface  of  the  ground  to  the  present  day,  or  imbedded  in 
the  soil,  and  are  still  found,  by  those  who  have  eyes  to  see,  in 
ploughed  fields,  on  the  banks  of  rivers,  along  roadsides  and  in  places 
where  no  one  would  expect  to  discover  them.  These  stone  imple- 
ments may  be  divided  into  two  general  classes — those  made  by 
chipping,  such  as  the  well-known  arrow  heads,  and  those  made  by 
pecking  and  grinding,  such  as  celts,  axes  and  pestles.  Of  these  two 
classes,  the  former  is  by  far  the  more  numerous,  although  the  num- 
ber of  ^es  and  other  ground  implements  which  have  been  picked 
up  in  New  England  and  over  all  the  Atlantic  slope  during  the  past 
two  hundred  years  must  be  immense. 

If  we  knew  precisely  to  what  uses  the  various  implements  were 
applied,  we  should  be  able  to  reproduce  quite  fully  the  life  of  the 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK,  57 

aboriginal  tribes.  But  concerning  many  of  the  remains  there  is  still 
much  uncertainty,  after  all  the  study  which  archaeologists  have 
bestowed  upon  them.  We  know  what  the  universal  needs  of  the 
Indian  were, — to  provide  for  himself  and  his  household  sustenance 
and  clothing  and  shelter.  We  know  that  the  men  hunted,  that  the 
women  tilled  the  ground,  that  certain  games  and  other  amusements 
were  indulged  in,  that  religious  rites  were  practiced,  and  that  tribes 
made  war  upon  one  another.  The  remains  that  have  been  gathered 
consist  of  utensils  or  weapons  which  had  to  do  with  this  simple  but 
varied  round  of  life;  but  what  particular  uses  they  served  it  is  not 
always  easy  to  say.  To  the  various  kinds  of  stone  implements 
names  have  been  confidently  attached  by  collectors,  but  in  all  prob- 
ability those  names  are  in  many  cases  erroneous  and  misleading, — 
although  as  a  matter  of  convenience  they  have  to  be  used.  In  meet- 
ing the  simple  wants  referred  to,  trees  had  to  be  felled  (by  burning 
or  otherwise),  posts  had  to  be  trimmed  and  driven,  canoes  had  to  be 
dug  out,  fire-wood  to  be  prepared,  deer  and  smaller  game  to  be  shot 
or  trapped,  fish  to  be  caught  in  summer  and  in  winter,  flesh  and  fish 
to  be  boiled  or  roasted,  bones  to  be  cracked  for  the  marrow  in 
them,  corn  and  beans  to  be  planted  and  the  ground  tilled,  skins  to 
be  scraped  and  cleaned,  enemies  to  be  slain,  by  arrow  or  club,  and 
their  scalps  removed,  and  the  dead  to  be  disposed  of  by  burial  or 
otherwise.  The  stone  implements  that  are  found  were  used,  either 
mounted  in  wood  or  otherwise,  for  these  various  purposes — some 
for  one  kind  of  work  and  some  for  another;  but  there  was  of  course 
no  such  strict  application  of  the  tool  to  its  specific  purpose  as  we 
find  to-day  among  skilled  workmen.  The  celt,  for  instance,  or  the 
grooved  axe,  or  the  large  chipped  implement,  may  have  been 
applied,  like  the  modern  jack-knife  or  hatchet,  to  a  hundred  differ- 
ent uses. 

To  a  people  whose  chief  means  of  subsistence  were  hunting  and 
fishing,  a  region  of  rapid  water-courses  and  of  forests  must  have 
been  specially  attractive,  while  at  the  same  time  "  interval  lands  " 
and  clearings  at  the  mouths  of  streams  must  have  had  great  value 
in  their  eyes.  We  can  readily  believe,  therefore,  although  there 
may  have  been  no  tribal  seat  or  central  camping-ground  within  the 
limits  of  ancient  Mattatuck,  that  the  territory  was  quite  constantly 
occupied  by  wandering  bands  or  family  groups,  who  settled  down 
here  or  there  for  a  season,  and  then  departed  to  some  more  prom- 
ising fishing-place,  or  some  bluff  commanding  a  better  view  of  the 
river.  At  any  camping-ground  likely  to  be  occupied  for  a  few 
weeks  in  succession,  wigwams  would  be  erected,  cooking  would  be 
gone  through  with,  fire-wood  would  be  provided,  soapstone  dishes 


58  HI8T0RY  OF  WATBBBURT, 

would  be  used,  fish  and  game  would  be  got  ready  for  the  pot,  arrows 
and  fish-spears  would  be  made,  to  take  the  place  of  those  that  had 
been  lost  or  broken,  and  arrow-heads  and  spear-heads  chipped,  to 
supply  the  constant  demand.  There  are  doubtless  many  spots  up 
and  down  the  Naugatuck  valley,  at  the  mouths  of  streams  and  on 
such  bluffs  as  that  on  which  the  Waterbury  hospital  now  stands, 
where  these  various  processes  were  carried  on,  year  after  year,  for 
centuries.  Some  of  these  spots  have  already  furnished  large  har- 
vests to  the  collector  of  "  relics  *'  or  to  the  farmer-boy,  while  others 
have  yet  to  be  discovered.  In  some  parts  of  our  country — notably 
in  New  Jersey  and  in  Ohio— the  collecting  of  stone  implements  has 
been  engaged  in  by  so  many,  or  systematized  to  such  an  extent, 
that  definite  opinions  may  safely  be  expressed  in  regard  to  their 
abundance  and  their  relations  to  different  localities.  But  nothing 
of  this  kind  has  been  accomplished  in  the  Naugatuck  valley;  it 
would  be  impossible  to  indicate  on  a  map  of  the  region,  except  in 
the  most  imperfect  way,  where  camping-grounds  were  situated,  or 
where  the  arrow-maker's  hut  may  have  stood,  or  where  a  battle 
with  some  hostile  tribe  may  have  been  fought.  The  abundance  of 
small  chipped  implements  at  a  given  place  might  be  explained  by 
one  collector  as  the  result  of  a  battle,  and  by  another  as  indicating 
the  site  of  an  arrow-maker's  workshop,  according  to  the  scientific 
training  of  the  collector,  his  accuracy  as  an  observer  and  his  caution 
in  drawing  inferences.  Kilboume,  in  his  "  Sketches  and  Chroni- 
cles of  Litchfield,"  comments  in  this  way  upon  the  chipped 
implements  found  on  the  shores  of  Bantam  lake  : 

That  such  battles  [between  the  Litchfield  Indians  and  the  '*  intruding 
Mohawks  "]  have  been  fought  on  the  now  quiet  rural  shores  of  our  beautiful  lake 
and  for  a  mile  or  two  northward,  is  clearly  indicated  by  the  stone  arrow-heads 
which  are  scattered  in  such  profusion  in  the  soil.  It  is  true  they  are  found  in  other 
parts  of  the  township,  but  nowhere  in  such  abundance  as  in  the  locality  described. 
The  writer  remembers,  as  one  of  the  pastimes  of  his  childhood,  following  in  the 
furrows  behind  the  ploughman,  on  the  West  plain,  for  the  express  purpose  of  picking 
up  these  interesting  memorials  of  a  by-gone  race — then  of  course  regarded  simply 
as  playthings.  These  arrowheads  are  of  various  shapes  and  sizes,  and  are  made 
of  different  kinds  of  flint — black,  white,  red  and  yellow — showing  them  to  have 
been  manufactured  by  different  and  probably  distant  tribes.  * 

To  the  untrained  collector  it  may  seem  almost  a  matter  of  course 
thus  to  explain  the  abundance  of  arrow-heads  at  a  given  place  by 
supposing  a  battle  to  have  been  fought  there;  but  it  may  be 
entirely  unscientific  to  do  so.  There  are  other  hypotheses  which 
must  be  brought   into  careful  comparison    with    this    ere  a  safe 

*  pp.  64,  65,  of  "  Sketches  and  Chronicles  of  the  Town  of  Litchfield.  ])y  Payne  Kenyon  Kilbourne, 
M.  A.,'*  Hartford,  1859. 


8T0NE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK. 


S9 


decision  can  be  reached.  So,  too,  it  may  seem  a  natural  inference 
from  the  variety  of  materials  represented  in  a  collection  of  arrow- 
heads that  they  were  "manufactured  by  different  and  probably 
distant  tribes,**  but  no  such  inference  can  be  sustained ;  indeed 
there  are  various  facts  which  go  to  show  that  the  material  of 
which  these  implements  were  made  was  sometimes  transported  in 
considerable  quantities  from  place  to  place,  and  manufactured 
afterward. 

Not  only  has  no  systematic  exploration  of  Waterbury  territory 
with  reference  to  archaeological  traces  been  made  ;  it  is  quite  impos- 
sible to  give  any  full  account  of  the  remains  which  have  been 
gathered  up  in  the  present  and  in  previous  generations.  The  very 
miscellaneous  data  which  follow  are  simply  those  that  have  come  to 
the  writer's  knowledge  within  a  few  years  past,  representing  no 
effort  at  an  exhaustive  search  for  "relics"  in  the  field,  nor  any 
serious  attempt  to  ascertain  what  may  be  treasured  in  private 
collections,  or  lying  around  in  the  garrets  and  cupboards  of  farm- 
houses. These  memoranda,  however,  will  serve  to  show  how  wide- 
spread and  general  was  the  aboriginal  occupancy  of  the  region,  and 
how  closely  conformed  was  the  life  of  our  Mattatuck  predecessors 
to  the  typical  Indian  life. 

Beginning  at  the  southern  boundary  of  Mattatuck,  that  is,  at 
Beacon  Hill  brook,  a  mile  and  a  half  below  Naugatuck  centre,  we 
find  traces  near  the  mouth  of  the  brook  of  what  some  have  called 
an  Indian  village.  The  brook  is  famous  as  a  trout  stream  ;  indeed 
for  rods  above  and  below  its  mouth  the  Naugatuck  river  used  to  be 
"black  with  fish,"  and  it  was  with  reference  to  the  fishing  that  the 
"  village  "  was  established  there.  This  camping-ground  was  situ- 
ated on  the  northern  bank  of  the  stream,  about  forty  rods  above  its 
mouth.  Certain  details  in  regard  to  it  were  furnished  to  the  writer 
by  the  late  Josiah  Culver  of  Naugatuck  (born  in  1799),  whose 
father,  Amos  Culver,  settled  near  the  mouth  of  Beacon  Hill  brook 
previous  to  1780.  At  that  time,  corn-hills — remains  of  aboriginal 
planting — were  plainly  visible,  and  there  were  Indians  living  in 
the  neighborhood.  Numerous  traces  of  an  arrow  maker's  work- 
shop existed  there,  and  some  years  ago,  in  digging  a  cellar,  a  large 
quantity  of  stone  "  chips  "  was  unearthed.  Josiah  Culver  found  a 
stone  pipe  on  this  site,  and  a  soapstone  dish  that  would  hold  two  or 
three  quarts.  In  his  later  life  he  found  a  rude  "  pestle  "  and  a  few 
white  quartz  arrow-heads  near  his  dwelling,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Naugatuck  river. 

About  a  mile  back  from  the  river  rises  Twelve  Mile  hill,  known 
also  as   Straight   mountain.      Here,  on  a  plateau  overlooking  the 


6o  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBUBT. 

Naugatuck  valley,  is  the  residence  of  H.  N.  Williams.     On  the  level 
surface,  ten  rods  back  from  the  declivity  and  near  a  peat  swamp, 

^_.  Mr.  Williams  found  one 

of  the  axes  figured  in 
the  accompanying  cut. 
It  is  six  and  a  half 
inches  long  and  three 
'  and  a  half  wide,  nar- 
rowing to  the  cutting 
edge.  It  is  flat  on  one 
side,  but  the  groove  runs 
entirely  around  it.  It  has 

I  been  carefully  ground  in 

the  groove  and  near  the 
edge,  but  not  elsewhere. 
Mr.  Williams  found  near  the  same  spot  a  mallet-like  stone,  having 
a  very  artificial  look  ;  but  it  is  probably  a  natural  object. 

The  other  axe  here  figured  was  found  in  the  village  of  Nauga- 
tuck,  and  was  preserved  for  many  years  in  the  family  of  the  late 
Willard  Spencer,  of  Waterbury.  Its  length  is  six  inches.  It  is  very 
slightly  grooved,  except  on  the  edges,  and  bears  few  traces  of  work. 
It  was  evidently  a  natural  wedge  of  fine  sandstone,  selected  because 
of  its  axe-like  shape,  and  mounted  in  its  handle  with  as  little  labor 
as  possible. 

The  large  chipped  implement  figured  in  the  same  cut  was  also 
found  in  Naugatuck  village,  near  the  river.  It  is  of  dark  brown 
flint  (more  properly,  chert),  and  is  seven  inches  long,  and  seven- 
eighths  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  middle,  tapering  on  both  sides  to  a 
nicely  chipped  edge. 

In  the  writer's  collection  are  three  other  implements  found  in 
Naugatuck,  near  the  river.  One  of  them  (presented  by  the  late  Cal- 
vin H.  Carter)  may  be  regarded  as  a  pestle,  although  it  approxi- 
mates to  the  form  of  a  blunt  chisel.  It  is  eleven  inches  long. 
Three  of  its  sides  are  flat;  the  fourth  side  rounded.  Lying  with 
its  rounded  side  up,  its  heighth  is  two  and  a  quarter  inches,  its 
thickness  one  and  three-quarters.  One  of  the  ends  is  rounded,  the 
other  wedge-shaped,  but  blunt.  The  material  is  a  fine  sandstone, 
very  similar  to  the  axe  last  described.  The  second  specimen  is  a 
chipped  "  hoe  "  of  white  quartzite,  five  inches  long.  The  "  blade  "  is 
three  and  a  half  inches  wide,  the  "  stem  "  two  and  a  quarter.  It  is 
very  rough  and  evidently  unfinished.  What  it  would  have  become 
in  the  finishing  process  it  is  difficult  to  say.  Still  more  interesting 
than  this  is  the  third  implement,  which  may  be  described  as  a  small 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK.  6i 

"adze"  or  a  "gfouge  "  designed  for  mounting  in  a  handle.  On  one 
side  it  is  flat,  except  that  it  is  gouge-shaped  at  the  cutting  edge. 
The  other  side  is  convex,  and  midway  there  are  two  projections, 
with  a  hollow  between  them,  evidently  made  to  receive  a  withe 
handle.  The  tool  is  five  inches  long  and  an  inch  and  three-quarters 
in  width.  It  is  of  very  hard  stone,  but  is  symmetrically  shaped  and 
carefully  ground. 

At  Bradleyville,  northwest  of  Naugatuck,  stone  implements 
have  been  picked  up  by  John  Bradley,  Isaac  Scott,  Enoch  Newton 
and  others,  but  no  details  can  be  given.  * 

Through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Isaac  N.  Russell  the  writer's  col- 
lection contains  a  stone  axe  found  at  Piatt's  Bridge  on  the  Nauga- 
tuck, three  miles  south  of  the  centre  of  Waterbury.  The  stone  is 
very  compact  and  heavy  and  almost  black.  The  length  is  seven 
and  a  half  inches,  the  breadth  five  inches;  the  thickness  above  the 
groove  two  inches  and  a  half.  The  groove  is  shallow,  and  although 
the  axe  is  of  a  well-defined  type  it  has  been  made  such  without  the 
expenditure  of  much  labor.  The  part  below  the  groove  is  wedge- 
shaped  and  tapering,  and  the  cutting  edge  is  very  nearly  a  semi- 
circle. Along  with  the  axe  came  a  few  arrowheads,  and  additional 
arrowheads  of  white  quartz  were  received  from  the  Misses  Cowell, 
residents  of  the  Piatt's  Mills  district. 

At  Malmanack  (or  Malmalick),  a  hill  referred  to  in  the  previous 
chapter,  numerous  chipped  implements  have  been  found.  The  Rev. 
Eli  B.  Clark,  in  a  letter  already  quoted,  says : 

In  my  youth,  while  cultivating  the  fields  on  the  sides  and  top  of  that  hill,  we 
often  found  Indian  relics,  chiefly  arrow-heads  of  greater  or  less  perfection.  I 
should  judge  that  they  were  from  three  to  five  inches  in  length,  some  very  slim 
and  sharp,  others  larger  and  more  blunt,  intended  probably  for  larger  game.  We 
often  found  them  broken,  but  some  were  apparently  as  perfect  as  when  used  by 
the  red  man  in  slaughtering  his  game. 

It  was  very  pleasing  to  us  boys  to  find  these  relics  of  a  former  race,  and  we 
carefully  treasured  them  up,  for  the  time  being,  as  curiosities.  I  have  a  vague 
recollection  that  something  we  called  the  Indian  hatchet  was  occasionally  found, 
but  of  this  I  could  not  affirm  positively. 

The  locality  of  the  arrow-heads  was  confined  chiefly  to  the  hill;  I  scarcely  recol- 
lect finding  any  on  other  parts  of  our  farm,  which  extended  quite  a  distance  in  all 
directions.  I  do  not  think  that  the  question  why  the  arrow-heads  were  confined  to 
that  partictilar  spot  was  much  agitated  in  those  days.  Whether  the  Indians  came 
there  for  the  outlook,  or  for  game,  or  for  some  other  reason,  was  not  satisfactorily 
settled,  if  indeed  it  has  been  since,  or  ever  will  be.  The  hill  was  evidently  a 
favorite  camping  ground,  where  much  time  must  have  been  spent;  otherwise  it  is 
not  easy  to  account  for  the  loss  of  so  many  weapons  of  the  chase. 

As  far  to  the  east  of  the  Naugatuck  as  Malmanack  is  to  the  west, 
rises   the    height  known  as   East   mountain,  near  the  bounds  of 


62  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Prospect.  This  is  represented  in  the  writer's  collection  by  a  hand- 
some black  spear-head.  At  Prospect  centre,  on  ground  high 
enough  to  command  a  view  of  Long  Island  sound,  the  writer 
secured  an  interesting  stone  "mortar,"  probably  of  aboriginal 
manufacture,  which  now  rests  under  a  tree  near  his  cottage  at 
Woodmont.  The  material  is  a  compact,  yellowish  brown  sandstone. 
It  is  without  definite  form,  but  approximates  to  an  oval.  It  is 
twenty-three  inches  in  length,  eighteen  in  breadth,  and  six  in 
thickness.  The  excavation  is  three  inches  at  its  greatest  depth  and 
slopes  gradually  to  the  top.  The  longer  diameter  of  the  excavation 
lies  across  the  stone  and  measures  seventeen  inches.  Its  width  is 
fourteen  inches,  so  that  there  is  a  flat  margin  on  one  side*  of  it, 
measuring  several  inches  across.  This  may  have  been  a  mortar  in 
which  to  grind  com.  If  so,  the  "pestle"  must  have  been  used 
horizontally,  that  is,  rolled.  But  the  excavation  does  not  afford 
much  evidence  of  use.  * 

Returning  to  the  Naugatuck  river,  a  little  above  the  point  at 
which  Mad  river  empties  into  it,  we  find  a  spot  productive  of  arrow- 
heads where  the  office  of  the  Benedict  &  Burnham  Manufacturing 
company  now  stands.  Here  was  the  home  of  the  late  Joseph  P. 
Somers,  from  whose  daughters,  Mrs.  Stephen  E.  Harrison  and  Mrs. 
Douglas  F.  Maltby,  the  writer  has  received  collections  of  arrow  and 
spear-heads — the  arrow-heads,  as  usual,  being  mostly  of  white 
quartz.  They  were  picked  up,  years  ago,  in  the  garden  connected 
with  the  old  homestead. 

In  the  autumn  of  1892,  some  laborers  who  were  digging  a  cellar 
near  the  corner  of  East  Main  and  Silver  streets  in  Waterbury  came 
upon  a  number  of  arrow-heads.  A  short  distance  to  the  east  of  this, 
on  the  Meriden  road,  are  two  curious  depressions,  formerly  filled 
with  water,  known  as  the  Spectacle  ponds.f  Some  years  ago,  in  one 
of  these  ponds  or  "  kettle  holes" — that  on  the  south  side  of  the  road 
— a  curious  and  interesting  discovery  was  made,  not  only  represent- 
ing aboriginal  life,  but  bearing  upon  the  question  of  the  antiquity 
of  man  in  this  region.  The  workmen  of  Mr.  D.  G.  Porter,  while 
digging  muck  and  peat  from  the  bottom  of  the  pond,  came  upon  a 
number  of  pieces  of  wood  bearing  unquestionable  evidence  of  hav- 
ing been  cut  with  a  blunt  instrument.   Some  of  the  sticks  were  pine. 


*  The  writer  recalls  with  no  little  amusement  the  prolonged  effort  put  forth  to  secure  this  "  relic  "  from 
its  putative  owner.  It  lay  at  the  time  in  a  barn  yard,  filled  with  ice,  having  been  set  apart  as  a  watering 
trough  for  fowls.  But  the  farmer's  son,  as  soon  as  he  was  asked  to  sell,  conceived  a  strong  attachment  for  it. 
"  My  grandfather,"  he  said,  **  found  it  and  brought  it  home  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  people  have  come 
miles  to  see  it."  When  finally  persuaded  to  name  his  price,  he  said,  with  much  deliberation,  **  I  shall  have 
to  ask  you  twenty-five  cents  for  it."  "Well,  I  am  willing  to  give  you  twenty-five  cents  for  it,"  the  col- 
lector quietly  replied ;  and  he  then  and  there  began  to  appreciate  for  the  first  time  the  high  estimate 
which  the  hill-top  farmer  puts  upon  a  quarter  of  a  dollar. 

t  These  are  described  and  their  origin  explained  in  chap.  I,  pp.  8,  9. 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK.  63 

some  white  birch,  and  measured  two  inches  in  diameter.  Others 
showed  unmistakable  traces  of  fire,  as  did  also  the  stones  that  were 
found  with  them.  The  remarkable  thing  about  these  remains  (now 
in  the  writer's  possession)  is  that  they  were  found  at  a  depth  of  fif- 
teen feet  below  the  surface.  To  establish  approximately  their  date, 
we  must  not  only  go  back  to  a  time  when  the  Spectacle  ponds  were 
dry  ground,  but  must  reckon  the  rate  at  which  black  earth  is 
formed  by  the  annual  deposit  of  leaves,  and  the  rate  also  of  the 
formation  of  peat  through  the  growth  and  decay  of  peat -moss.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  in  a  country  overgrown  with  forests  of 
beach,  oak  and  chestnut,  where  there  is  annually  a  vast  deposit  of 
dead  leaves,  the  increase  in  the  depth  of  the  soil  is  "  one  one-hun- 
dred and  twenty-eighth  of  an  inch  per  annum,"  or  one  inch  in  a 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  years.*  At  this  rate,  to  deposit  a  stratum 
of  soil  fifteen  feet  in  thickness  would  require  more  than  twenty- 
three  thousand  years.  Such  estimates  are  of  a  hap-hazard  character 
at  best;  but  even  if  such  a  rate  as  this  could  be  established  for  a 
wooded  region  and  a  level  surface,  it  would  serve  but  poorly  as  a 
measure  of  the  time  required  for  the  deposition  of  earth  and  muck 
and  peat  in  a  glacial  "kettle  hole."  We  must  make  large  allowance 
for  the  accumulation  of  fallen  leaves  in  such  an  excavation;  and  for 
the  washing  in  of  sand  and  refuse  by  heavy  rains.  But  after  all 
such  deductions  are  made,  the  depth  at  which  the  remains  at  Spec- 
tacle pond  were  found  is  remarkable.  A  variety  of  hypotheses 
might  be  suggested  to  account  for  their  position;  but  those  who 
believe  that  man  existed  in  North  America  during  the  last  glacial 
period  or  soon  afterward,  will  find  here  new  evidence  in  support  of 
their  opinion. 

Coming  westward  again  to  the  centre  of  the  city,  and  going  a 
short  distance  up  Prospect  street,  we  are  at  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Luther  C.  White — the  house  next  north  of  Trinity  church.  In  dig- 
ging the  cellar  of  this  house,  some  years  ago,  a  "relic"  was  found 
more  interesting  than  any  other  that  has  thus  far  been  discovered 
in  ancient  Mattatuck.  It  is  the  pipe  with  a  face  and  figure  upon  it 
pictured  on  page  38.  This  pipe  is  of  fine,  dark  green  steatite,  so 
dark  that  it  is  almost  black.  The  stem  is  four  and  a  half  inches 
long,  half  an  inch  wide,  and  five-eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  The 
bowl  is  two  inches  and  three-quarters  in  depth;  the  diameter  across 
the  top  is  seven-eighths  of  an  inch,  and  the  diameter  of  the  bore 
three-eighths.  On  the  upper  side  of  the  stem  is  a  recumbent  female 
figure,  the  right  arm  alongside  of  the  body,  the  left  arm  across 
the  chest.     Each  hand  has  three  fingers  which  are  spread   apart 

*Dr.  C.  C.  Abbott  on  the  ^'Antiquity  of  the  Indians  of  North  America,"  in  Thf  American  Naturalist 
for  February,  1876  (Vol.  X,  p.  67). 


64  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

like  the  claws  of  a  bird.  The  figure  is  three  inches  and  a  half  in 
length,  and  a  little  broader  than  the  stem  upon  which  it  rests.  On 
the  tipper  part  of  the  bowl,  facing  the  smoker,  is  a  carefully  carved 
man's  face,  an  inch  and  three-eighths  in  length.  The  ears  are  per- 
forated, and  the  eyes  are  either  closed  or  directed  downward  to  the 
recumbent  figure  on  the  stem.  There  is  a  slight  projection  or  ring 
around  the  top  of  the  bowl,  and  another  similar  ridge  around  the 
stem,  half  an  inch  from  the  end.  The  pipe  is  carefully  carved  and 
beautifully  polished  throughout,  and  taken  as  a  whole  is  far  superior 
to  the  average  handiwork  of  the  New  England  Indians.  Artistically 
and  in  its  workmanship  it  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  pipes  of 
the  Ohio  valley  Mound  Builders, — although  if  it  were  a  mound  pipe, 
it  might  not  be  easy  to  explain  how  it  reached  the  Naugatuck  val- 
ley during  the  aboriginal  period.  But  if  we  may  judge  from  what 
some  of  the  early  writers  have  said  concerning  the  skill  of  the  New 
England  Indians,  such  work  as  that  displayed  in  this  Waterbury 
pipe  was  not  altogether  beyond  their  reach.  John  Josselyn,  in  his 
"  Two  Voyages  to  New  England,"  enumerating  articles  of  Indian 
manufacture,  mentions  "  tobacco  pipes  of  stone,  with  images  upon 
them;"*  and  Wood,  in  his  "New  England's  Prospect,"  speaking  of 
the  things  which  the  Massachusetts  Indians  obtain  from  the  Narra- 

gansetts,  says : 

From  hence  they  have  their  great  stone  pipes  which  will  hold  a  quarter  of  an 
ounce  of  tobacco,  which  they  make  with  steel  drills  and  other  instruments.  Such 
is  their  ingenuity  and  dexterity  that  they  can  imitate  the  English  mold  so  accu- 
rately that,  were  it  not  for  matter  and  color,  it  were  hard  to  distinguish  them.  They 
make  them  of  g^een  and  sometimes  of  black  stone.  They  be  much  desired  of  our 
English  tobacconists  for  their  rarity,  strength,  handsomeness  and  coolness. f 

So  closely  does  this  description  correspond  at  some  points  with 
the  Waterbury  pipe  that  we  might  easily  suppose  the  author  had  it 
before  him  while  he  wrote.  Very  probably  its  Mattatuck  owner 
obtained  it  by  traffic  rather  than  by  manufacture,  but  with  such 
facts  before  us  as  these  furnished  by  Wood  we  need  not  suppose  that 
it  came  from  the  Ohio  valley  or  from  any  tribe  more  remote  than 
the  Narragansetts.  And  what  Wood  says  in  regard  to  the  use  of 
steel  drills  suggests  that  this  and  other  articles  of  aboriginal  manu- 
facture may  belong  to  the  period  subsequent  to  the  first  coming  of 
Europeans.  At  any  rate,  it  is  difficult  to  believe  that  such  work 
could  have  been  done  without  metal  tools — without  the  "steel  drills  " 
of  the  English,  or  the  copper  instruments  of  the  Mound  Builders. 

The  streets  next  west  of  Prospect  street,  namely.  Central  and 
Holmes  avenues,  run  northward  across  land  formerly  owned  by  the 
late  Samuel  J.  Holmes.     On  that  part  of  the  land  now  crossed  by 


♦p.  Ill,  reprint  of  1865.        +  Part  2,  chap.  3  ;  p.  69,  reprint  of  1865. 


urONE  IMPLEMEHTB  OF  MATTATUCK. 


6S 


Central  avenue  there  were  formerly  several  places  which  afforded 
evidence  of  early  (perhaps  aboriginal)  excavations.  The  several 
depressed  areas  varied  in  extent  from  six  to  twelve  feet  square,  and 
in  two  of  them  charcoal  was  found,  with  other  traces  of  fire  and  also 
ilat  stones.  Near  the  centre  of  the  land,  where  Holmes  avenue  now 
is,  was  formerly  a  low  bluff,  with  springs  at  its  base.  Mr,  Israel 
Holmes  reports  that  arrow-heads,  mostly  of  white  quartz,  used  to 
be  found  here  in  considerable  numbers. 

Mr,  Israel  Holmes's  present  residence,  "Westwood,"  stands  on  a 
beautiful  plateau  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  overlooking  the 
extensive  meadows  of  the  Kaugatuck.  Here  also  many  arrow- 
heads and  larger  chipped  implements  have  been  found,  and  on  the 
north  side  of  the  house  traces  of  an  arrow-maker's  work-shop  are 
constantly  occurring,  Mr.  Holmes's  collection  of  "relics"  picked 
up  about  the  house  and  in  the  garden  contains  twenty  or  thirty 
white  quartz  arrow-heads,  several  of  flint  and  of  red  sandstone,  two 
"pestles,"  two  interesting  fragments  of  soapstonc  dishes  and  two 
implements  evidently  designed  to  be  mounted  as  hoes  and  probably 
used  in  cultivating  corn. 

On  the  bluff  next  north  of  Mr.  Holmes,  where  the  house  of  Mr. 
Loren  R.  Carter  now  stands,  arrow-heads  are  still  picked  up.  On 
Hospital  bluff,  a  little  distance  to  the  south,  some  interesting  pieces 
have  been  found,  among  which  are  those  here  represented. 

The  soapstone  dish  was  given  to  the  writer  some  years  ago  by 
the  late  C.  B.  Merriman.     Its  general  outline  is  triangular,  but  the 
corners  are  rounded   off  so  much   that   it   is   almost  circular.     Its 
length,     not    reckoning 
the   projecting  handles, 
is  eight  inches,  its  great- 
est breadth  seven  inches 
and  its  height  four.  The 
excavation  is  so  shallow 
— less  than  two  inches — 
and  it  is  upon  the  whole 
so  rude,  that  it  may  be 
supposed   to   have  been 
left     in     an    unfinished 
state,  and  perhaps  never 
used.     The  chipped  im- 
plements figured  in  the      m.aisi.wb  dish  am.  cilmiu  iMr.kMP^Ts,  hosjit.l  blip.. 
cut  were  received  from  watbbulrv. 

the  late  A.  B,  Wilson,  the  famous  invenlor  of  the  Wheeler  & 
Wilson  sewing  machine,  who  built  the  house  which  has  since 
become  the  Waterbury  hospital.     They  were  found  by  him  at  the 


66  HI8T0BT  OF  WATSRBURT. 

time  the  cellar  of  his  house  was  dug.  They  are  each  three  inches 
long,  of  a  greenish  gray  chert.  One  of  them  has  been  worked  quite 
symmetrically;  the  other,  which  is  but  little  more  than  a  semi-circu- 
lar flake,  smoothjon  one  side  and  chipped  on  the  other,  may  have 
been  used  as  a  "  scraper  "  for  cleaning  skins,  or  may  be  regarded  as 
an  unfinished  spear-head. 

On  the  high  ground  south  of  Hospital  bluff  and  just  north  of 
Sunnyside  avenue,  on  the  land  which  has  been  set  apart  as  a 
"town"  cemetery,  the  large  axe  figured  in  the  following  cut  was 
dug  up  a  few  years  ago  by  Mr.  S.  M.  Judd.  He  found  it  in  digging 
a  grave,  at  a  depth  of  four  feet  below  the  surface.  This  specimen  is 
interesting  as  illustrating  the  ease  with  which  the  primitive  man 
could  on  occasion  provide  himself  with  necessary  tools.  The  "  axe  " 
is  but  little  more  than  a  large  wedge-shaped  flake  of  compact  sand- 
stone. It  is  eight  inches  long,  is  square  across  the  top,  showing  the 
natural  cleavage,  is  an  inch  and  a  quarter  thick  on  one  side  and 
tapers  to  half  an  inch  on  the  other.  It  is  nicked,  not  grooved,  and 
is  rudely  chipped  on  the  thin  side.  It  is  not  so  much  an  unfinished 
implement  as  one  that  was  fitted  for  a  withe  handle  by  a  few 
minutes'  labor,  and  afterward  cast  aside. 

The  lively  stream  which  tumbles  down  between  the  Hospital 
grounds  and  the  land  north  of  the  town  cemetery  is  known  as  Sled 
Hall  brook.  On  the  old  Town  Plot  road  near  this  brook  arrow-heads 
have  recently  been  found,  and — what  is  of  more  interest — several 
fragments  of  aboriginal  pottery  bearing  traces  of  decoration,  the  de- 
sign being  that  which  is  sometimes  described  as  the  basket  pattern. 
Some  distance  to  the  northwest  of  this  last  named  locality,  and 
alongside  of  the  Middlebury  road,  lies  a  large  swamp,  bounded  on 
the  northeast  by  a  ledge 
of  rocks  crowned  with 
_  large  trees.    On  the  edge 

I        .^flAM^^^^^  '^^  '-^^   swamp,  close   to 

r     ~^^^^^^^H^^^K         .^^&^_^__  the  rucks,  the  soap-stone 

I  _^^^^^^^^Bftm       ^^^Bfl^b  figured  the 

IJ^^^^^^^^^P*^       ^^^^^^^p  by 

I^^^^^^^^B^  ^^^^^^^  the  late  Isaac  Boughton, 

!        ^^^^^^^   .  -^.^fc  and  deposited  by  him  in 

the  writer's  collection. 
Its  length,  not  including 
the  projecting  handles, 
is  eight  inches  and  a 
D1..M,  ai:e5ano  "cmrNr-KB  st™i,''  ii„ierburv.  half,  Its  Width  six  and  a 

half.     Its  general  shape  is  a  rectangle,  with  rounded  corners  and 
bulging  sides.    The  bottom  is  not^flat,  so  that  it  is  higher  at  one 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUGK. 


67 


end  than  at  the  other.  The  excavation  measures  six  and  a  half 
inches  by  five  atid  a  quarter,  and  is  two  and  a  half  inches  deep. 
The  material  is  a  coarse  soap-stone  of  very  light  color.  Although 
a  good  deal  of  work  has  been  laid  out  upon  it,  taken  as  a  whole  it 
is  unshapen  and  clumsy. 

Near  the  swamp  just  referred  to,  a  well-known  road  branches 
from  the  main  highway  and  passes  through  what  is  called  the  Park. 
Beyond  the  Park,  on  high  ground  overlooking  the  road  from 
Naugatuck  to  Watertown,  lives  Mr.  Thomas  Lockwood,  who  has 
picked  up  on  his  little  farm  some  very  pretty  arrow  and  spear 
heads,  A  mile  or  two  north  of  there,  on  this  same  Naugatuck  and 
Watertown  road,  a  little  to  the  northwest  of  "  Bunker  Hill,"  is  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Charles  Cooper.  With  the  exception  of  the  large 
spear-head,  the  specimens  figured  in  the  following  cut  were  picked 
up  within  a  short  distance  of  Mr.  Cooper's  house.  The  spear-head 
was  obtained  from  Mr.  Stephen  Atwood,  at  the  sawmill  on  Wattles 
brook.     It  is  over  five  inches  loag,  of  a  dark  gray  chert,  and  very 


neatly  chipped.  Of  the  sixty  pieces  in  the  Cooper  collection  ten 
are  of  dark  chert,  one  (at  the  centre  of  the  cut)  of  yellowish  brown 
flint,  and  another  (the  large  one  directly  below  it)  of  light  gray 
flint,  flecked  with  white.  The  rest  are  of  white  quartz,  one  of  them 
very  transparent.  Great  pains  were  evidently  taken  with  this,  but 
it  was  probably  broken  in  the  making.  Most  of  the  arrow-heads 
are  perfect,  but  thick  and  clumsy. 

The  soapstonc  dish  figured  on  the  next  page  is  said  to  have 
been  dug  up  in  building  the  Watertown  branch  of  the  Naugatuck 
railroad.     It  is  of  the  same  general  character  as  that  received  from 


68 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


Mr.  Boughton,  but  larger  and  less  smoothly  finished.  It  is  ten 
inches  long  and  about  eight  inches  wide.  The  projecting  handles 
are  large  and  strong.  Although  the  dish  is  six  inches  high,  the 
depth  of  the  excavation  is  less  than  two  inches;  so  that  it  is  very 
heavy.     The  entire  surface  bears  the  marks  of  the  pecking  tool. 

The  pestle  here  figured  was  found  in  the  village  of  VV^atcrtown, 
and  was  presented  to  the  writer  by  Dr.  Isaac  N.  Russell.  It  is  seven- 
teen inches  long  and  almost  cylindrical  in  form,  its  diameter  being 
two  inches  at  one  end 
and  an  inch  and  a  half 
at  the  other.  The  sides 
are  smooth  and  exhibit 
signs  of  use;  the  ends 
are  rounded,  but  not 
smooth.  The  material 
is  a  compact  and  hard 
argillite,  of  a  reddish 
brown  color. 

For  some  years  past 
an  agricultural  fair  has 
been  held  annually  at 
Watertown,  at  which 
from  time  to  time  stone  implements  have  been  exhibited.  At  the 
fair  held  in  June,  1880,  an  interesting  collection  was  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Frederick  Judd,  consisting  chiefly  of  implements  found  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town,  in  the  district  known  as  Garnseytown. 
On  Mr.  Judd's  farm,  which  is  separated  from  the  valley  of  the 
Naugatuck  by  a  high  ridge,  there  is  a  "  bog-meadow  pond,"  drained 
by  the  Shepaug  river.  Most  of  the  pieces  in  Mr.  Judd's  collection 
were  found  near  that.  It  includes  a  number  of  arrow-heads  and 
spear-heads,  among  which  a  white  leaf-shaped  spear-head  is 
specially  worthy  of  mention,  a  small  celt,  a  gouge,  three  "  pestles  " 
of  medium  length  (one  of  them  flat),  and  one  pestle  specially 
noteworthy  because  of  its  size  and  shape.  It  is  very  symmetrical 
and  is  twenty-three  inches  in  length.* 

If  we  return  to  ihe  centre  of  Waterbury  and  go  out  from  there 
in  a  different  direction  from  that  in  which  we  have  thus  far  pro- 


8T0NE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK,  69 

ceeded — to  the  northeast  rather  than  the  northwest — we  come  at 
once  upon  an  interesting  site,  near  the  corner  of  Cooke  and  Grove 
streets.  Here,  where  the  venerable  brothers  Edward  and  Nathan 
Cooke  lived  side  by  side  for  many  years,  the  channel  of  Little  brook 
is  still  visible,  although  walled  in  on  both  banks.  In  the  garden 
which  slopes  upward  from  the  brook  toward  the  northwest,  Mr. 
Walter  H.  Cooke  has  from  time  to  time  picked  up  perfect  or  imper- 
fect arrow-heads  and  numerous  chips.  Of  the  arrow-heads  in  his 
collection,  twenty-five  were  found  on  the  "home  lot." 

A  third  of  a  mile  further  on,  we  reach  the  foot  of  Burnt  hill, 
where  Dr.  Amos  S.  Blake,  some  years  ago,  picked  up  the  grooved 
axe  represented  in  the  cut  on  page  66.  Through  Dr.  Blake's  kind- 
ness, it  now  belongs  to  the  writer's  collection.  It  was  found  on  the 
roadside  in  a  populous  part  of  the  city,  where  it  had  lain  imob- 
served  by  passers  by  for  perhaps  two  hundred  years.  It  is  six 
inches  long  and  four  wide,  and  is  divided  into  two  nearly  equal 
parts  by  a  well  wrought  and  deep  groove.  Below  the  groove  it  is 
more  than  two  inches  thick,  and  tapers  rapidly  to  a  cutting  edge. 
The  upper  end  is  flat  and  unworked;  there  is  in  fact  no  trace  of 
work  upon  the  axe  except  in  the  groove  and  on  the  edge.  It  is  of 
trap  rock,  very  heavy  for  its  size,  and  rather  clumsy. 

In  the  same  cut  (on  page  66)  is  figured  a  bi-concave  discoidal 
stone  ver}'-  similar  in  its  general  character  to  the  so-called 
"  chungke  stones "  found  in  the  southern  states.  It  is  round  and 
quite  symmetrical,  is  three  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter  and  an 
inch  artd  three-quarters  in  thickness  near  the  circumference.  The 
depth  of  the  concavity  is  three-eighths  of  an  inch,  and  is  about  the 
same  on  both  sides.  The  rim  is  slightly  convex  and  the  edges  are 
rounded  off.  In  one  or  two  spots  it  shows  traces  of  polishing. 
Elsewhere,  except  in  the  concavities,  it  bears  the  marks  of  the 
pecking  tool.  The  material  is  yellow  sienite.  This  stone  was  pre- 
sented to  the  writer  by  Mr.  Charles  R.  Tyler,  of  Buck's  hill,  who  is 
a  grandson  of  David  Warner  and  a  descendant  of  John  Warner,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  It  was  in  the  Warner  family  for 
many  years,  and  is  believed  by  Mr.  Tyler  to  have  been  found  in 
Waterbury.  Such  stones,  though  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
south,  are  rare  in  the  northern  states.  Dr.  C.  C.  Abbott,  in  his 
"  Primitive  Industry,"  which  refers  chiefly  to  the  "  Northern  Atlan- 
tic seaboard,"  has  a  chapter  on  discoidal  stones,  but  it  is  very  short, 
the  northern  specimens  which  had  come  under  his  observation  hav- 
ing evidently  been  very  few.  The  game  of  "  chungke,"  of  which 
the  southern  and  southwestern  Indians  were  passionately  fond,  is 
described  by  James  Adair  as  he  saw  it,  a  hundred  and  fifty  years 


70 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 


ago,  and  more  fully  by  C.  C.  Jones,  in  his  work  on  southern  antiqui- 
ties.* The  writer  is  not  aware  of  any  references  to  it  in  authors 
who  have  described  the  New  England  Indians,  but  the  game  may 
have  existed  among  them  without  being  so  prominent  as  among  the 
southern  tribes.  If  the  stone  here  figured  is  a  Connecticut  speci- 
men, and  not  a  modern  importation,  its  existence  may  be  accepted 
as  evidence  that  "  chungke  "  was  played  in  ancient  Mattatuck, — 
although  it  is  of  course  possible  that  this  was  an  implement 
designed  for  some  entirely  different  purpose. 

That  part  of  ancient  Mattatuck  which  lies  to  the  east  and  north- 
east of  Buck's  hill,  now  embraced  in  the  town  of  Wolcott,  is  prob- 
ably as  well  stocked  with  prehistoric  specimens  as  the  rest  of  the 
territory,  but  the  writer  is  not  informed  in  regard  to  discoveries  in 
that  quarter.  Wolcott  is  represented  in  his  collection  by  a  few 
specimens  secured  through  the  late  Samuel  Orcutt.  One  of  these 
is  a  grooved  axe  of  sienite,  of  rather  neat  form,  six  inches  long  and 
three  and  a  half  wide.  A  deep  and  polished  groove  divides  it  near 
the  middle.  Below  the  groove  it  is  carefully  worked,  but  there  is 
little  trace  of  work  above.  There  is  a  well-defined  notch  in  the 
top,  of  more  recent  workmanship  than  the  rest. 

In  the  village  of  Waterville,  two  miles  above  Waterbury  centre,  a 
number  of  interesting  specimens  have  been  found.  At  the 
southern  end  of  the  village,  on  a  small  stream  named  Mack's  brook, 
Mr.  Heber  Welton  has  found  a  number  of  arrow-heads.  Mr.  G.  W. 
Tucker  reports  "  the  oldest  inhabitant  "  as  stating  that  there  used 
to  be  an  Indian  camp  on  the  banks  of  Mack's  brook,  that  the 
Indians  were  drawn  there  by  the  abundance  of  fish,  and  that  at 
certain  seasons  the  stream  was  full  of  salmon.  Mr.  Welton  has 
found  in  this  vicinity  several  pestles,  one  of  them  in  the  bed  of 
the  river. 

The  writer's  collection  contains  an  interesting  and  shapely  imple- 
ment taken  from  Factory  pond  in  Waterville.  It  is  six  inches  long, 
and  an  inch  and  three-quarters  wide  in  its  widest  part.  It  may 
perhaps  be  classed  with  stone  chisels,  but  is  flat  on  one  side  and 
handsomely  rounded  on  the  other.  At  the  upper  end  it  tapers  to  a 
blunt  point,  and  the  cutting  edge  measures  about  an  inch.  It  has 
lain  so  long  in  the  water  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  of  what  kind  of 
stone  it  is  made. 

Across  the  river  from  Waterville  is  the  home  of  Mr.  Joseph  Wel- 
ton, sheltered  on  the  northwest  by  a  ridge  which  runs  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  as  far  as  the  Waterbury  almshouse.     Mr.  Welton 


♦Jones's  "  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,*^  pp.  341-358  ;  Adair's  "  American  Indians/*  pp.  401,  402; 
Abbott's  '*  Primitive  Industry.'*  pp.  341-343. 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK.  -ji 

has  picked  up  around  his  house  a  number  of  arrow-heads  and  other 
chipped   implements,   some  of  which   he   has   contributed   to  the 
writer's  collection.     Among   these  is  a  semi-lunar  knife  of  slate, 
similar  to  that  already  described,  but  smaller  and  somewhat  imper- 
fect, and  evidently  very  old.     Some  years  ago,  while  working  the 
road  near  the  almshouse,  Mr.  Welton  came  upon  the  grave  of  an 
Indian  child.     The  skeleton  was  in  a  sitting  posture.     The  skull, 
taken  from  the  earth  in  a  somewhat  fragmentary  condition,  was 
sent  to  a  friend  in  a  neighboring  town.     But  Mr.  Welton  reserved 
for  himself,  and  afterward  gave  to  the  writer,  certain  objects  which 
make  the  "find"  one  of  peculiar  interest.     These  are  toy  imple- 
ments, four  in  number,  some  idea  of  which  may  be  obtained  from 
the  accompanying  cut.     One  is  a  diminutive  celt,  two  inches  and  a 
quarter  long  and  three  quarters  of  an 
inch  wide  at  the  cutting  edge.   Another, 
two  inches  and  five  eighths  in  length, 
might  be  considered  a  miniature  pestle, 
were  it  not  that  at  one  end  it  is  wedge- 
shaped.     Of  the  other  two  pieces,  one 
is  axe-shaped,  the  other  nearly  square. 
The  latter  measures  an  inch  and  a  half 
on  each   side,  and   neither  of  them  is 
more  than  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness.    That   these  two  were   designed 
for  toy  pendants  {"gorgets,"  as  they  are 
sometimes  called)  is  evident   from  the 
fact  that  a  perforation  had  been  begun 
in  each.     The  objects  possess  a  unique 

interest;  associated  as  they  were  with  '™''""'i-HMENisti(o«A child's cr*vk. 
the  remains  of  a  child,  they  help  us  to  bring^vividly  before  us  what 
may  be  called  the  home  life  of  our  aboriginal  predecessors.  There 
is  nothing  to  forbid  our  thinking  of  these  buried  trifles  as  the 
handiwork  of  some  fond  father  or  elder  brother,  unfinished  at  the 
moment  of  the  child's  death  and  deposited  in  his  grave  by  a 
mother's  hand. 

A  short  distance  above  Waterville,  at  Hinchliffe's  bridge,  there 
is  a  ledge  called  the  Deer-steak  rocks.  In  this  ledge,  near  the  river, 
there  is  a  rock-shelter,  open  to  the  south,  the  "  roof  "  of  which  pro- 
jects ten  or  twelve  feet.  In  the  spring  of  1881,  Mr,  John  Stevens, 
digging  here,  picked  up  within  a  space  ten  feet  square  about  sixty 
arrow  and  spear  heads,  perfect  or  broken.  Most  of  them  are  of 
white  quartz,  some  of  them  carefully  finished.  Three  or  four  are 
of  a  bluish  flint-like  stone,  and  one  of  these  is  two  and  a  quarter 


\l 


72 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


inches  in  length.  A  fragfraent  of  pottery  was  also  found,  bearing- 
traces  of  a  simple  decoration;  also  three  fragments  of  a  perforated 
article,  apparently  the  remains  of  a  large  pipe  of  European  manu- 
facture. 

Some  distance  further  north,  on  the  Thomas  ton  road,  just  above 
Jericho  bridge,  there  is  a  bluff,  now  under  cultivation,  where  quanti- 
ties of  quartz  chips  are  ploughed  up.  They  can  be  traced  sometimes 
the  whole  length  of  a  furrow,  and  may  pretty  certainly  be  regarded 
as  indicating  the  place  of  an  arrow-maker's  open-air  work-shop.* 

A  little  further  up  the  river,  at  Reynolds  bridge,  on  the  west 
side,  is  the  residence  of  Mr.  H.  F.  Reynolds.  It  stands  on  a  plateau 
overlooking  the  river  and  the  road.  On  the  slope  near  his  house, 
and  on  the  strip  of  meadow  between  the  road  and  the  river,  Mr. 
Reynolds  has  picked  up  arrow-heads  and  numerous  chips.  In  his 
small  collection  is  one  of  the  finest  specimens  the  Naugatuck  val- 
ley has  thus  far  produced.  It  is  a  beautiful  leaf-shaped  spear-head, 
five  inches  long  and  three  inches  wide.  Its  outline  is  symmetrical, 
the  edge  is  carefully  chipped,  and  the  color  is  milk-white. 

In  the  writer's  collection  Thomaston  is  represented  by  a  single 
specimen.  It  is  an  axe,  very  similar  in  outline  to  the  sole  of  a  shoe. 
The  length  is  six  and  a  quarter  inches,  the  width,  just  below  the 
groove,  two  inches  and  a  half,  whence  it  narrows  gradually  to  the 
cutting  edge.  The  groove,  which  is  shallow,  is  within  an  inch  and 
a  half  of  the  top. 

About  a  mile  and  a  half  above  Thomaston,  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river,  there  used  to  be  a  factory  and  a  few  houses,  bearing 
the  name  of  Heathenville.  The  writer  was  informed  by  the  late 
Horace  Johnson  that  in  his  boyhood  he  used  to  find  arrow-heads 
and  quantities  of  stone  chips  at  this  place.  The  ground  close  to 
the  water's  edge  was  full  of  chips,  mostly  black. 

Some  years  ago,  in  the  Litchfield  correspondence  of  the  Water- 
bury  American,  appeared  the  following  paragraph: 

In  a  late  issue,  you  speak  of  a  discovery  of  soapstone  dishes,  in  Rhode  Island. 
There  are  plenty  of  them  nearer  home.     I  have  in  my  possession  a  bushel  or  so  of 


*  About  a  mile  above  Jericho  bridge,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  which  here  runs  very  near  the  river,  is 
a  so-called  Indian  mortar.  It  is  an  excavation  in  the  rock,  close  to  the  road.  The  rock,  which  is  a  stratum 
of  mica-slate,  dipping  to  the  northwest,  is  broken  away  across  the  mouth,  so  that  the  east  side  of  the  hole, 
next  the  bank,  is  much  higher  than  the  side  next  the  road.  The  excavation  is  nearly  circular,  and  is  twenty- 
one  inches  in  diameter.  The  depth  of  the  main  '*  shaft,*'  measured  on  the  side  next  the  bank,  is  two  feet; 
measured  from  the  level  of  the  road,  it  is  eight  inches.  But  within  and  below  this  there  is  another  hollow, 
fourteen  inches  by  six,  and  five  inches  deep.  The  stratification  of  the  rock  is  easily  discerned  throughout 
the  cavity.  That  it  was  ever  used  by  the  Indians  as  a  mortar  (for  grmd  ng  corn),  there  is  no  reason  to  sup- 
pose. An  Indian  trail  may  have  run  close  by  it,  but  the  conditions  favorable  for  the  establishment  of  a  vil- 
lage or  camping-ground  are  altogether  wanting  here.  Under  almost  any  circumstances  the  excavation  would 
have  been  inconvenient  to  use  as  a  '*  mortar.**  It  is  undoubtedly  of  natural  rather  than  artificial  origin,  and 
is  what  geologists  term  a  pot-hole.  It  would  not  have  been  worth  while  to  describe  it  so  fully,  excrpr  that 
tradition  has  so  long  regarded  it  as  of  Indian  origin. 


STONK  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUGK. 


73 


fragments  of  such  dishes,  and  know  of  two  localities  where  the  soapstone  was 
quarried  and  manufactured.  The  dishes  are  very  commonly  in  use  among  the 
farmers  here,  for  washing  hands,  etc. 

Having  learned  that  the  correspondent  from  whom  this  statement 
came  was  D.  C.  Kilbourne,  Esq.,  of  East  Litchfield,  the  writer, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  H.  F.  Bassett,  called  on  him,  and  under  his 
guidance  visited  one  of  the  prehistoric  manufactories  of  soapstone 
dishes  which  he  had  discovered.  This  manufactory,  or  open-air 
work-shop,  is  situated  near  "Watch  hill,"  on  Spruce  brook,  a  beauti- 
ful stream  which  empties  into  the  Naugatuck  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
below  the  East  Litchfield  railroad  station.  Mr.  Kilbourne  had  gath- 
ered his  large  assortment  of  broken  dishes  from  a  strip  of  meadow- 
land  lying  along  the  left  bank  of  the  brook.  A  new  examination  of  the 
same  ground  brought  to  light  many  more  fragments,  of  all  sizes  and 
shapes,  most  of  them  evidently  representing  dishes  that  had  never 
been  finished  but  were  broken  in  the  making.  They  were  covered 
outside  and  inside  with  tool-marks,  and  all  of  them  were  very 
rough.  In  some  cases  the  projecting  handles  showed  a  nearer 
approach  to  completion  than  any  other  part  of  the  dish.  Of  the 
specimens  collected,  that  which  comes  nearest  to  being  a  perfect 
dish  is  noteworthy  for  its  diminutive  size.  It  is  only  four  inches 
and  a  half  in  length,  and  three  inches  high.  It  is  conformed  to  the 
regular  type,  the  projecting  handles  not  being  lacking;  but  it  is  so 
small  that  one  can  not  help  asking  to  what  use,  in  cooking  or  eating, 
the  red  map  could  have  put  it. 

The  broken  dishes  were  interesting — sufficiently  so  to  justify 
carrying  away  a  large  quantity  of  them;  but  a  more  important  dis- 
covery was  yet  to  be  made.  The  writer,  going  back  and  forth  over 
the  ploughed  ground,  picked  up  a  piece  of  quartzite  which  bore 
marks  of  chipping.  He  soon  found  another  and  another,  and  very 
readily  discovered  their  character :  they  were  the  tools  used  in 
shaping  and  hollowing  out  the  soapstone  dishes.  Before  his  explor- 
ation was  ended  he  had  collected  sixty  of  these  stone  tools,  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  of  which  were  closely  conformed  to  a  well-defined 
type.  They  measure  from  three  and  a  half  inches  to  five  inches  in 
length,  and  in  size  and  shape  resemble  a  man's  clenched  fist, — sup- 
posing the  thumb  instead  of  being  turned  inward  to  be  extended 
and  to  rest  against  the  forefinger.  The  end  of  the  tool  represented 
by  the  top  of  the  thumb  is  in  each  case  chipped  to  a  point,  and  the 
larger  end  is  chipped  and  rounded  in  a  more  careless  way.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  unbroken  tools,  numerous  fragments  were  found,  and  a 
half  bushel  of  quartzite  chips,  besides  two  or  three  good  arrow- 
heads.    In  the  brook  quartzite  pebbles  like  those  from  which  the 


74  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

tools  were  formed  could  easily  be  gathered.  A  few  other  tools  were 
found  of  a  different  character.  One  of  them  is  of  mica-slate,  one 
end  of  it  remaining  in  its  original  condition,  the  other  end  reduced 
by  chipping  to  such  a  size  that  it  can  readily  be  grasped  by  the 
hand.  It  is,  in  short,  a  rude  beetle,  about  a  foot  long.  Two  other 
pieces,  pointed  like  the  quartzite  tools,  are  of  entirely  different 
material  and  form.  One  of  them  is  eight  inches  in  length;  of  the 
other  only  the  pointed  end  remains. 

The  region  in  which  this  prehistoric  manufactory  was  situated 
abounds  in  seams  and  quarries  of  soapstone.  There  is  a  quarry  near 
the  top  of  Chestnut  hill  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Torrington, 
which  has  been  worked  of  late  years,  says  Orcutt,*  "with  fairly 
remunerative  success."  About  a  mile  east  of  this,  the  stone  crops 
out  again.  There  is  another  quarry  in  Litchfield,  and  ledges  of 
soapstone  on  Bunker  hill,  Waterbury.  In  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
near  the  site  of  the  Spruce  brook  "workshop,"  there  are  excava- 
tions from  which  some  of  the  material  used  by  the  Indians  was 
evidently  obtained. f 

No  thorough  exploration  was  made  by  the  writer  and  his  com- 
panions with  reference  to  the  sources  whence  the  Indians  obtained 
the  material  for  their  dishes.  It  may  be  that  soapstone  quarries  as 
interesting  as  those  discovered  within  recent  years  near  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  and  in  Amelia  county,  Va.,  may  be  awaiting  some 
enterprising  explorer  in  the  vicinity  of  Spruce  brook,  or  else- 
where in  the  Naugatuck  valley.  . 


To  these  memoranda  concerning  "  relics  "  found  in  ancient  Mat- 
tatuck  may  be  added  brief  accounts  of  two  others,  belonging  outside 
of  Waterbury  territory,  but  close  to  its  borders,  which  for  obvious 
reasons  are  likely  to  be  of  interest  to  readers  of  Waterbury  history. 

In  the  autumn  of  1834,  a  piece  of  "aboriginal  sculpture"  was 
unearthed  in  the  town  of  Litchfield,  which  is  thus  noticed  by  the 
Enquirer  of  October  2d,  of  that  year: 

A  discovery  of  a  singular  carved  stone  image  or  bust,  representing  the  head, 
neck  and  breast  of  a  human  figure,  was  made  a  few  days  since,  on  the  Bantam 
river,  about  forty  or  fifty  rods  above  the  mill-dam,  half  a  mile  east  of  this  village. 


♦"  History  of  Torrington,"  p.  176. 

f  At  several  houses  in  the  vicinity  large  slabs  of  soapstone,  more  or  less  carefully  worked,  and  soapstone 
**  mortars,**  were  found.  As  Mr.  Kilbourne  indicated  in  the  Atntrrican.  some  of  these  were  doing  service  as 
wash-bowls.  The  writer  brought  home  with  him  one  of  these  mortars,  measuring  seventeen  inches  by 
twelve.  The  hollow,  which  is  nearly  circular,  is  eight  inches  in  diameter  and  three  inches  deep.  In  the 
door-yard  of  a  farm-house  he  found  a  large  slab  in  which  three  basins  had  been  hollowed  out.  The  stone  is 
more  than  three  feet  long,  two  feet  and  nine  inches  wide  at  one  end  and  two  feet  at  the  other,  and  ten 
inches  thick.  One  of  the  bowls  is  sixteen  inches  in  diameter,  another  nine,  and  another  six.  It  is  not  at  all 
probable  that  such  stones  as  these  were  **got  out'*  and  shaped  by  the  aborigines;  they  are  doubtless  the 
product  of  white  men's  industry  at  a  period  when  dishes  of  any  kind  were  scarce. 


STONE  IMPLEMENTS  OF  MATTATUCK. 


75 


Some  boys  happened  to  discover  near  the  banks  the  head  of  the  figure  projecting 
above  the  ground,  which  so  excited  their  curiosity  that  they  immediately  dug  it 
out  and  conveyed  it  to  the  mill,  where  it  is  for  the  present  deposited  The  image, 
which  is  apparently  that  of  a  female,  is  carved  from  a  rough  block  of  the  common 
granite,  some  part  of  which  is  considerably  decayed  and  crumbly,  yet  must  have 
required  more  patient  and  persevering  labor  than  generally  belongs  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  natives  ;  and  though  in  point  of  skill  and  taste  it  falls  something  short 
of  Grecian  perfection,  it  is  certainly  *'  pretty  well  for  an  Indian."  For  what  pur 
pose  it  was  intended — whether  as  an  idol  for  worship,  or  the  attempt  of  some  fond 
admirer  to  preserve  and  immortalize  the  lovely  features  of  his  dusky  fair  one,  or 
whether  it  was  merely  a  contrivance  of  some  long-sighted  wag  of  old  to  set  us 
Yankees  a  guessing,  or  even  whether  it  is  one  hundred  or  five  hundred  years  old- 
all  is  unrevealed;  though  no  doubt  some  tale  is  hanging  thereby,  if  we  could  only 
find  it  out.  All  our  American  antiquities  have  this  interesting  peculiarity,  that  we 
know  nothing  of  their  history.  We  have  not  even  the  twilight  of  fabulous  story  to 
relieve  our  curiosity.     The  past  is  hidden  in  deeper  obscurity  than  the  future. 

This  account  is  reproduced  in  P.  K.  Kilbourne's  "  Sketches."  Mr.  Kil- 
bourne  adds:  "  This  curious  relic  is  now  preserved  in  the  cabinet  of 
Yale  College."*  J.  W.  Barber,  in  his  " Historical  Collections  of  Con- 
necticut," says:  "  It  is  a  rude  sculpture  of  brown  stone,  nearly  the 
size  of  life,  representing  a  female,  with  head  and  shoulders,  extend- 
ing down  to  the  waist.  It  is  now  deposited  at  Yale  College,  New 
Haven."  f 

In  January,  1879,  inquiry  was  made  of  Mr.  C.  H.  Farnam,  then 
curator  of  the  archaeological  department  of  the  Peabody  Museum, 
New  Haven,  in  reference  to  this  aboriginal  relic,  and  the  following 
reply  was  received: 

I  have  endeavored  this  morning  to  find  some  trace  of  the  statue  you  speak  of. 
About  1820,  the  College  turned  over  to  an  institution  called  the  ''New  Haven 
Museum  "  all  their  collection  of  relics.  Upon  the  failure  of  this  enterprise,  the 
collections  were  sold,  the  best  specimens  going  to  Boston;  but  to  what  museum  I 
can  not  learn.  I  suppose  the  specimen  you  refer  to  was  among  the  articles  so 
disposed  of,  but  have  no  record  of  it.  I  have  also  seen  Mr.  John  W.  Barber,  but 
he  does  not  recollect  where  he  heard  of  the  statue.  It  may  be  in  the  Boston 
Museum,  and  it  might  be  worth  while  writing  to  the  owners — though  in  a  show 
collection  of  that  kind  there  is  probably  no  one  who  knows  about  the  particular 
specimens.  I  am  sorry  on  my  own  account,  as  well  as  yours,  that  I  cannot  give 
you  definite  information. 

The  other  relic  is  of  wood,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  war-club 
of  Pomperaug,  a  sachem  of  the  Pootatucks.  It  is  a  weapon  of 
uncertain  age,  evidently  old,  but  in  a  state  of  good  preservation. 
Its  entire  length,  head  and  handle  included,  is  two  feet  and  nine 
inches.  The  handle  is  two  feet  and  two  inches  long;  is  two  inches 
thick  near  the  head,  tapering  to  one  inch,  and  is  without  bark.  The 
head  is  about  six  inches  in  diameter.     The  club  is  simply  a  branch 

*  p.  K.  Kilbourne'8  "  Sketches  and  Chronicles  of  the  Town  of  Litchfield,"  Hartford,  1859;  p  65. 
+  P.  456,  first  edition. 


76  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 

of  a  tree,  apparently  buttonwood — from  the  lower  end  of  which,  at 
a  point  where  another  branch  shot  out,  two  large  excrescences  had 
developed.  The  two  excrescences  have  grown  together  on  one  side, 
constituting  a  large  knot,  upon  which  the  bark  still  remains.  The 
branch  seems  to  have  been  cut  from  its  tree  by  a  hatchet,  but  the 
small  end  of  the  handle  shows  obvious  traces  of  a  saw. 

This  interesting  relic  was  presented  to  the  writer  by  Mrs.  Emily 
Goodrich  Smith,  daughter  of  the  well  known  S.  G.  Goodrich  ("  Peter 
Parley")  and  widow  of  Nathaniel  Smith  of  Woodbury.  Mrs. 
Smith,  in  a  letter  accompanying  her  gift,  dated  September  17,  1891, 
assigns  its  ownership  to  Pomperaug,  "an  early  distinguished  chief 
of  the  Pootatucks,"  and  says  that  "an  aged  squaw,  visiting  the 
burial  places  of  her  tribe,  gave  this  club  of  her  ancestor  and  chief 
to  Nathaniel  Smith,  Esq.,  over  fifty  years  ago."  * 

With  the  facts  before  us  which  Mrs.  Smith  mentions,  it  can  not 
be  doubted  that  the  club  is  a  genuine  Indian  relic.  But  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  the  tradition  which  ascribes  its  ownership  to  a 
Pootatuck  chief  named  Pomperaug  is  open  to  question.  Dr.  J. 
H.  Trumbull,  in  his  "  Indian  Names  of  Places,"  speaks  of  Pomeraug 
as  follows: 

Local  tradition  derives  the  name  from  a  Potatuck  sagamore  whose  fort  was  on  or 
near'* Castle  Rock"  in  Woodbury;  but  no  evidence  to  support  this  derivation  has 
been  found  in  the  town  or  colony  records,  and  the  form  of  the  name  makes  it  cer 
tain  that  it  originally  belonged  to  a  place,  not  to  a  person.  A  heap  of  stones  in  the 
village  of  Woodbury  is  supposed  to  mark  the  grave  of  Pomperaug,  on  which,  says 
Mr.  Cothren,  "each  member  of  the  tribe,  as  he  passed  that  way,  dropped  a  small 
stone,  in  token  of  his  respect  for  the  fame  of  the  deceased.**  Such  memorial  stone- 
heaps  were  common  in  New  England.  From  the  one  in  Woodbury  both  the  locality 
and  the  mythic  sachem  probably  received  their  name,  which  may  be  interpreted 
'*  place  of  offering  "  or  **  contributing." 

That  "  Pomperaug's  "  war-club  in  other  days  must  have  passed 
through  severe  experiences,  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  in  order 
to  reduce  a  serious  fracture  in  the  handle  of  it  an  application  of 
thirty-five  or  forty  feet  of  fine  copper  wire  once  had  to  be  made. 
But  in  the  time  to  come  its  fortunes  will  be  different;  it  is  now 
likely  to  rest  undisturbed  in  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  a  collector's 
cabinet,  and  afterward  to  serve  as  a  nucleus  of  that  collection  of  abo- 
riginal remains  which  is  sometime  to  adorn  the  walls  of  the  Bronson 
Library.  When  that  collection  is  at  length  brought  together,  prop- 
erly classified,  displayed  and  annotated,  the  people  of  Waterbury  will 
have  perpetually  before  them  a  picture  of  the  life  of  their  aboriginal 
predecessors  of  deep  significance  and  of  permanent  value. 

♦  The  donor  adds :    '*  Committed  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Anderson,  D.  D.,  with  the  request  that  when  he  ha* 
done  with  it  said  club  shall  go  to  the  Bronson  Library,  of  Waterbury,  Conn." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

early  attempts  to  establish  settlements  in  new  england  —  the 

london  company  —  the  plymouth   company  —  the  pilgrims 

London's   plantation   in    massachlsetts   bay  —  the    ships   of 

1629 transfer  of  the  government  from  england  to  new 

england — waterbury  names  in  massachusetts  and  plymouth 
in  1636 wahginnacut  visits  englishmen,  to  induce  migra- 
tion to  the  connecticut  river — dutch  at  hartford — john 
oldham,  the  first  trader — plymouth's  trading  house  at 
WINDSOR — Newtown's  petition   for   removal — Massachusetts* 

EFFORTS  TO  RETAIN  THE  SETTLERS  WITHIN  HER  JURISDICTION — 
THE  **  FORTY -TON  BARK  " — THE  COURT's  GOOD-BY  BLESSING — 
ARRIVAL  ON  THE  CONNECTICUT  RIVER  —  HARDSHIPS  CONTENDED 
WITH    DURING    THE    FIRST    WINTER. 

IT  IS  difficult  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  Connecticut  of  to-day 
to  become  thoroughly  conscious  of  the  fact  that  no  man,  no 
record,  no  library  in  existence,  can  give  the  name  of  a  person 
who  lived  in  any  portion  of  our  State  three  hundred  years  ago. 
The  attempt  at  making  this  truth  our  own  produces  a  train  of 
thought  not  altogether  pleasing,  and  brings  home  in  a  way  that 
is  new  the  oft -repeated  words:  Our  fathers  were  pilgrims  and 
strangers. 

New  England  had  been  seen  of  John  and  Sebastian  Cabot  in 
1497,  and,  in  1498,  they  had  sailed  along  the  coast,  and  their  passing 
glance  had  secured  for  England,  under  the  reign  of  King  Henry 
VII,  that  possession  by  sight  which  England  held  for  nearly  three 
centuries. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold  with  thirty-two  men,  had  landed 
on  Cape  Cod,  lingered  a  month  with  the  intention  to  settle,  and 
then  returned  to  England. 

In  1605,  George  Weymouth  found  Gosnold's  Cape  Cod,  followed 
the  coast  northward,  entered  the  Kennebec  River,  ascended  it  many 
miles,  stole  five  Indians,  and  returned  to  England. 

In  1607,  George  Popham,  under  the  direction  of  his  kinsman.  Sir 
John  Popham,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  colonists,  entered  the 
same  river,  landed  at  its  mouth,  and  built  a  village  Let  us  hope 
that  the  five  Indians  who  had  been  stolen,  were  returned  by  this 
early  and  convenient  opportunity.     Success  did  not  attend  this  enter- 


78  ffiarOBY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

prise.  George  Popham,  the  leader,  died,  and  the  adventurer.  Sir  John 
Popham,  died,  and  the  weary  and  disappointed  colonists  returned 
to  England. 

In  1606,  not  an  Englishman  was  known  to  be  in  North  America. 
In  that  year  special  interest  was  awakened  in  England  in  the  un- 
occupied lands  of  the  New  World.  Certain  "  Lords  and  Gentlemen  " 
formed  two  companies,  for  the  settlement  of  parts  of  America. 
Men  of  London  and  its  vicinity  called  their  combination,  "  The  Lon- 
don Company."  Men  of  Plymouth  called  their  association,  "The 
Plymouth  Company."  Both  companies  intended  to  cause  colonies  to 
be  established  in  "  Virginia,"  which  name  in  1606  served  to  indicate 
all  that  region  lying  between  South  Carolina  on  the  south  and  the 
most  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New  York  on  the  north.  To 
the  London  Company  was  allotted  South  Virginia  ;  to  the  Plymouth 
Company,  North  Virginia.  It  was  provided  that  neither  company 
should  plant  within  one  hundred  miles  of  any  settlement  already 
begun  by  the  other.  This  provision  serves  to  account  for  the  lap- 
ping of  the  territory  of  one  company  upon  that  of  the  other,  for 
South  Virginia's  northern  limit  was  the  south-western  point  of  pres- 
ent Connecticut,  while  North  Virginia's  southern  limit  ran  down 
into  present  Virginia.  From  these  two  companies  of  London  and 
Plymouth  and  their  successors,  have  emanated  the  many  patents 
and  grants  that  confront  the  investigator  with  a  net- work  of  rights, 
difficult  to  follow  through  all  the  complications  arising  from  uncer- 
tain bounds. 

Sir  John  Popham's  adventure  of  1607,  already  referred  to,  seems 
to  be  the  first  fruit  of  the  attempt  of  the  English  Company  of  Ply- 
mouth to  settle  North  Virginia  or  New  England. 

For  seven  years  we  are  without  a  record  of  any  attempt  at 
colonization. 

In  1614  Captain  John  Smith  explored  the  shore  from  Cape  Cod  to 
Penobscot  River,  and  gave  to  the  country  the  name  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  following  year,  he  is  said  to  have  set  sail  for  the  New 
World,  prepared  to  plant  a  colony — to  have  been  made  a  prisoner  by 
a  French  fleet,  and  his  colony  not  to  have  been  planted.  In  the 
same  year  Adrian  Block,  the  Dutch  navigator,  sailed  through  Long 
Island  Sound,  and  it  is  said  that  he  discovered  the  Connecticut 
river,  and  ascended  it  as  far  as  present  Hartford. 

If  we  look  for  the  motives  that  prompted  colonization  down  to 
this  date  we  shall  find  them  in  the  words,  profit,  proprietorship,  and 
freedom  in  a  new  land  to  do,  and,  to  be. 

But  here  we  come  to  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  and  the 
strange  story  of  their  grant  of  land   along  the   Delaware   River 


LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAT. 


79 


from  the  London  Company,  but  with  no  charter  from  the  King,  and 
their  landing,  no  man  may  tell  why,  on  bleak  Plymouth  shore  with- 
out grant  or  charter,  and  their  everlasting  growth  from  that  day  to 
this — their  motive,  first  and  last,  being  "freedom  to  worship  God,** 
with  all  the  profits  and  proprietorships  possible  added  thereto. 

Mention  should  here  be  made  of  merchant  Thomas  Weston's 
seventy-five  men,  gathered  in  1622  from  the  streets  of  London,  and 
planted  at  Wessaguscus,  now  Weymouth,  where  they  disagreed  with 
the  Indians,  and,  being  unwholesome  members  of  society,  were 
aided,  most  willingly,  by  the  men  of  Plymouth  in  their  return  to 
England  ;  of  Thomas  Morton  and  his  followers,  who  came  in  the 
same  year,  and  whose  yet-to-be-told  history  we  may  not  follow,  from 
the  time  when  Miles  Standish  paid  him  a  visit  and  sent  him  across 
the  sea,  down  to  1630,  when  he  was  again  returned  to  England  by  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  Company,  his  goods  confiscated  to  pay  his  debts 
and  expenses  and  for  "  a  canoe  he  unjustly  took  from  the  natives, 
and  his  house  burned  down  to  the  ground  in  the  sight  of  the 
Indians,  for  their  satisfaction  for  many  wrongs  he  had  done  them 
from  time  to  time."  The  above  is  from  the  Records  of  Massachu- 
setts, while  a  modern  historian  tells  us  that  the  accusation  against 
him  "  seems  to  have  been  based  upon  the  fact  that  he  used  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,"  but  the  Records  give  us  no  hint  that  he  prayed 
at  all.  ■ 

Soon  after  the  Pilgrims  were  established,  fishing  vessels  began 
to  visit  the  coast.  They  were  sent  out  by  English  merchants,  and 
were,  apparently,  the  heralds  of  the  great  Puritan  colonization 
scheme.  A  fishing  village  began  to  grow  on  Cape  Ann,  but  it  did 
not  thrive.  Troubles  came  upon  it,  which  were  softened  by  the 
ministrations  of  Mr.  Roger  Conant.  Thus  early  we  come  upon  a 
trail  that  leads  directly  to  our  Waterbury,  for,  in  1771,  Dr.  Roger 
Conant,  the  grandson  in  the  fifth  generation  of  this  Mr.  Roger 
Conant,  settler  at  Salem  before  1628,  came  to  Waterbury,  where  he 
married  in  1774  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  "Thomas  Bronson,  Esq.,"  and 
died  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  on  Long  Island.  Mr.  Roger 
Conant,  by  appointment  of  the  owners  in  England,  became  the 
leader  of  the  settlement.  The  English  capitalists  soon  grew  weary 
of  their  unprofitable  adventure  and  withdrew  from  it,  leaving  the 
little  colony  of  fishermen  and  planters  ashore,  and  adrift  from 
help.  Roger  Conant  stood  by  and  drew  them  away  from  Cape  Ann 
to  Indian  Nahumkeeke,  often  called  Naumkeag,  and  now  Salem. 
When  the  Puritans  came  to  New  England,  these  men  from  Cape 
Ann  were  already  in  possession,  and  are  the  old  planters  so  often 
referred  to,  and  to  whom  special  rights  adhered  because  of   their 


8o  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT, 

possessive  priority — the  beaver  trade  and  the  raising  of  tobacco 
being  of  the  number. 

There  was  another  venture  made  that  deserves  mention,  that  of 
Captain  Wollaston,  who,  about  the  year  1625,  brought  over  a  com- 
pany of  "  indented  "  white  servants ;  but  not  finding  a  market  for 
their  labor  he,  it  is  said,  after  a  tarry  at  Mount  Wollaston,  other- 
wise Morton's  Merry  Mount,  and  now  Braintree,  "  carried  them  to 
Virginia  and  sold  them  [their  labor]  there." 

Thus  it  is  found  that  the  only  band  of  immigrants  that  had  held 
to  the  soil,  despite  every  disadvantage,  had  been  the  Pilgrims  of 
Plymouth,  and  they  had  lived  largely  on  things  invisible  to  Lords 
of  Trade  in  England  or  elsewhere.  This  little  band  of  one  hundred 
and  one  in  1620,  and  forty-five  in  162 1,  had,  in  1628,  become  three 
hundred,  when  the  Puritan  exodus  began.  "Mr.  John  Endicott 
and  some  with  him  were  sent  to  begin  a  plantation,  in  1628, 
at  Massachusetts  Bay."  These  were  followed,  in  1629,  by  three 
hundred  men,  eighty  women,  and  twenty-six  children,  with  one 
hundred  and  forty  head  of  cattle  and  forty  sheep,  which  set  sail,  in 
three  ships,  for  London's  Plantation  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay.  It 
is  difficult  to  resist  the  temptation  to  give  items  concerning  the 
fitting  out  of  these  ships.  No  Arctic  expedition  of  to-day  could  be 
more  carefully  and  thoughtfully  equipped  than  were  the  George 
Bonaventure,  the  Talbot,  and  the  Lion's  Whelp,  by  the  English 
Company  of  men  (and  one  woman  whose  name  is  unknown),  who 
ventured  their  money  in  the  enterprise.  There  had  been  great 
content  the  year  before  when  Mr.  Endicott  had  given  himself  to  the 
company,  and  when  Rev.  Mr.  Higginson  adventured  himself  in 
1629,  great  was  the  joy  among  the  capitalists.  It  gave  good  heart  to 
the  work.  Mr.  Higginson  came  in  the  Talbot,  Rev.  Mr  Skelton  in 
the  George  Bonaventure,  bringing  with  him  his  library  of  fifty 
volumes.  Rev.  Mr.  Bright,  who  had  been  trained  up  under  Rev. 
John  Davenport,  came  in  the  Lion's  Whelp.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  Mr.  Davenport  and  Mr.  Theophilus  Eaton  were  both 
adventurers  in  the  Puritan  settlement  of  the  Bay,  and  that  its  first 
three  ministers  were  approved  by  Mr.  Davenport. 

Besides  the  three  ministers,  the  ships  bore  almost  everything, 
including  the  "  English  Bible  in  folio  of  the  last  print,"  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  the  Charter  itself,  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Sharp,  and  the  oath  that  was  to  be  administered  on  the  ship's 
arrival  to  Mr.  Endicott,  the  elected  Governor.  In  their  cargoes 
were  mill  stones,  and  stones  of  peaches,  plums,  filberts  and  cherries  ; 
"kemells"  of  pear,  apple,  quince  and  "  pomegranats  ;"  seeds  of 
liquorice,  woad,  hemp,  flax  and  madder  ;  roots  of  potatoes  and  hops ; 


LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAT,        8i 

Utensils  of  pewter,  brass,  copper,  and  leather  ;  hogsheads  of  wheat, 
rye,  barley,  oats,  beans,  pease,  and  "bieffe;"  thousands  of  bread; 
hundreds  of  cheese,  and  codfish ;  gallons  of  olive  oil,  and  Spanish 
wyne;  tuns  of  water,  and  beer  ;  thousands  of  billets  of  wood,  beside 
the  loads  of  chalk,  the  thousands  of  brick,  and  "  chauldrens  of  sea 
coales,"  that  were  cast  in  the  "ballast  of  the  shipps." 

To  these,  and  other  items,  must  be  added  the  apparel  of  three 
hundred  men,  and  the  long  list  of  the  munitions  of  death  with 
which  each  ship  was  freighted.  There  were  ensigns — "partisans, 
for  captain  and  lieutenant,"  halberts,  for  sergeants — muskets  with 
fire  locks,  four  foot  in  the  barrel,  without  rests — long  fowling 
pieces,  six  and  a  half  feet  long — full  muskets,  four  feet  in  the  barrel, 
with  "  match-cocks  "  and  rests — bandaleeres,  each  with  a  bullet  bag — 
horn  flasks,  to  hold  a  pound  apiece — "cosletts,"  pikes  and  half 
pikes — ^barrels  of  powder  and  small  shot— eight  pieces  of  land 
ordnance,  for  the  fort — whole  culverings — demiculverings— -sackers 
and  iron  drakes — great  shot,  and  drums — with  a  sword,  and  a  belt 
for  every^  one  of  the  three  hundred  men. 

After  this  manner  was  carried  on  the  great  Puritan  exodus  be- 
tween 1630  and  1640.  Time  and  space  have  been  given  to  the 
three  ships  named,  because  Waterbury  is,  in  a  certain  way,  linked 
to  them  in  its  history.  Their  passengers  came  under  the  conduct 
of  a  close  corporation,  fully  entitled  to  govern  and  make  its  own 
laws,  subject  only  to  the  Crown  of  England.  The  Governor  and 
Council  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England^  came,  governed  most 
minutely  by  the  General  Court  of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  in  London — and  many  of  the  laws,  the  severity 
of  which  has  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  memory  of  Puritan  and 
Pilgrim,  will  be  found  to  have  been  imposed  upon  them  by  the 
power  that  lay  behind  the  local  government.  A  list  of  the  passen- 
gers in  the  three  ships,  if  it  exists,  will  give  to  us,  among  others, 
the  names  of  the  men  who  came  as  planters,  and  paid  their  five 
pounds  each  for  passage  —  the  names  of  those  who  came  under 
engagements  to  the  company  for  special  services — as  vine  dressers, 
makers  of  salt,  hunters,  shipwrights,  iron-workers,  and  other  arti- 
sans necessary  to  the  achievement  of  a  successful  plantation.  The 
Pilgrim,  the  Mayflower  and  the  Fower  Sisters  soon  crossed  the 
ocean,  each  undoubtedly  bringing  its  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
passengers — the  number  permitted.  These  were  soon  followed  by 
scores  of  ships,  eight  having  arrived  within  a  single  week. 

To  Governor  Matthew  Craddock,  by  far  the  largest  adventurer 
in  this  colony-building,  although  he  seems  never  to  have  visited 
America,  belongs  the  honor  of  having  suggested  the  removal  of  the 
6 


82  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

government  itself  from  England  to  New  England.  The  transfer 
was  made  in  1630  in  the  ship  Arbella,  which  arrived  on  June  12.  It 
brought,  as  a  passenger,  John  Winthrop,  who  had  been  elected  in 
England  as  governor  of  the  Company  to  succeed  Governor  Crad- 
dock,  and  who  superseded  Governor  Endicott,  who  had  governed 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  in  this  country  but  six  months. 
There  are  no  lists,  known  to  the  writer,  of  the  passengers  who 
came  in  the  six  ships  here  mentioned,  by  which  the  great  emigra- 
tion was  inaugurated. 

While  it  is  apparent  that  the  number  of  men  who  were  made 
freemen  in  the  colony  was  not  more  than  one  in  five  of  the  inhabi- 
tants subject  to  military  duty,  yet  we  find  among  the  freemen  in 
the  first  list,  that  containing  the  names  of  those  who  were  admitted  to 
the  honor  on  the  eighteenth  of  May,  163 1,  three  family  names,  held 
by  three  of  the  first  proprietors  of  Waterbury.  They  are  Richard- 
son, Gaylord,  and  Jones.  Richards,  Welton,  Porter,  Andrews,  and 
Gridley  had  been  added  to  the  list  by  1634 ;  Warner,  Hopkins, 
Stahley,  Newell,  Scott,  and  Lanckton,  before  March  of  1635,  while 
Judd — and  his  name  was  Thomas — and  Carrington  appear  before 
June  of  1636  ;  thus  connecting  more  than  one-half  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Waterbury  with  the  Puritans  of  the  Bay.  If  we  turn  to  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  we  shall  find  there  also  the  names  of  Hopkins, 
Barnes,  Andrews,  Jones,  Richards,  and  Stanley,  while,  in  both 
colonies,  we  may  find  many  other  names  that  have  made,  and  are 
making,  worthy  records  in  the  history  of  our  town,  whose  bearers 
were  already  residents  in  New  England  before  the  migration  to 
Connecticut  began. 

Going  back  to  the  statement  that  no  man  can  give  to  us  the 
name  of  an  inhabitant  of  Connecticut  three  hundred  years  ago,  we 
may  add  to  it,  that  the  most  distant  recorded  echo  of  human 
footsteps  on  its  soil  comes  down  to  us  through  only  two  hundred 
and  sixty  years.  The  footsteps  are  those  of  Wahginnacut,  an  Indian. 
The  story  of  white  men  in  the  Massachusetts  had  come  to  him,  and 
he  perhaps  thought,  in  his  human,  Indian  heart,  that  white  men 
would  be  good  to  have  in  Connecticut.  Wahginnacut  had  a  good 
and  human  reason  for  his  thought.  As  nearly  as  the  story  can  now 
be  told,  the  Indians  of  Connecticut  River  had  passed  through  a 
quarrel  with  the  Pequot  or  Thames  River  Indians,  the  outcome  of 
which  had  been  that  the  Pequot  tribe  had  seized  the  lands  of 
Wahg^nnacut's  tribe  along  the  river ;  and  the  hope  that  illumined 
his  dusky  mind  was,  that  the  presence  of  white  men  would  restore 
to  the  native  Indians  the  lost  valley  of  their  fathers.  Inspired 
with  this  hope,  Wahginnacut  traveled  in  1631  from  the  Connecticut 


LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAT.        83 

River  to  Massachusetts,  and  paid  a  visit  to  Governor  Winthrop  at 
the  Bay,  and  to  Governor  Winslow  at  Plymouth,  to  induce  migra- 
tion to  his  noble  river.  He  offered,  in  his  princely  way,  to  furnish 
eighty  beaver  skins  a  year — and  this  was  at  a  time  when  beaver 
was  as  good  as  gold,  and  we  have  Governor  Craddock's  word  for 
it,  that  it  should  fetch  in  the  English  market  pound  for  pound. 
It  was  a  large  salary  that  Wahginnacut  offered  to  Englishmen  for 
dwelling  in  his  land,  for  he  added  to  the  beaver  the  promise  to 
furnish  corn  for  the  white  men;  and  yet,  we  have  been  to/d  that  the 
Indians  were  not  husbandmen  before  their  demoralization  began 
— and  this  in  face  of  the  fact  that  captain,  or  passengers,  or  crew 
of  the  Mayflower,  robbed  the  storehouses  of  corn,  that  the  Indians 
of  Cape  Cod  had  laid  up  for  the  season  of  162 1. 

For  a  time,  the  proffers  of  the  Indian  seem  to  have  been  made  in 
vain,  for  neither  company  availed  itself  of  his  information,  or 
accepted  his  offerings ;  but  two  years  later,  in  the^autumn  of  1633,  the 
seed  that  he  had  sown  gave  signs  of  growth.  Plymouth  Colony 
made  a  venture,  and,  so  far  as  we  know,  it  was  made  on  the  strength 
of  Wahginnacut's  representations.  The  frame  of  a  trading-house 
had  been  made  ready  and  placed  on  board  a  small  vessel.  Lieuten- 
ant William  Holmes  commanded  the  expedition,  and  an  Indian, 
Nattawamut,  a  sachem,  was  its  pilot. 

Already  the  Pequot  Indians  had  made  sale  of  lands  on  the  Con- 
necticut River  to  the  Dutch,  lands  that  had  been  wrested  from  Nat- 
tawamut's  tribe.  The  Dutch  had  taken  possession  of  a  point  at 
Hartford,  and  when  the  Plymouth  vessel  sailed  into  and  up  the 
river,  on  its  western  bank  a  mound  had  been  raised  and  two  guns 
were  pointing  riverward.  Lieutenant  Holmes  did  not  obey  the 
signal  from  the  fort  or  guns,  but  sailed  on,  unharmed,  to  the  site  of 
present  Windsor.  There,  land  was  bought  from  the  Connecticut 
River  Indians,  through  Nattawamut.  The  trading-house  was  set  up 
and  garrisoned  and  the  vessel  went  back  to  Plymouth,  bearing 
what,  for  cargo,  we  know  not,  but  we  are  told  that  the  pil«t,  soon 
after  his  faithful  service,  died  of  small  pox. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  trading-house  was  built  in  the 
autumn  of  1633,  under  the  auspices  of  Plymouth  Colony.  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  had  been  invited  to  join  in  the  venture,  but  declined, 
giving  at  the  same  time  its  consent  to  the  work,  in  so  far  as  it  might 
have  jurisdiction  over  the  territory  to  be  occupied. 

Through  the  regions  usually  characterized  by  writers  as  "  pathless 
wilderness,"  it  is  well  known  there  existed  Indian  thoroughfares, 
trails,  and  paths.  The  native  Indian  was,  by  nature  and  by  practice, 
a  traveler.     He  wandered,  from  very  love  of  wandering — he  roamed, 


84  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBY. 

as  a  hunter — he  visited  his  kindred  tribes — he  journeyed  to  sur- 
round council  fires — he  attended  dances  far  and  near — he  failed  not 
to  be  present  at  the  annual  games,  held  on  natural  plains  like  our 
own  Manhan  meadows,  and  he  well  knew  how  to  mark  a  new  path- 
way for  the  white  man  from  plantation  to  plantation.  Add  to  this 
the  well  known  habit  of  the  inland  tribes  of  going  down  to  the  sea  to 
spend  their  summer  days  in  fishing  and  digging  clams,  drying  the 
clams  in  the  sun  and  stringing  them  for  winter  store  of  food, 
and  we  shall  not  find  it  difficult  to  account  for  certain  paths  that 
existed,  without  apparent  reason,  at  a  very  early  date.  The  path,  or 
trail,  or  road,  as  it  is  called,  mentioned  in  1674,  from  Milford  to 
Farmington,  is  a  case  in  point.  This  trail  was  probably  made  by 
the  Indians  of  Tunxis  Sepus,  before  Farmington  came  into  being. 
The  Indians  of  Farmington,  without  doubt,  knew  all  about  the  fine 
fishing  and  clamming  ground  around  Milford,  long  before  English- 
men came.  Milford  was  a  favorite  dwelling  place ;  Ansantawae 
had  his  "big  wigwam"  on  Charles  Island,  we  are  told  by  Lambert, 
and  the  tribe  gathered  there.  The  very  fact  that  in  1640  it  was 
necessary  for  the  first  settlers  of  Milford  to  surround  themselves 
with  a  palisado  a  mile  square,  is  eloquent  of  the  number  of  their 
Indian  neighbors,  while  at  Quinnipiac  there  was  no  need  of  a  pali- 
sado, not  above  forty-seven  warriors  dwelling  there. 

It  was  some  such  path,  doubtless,  through  which,  in  the  summer 
of  1633,  the  great  Indian  trader,  John  Oldham,  "and  three  with 
him,"  came  to  Connecticut.  The  glimpses  that  we  get,  through  the 
rifts  in  events,  of  Oldham,  reveal  a  splendid,  hopeful  creature, 
through  whose  vision  prosperity  danced  with  a  grace  that  in  1629 
kept  three  ships  waiting  in  England  for  two  months,  while  he  set 
forth  to  the  gentlemen  who  were  the  adventurers  the  gains  of  three 
for  one  that  could  be  made,  if  certain  trading  powers  were  conferred 
upon  him.  Oldham  deserves  a  monument !  He  and  the  three 
unknown  men  with  him  were  Connecticut's  first  traders.  They 
had  rAurned  to  the  Bay  by  the  fourth  of  September  in  that  year, 
and  it  was  in  the  same  autumn  that  the  vessel  from  Plymouth 
brought  the  trading-house  into  the  river. 

Oldham  reported  that  the  sachem  "  used  them  kindly  and  gave 
them  some  beaver."  He  estimated  the  land  distance  to  be  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  and  said  that  he  lodged  in  Indian  towns 
all  the  way.  He  also  "brought  some  black  lead,  whereof  the  Indians 
told  him  there  was  a  whole  rock." 

One  can  well  imagine  how  this  enthusiast,  on  his  return,  set  the 
glories  of  Connecticut  valley  forth  to  the  men  who  gathered  to 
learn  the  story  he  had  to  tell.     Three  men  (the  name  of  but  one  is 


LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAT.        85 

given,  as  "  Hall")  were  moved  by  it  to  set  out  in  the  cold  of  Novem- 
ber, to  trade  for  themselves.  Governor  Winthrop  records  that  they 
lost  themselves,  endured  much  misery,  could  not  trade  because  the 
Indians  were  dying  of  small-pox,  and  returned  on  the  twentieth  of 
January.  To  the  imagination  of  John  Oldham,  brisk  and  fertile, 
and  stirring  with  life  and  a  very  solid  faith  in  itself,  we  may  safely 
attribute  the  settlement  of  the  valley,  at  so  early  a  date.  The 
trading  venture  of  the  men  of  Plymouth,  and  the  overland  journey 
of  Oldham,  seem  to  have  been  brought  about  by  Wahginnacut's 
visit  to  the  eastward.  The  other  items  that  we  have  been  able  to 
glean  concerning  Connecticut  in  the  year  1633,  are  the  following : 
Oct.  2,  "  The  bark  Blessing,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  southward, 
returned.  She  had  been  at  an  island  over  against  Connecticut, 
called  Long  Island,  because  it  is  near  fifty  leagues  long.  There, 
they  had  store  of  the  best  wampumpeak,  both  white  and  blue. 
They  have  many  canoes,  so  great  as  one  will  carry  eighty  men. 
They  were  also  in  the  river  of  Connecticut,  which  is  barred  at  the 
entrance,  so  as  they  could  not  find  above  one  fathom  of  water." 

On  the  twenty-first  of  January  following,  in  the  same  year,  news 
was  received  at  Massachusetts  that  Captain  Stone,  putting  in  at  the 
mouth  of  Connecticut,  "  on  his  way  to  Virginia,  where  the  Pequin  ♦ 
inhabit,  was  there  cut  off  by  them,  with  all  his  company,  being 
eight."  Within  four  months  after  the  return  of  Hall,  we  find 
Newtown,  now  Cambridge,  petitioning  the  court  for  liberty  to 
remove  the  town  to  a  more  commodious  site.  On  May  13,  1634,  the 
inhabitants  were  granted  leave  to  seek  out  some  convenient  place 
for  themselves,  with  the  promise  that  it  should  be  confirmed  to 
them  for  a  habitation,  provided  that  it  did  not  take  in  any  place  to 
prejudice  a  plantation  already  settled. 

In  this  permit,  no  limit  of  jurisdiction  was  included,  and,  as  early 
as  July,  "six  men  of  Newtown  went  in  the  Blessing,  to  discover 
Connecticut  River,  intending  to  remove  their  town  thither."  We 
are  left  without  any  knowledge  of  the  work  accomplished  by  these 
six  unknown  men.  It  is  probable  that  they  had  for  a  fellow  passen- 
ger Governor  Winslow  of  Plymouth,  for  he  visited  the  Plymouth 
trading-house  in  his  "  bark,"  that  summer.  It  is  also  possible  and 
even  probable  that  the  tradition  regarding  the  presence  of  English- 
men at  Wethersfield  in  the  winter  of  1634,  is  based  upon  this  visit 
and  its  results  for  a  foundation ;  if  so,  the  men  were  not  Watertown 
men  who  were  there,  but  Newtown  men,  as  is  proven  by  the  fact 
that  it  was  not  until  May  of  1635,  that  Watertown  petitioned  for 
leave  to  remove.     It  is  well  known   that  present   Hartford  was 

♦  The  Peqoots. 


S6  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URY, 

formerly  Newtown;  Windsor  was  Dorchester,  and  Wethersfield  was 
Watertown,  respectively  named  from  the  towns  of  the  same  names  in 
the  Bay,  whence  most  of  their  first  settlers  came. 

In  September  1634,  the  court  convened,  and  its  most  important 
business  was  the  serious  discussion  regarding  the  removal  of 
Newtown  to  Connecticut.  "The  matter  was  debated  divers  days 
and  many  reasons  alledged  pro  and  con."  Newtown  men  com- 
plained of  the  want  of  accommodation  for  their  cattle,  "  so  as  they 
were  not  able  to  maintain  their  ministers."  They  had  no  room  to 
receive  more  of  their  friends  to  help  them.  The  towns  were  too  near 
each  other.  Connecticut  was  fruitful  and  commodious,  and  Dutch 
or  English  would  possess  it  soon.  To  these  reasons  was  added, "  the 
strong  bent  of  their  spirits,"  urging  them  to  go. 

Massachusetts  said  that  these  men  ought  not  to  depart,  because 
they  were  bound  by  oath  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  commonwealth, 
which  was  in  danger,  being  weak,  and  the  departure  of  Mr.  Hooker 
would  not  only  draw  away  many  already  in  the  Bay  but  would 
divert  others  from  it.  Beside,  they  who  might  go  would  be  exposed  to 
evident  peril  from  the  Dutch  and  Indians,  "  and  also  from  our  own 
State  at  home,  who  would  not  endure  they  should  sit  down,  without 
a  patent,  in  any  place  which  our  king  lays  claim  unto."  The 
outcome  was,  that  both  Boston  and  Watertown  offered  Newtown 
enlarged  accommodations.  The  congregation  of  Newtown  accepted, 
for  the  time,  the  offer  of  the  towns,  and  the  fear  of  their  going 
forth  was  removed. 

The  General  Court  had  learned  wisdom  by  the  action  of  New- 
town, and,  when  in  May  of  1635  Watertown  and  Rocksbury,  and  in 
June,  Dorchester  sent  up,  asking  permission  to  remove,  the  court 
granted  all  the  requests,  but  limited  the  territory  to  some  place 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Court. 

A  careful  reading  of  the  records  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  from  1630 
to  1636,  and  of  Connecticut  colony  from  1636  to  any  subsequent 
date,  will  reveal  to  the  reader  the  wisdom  of  the  migration  to 
Connecticut. 

The  men  who  came  to  Wethersfield,  Hartford,  and  Windsor, 
were  not  the  men  who  could  have  "  sat  down  in  peace "  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Bay.  It  is  well  known  that  one  man  of  their 
number,  Thomas  Hooker,  could  dispense  "  the  shines  of  his  favour  " 
upon  colony  or  continent — for,  to  the  light  of  one  sermon  of  his  we 
owe  the  Constitution  of  our  State  and  of  our  United  States. 

We  take  but  a  step  within  the  Records  of  Massachusetts  in  the 
year  1635,  before  we  find  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  well  delineated 
in  the  Court's  organized  opposition  to  Connecticut's  first  attempts  at 


LONDON* 8  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY,        87 

settlement.  It  squirms  in  the  very  laws  enacted  in  that  year,  and 
repealed  when  there  was  no  longer  use  for  them.  Certain  of  the 
men  who  wished  to  leave  had  taken  the  Freeman's  Oath.  In  the 
beginning  of  1635,  it  was  ordered  that  every  man,  sixteen  years  or 
older,  who  had  been  six  months  in  the  jurisdiction,  servants 
included,  should  take  the  oath  of  a  Resident,  with  punishment  at 
the  discretion  of  the  court,  upon  refusal — thus  placing  bonds  upon 
themselves  to  remain  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bay.  If  any 
resident  should  presume  to  leave  without  due  permission,  special 
laws  were  made  for  his  speedy  return  by  every  means  that  could  be 
pressed  into  service,  on  land  or  sea.  The  way  was  still  farther 
hedged  by  an  enactment  that  forbade  any  man  to  carry  out  of  the 
jurisdiction  a  bushel  of  corn  without  the  consent  of  the  governor,  or 
an  assistant,  under  penalty  of  eight  shillings,  when  com  was  selling 
for  five  shillings.  Another  law  was  made,  forbidding  resident  or 
stranger  to  buy  any  commodity  whatever  from  any  ship,  under 
penalty  of  confiscation,  without  like  permission.  Meanwhile,  the 
elders  and  brethren  of  every  church  were  entreated  *'  to  devise  one 
uniform  order  of  discipline  in  the  churches  agreeable  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  to  consider  how  far  the  magistrates  were  bound  to  inter- 
pose for  the  preservation  of  uniformity."  This  was,  perhaps,  the 
first  open  appeal  from  Court  to  Church.  The  battle  was  between 
the  adherents  of  a  "  Covenant  of  Works,"  and  a  "  Covenant  of  Grace," 
and  we  learn  incidentally  that  Mr.  Hooker  was  believed,  by  one 
man  at  least,  not  to  preach  a  "  Covenant  of  Works." 

It  is  well  known  that  the  corner  stone  of  Church  and  State  in 
the  Bay  was  laid  in  mortar  mixed  only  by  church  members,  but  a 
new  enactment  went  forth  at  this  time.  It  is  not  clear  that  it  was 
aimed  at  the  churches  and  congregations  that  removed  to  Connecti- 
cut, but  there  is  nothing  to  evidence  that  such  was  not  the  case. 
It  forbade  a  man  the  rights  of  citizenship,  even  though  a  church 
member,  unless  the  particular  church  of  which  he  was  a  member 
had  been  gathered  with  the  consent  of  the  neighboring  churches  and  elders. 

The  times  were  stirring  with  events.  The  first  military  organ- 
ization of  the  colony  of  twelve  towns  took  place. 

But  the  crowning  disturber  of  the  period  was  Mrs.  William 
Hutchinson,  who  came  to  Massachusetts  about  1634,  with  her  hus- 
band and  son  Edward.  With  her  individuality,  her  able  gifts,  and 
her  undoubted  charm  of  manner,  she  wrought  what  was  believed 
by  the  Puritans  of  the  Puritans  to  be  great  mischief,  by  her  daring 
flights  of  liberty  of  belief  and  thought.  It  is  hard  to  understand 
why  the  court  allotted  her  to  be  kept  prisoner  by  one  of  her  alleged 
captives,  John  Cotton,  but  the  Puritans  were  a  mysterious  people. 


88  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 

and  we  need  an  interpreter.  It  finally  became  necessary  in  the  eyes 
of  the  Court  to  deprive  a  considerable  number  of  the  staid  inhabitants, 
notably  fifty-nine  men  of  Boston,  of  all  fire-arms  or  other  means  of 
offense  and  defense.  The  very  permits  to  the  towns  for  removal, 
that  have  been  cited,  were  accompanied  by  an  edict,  under  which 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  imprison  persons  suspected  to  be 
enemies  to  the  Commonwealth  and  to  bring  in,  '*  alive  or  dead,  such 
as  should  refuse  to  come  under  command  or  restraint."  Did  this  mean 
such  as  should  attempt  to  escape  from  jurisdiction  into  Connecticut  ? 

This  edict  had  been  issued  but  a  few  days,  when  an  arrival  from 
England  wrought  a  magical  change  in  the  hard  heart  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Court.  The  arrival  was  only  a  little  forty-ton  bark,  with 
twenty  men  in  it,  who  were  called  servants.  The  bark  and  the  men 
had  been  sent  over  by  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall.  The  magic  of  the 
affair  was,  that  they  were  "  to  go  plant  at  Connecticut."  The  Court 
serpent  at  once  became  a  courting-dove — and  brooded  her  departing 
children  with  "  three  pieces  to  f  ortifie  themselves  withall."  Two  small 
pieces  of  artillery  were  also  lent  to  them  for  the  same  purpose,  and 
six  barrels  of  powder  granted  ;  two  out  of  Watertown  ;  two  out  of 
Dorchester,  and  two  out  of  Rocksbury.  To  these  were  added  two 
hundred  shot,  all  of  which  Captain  Underbill  and  Mr.  Beecher 
(also  a  captain)  were  to  deliver  —  and  the  Connecticut  towns  were 
granted  liberty  to  choose  their  own  constable. 

There  was  evident  haste  to  take  possession  of  the  new  territory 
before  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall's  men  should  begin  their  settlement, 
and  the  colonists,  anxious  to  depart  for  Connecticut,  went  forth 
with  the  good -by  blessing  of  the  Court.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
there  was  no  requisition  of  powder  from  Newtown.  This  may  have 
been  because  six  men  of  that  place  (now  Cambridge)  were  already 
upon  the  Connecticut  River,  for  we  know  that  they  were  there  as 
early  as  July  of  1634.  Governor  Winthrop  tells  us  that  the  men  of 
Dorchester  were  set  down  near  the  Plymouth  trading -house  (at 
Windsor),  in  August,  1635,  at  which  date  they  had  been  there  long 
enough  to  cause  the  Dutch  to  send  home  into  Holland  for  com- 
mission to  deal  with  the  English  at  Connecticut. 

That  the  inhabitants  were  at  Wethersfield  early,  maybe  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  permission  was  given  to  Watertown  to  migrate 
early  in  May,  and  dismission  granted  by  the  church  of  the  same 
place  to  members  to  form  anew  in  a  church  covenant  in  Connecticut 
on  the  29th  of  the  same  month.  We  find  also  that  if  the  inhabi- 
tants were  not  removed  from  Watertown  in  Massachusetts  to 
Watertown  on  the  River,  by  the  last  of  October,  1636,  their  inter- 
est in  the  lands  to  be  divided  was  to  be  forfeited. 


LONDON'S  PLANTATION  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAT.        89 

By  the  6th  of  October,  we  learn  from  the  journal  of  Governor 
Winthrop,  that  the  three  towns  were  gonf  to  Connecticut.  On  the 
day  that  Winthrop  recorded  that  fact  he  tells  us  that  there  arrived 
two  gresit  ships,  the  Defence  and  the  Abigail.  John  Winthrop,  Jr., 
who  had  been  in  England  for  a  number  of  months,  and  Sir  Henry 
Vane  were  passengers  on  the  ships.  The  fame  of  Connecticut  had 
been  carried  across  the  sea.  Men  of  station  and  fortune  in  England 
had  secured  a  patent  and  charter  and  resolved  to  establish  a  new 
colony  along  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  river.  John  Winthrop  seems 
to  have  gone  abroad  on  this  very  mission,  for  he  returned  with 
authority  "  from  Lord  Say,  Lord  Brook,  and  divers  other  great  per- 
sons in  England,  to  begin  a  plantation,  and  to  be  its  governor."  Men 
and  ammunition  and  two  thousand  pounds  in  money  he  had,  to 
begin  a  fortification  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Massachusetts  Bay 
took  the  part  of  her  colony  children  when  Sir  Henry  Vane  treated 
with  the  magistrates  concerning  the  three  towns,  gone  thither.  Sir 
Henry  Vane  thought  that  the  towns  should  give  place  to  the  new 
commission,  and  Massachusetts  seems  to  have  demanded  full  satis- 
faction, in  case  they  were  required  to  do  so. 

It  was  November  before  the  new  "Governor  Winthrop,  Jr.,'*  by 
the  appointment  of  the  "  Lords  of  Connecticut,"  sent  a  bark  and 
about  twenty  men  to  take  possession,  and  to  begin  building.  This 
little  expedition  was  only  just  off  for  its  work,  when  there  came 
in  "a  small  Norsey  bark,  with  one  Gardiner,  an  expert  engineer  or 
work-base,  and  provisions  of  all  sorts,  to  begin  a  fort  at  Saybrook.*' 

Nature  frowned  mightily  upon  little  Connecticut  in  her  first 
efforts  at  life.  Her  Indian  children  had  been  so  reduced  iix  num- 
bers by  small-pox  in  1634,  that  the  winter  of  1635  found  scanty  store 
of  corn  or  other  provisions  awaiting  the  emergency  that  came  upon 
the  white  settlers  when  their  own  provision  ships  failed  to  arrive. 

The  overland  route  was  probably  taken  in  the  summer  or  autumn 
of  1635.  The  goods  and  provisions  of  the  little  company  went  by 
sea  in  two  shallops,  or  barks.  An  east  wind  arose  in  the  night. 
The  boats  were  cast  away  upon  "  Browns  Island  near  the  Gurnetts 
Nose,"  and  every  man  was  drowned.  Meanwhile,  the  people  were 
waiting,  not  knowing  why  the  lost  barks  failed  them.  Winter  came 
before  its  time.  Snow  fell,  when  it  was  only  time  for  leaves  to  fall. 
Early  in  November  it  was  knee-deep.  Before  the  ninth  of  the 
month  six  men  had  wandered  for  ten  days  in  the  cold  and  the  snow 
in  their  efforts  to  reach  Plymouth,  having  been  cast  away  in  "  Man- 
amett "  Bay,  on  their  return  from  Connecticut.  The  fifteenth  of 
November  the  river  was  closed  by  ice,  thus  cutting  off,  most  com- 
pletely, all  hope  of  their  provisions  reaching  them  by  sea.    The  day 


90  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT, 

after  the  river  was  frozen,  twelve  men  set  out  for  Massachusetts, 
to  secure  help. 

Of  this  journey,  we  have  the  following  record  :  "November  26, 
1635,  there  came  twelve  men  from  Connecticut.  They  had  been  ten 
days  upon  their  journey  and  had  lost  one  of  their  company  drowned 
in  the  ice  by  the  way,  and  had  been  all  starved,  but  that  by  God's 
providence  they  lighted  upon  an  Indian  wigwam." 

In  their  extremity,  and  having,  it  would  seem,  full  faith  that 
their  lost  barks  would  come  to  the  river's  mouth,  about  seventy 
men  and  women  determined  to  brave  the  perils  of  a  journey  to 
meet  them.  Perhaps  they  also  had  some  hope  of  relief  from  the 
provisions  that  were  sent  by  the  thirty -ton  bark  for  the  twenty 
men,  at  the  fort,  in  the  beginning  of  November. 

They  did  not  meet  the  expected  help,  but  they  found  the  ship 
Rebecca  of  sixty  tons.  It  is  not  quite  clear  whether  the  company 
went  on  board  the  Rebecca  twenty  miles  up  the  river  or  at  the 
river's  mouth.  Winthrop  tells  us  that  two  days  before,  the  ship 
had  been  frozen  in  twenty  miles  above  the  sound,  and  that  it  ran 
upon  a  bar  in  getting  to  sea  and  was  forced  to  unload  before  it 
could  get  off.  He  also  adds  that  the  Rebecca  was  set  free  from  the 
ice  by  a  small  rain.  Historians  tell  us  that  these  starving  people 
cut  it  out.  They  arrived  in  Massachusetts  December  10,  having 
been  but  five  days  at  sea,  "  which  was  a  great  mercy  of  God,  for 
otherwise  they  had  all  perished  with  famine,  as  some  did." 

A  little  later,  Winthrop  tells  us  that  those  of  Dorchester  who  had 
removed  their  cattle  to  Connecticut  before  winter,  lost  the  greater 
part  of  them,  "  but  some,  which  arrived  at  the  eastern  bank  too  late 
to  be  taken  over,  lived  all  the  winter  without  any  hay ;  that  the 
people  were  put  to  great  straits  for  want  of  provisions.  They  ate 
acorns  and  malt  and  grains." 

The  hardships  and  suffering  of  that  1635  winter,  have  never  been 
told — can  never  be  known.  The  heroism  of  it  has  slipped  noise- 
lessly down  into  unbroken  silence.  The  names  even  of  the  men  and 
the  women  who  stayed  to  eat  acorns  and  malt,  or  who  wandered 
in  snow  and  cold,  without  food,  to  the  river's  mouth ;  or  of  those 
who  braved  the  journey  overland,  or  who  perished  by  the  way,  are 
utterly  unknown.  But  this  we  do  know  —  that  of  the  men  and 
women  who  had  part  in  the  events  outlined  in  this  migration,  were 
the  fathers  and  mothers  or  the  grandfathers  and  grandmothers  of 
men  and  women  who,  two  hundred  and  fourteen  years  ago,  made 
their  homes  in  the  leafy  basin  that  holds  within  its  hill-notched 
rim  the  Waterbury  of  to-day. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

MASSACHUSETTS     BAY     COLONY     GOVERNS     CONNECl'ICUT — JOHN      OLDHAM 

AND     THE      PEQUOT      WAR CONNECTICUT      COLONY      A      MILITARY 

ORGANIZATION — GOVERNMENT  BY  THE  WILL  OF  THE  PEOPLE — THE 
FIRST  GOVERNOR — BEGINNINGS  OF  TOWNS — FARMINGTON  PLANTA- 
TION  GROWTH     OF    LAWS — TROUBLES   FROM    AND    WITH    INDIANS 

FREEMEN  ADMITTED — LAND  BOUGHT  AT  DERBY — CONNECTICUT 
OBTAINS  A  CHARTER  FROM  KING  CHARLES  II — NEW  HAVEN  COL- 
ONY UNITES  WITH  CONNECTICUT — FORMATION  OF  COUNTIES — 
COUNTY    COURTS. 

THE  first  civil  officer  in  Connecticut  was  William  Westwood. 
He  was  appointed  by  Massachusetts  Bay  constable  of  the 
plantations  on  Connecticut  River  in  September,  1635,  and 
seems  to  have  been  the  sole  representative  of  Law  and  Order 
during  the  first  six  months  of  the  existence  of  the  Colony.  "  John 
Winthrop,  Jr.,  Governor" — as  the  son  was  called  by  the  father. 
Governor  John  Winthrop  of  Massachusetts  Bay — had  apparently 
no  desire  to  exercise  authority  over  the  colonists  at  Connecti- 
cut, although  he  had  been  commissioned  to  do  so  by  the  "  Lords 
of  Connecticut "  in  England.  Winthrop  was  on  the  ground  in 
the  beginning  of  the  year  1636,  and  remained  for  several 
months  either  up  the  river  with  the  new  towns,  or  at  the  fort 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  General  Court  of  the  Bay, 
therefore,  arose  to  the  emergency  of  the  hour  in  March,  1636,  and 
created  a  provisional  government,  placing  it  in  the  hands  of 
eight  persons  selected  out  of  the  number  of  their  "  loving  friends, 
neighbors,  freemen,  and  members,  gone,  and  to  go,  unto  the 
river."  William  Westwood  was  one  of  the  eight.  He  had  been 
appointed  to  the  office  of  constable  in  1635,  and  this  appointment 
gives  his  name  to  us  as  a  resident  of  Connecticut  during  the  winter 
of  that  year.  It  was  on  the  last  day  of  May  that  Mr.  Hooker  and 
the  rest  of  his  congregation  set  off  for  Connecticut.  We  all  know 
that  this  company  went  by  land,  and  that  Mrs.  Hooker  was  carried 
in  a  horse-litter;  that  the  company  drove  one  hundred  and  sixty 
cattle,  and  fed  of  their  milk  by  the  way.  It  may  not  be  as  generally 
known  that  this  company,  when  leaving  Massachusetts,  turned  their 
backs  upon  fifteen  great  ships  riding  at  anchor  in  the  bay,  so  brisk 
was  the  business  of  emigration  as  then  carried  on,  and  that  the 
echoes  had  scarcely  died  away  from  the  volley  of  great  shot  fired  by 


92  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  fleet  on  the  election  of  Sir  Henry  Vane  as  governor.  The  first 
court  was  held  at  Hartford— then  Newtown — in  1636.  "  Newtowne  " 
in  Massachusetts  became  Cambridge  in  1638;  Newtown  in  Connec- 
ticut became  "Hartford  Towne"  in  1636.  Five  of  the  eight  mem- 
bers of  the  government  were  present.  Henry  Stiles  was  the  first 
legal  culprit  in  the  colony.  He  traded  a  "  peece  "  for  com  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  ordered  to  regain  it  in  a  fair  and  legal  way.  The 
first  act  of  legislation  was  an  order  forbidding  to  trade  fire-arms, 
powder  or  shot  with  the  natives.  To  this  law  the  people  had  been 
obedient  in  Massachusetts.  That  the  first  months  of  civilized  living 
in  the  river-valley  were  not  months  of  the  apprehension  of  evil 
from  the  Indian  is  evident;  for  it  was  not  until  after  the  seventh  of 
June,  1636,  that  a  watch  was  established,  and  even  then  it  was  to 
begin  and  end  only  when  ordered  by  authority. 

Peace  and  prosperity  reigned  until  July,  when  John  Oldham 
came  upon  the  scene  in  a  most  tragic  manner.  He  had  been  out  a 
long  time  on  one  of  his  trading  expeditions;  had  visited  the  Pequot 
region  and  passed  on  to  Block  Island.  John  Oldham's  personal 
properties  and  his  real  estate  were  widely  scattered;  his  interests 
were  many.  He  seems  to  have  acted  as  agent  for  Governor  Crad- 
dock  in  England,  and  for  others.  "One  John  Gallop,  with  one 
more  and  two  little  boys,"  passing  through  Long  Island  Sound,  saw 
and  recognized  his  pinnace  about  two  miles  from  Block  Island,  in 
the  hands  of  fourteen  Indians.  Gallop  at  once  made  war  upon  boat 
and  Indian  crew.  After  the  onslaught  was  over,  certain  of  the  sav- 
ages having  leaped  into  the  sea,  three  Indians  were  left  alive.  Two 
of  them  were  prisoned  in  the  hold  of  Oldham's  boat.  One,  having 
surrendered  to  Gallop,  was  bound  and  placed  in  his  boat.  Another 
surrenderer  had  been  bound  and  dropped  overboard.  Oldham's 
body,  still  warm,  was  found  under  a  seine.  After  committing  it  to 
the  sea,  Gallop  sailed  away  with  the  pinnace  in  tow,  but,  in  the 
night,  the  wind  rising,  it  was  cast  adrift,  with  the  Indians  in  its 
hold.  Later,  Gallop's  prisoner  implicated  the  Narragansetts  in  the 
murder  of  Oldham. 

Up  to  this  time,  it  is  believed  that  but  one  attack  had  been  made 
by  Indians  upon  white  men  within  the  limits  of  Connecticut.  A 
Captain  Stone,  then  of  Virginia,  but  from  indications  the  same  Cap- 
tain Stone  who  had  been  forbidden  under  penalty  of  death  to  re- 
enter Massachusetts  jurisdiction,  and  who  was  accounted  a  worth- 
less person,  had,  three  years  earlier,  been  slain,  with  his  com- 
pany of  eight  persons.  In  1634,  certain  of  the  Pequots  desiring 
a  treaty  with  Massachusetts  Bay,  declared  that  the  sachem  who 
had  been   guilty  of  this  crime  had  been  killed  by  the  Dutch,  and 


MAaSAGHUaBTTS  BAY'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT, 


95 


that  all  but  two  of  the  Indians  engaged  in  the  murder  had  died  of 
small -pox,  and  that  Stone  himself  had  provoked  the  deed  by  seizing 
two  Indians,  whom  he  bound  and  conveyed  to  his  boat,  compelling 
them  to  pilot  it  up  the  river.  It  was  now  the  summer  of  1636,  and 
"  The  Bay  "  had  made  no  effort  to  punish  the  crime  or  seek  redress 
for  the  murder  of  this  captain  of  Virginia,  or  for  his  crew. 

The  news  of  the  killing  of  John  Oldham  aroused  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  to  a  spirit  of  indignation,  the  vindictiveness  of  which 
causes  us,  for  the  time,  to  regret  our  English  blood.  They  made 
haste  to  gather  their  warriors.  In  less  than  five  weeks,  ninety  men 
under  four  commanders,  and  generaled  by  Endicott  himself,  set  forth 
for  war.  Their  commission  bade  them  "put  to  death  the  men  of 
Block  Island,  make  of  the  women  and  children  prisoners;  and  thence 
to  go  to  the  Pequots  on  the  river  Thames  and  demand  the  murderers 
of  Captain  Stone.  If  they  refused,  to  demand  as  hostages  Indian 
children.  If  denied,  to  take  the  hostages  by  force."  As  we  have 
seen,  two  years  had  passed  by;  negotiations  had  more  than  once 
been  carried  on  between  "The  Bay"  and  the  Pequots,  but  no 
attempt  had  been  made  to  secure  the  two  Indian  murderers  who 
were  left  alive,  showing  that  Stone's  death  was  not  a  bereavement 
to  the  colony;  but  Oldham,  with  whom  they  had  often  differed,  had 
a  strong  hold  on  their  regard,  and  they  desired  to  avenge  his  death. 

Block  Island,  as  we  see  it  to-day,  does  not  seem  an  easy  place  for 
the  men  of  two  Indian  towns  to  hide  in,  but  hide  they  did  in  the 
brush-wood  of  oak  that  was  so  dense  that  men  could  only  walk  in 
file,  so  effectively,  that  ninety  Englishmen  could  not  find  them  in  a 
two-days'  search.  When  making  a  landing,  about  forty  Indians  had 
"  entertained  "  them  with  their  arrows,  but  these  had  immediately 
disappeared  in  the  undergrowth.  The  Englishmen  departed  after 
having  utterly  destroyed  two  plantations,  three  miles  apart,  of  sixty 
wigwams,  "  some  of  which  were  very  large  and  fair,"  and  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  com  and  seven  canoes.  How  many  Indians  they  killed 
by  firing  into  the  thickets  they  knew  not,  but  Winthrop  tells  us  that 
not  a  hair  fell  from  the  head  of  any  one  of  the  ninety  men,  "  nor 
any  sick  or  feeble  person  among  them," — the  light  scratch  of  an 
arrow  upon  the  neck  of  one  man  and  the  foot  of  another  not  being 
apparently  worth  the  mention.  Going  thence  to  the  Connecticut 
shore  the  ninety  men  were  joined  by  twenty  more.  These  were 
doubtless  Captain  Underhill's  twenty  men  who  had  been  lent  to  the 
Saybrook  fort  by  "  The  Bay,"  and  we  learn,  incidentally,  that  they 
remained  there  three  months.  Augmented  by  this  force  the  boats, 
four  in  number,  set  sail  for  the  Thames  river.  There  they  pro- 
ceeded to  do  all  the  harm  in  their  power  to  the  Pequots.     They 


94  HiaTOBT  OF  WATERS UBY. 

burned  wigwams  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  and  on  the  right, 
destroyed  com,  killed,  it  is  said,  fourteen  Indians,  wounded  forty, 
and  departed  entirely  unharmed.  Alas  !  The  blood-thirsty  savage  ! 
But  he  learned,  if  slowly,  the  lesson  of  avengement  from  the  her- 
alds of  the  Gospel  of  Peace.  Six  months  later  "  a  general  fast  was 
kept  in  all  the  churches  in  *  The  Bay '  because,  among  other  causes, 
of  the  dangers  of  those  at  Connecticut  and  of  ourselves  also  by 
the  Indians."  Oh,  the  deep  satire  of  that  fast !  (that  is,  as  seen 
from  our  point  of  view).  No  wonder  is  it  that  "those  of  Connecti- 
cut showed  themselves  unsatisfied  with  this  expedition  against  the 
Indians,  finding  themselves  in  danger,"  and  compelled  to  join  in 
the  war  of  extermination  which  soon  followed. 

No  wonder  is  it  that  the  Pequots  found  their  way  up  the  river  in 
May,  of  1637,  as  far  as  Wethersfield  and  avenged  their  losses  by  kill- 
ing and  making  captives.  They  killed  six  men,  three  women,  and 
carried  captive  two  young  girls.  This  was  the  news  by  which  Mr. 
Haynes,  the  first  elected  governor  of  the  colony,  was  met  at  Say- 
brook  about  the  fifth  of  May,  1637,  when  on  his  way  with  his  family 
to  join  his  fortunes  with  the  men  up  the  river.  He  wrote  to  Gover- 
nor Winthrop  from  Saybrook,  announcing  this  first  trouble  with 
the  Indians.  History  has  it,  but  the  authority  is  unknown  to  the 
writer,  that  the  people  of  Wethersfield  in  buying  their  land  from  a 
friendly  Indian,  had  promised  that  he  might  remain  within  the 
town  limits,  but  expelled  him,  and  that  this  violation  of  the  treaty, 
as  it  were,  with  the  Indian,  caused  him  to  bring  the  Pequots  upon 
the  settlement.  We  hope,  for  the  good  name  of  our  fathers,  that 
this  is  not  true;  but  subsequent  events  create  a  strong  probability 
that  the  statement  was  founded  on  fact.  One  of  the  pleasantest 
things  that  we  have  to  record  is  that  the  two  English  maids  were 
returned  unharmed  to  their  homes  before  May  ended  by  the  order 
of  the  Dutch  Governor,  who  sent  a  sloop  demanding  them.  When 
refused,  he  threatened  to  break  his  treaty  with  the  Indians,  and 
seized  hostages  with  which  he  ransomed  the  captives. 

The  work  of  the  Pequots  at  Wethersfield  was  accomplished 
before  the  first  of  May,  for  .on  that  day  the  ninth  session  of  court 
was  held  at  Hartford.  Six  of  the  original  members  of  it  were  pres- 
ent, and  nine  men  called  "  comitties  "  appear  in  connection  with  its 
officers.  Offensive  war  was  declared  against  the  "  Pequoitt."  Ninety 
men  were  levied  out  of  the  three  plantations.  Stricken  Wethers- 
field furnished  but  eighteen  of  the  number.  The  preparatory  steps 
of  this  first  war  in  our  state  are  so  simple  that  we  may  be  forgiven 
for  giving  them.  It  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  every  Englishman 
known  to  be  within  the  limits  of  our  state  was  confined  to  the  three 


MA88A  GHU8ETT8  BA  Y'8  PLANT  A  TION  IN  CONNECTICUT,         95 

gatherings  of  humanity  up  the  river,  and  the  men,  possibly  forty, 
who  were  in  and  about  the  fort  at  the  river's  mouth. 

With  the  ninety  men  went  twenty  "Armour"  and  180  bushels  of 
com.  Of  this  com,  each  plantation  was  to  bake  into  biscuit  one- 
half  of  its  proportion  if  by  any  means  it  could  do  so;  the  other  half 
was  to  be  in  ground  meal.  "  For  the  captain  and  the  sick  men," 
there  was  to  be  a  hogshead  of  good  '*  beare,"  three  or  four  gallons 
of  strong  water  and  two  gallons  of  "  sacke."  The  suet,  butter,  oat- 
meal, pease,  salt  and  five  hundred  of  fish,  Hartford  furnished. 
Windsor  provided  the  pork,  rice  and  cheese;  while  unfortunate 
Wethersfield  had  to  give  but  a  single  bushel  of  "  Indian  Beanes." 
Every  soldier  carried  one  pound  of  powder,  four  of  shot,  and 
twenty  "  bulletts."  From  the  river's  mouth  was  to  be  taken  a  barrel 
of  powder  and  a  light  gun,  if  it  could  be  carried. 

Thus  equipped,  the  soldiers  of  Connecticut  Colony  set  forth  to 
perform  deeds  forced  upon  them  by  the  cruel  onslaught  of  Endicott 
upon  the  Indians.  Thus  equipped,  they  sailed  past  the  fort  orna- 
mented by  the  heads  of  seven  slain  Pequots.  No  man  worthy  of 
the  name  can  read  of  this  onslaught  without  horror  of  spirit,  or 
think  of  it  without  whole-souled  pity  and  poignant  regret.  Alas, 
for  the  poor  Pequot !  Treacherous  he  may  have  been,  but  no  war- 
rior was  he  !  He  could  die  in  hundreds  and  he  did,  while  but  a 
single  Englishman  gave  up  his  life  in  the  slaughter.  War  it  could 
not  be  called.  The  attitude  of  the  two  races  was  permanently 
changed  by  it  Faith  in  the  white  man  departed  for  ever  from  the 
Indian.  Englishmen  looked  with  guilty  suspicion  upon  the  Red 
man  to  the  end.  Confidence  expired  in  blood  and  flame.  Peace 
was  gone  from  the  land.  Henceforth,  life  became  a  series  of  efforts 
to  protect  itself.  It  does  not  in  any  degree  relieve  the  repulsiveness 
of  the  situation  to  take  in  the  broad  view  of  the  natural  selection 
of  the  races.  In  their  turn,  the  Indians  were  avenged.  A  century 
of  care  and  perplexity,  accompanied  by  wakeful  nights  and  anxious 
days,  often  emphasized  by  present  terror  and  cruel  death,  was  borne 
by  the  guilty  and  by  the  innocent.  To-day,  interest  is  beginning  to 
develop  itself  in  regard  to  this  Indian,  whom,  every  year,  we  have 
been  driving  into  thickets  of  wrongs,  until  he  has  degenerated  into 
what  he  is.     And  what  is  he } 

In  the  Soldiers'  Field,  at  Hartford,  we  find  as  land  owners  three 
Waterbury  names:  John  Warner,  John  Bronson  and  Thomas  Barnes, 
the  father  of  Benjamin  of  Mattatuck,  who,  we  have  reason  to  think, 
were  soldiers  in  this  Pequot  war.  On  the  second  of  June,  1637, 
thirty  men  were  sent  out  of  the  three  plantations  into  the  Pequot 
country,  to  maintain  the  right  that  "  God,  by  conquest,"  had  given 


96  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

them.  Crops  had  suffered  from  want  of  attention,  during  the  weeks 
of  war,  and  the  following  February,  Indian  corn  was  not  to  be  had,, 
except  from  the  Indians,  who  were  treated  very  unfairly  even  in 
this  thing.  John  Oldham's  estate  was  the  first  settled  in  Con- 
necticut, and  the  court  had  much  pains  and  trouble  regarding  it. 

Connecticut,  by  virtue  of  her  conquest,  began  at  once  to  collect 
tribute  from  the  Indians,  and  in  three  years'  time,  the  magis- 
trates at  Hartford  were  sending  all  the  way  to  Uncoway,  our  Fair- 
field, to  collect  it.  It  is  well  known  that  the  pursuit  of  the  Pequots 
to  their  final  refuge  gave  to  Englishmen  their  knowledge  of  the 
sea-coast  lying  to  the  westward  towards  the  Dutch,  and  opened 
the  way  for  the  settlements  at  New  Haven  and  Milford,  which  had 
their  beginnings  in  the  next  year,  and  that  the  result  of  the  war 
made  of  Connecticut  colony  a  military  organization,  almost  to  a 
unit.  Every  man  above  sixteen  years  old  was  to  bear  arms,  except 
he  was  excused  by  the  court,  or  unless  he  was  a  church  officer  or 
an  officer  of  the  General  or  other  Courts.  There  was  a  magazine  of 
powder  and  shot  in  every  plantation,  fifty  corslets  were  provided 
"  and  kept  in  the  meeting-house,"  ♦  at  Hartford,  and  every  military 
man  was  continually  to  have  in  his  house  **  half  a  pound  of  good 
powder,  two  pounds  of  bullets  and  a  pound  of  match."  Captain  John 
Mason  was  the  public  military  officer  of  the  plantations.  He  was  to 
train  the  men  in  each  town  ten  days  in  the  year;  but  not  in  June  or 
July — Mason  to  give  a  week's  warning.  Watch  by  night  and  ward 
by  day  began.  And  thus  was  the  century  of  care  and  tribulation 
inaugurated  by  our  fathers  in  the  towns  on  the  river. 

Connecticut's  treatment  of  the  Indians  after  the  subjugation  and 
well-nigh  extermination  of  the  Pequot  tribe,  is  a  study  at  once 
curious  and  most  interesting.  She  held  out  her  mailed  hand  for 
tribute;  extended  a  legal  protectorate  over  a  right  or  two  that  the 
Red  man  might  possibly  be  thought  to  own  by  virtue  of  his  crea- 
tion; admitted  in  many  ways,  with  apparent  unconsciousness,  the 
wrongs  she  committed  against  him  (as  that  in  the  Wethersfield 
trouble  "  the  first  breach  was  on  the  part  of  the  English) ; "  held  him 
off,  and  lured  him  on,  and  knew  no  more  what  to  do  with  him  then 
than  we  do  now.  She  tried  quite  earnestly  to  convert  him;  at  the 
same  time  holding  him  responsible  for  crimes  that  he  never  commit- 
ted, and  possibly  knew  nothing  about.  The  Indians  rebelled  against 
imputed  sin  and  other  wrongs  to  such  a  degree  that  a  whole  century 
passed  away  before  a  chief  of  the  Indian  natives  sought  admission 
to  a  Christian  church.     When  he  came,  his  name  was  Ben  Uncas,  a 

*  This  gives  the  date  of  the  first  meeting-house  at  Hartford,  as  1637. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BAT'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT         97 

sachem  of  the  Mohegans.  Being  willing  to  encourage  so  good  "  a 
beginning,  the  Assembly  desired  the  Governor  to  procure  for  him  a 
coate  made  in  the  English  fashion,  and  a  hat,  and  for  his  wife  a 
gown.*'     The  desire  was  granted. 

In  the  end  of  the  year  1637,  in  March,  Agawam  (Springfield) 
sent  deputies  to  the  court. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1638,  Mr.  Hooker's  sermon  bore  fruit  in 
the  constitution  of  Connecticut  colony.  A  governor  was  about  to  be 
made,  and  his  oath  of  office,  as  well  as  that  of  future  magistrates 
and  constables,  was  made  ready.  The  governor  promised  in  his 
oath  "to  execute  justice  according  to  the  rule  of  God's  word;  "  the 
magistrate,  "according  to  the  righteous  rule  of  God's  word,"  and 
the  constable,  "  to  execute  all  lawful  commands  or  warrants  from 
any  magistrate  or  court." 

"John  Haynes,  Esq.,"  was  chosen  governor  May  11,  1639.  The 
deputy  governors,  the  magistrates,  the  secretary  and  the  treasurer 
were  all  chosen  at  the  same  meeting  of  the  freemen,  and  the  wheels 
of  government  immediately  began  to  revolve,  according  to  the  will 
of  the  people.  We  can  readily  imagine  that  the  occasion  was  one  of 
great  rejoicing  on  its  first  occurrence,  and  the  election  sermon  and 
election  cake  commemorated  it  annually  far  into  the  present  cen- 
tury. Thus  early,  a  correspondence  began  with  the  neighbors  at 
Quinnipiac.  No  person  was  punished  for  any  crime  or  misdemeanor 
during  three  years  from  1636  to  1639,  and  few  complaints  were 
made.  That  mild-mannered  gentleman,  Mr.  Pinch  eon,  was  "  ques- 
tioned about  imprisoning  an  Indian  at  Agawam,  whipping  an 
Indian  and  freeing  of  him,"  and  a  few  fines  were  laid,  but  Justice 
held  her  hands  off.  In  August,  a  treaty  of  combination  with  "  The 
Bay "  was  thought  of,  but  it  was  deferred  after  consultation  with 
Mr.  Fenwick,  who  had  arrived  at  the  fort,  on  account  of  the  matter 
of  bounds. 

It  is  impossible  to  write  a  page  of  the  history  of  this  period  and 
leave  out  the  Indian  question.  It  suddenly  comes  to  the  front  at 
this  time  in  one  of  the  incomprehensible  ways  practiced  by  our 
fathers.  Soheage,  sometimes  called  Sequin,  was  a  sachem  of  Weth- 
ersfield.  Divers  injuries  had  been  done  to  him  by  the  English.  He^ 
in  turn,  committed  wrongs  against  them,  but  between  them  all  for- 
mer wrongs  had  been  remitted  the  year  before.  He  had  been  com- 
pelled to  move  down  to  Middletown.  It  does  not  appear  that  any 
new  offense  had  been  committed,  but  the  Indians  were  accused  of 
growing  insolent,  and  the  court  was  "  put  in  mind  that  it  had  long 
neglected  the  execution  of  justice  upon  the  former  murtherers  of 
the  English."     Surely,  Oldham  had  been  avenged,  and  the  Wethers- 

7 


98  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

field  victims,  if  they  fell  by  the  hands  of  the  Pequots,  had  been 
most  vengefully  avenged;  but  now,  in  mid- August  of  1639,  two 
years  after  the  Pequot  war,  one  hundred  men  were  levied  to  be  sent 
down  to  Middletown,  to  demand  the  guilty  persons  of  Soheage,  who 
was  accused  of  harboring  them.  They  desisted  from  their  demands 
only  by  the  persuasion  of  the  New  Haven  people,  who  appealed  for 
their  own  safety,  and  perhaps  more  potently  because  of  the  harm 
that  might  come  to  Connecticut  colony  and  New  Haven  alike,  by 
"the  noise  of  a  new  war,  that  might  hinder  the  coming  of  ships  the 
next  year."  Of  all  things,  the  colonists  dreaded  anything  inimical 
to  immigration. 

The  war-spirit  contented  itself  for  the  time,  by  sending  forty 
men  in  two  shallops,  with  two  canoes,  to  gather  the  corn  that  the 
Indian  husbandmen  had  planted  on  land  that  had  been  conquered 
by  the  English  to  the  eastward.  It  was  said  that  the  planting  had 
been  done  contrary  to  agreement.  This  corn-robbing  expedition 
was  undoubtedly  carried  out,  for,  on  the  third  of  October,  "the 
soldiers  for  the  last  exploit "  were  ordered  paid  for  nine  days,  at  two 
shillings  per  day.  Meanwhile,  the  first  Thanksgiving  on  record  in 
Connecticut  had  been  held  on  the  i8th  of  September,  1639. 

Before  October,  1639,  Stratford,  under  the  name  of  Pequanocke,* 
had  the  beginnings  of  a  plantation,  the  formula  for  which  we  do 
not  find,  and  Roger  Ludlow,  the  former  commandant  of  Castle 
Island,  in  Boston  harbor,  had  taken  upon  himself  to  set  Uncoway, 
or  Fairfield,  going  into  the  ways  of  a  well-ordered  plantation.  Gov- 
ernor Haynes  and  Mr.  Wells  made  a  visit  at  this  time  to  Stratford, 
to  see  how  matters  were  going  there;  to  make  freemen  and  admin- 
ister the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  planters,  and  to  assign  Sergeant 
Nicholls,  the  ancestor  of  the  Nichols  family  of  Waterbury,  to  train 
the  men  and  exercise  them  in  military  discipline;  and  then  to  visit 
Fairfield,  in  order  to  condemn  or  confirm  the  proceedings  of  Roger 
Ludlow  there.  This  year,  1639,  was  an  important  year.  Towns 
were  insured  certain  rights  in  their  own  lands,  and  powers  were 
bestowed  for  choosing  officers  and  making  orders  for  well-ordering 
the  same.  In  fact,  the  town  meeting  was  fully  ordained,  with  its 
town  book  and  town  clerk,  and  the  Probate  Court  was  established  at 
Hartford.  There  was  one  act  of  this  October  court,  the  result  of 
which,  if  it  did  result  in  action,  historians  would  delight  to  find. 
Six  men  of  the  three  towns  were  appointed  to  gather  up  the 
passages  of  God's  providence  that  had  been  remarkable  since  the 
first  undertaking  of  the  plantations,  in  each  town,  and  then,  jointly, 
to  gather  them  up  and   deliver  them  unto  the  court,  and  if  they 

*  It  was  also  called  Cupheage. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BAT'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT. 


99 


were  judged  then  fit,  they  were  to  be  recorded.    Will  this  record  be 
found  ? 

Thus  early,  the  spirit  of  unrest  had  come  upon  the  plantations. 
Men  of  Wethersfield  had  flitted  and  were  about  to  flit  to  Milford 
and  to  Fairfield,  and  now,  just  as  the  year  was  ending,  in  January, 
1639,  a  committee  was  appointed,  at  the  request  of  the  planters  of 
all  these  towns,  to  view  the  lands  by  Unxus  Sepus  (at  Farmington) 
with  all  haste,  that  a  new  plantation  might  there  be  made.  So 
urgent  did  this  seem,  even  in  the  wintry  weather,  that  the  court 
was  adjourned  while  the  country  should  be  viewed.  The  weather 
proved  too  severe,  and  Wethersfield,  which  seemed  the  most  impor- 
tunate in  the  matter,  agreed  to  wait  until  the  next  meeting  of  the 
General  Court.  Undoubtedly,  the  departure  of  persons  from  the 
last  mentioned  town  to  Milford  and  Fairfield  was  greatly  deplored, 
and  every  means  was  used  to  keep  her  inhabitants  near  by.  It  has 
not  been  an  easy  matter  to  obtain  light  on  the  beginnings  of  indi- 
vidual towns;  the  lands  of  the  original  three  plantations  were 
ample,  and  could  be  extended  by  a  word  from  the  court.  The 
children  of  the  planters  were  not  grown,  in  three  years,  to  man's 
estate.  A  new  generation  had  not  come  upon  the  stage  to  find  all 
the  places  of  public  trust  filled,  and  to  desire  to  make  new  offices  in 
a  new  place;  therefore,  this  longing  to  emerge  from  town  bounds 
could  not  have  been  born  of  the  want  of  land.  These  early  men 
were  only  just  out  of  the  toils  of  English  life  and  law,  and  to  every 
one  of  them  who  was  endowed  by  nature  with  a  spark  of  individu- 
ality, we  can  safely  attribute  an  overwhelming  desire  to  wield  the 
power  within  him,  without  let  or  hindrance.  Such  was  the  stability 
of  English  life  then,  as  now,  that  men  had  no  expectation  of  rising 
above  the  station  into  which  they  were  born;  therefore,  in  the  new 
condition  of  things,  what  was  more  natural  than  that  every  man 
should  seek  to  be  born  into  a  new  town,  whose  good  places  were  not 
already  seized  upon }  The  conditions  for  the  planting  of  Farming- 
ton  were  to  be  made  in  July  of  1640,  but  the  particular  court  of  that 
date  omits  to  give  us  the  details,  and  because  of  this  omission,  we 
are  obliged  to  grope  in  ignorance,  gathering  here  and  there  the  con- 
ditions attending  the  formation  of  plantations. 

In  April  of  1640,  "Mr.  Hopkins,  Esqr.,"  was  made  governor,  fif- 
teen men  were  made  freemen,  the  bounds  between  Stratford  and 
Fairfield  were  ordered,  and  the  late  governor,  Mr.  Haynes,  had  to 
make  the  journey  to  determine  them.  The  first  prison  in  the  colony 
was  prepared  for,  at  Hartford.  It  was  to  be  of  stone,  or  wood, 
twenty-four  feet  long  and  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet  broad,  with  a  cellar. 
Our  Thomas  Hancox  presided  over  the  Hartford  prison  after  he  left 


loo  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

Waterbury  in  1691.  Intended  marriage  engagements  were  to  be 
published  in  some  public  place  and  at  some  public  meeting  at  least 
eight  days  before  the  parties  became  engaged,  and  the  same  interval 
was  required  between  the  engagement  and  the  celebration  of  the 
marriage  covenant.  Hartford  bad  one  hundred  and  fourteen  land 
owners,  and  the  court  was,  as  usual,  very  busy  making  laws  to  pre- 
vent the  Indians  from  becoming  bold  and  insolent.  Any  Indian 
who  had  the  curiosity  to  touch  any  weapon  of  any  sort  in  house  or 
field,  was  to  pay  half  a  fathom  of  wampum  and  to  pay  "  life  for  life, 
lymbe  for  lymbe,  wound  for  wound  "  in  case  of  accident  to  life  or 
limb  thereby.  Moreover,  the  culprit  was  to  pay  for  the  healing  of 
such  wounds;  if  he  stole  he  was  to  pay  double  and  receive  such  pun- 
ishment as  the  "  magestrats  "  chose  to  inflict.  He  might  not  enter  the 
house  of  an  Englishman;  and  he  might  not  enter  the  plantations, 
except  on  conditions.  The  first  will  appeared  on  record — that  of 
Henry  Pack  [?],  wherein  he  bestowed  upon  the  church  the  clock  that 
his  brother  Thornton  had  bought.  The  first  prisoner  was  kept  by 
John  Porter,  constable  of  Windsor,  with  lock  and  chain,  and  held  to 
hard  labor  and  coarse  diet;  the  Oath  of  Fidelity  for  the  western 
plantations  at  Stratford  and  Fairfield  was  made  ready;  the  Hartford 
portion  of  the  first  highway  in  the  colony — that  from  Hartford  to 
Windsor — was  mended  sufficiently  "  for  man  to  ride  and  go  on  foot 
and  make  drift  of  cattle  comfortably,"  and  to  the  governor  was 
given  liberty  of  free-trade  up  the  river  for  seven  years. 

In  this  year,  1640,  the  colonists  took  a  long  look  ahead.  They 
recognized  the  vital  necessity  of  securing  to  themselves  some  com- 
modity to  defray  the  charges  consequent  upon  supplying  their 
needs  from  abroad.  The  raising  of  English  grain  seemed  to  the 
government  to  promise  well  for  that  end,  and  it  at  once  gave  per- 
mission to  all  persons  within  its  plantations  to  seek  out  suitable 
ground  where  it  might  soonest  be  raised,  and  granted  to  each 
"  teeme "  furnished  a  hundred  acres  of  ploughing  ground  and 
twenty  of  meadow.  The  main  condition  to  be  regarded  was,  that 
twenty  acres,  that  is,  the  meadow,  was  to  be  improved  the  first  year, 
and  the  one  hundred  within  three  years.  Careful  and  minute 
orders  concerning  the  same  were  to  be  carried  out  by  a  committee, 
of  whom  the  "  Worshipfull "  Edward  Hopkins  was  one.  Men  were 
to  send  in  their  names  and  be  served  by  the  town,  after  the  commit- 
tee had  made  choice  for  themselves.  A  competent  lot  was  to  be 
allowed  for  each  owner  of  a  team,  for  a  workman  to  manage  the 
business  and  carry  on  the  work.  Stock  removed  to  such  place  was 
to  be  levied  to  the  town  from  whence  it  came.  The  committee 
might  even  admit  inhabitants  plantation-wise.     In  fact,  from  these 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  Y'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT.       loi 

and  other  orders,  we  may  look  to  this  enterprise  in  grain-raising  as 
the  nucleus  of  more  than  one  town.  It  seems  probable  that  Eng- 
lish Grass  meadow  in  Waterbury,  now  in  Plymouth,  was  one  of  the 
meadows  early  sought  out  for  raising  grain  by  some  Farmingtonian. 

If  cotton  has  ever  been  king,  far-seeing  Governor  Hopkins  was 
the  first  to  recognize  it,  for,  in  1640,  he  undertook  ''  the  furnishing 
and  setting  forth  a  vessel  to  those  parts  where  the  said  comodity  was 
to  be  had,  that  a  trade  of  Cotton  Wooll  be  set  upon  and  attempted." 
This  vessel  went  and  came  with  its  cargo  of  **  cotton  wool,"  and  this 
name  for  cotton  was  in  general  use  in  Connecticut  after  1830.  Thus 
early  was  an  order  for  the  preservation  of  the  forests  sent  forth, 
that  the  material  for  the  supply  of  pipe-staves  remain  undimin- 
ished. The  export  of  pipe-staves  was  an  important  and  extensive 
industry  and  regulated  with  great  care.  The  staves  were  to  be  four 
inches  broad,  four  feet  and  four  inches  long,  half  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness besides  the  sap,  and  if  under  four  inches  in  breadth  they  were 
to  go  for  half  staves.  A  supply  of  linen  cloth  was  desirable — 
experience  had  thus  early  taught  them  that  much  land  lay  about 
that  might  be  improved  in  hemp  and  flax.  To  this  end,  every  family 
was  ordered  to  procure  and  plant,  that  year,  one  spoonful  of  Eng- 
lish hemp-seed  in  fruitful  soil.  This  was  for  seed-supply  for  the 
year  following,  wherein  every  family,  although  no  cattle  were  kept, 
was  ordered  to  sow  ten  perches;  if  any  cattle,  twenty  perches;  if 
draft  cattle,  one  rood  of  hemp,  or  flax. 

Country  rates,  "yet  behind  unpayed,"  were  to  be  accepted  in 
merchantable  Indian  corn  at  three  shillings  the  bushel;  other 
indebtedness  of  labor,  or  contract,  or  commodity,  at  three  shillings 
four  pence  the  bushel. 

That  the  fear  of  the  Indians  was  not  appalling,  appears  from 
the  fact  that  six  men  were  sent  into  the  Mohegan  country  to  plant 
com  near  Uncas,  and  were  to  remain  until  the  harvest  should  be 
over.  It  will  thus  be  seen  how  far  away  the  colonists  were  reach- 
ing to  occupy  the  meadows,  even  in  1640,  and  so  the  suggestion 
already  made,  that  Waterbury,  as  an  occupied  locality,  is  a  number 
of  years  older  than  it  has  been  accounted  will  not  be  deemed  unwor- 
thy of  consideration. 

Among  the  laws  of  1640,  is  the  following :  "  It  is  Ordered  that 
what  p'son  or  p^'sons  w'**in  this  jurisdiction  shall,  after  September, 
1 641,  drinke  any  other  Tobacco  but  such  as  is  or  shall  be  planted 
within  these  libertyes,  shall  forfeit  for  every  pound  so  spent  five 
shillings,  except  they  have  license  from  the  Courte." 

The  first  land  bestowed  upon  any  individual  by  the  government, 
was  Fisher's  Island.     It  was  bestowed  under  its  present  name,  and 


102  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

at  his  own  request,  upon  John  Winthrop,  subject  to  the  "public  good 
of  the  Country  and  trade  of  fishing  or  salt  and  such  like." 

The  grasp  of  the  government  upon  the  individual  in  those  mat- 
ters in  which  he  might  be  supposed  to  be  a  law  unto  himself,  must 
have  been  extremely  irksome.  His  very  apparel  was  subjected  to 
restraint  in  material,  in  cost,  and  in  form;  his  labor  was  under  the 
law  of  hours  and  his  rewards  were  fixed.  No  man  might  give  or 
receive  more  than  the  sum  determined  by  the  General  Court,  except 
he  abide  the  censure  of  that  court — but  this  law  was  unpopular  and 
soon  repealed.  The  selling  prices  for  most  commodities  were  given, 
— and  the  Indian  was  to  receive  less  for  his  corn  than  the  white  man 
might  take.  Rumors  of  war  floated  in.  Mr.  Ludlow,  down  at  Fair- 
field, had  been  told  by  a  friendly  sachem  that  the  Indians  of  Mid- 
dlctown,  Narragansett  and  elsewhere,  had  a  combined  plot  for  des- 
troying the  Engflish.  A  Long  Island  Indian  revealed  the  plot  to 
Mr.  Eaton,  at  New  Haven,  and  a  Connecticut  River  Indian  told  of 
it.  How  unfriendly  all  the  Indians  were  !  Mr.  Saltonstall,  whose 
lands  lay  above  Windsor,  promised  to  lend  the  Country  two  pieces 
of  ordnance — "  Sakers  or  Minions."  These  pieces  of  ordnance 
undoubtedly  came  in  the  forty- ton  bark,  in  1635,  when  twenty  pas- 
sengers were  "  to  go  plant  at  Connecticut."  The  Bay  was  immed- 
iately "  writt  "  unto  to  further  the  prosecution,  or  persecution,  of  the 
Indians.  All  fire  arms  were  to  be  made  perfect.  A  magistrate 
alone  might  receive  a  sachem,  if  he  had  but  two  men  with  him. 
For  the  first  time — this  was  in  August  of  1642— a  guard  of  forty 
men  was  to  attend  the  meeting  every  Sabbath  and  lecture-day 
"complete  in  their  arms,"  and  the  members  of  the  court  took  an 
oath  to  keep  secret  its  doings.  The  Indians  were  gathering  for 
some  purpose,  supposed  to  be  warlike,  about  Tunxis,  or  present 
Farmington.  The  most  stringent  enactments  were  issued:  The 
Englishman  might  not  deliver  to  any  Indian,  articles  that  he  had 
contracted  for;  much  less  do  any  work  for  him  in  iron  or  steel,  or 
even  buy  his  venison;  sixty  "halfe  Pickes  "  were  ordered,  to  be  of 
ten  feet  length,  at  least,  in  the  wood,  and  the  watching  and  warding 
were  set  in  force  with  new  zeal.  A  month  passed  by  in  quiet,  and 
then  ninety  coats  were  ordered  to  be  made  defensive  against  Indian 
arrows,  by  being  basted  with  cotton  wool.  Governor  Hopkins's  ship 
had  come  in;  hence,  the  supply  of  "  cotton  wool."  Six  weeks  went 
by.  No  harm  came  from  Tunxis  or  other  Indians,  and,  on  the  first 
of  December  1642,  the  Capital  Laws  of  the  Colony,  twelve  in  num- 
ber, were  promulgated. 

At  this  date,  that  "  master-piece  of  woman's  wit,"  Mrs.  Hutchin- 
son,  appears   to  have   been   dwelling  on  the  river,  for   Dr.    Bray 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  Y'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT.       1 03 

Rossiter  tries  to  collect  a  bill  of  ;^24o  from  her,  but  accepts  ;^23,  by- 
order  of  Court.  So  attractive  had  the  Indians  become  in  three 
months*  time  to  certain  of  the  inhabitants  that  they  took  up  their 
abode  with  them,  and  the  Court  found  it  expedient  to  enact  a 
penalty  for  such  abiding  with  the  Indians;  making  it  at  least  three 
years'  imprisonment  in  the  "  house  of  correction,"  besides  fine  and 
corporal  punishment;  and  no  man  might  make  any  "arrowheads" 
for  Indians  under  penalty  of  a  ten  pound  fine,  and  tribute  was 
demanded  from  Long  Island  Indians  also. 

In  1643  a  weekly  market  was  established,  to  be  held  every  Wed- 
nesday at  Hartford.  This  was  for  all  manner  of  commodities, 
merchandise,  and  cattle.  Highway  surveyors  were  appointed,  with 
liberty  to  call  out  every  team  and  person  fit  for  labor  one  day  in  the 
year  to  work,  especially  on  the  ways  which  were  between  town 
and  town.  The  Grand  Jury  of  twelve  persons  was  ordered,  and  the 
foundations  of  the  family  state  were  considered.  It  was  declared 
that  "  the  prosperity  and  well-being  of  commonwealths  did  much 
depend  upon  the  well  government  and  ordering  of  particular 
families  "  and,  as  this  "  could  not  be  expected  where  the  rules  of  God 
were  neglected  in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  family  state,"  it  was 
ordered  that  no  person  remaining  under  the  government  of  parents, 
masters  or  guardians  "  should  make  or  give  entertainment  to  any 
motion  or  suit  in  way  of  marriage  without  the  knowledge  and 
consent  of  those  to  whom  they  stood  in  such  relation,"  neither 
should  any  third  person  intermeddle  in  the  matter. 

The  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  in  session  at  Boston, 
in  October,  1643,  decided  that  Miantinomo  be  delivered  up  to  be 
murdered  by  his  captor,  Uncas.  The  harrowing  story  rises  up  again 
and  again,  and  we  can  only  cry,  "Oh,  why  was  this  thing  permitted  ?" 
Neither  timidity  nor  fear  can  wholly  account  for  it.  Fearing  that 
the  Narragansetts  would  seek  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  sachem,  it 
was  ordered  that  eight  men  be  sent  to  Mohegan  to  defend  Uncas,  and 
that  each  town  prepare  itself  for  defensive  war.  It  was  forbidden 
"to  sell  for  day,"  or  trust  any  Indian  with  goods  or  commodities,  and 
the  meeting-house  guard  was  increased  to  one  man  from  every 
family  in  which  there  was  a  soldier,  who  was  to  carry  a  "  muskett, 
pystoll,  or  some  peece,"  with  powder  and  shot,  to  each  meeting. 
The  forfeit  was  twelve  pence  for  every  neglect — and  forty  pounds 
were  paid  to  Mr.  Fenwick  for  repairs  on  the  fort  at  Saybrook.  In 
December,  1643,  there  was  kept  a  Day  of  Humiliation.  This  day 
seems  to  have  been  popular.  In  January,  because  of  the  state  of 
their  native  Country,  it  was  decided  that  there  should  be  monthly  a 
day  of  humiliation,  "  according  to  the  course  of  their  neighbors  at 
New  Haven.**     Wednesday  was  the  day. 


I04  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT, 

The  inhabitants  were  ordered  to  bring  in  their  measures  and 
yards  and  weights  once  in  the  year,  to  be  tried  and  compared  with 
the  standard.  Only  sealed  measures  might  be  used — and  only 
measures  of  seasoned  wood  might  be  sealed — and  if  any  measure 
was  found  too  little,  the  "scale  was  to  be  cutte  out."  Persons  were 
forbidden  to  sell"Wyne  and  Strong  Water  "  without  license  from 
the  "  p^'ticuler  Court,"  or  any  two  magistrates.  It  had  become  custom- 
ary to  sell  the  forbidden  articles  from  vessels  on  the  river,  and  from 
houses.  In  June,  1644,  for  the  benefit  of  many  strangers  and  pas- 
sengers (thus  incidentally  giving  us  a  picture  of  the  growth  of  inter- 
course), one  sufficignt  inhabitant  in  each  town  was  to  keep  an  "  Ordi- 
nary, for  provisioning  and  lodging  in  comfortable  manner;  that 
strangers  and  passengers  might  know  where  to  resort."  The  inhab- 
itants were  to  choose  the  men  for  this  service,  and  two  magistrates 
were  to  decide  upon  the  fitness  of  the  men  for  the  work.  It  was  at 
this  time — eight  years  after  the  settlement — that  the  law  was 
enacted  requiring  parents  to  certify  to  the  Town  Clerk,  within  three 
days  after  the  birth  of  a  child,  the  date  of  its  birth,  and  every  man 
within  three  days  after  his  marriage,  the  date  of  that  marriage. 
For  every  default,  the  penalty  was  five  shillings.  The  Register  was 
to  receive  sixpence  for  recording  the  day  of  the  marriage  and  two 
pence  for  the  day  of  the  birth. 

The  order  concerning  trading  with  the  Indians  was  repealed, 
and  Uncas,  "who  hath  bine  a  friend  to  the  English,"  might  enter 
the  house  of  a  magistrate  or  a  trader,  with  twenty  men,  and  his 
brother  with  ten;  other  sachems,  if  they  came  not  with  above  four 
men. 

In  this  year,  James  Hallet,  an  unfortunate  soul  of  Windsor,  for 
his  theft,  was  to  restore  tenfold  "  for  that  should  be  proved  against 
him,  and  to  be  branden  in  the  hand,  the  next  Trayening  day,  at 
Windsor."  Up  to  this  date,  about  six  cases  of  corporal  punishment 
are  to  be  met  with.  The  stocks  at  Windsor,  and  the  pillory  at  Hart- 
ford, had  been  made  to  do  duty.  There  had  been  one  case  of  brand- 
ing in  the  cheek  the  letter  R,  and  perhaps  two  cases  of  whipping 
"  at  the  cart's  tail,"  at  Hartford. 

In  October,  1644,  we  find  six  towns  within  Connecticut  colony. 
They  are  Hartford,  Windsor,  Wethersfield,  Stratford,  Uncoa  or 
Fairfield,  and  Southampton  on  Long  Island.  The  latter  town  had 
sought  admission.  We  learn  the  number  by  the  appointment  of 
two  men  in  every  town  within  the  jurisdiction  to  demand  of  every 
family  what  it  would  give  for  the  maintenance  of  scholars  at  Cam- 
bridge, formerly  Newtown.  This  free-will  offering,  largely  in  corn, 
was,  for  many  years,  gathered  annually  into  the  place  prepared  for 


MASSACHUSETTS  BAY'S  PLANTATION  IN  GONNECTIGUT, 


105 


it,  and  at  the  convenient  time,  it,  or  its  value,  was  sent  up  to  "  that 
Schoole  of  the  Prophets  wch  now  is" — Harvard  College. 

Before  the  end  of  the  year  1644,  Connecticut  had  overfilled  the 
markets  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  Colonies  with  grain,  and 
a  company  of  exporting  merchants  seems  to  have  been  formed, 
chief  of  whom  were  our  enterprising  Governor  Hopkins  and  Mr. 
William  Whiting.  To  them,  and  to  them  only,  was  corn  to  be  sold 
to  go  out  of  the  river,  for  two  years,  and  the  prices  for  wheat, 
rye,  and  pease  were  regulated  for  them.  Cattle  and  "  Swyne  '* 
above  half  a  year  old,  were  to  be  ear-marked  or  branded  and  regis- 
tered in  the  town  book. 

From  the  beginning,  the  possession  of  the  fortification  and  lands 
at  the  river's  mouth  had  been  desired,  and  in  the  agreement  for 
their  purchase,  which  was  entered  into  in  this  year,  Mr.  Fenwick 
was  to  receive  two  pence  per  bushel  for  all  grain  that  should  be 
exported  out  of  the  river  for  ten  years,  and  six  pence  per  hundred 
for  all  "  biskett "  so  exported.  For  every  hog  that  was  killed  in  any 
of  the  towns  on  the  rive^,  twelve  pence  per  annum.  For  every  sow 
or  mare  that  was  in  the  towns,  the  same  sum;  and  twenty  shillings 
for  every  hogshead  of  beaver  traded  out  of  the  Jurisdiction,  "  and 
paste  away  down  the  River."  The  payments  were  to  be  in  beaver, 
wampum,  wheat,  barley  or  pease,  at  the  most  common  and  indiffer- 
ent rates.  Stringent  measures  were  taken  to  prevent  collusive  deal- 
ings, and  the  concealing  of  stock,  with  penalties  annexed.  This  was 
a  very  heavy  tax  upon  the  five  towns.  Hartford  had  added  to  her 
weekly  market  two  fairs  in  the  year,  one  in  May,  the  other  in  Sep- 
tember. 

In  1645  we  find  the  colony  taking  the  most  vigorous  measures 
"for  the  cnlardgement  of  the  libertyes  of  the  Patent  for  the  Juris- 
diction," for,  in  the  sale  made  by  Mr.  Fenwick,  he  did  not  include 
the  jurisdiction,  although  he  promised  to  secure  it,  if  he  could.  That 
he  failed,  and  that  he  was  under  some  pecuniary  obligation  to  the 
country  because  of  this  failure,  may  be  fairly  inferred  from  a  clause  in 
his  will,  in  which  he  leaves  ;^5oo  to  the  country,  contingent  upon 
Governor  Hopkins's  approval.  The  story  of  the  patent  and  charter, 
if  it  could  be  clearly  told,  would  be  of  very  great  interest. 

For  five  years  little  Farmington  had  been  a  plantation  under  the 
name  of  Tunxis,  but  on  the  first  of  December,  1645,  she  was  given 
her  English  name,  her  bounds  were  established,  and  town  rights 
conferred.  Saybrook,  or-  "Seabrooke,"  was  added  to  the  towns, 
making  the  number  eight  in  1645.  But  we  may  not  linger  in  this 
interesting  search,  but  must  pass  quickly  over  the  field  covering 
the  period  down  to  the  beginning  of  our  own  plantation,  merely 


io6  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

mentioning  that  in  1646  our  first  "  Body  of  Laws "  was  to  be 
"drawn  forth"  by  Mr.  Ludlow  (Fairfield  therefore  was  probably 
the  place  where  the  work  was  done),  that  the  destruction  of  a  wolf 
was  rewarded  with  ten  shillings,  that  no  man  might  let  any  land  to 
the  Indians,  because  "  they  mixed  themselves  in  their  labors  with 
the  English,"  and  that  the  delivery  of  Miantinomo  to  Uncas  caused 
the  sending  forth  of  forty  men  in  this  year,  for  "  warrs,"  and  for  the 
support  of  Uncas;  after  which  the  knapsacks,  pouches  and  powder 
were  gathered  up  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Talcott. 

Whatever  the  formula  may  have  been  for  the  planting  of  planta- 
tions, we  have  not  found  it.  Middletown  is  the  ninth  in  number^ 
although  nearly  six  years  of  plantation  life  passed,  as  in  our  own 
case,  before  it  became  a  town.  It  must  be  mentioned  that  the 
business  of  whale  fishing  dates  back  to  the  year  1647,  and  that  the 
probable  pioneer  in  that  business  was  Mr.  Whiting.  The  company 
were  to  have  seven  unmolested  years  to  make  their  fortunes  in,  but 
Mr.  Whiting  died  within  the  first  year. 

It  was  in  March,  at  the  very  close  of  the  year  1647,  that  Sims- 
bury  was  to  be  purchased  by  the  country,  to  be  disposed  of  to 
inhabitants  of  Windsor,  and  the  purchase  was  to  be  repaid  by  those 
that  should  enjoy  it. 

The  first  trace  of  witchcraft  that  the  writer  has  noticed,  appears 
in  December  of  1648,  when  the  "Jury  found  a  Bill  of  Inditemenf 
against  "  Mary  Jonson,  on  her  own  confession." 

New  London,  in  its  formative  stages,  dates  back  to  the  sending 
of  men  to  perpetuate  the  conquest  of  the  Pequots,  directly  after  the 
war.  In  1648  Mr.  John  Winthrop  was  appointed  magistrate  there. 
The  next  year  its  bounds  were  laid  and  a  court  erected,  and  the 
Indians  were  not  to  set  any  traps  within  the  bounds;  but  hunting 
and  fishing,  except  upon  the  Sabbath  day,  were  allowed  to  them  in 
all  the  towns  at  that  date.  Faire  Harbour  was  the  first  name  chosen 
by  the  court  for  the  town,  but  because  it  was  an  excellent  harbor 
and  a  fit  place  for  future  trade,  and  also  the  only  place  that  the 
English  had  possessed  in  Connecticut  by  conquest  (and  the  court 
added  that  it  was  by  a  very  just  war  upon  that  great  and  warlike 
people,  the  Pequots),  and  in  memory  of  London,  the  new  town, 
"  settled  upon  the  fair  River  of  Monhegin  in  the  Pequot  country," 
was  called  New  London. 

The  earliest  mention  of  Stamford,  in  Connecticut  colony,  is  in 
1649.  John  Whittmore,  late  of  Stamford,  had  been  killed  by  the 
Indians.  The  court  judged  it  "  lawful  and  according  to  God  in  way 
of  revenge  of  his  blood,"  to  make  war  upon  the  natives  in  and  about 
the  premises.  They  consulted  with  New  Haven  and  ordered  forty- 
five  Connecticut  men  to  prepare  for  the  war. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  Y'S  PL  ANT  A  TION  IN  CONNECTICUT.       loj 

In  November,  1649,  East  Hampton,  on  Long  Island,  was 
"accepted  and  entertained  *'  under  the  government,  it  being  "their 
importunate  desire."'  Samuel  Smith  and  others  of  Wethersfield  had 
a  ship  at  that  port  ready  for  her  first  voyage,  and  desired  to  freight 
it  with  pipe-staves.  The  19th  of  December,  1649,  was  Thanksgiving 
day. 

In  1650  foreigners  were  not  to  retail  any  goods  within  the  juris- 
diction, nor  were  their  goods  to  be  retailed  by  any  one.  June  nth 
was  Thanksgiving  day,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year,  on  a 
Wednesday,  there  was  another  Thanksgiving  day.  In  June  of  1650 
certain  men  of  Hartford  asked  leave  for  a  plantation  at  Norwalk. 
If  the  way  for  such  an  undertaking  "was  clear  and  good,"  and  the 
number  and  quality  of  the  men  engaged  in  it  were  such  as  might 
rationally  carry  on  the  work  to  the  advantage  of  the  "publique 
welfare  and  peace,"  and  the  people  were  willing  to  look  after  their 
own  defense'  and  safety,  and  the  divisions  of  lands  were  made 
according  to  just  rules  approved  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
court,  and  the  people  would  pay  their  just  proportion  of  public 
charges,  this  plantation  was  allowed,  and  in  165 1  it  reached  town 
estate. 

At  this  date,  165 1,  and  for  several  years  before,  families  and 
small  companies  of  families  had  been  and  were  living  remote  from 
the  several  towns,  and  to  these  solitary  dwellers  and  scattered  ham- 
lets we  are  able  to  trace  a  considerable  number  of  the  towns,  both 
early  and  late,  and  others,  that  we  cannot  follow,  doubtless  owe 
their  origin  directly  to  some  advance  dweller  in  the  wilds,  who 
went  with  or  without  permission. 

In  October  of  165 1,  the  people  were  building  the  great  bridge  at 
Hartford,  and  a  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation  was  kept,  because 
of  "  some  diseases  or  infection,"  that  was  among  their  "  neighbors 
and  friends  of  the  Massachusetts." 

The  beginning  of  1653  found  the  Government  greatly  interested 
in  the  preservation  of  the  people  in  and  about  Saybrook,  because 
of  the  Indians,  and  apprehensions  regarding  the  Dutch — England 
and  Holland  being  at  war.  They  were  ordered  to  gather  the  scat- 
tered families  into  the  town.  The  "  Corporation  in  England  "  sent 
arms  and  ammunition  for  the  United  Colonies,  of  which  Connecti- 
cut received  to  the  value  of  sixty  pounds.  The  Indians  near  all 
plantations  were  compelled  to  testify  their  fidelity  to  the  English 
by  delivering  up  their  guns  and  other  arms  to  the  Governor  or  the 
Magistrate.  They  were  not  to  walk  in  the  night,  except  with  a 
message  to  the  English,  and  then  they  were  to  deliver  themselves 
up  to  the  watch,  and  were  to  be  shot  by  the  watch,  if  they  did  not. 


jo8  HI8T0RT  OF  WAT^RBURT. 

On  the  first  of  March,  1653,  Governor  Haynes  died.  In  1654,  by- 
order  of  Parliament,  the  colony  was  expected  to  "demeane  itself 
against  the  Dutch,  as  an  enemy  to  the  Commonwealth  of  England." 
Accordingly,  it  sequestered  in  England's  name  "  the  Dutch  house, 
the  Hope,  with  all  the  lands,  buildings,  and  fences  thereunto 
belonging."  "  Barbados  Liquors,  commonly  called  Rum,  Kill  Devill 
or  the  like,"  had  reached  the  colonies  at  this  time,  and  the  use  of 
them  had  made  sad  havoc  among  the  Indians,  so  that  the  most  pro- 
hibitory laws  possible  were  enacted.  The  rapid  deterioration  of  the 
natives  seems  to  date  from  the  importation  of  these  liquors.  Wars 
and  rumors  of  wars  filled  the  horizon.  "  Oliver,  Lord  Protector  of 
England,"  wrote  a  letter  to  the  General  Court  in  relation  to  a  pro- 
posed expedition  that  stirred  the  colonists  deeply.  Uncas  himself 
began  to  make  complaints  of  unfair  treatment  from  the  English, 
in  the  taking  of  his  lands.  The  United  Colonies  resolved 
upon  war  with  Ninigret,  and  forty-five  men  were  called  forth  to  the 
Niantic  country.  They  were  to  meet  in  Hartford  and  there  begin 
their  march.  The  want  of  an  able  interpreter  had  prevented  the 
conveyance  of  the  knowledge  of  God  to  the  natives,  and  duly  con- 
sidering "  the  glory  of  God  and  the  everlasting  welfare  of  those 
poore,  lost,  naked  sonnes  of  Adam,"  the  Court  "  wrott "  unto  Thomas 
Mynor  of  Pequot  to  send  his  son  John  to  Hartford,  that  he  might 
be  educated  to  assist  the  elders  to  interpret  the  things  of  God  to 
them.*  And  here  we  meet  the  very  familiar  name  of  Daniel  Porter. 
He  was  to  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury,  as  a 
salary  for  one  year,  six  pounds,  and  in  addition  six  shillings  a  jour- 
ney to  each  town  upon  the  river,  "  to  exercise  his  arte  of  chiur- 
gerie." 

The  first  mention  that  is  made  of  the  Housatonic  River  is  in 
1656,  when  it  is  called  the  Paugasitt  River.  The  jurisdiction  rights 
of  Connecticut  over  the  region  embraced  by  this  river  are  not  evi- 
dent to  us,  and  were  not  to  the  colony  itself,  for  at  the  date  last 
given,  Stratford  requested  that  their  bounds  to  the  northward 
might  be  established,  and  the  answer  was,  that  the  bounds  should 
be  "twelve  miles  northward  by  the  Paugasitt  River,"  if  the  juris- 
diction had  the  right  of  its  disposal. 

In  1656,  we  make  the  acquaintance,  slight  though  it  be,  of  our 
friend  William  Judd,  the  eldest  of  the  five  Judd  brothers  who  cast 
their  lot  in  with  Waterbury  at  its  beginning.  He  was  in  this  year 
made  a  freeman.     We  learn,  also,  that  wolf-pits  were  constructed  to 


♦  This  lad,  John  Minor,  sent  to  Hartford  from  New  London,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Wood- 
bury.    It  was  he  who  Mras  upon  the  committee  for  establishing  the  bounds  between  Mattatuck  and  Wood 
bury  in  1680. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA T'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT.       109 

catch  wolves,  because  of  the  bounty  derived  from  their  capture,  and 
that  the  penalty  for  stealing  a  wolf  from  the  pit,  to  either  Indians 
or  English,  was  ten  shillings,  or  six  stripes  of  whipping,  and  that 
no  town  might  entertain  a  Quaker,  Ranter,  Adamite,  or  other  noto- 
rious heretic,  above  fourteen  days,  unless  the  town  so  choosing  to 
entertain,  pay  five  pounds  per  week  for  its  safe  harboring  of  them. 
We  rejoice  to  assure  the  reader  that  this  law  did  not  arise  within 
the  heart,  or  brain,  or  at  the  hands  of  our  Connecticut  Colony,  but 
was  adopted  by  the  United  Colonies  at  the  suggestion  of  the  gov- 
ernor and  magistrates  of  Massachusetts  Colony.  From  the  same 
source  came  the  law  of  this  year,  forbidding  the  sale  of  a  horse  to  an 
Indian,  or  any  boats  or  "barkes,"  or  any  tackling  belonging  there- 
unto. It  is  agreeable  to  find  that  Mamanto,  probably  our  good 
Indian  of  "  Mantoe's  House  Rocks,"  twenty-four  years  later,  in  1680, 
was  by  special  grant  of  the  Court  permitted  to  have  a  horse,  and 
he  was  perhaps  (with  a  good  degree  of  probability)  employed  with 
his  horse  as  special  messenger  between  Farmington  and  Mattatuck 
in  that  year  of  our  house-building,  for  the  rocks  were  named  for 
him  here,  and  the  natural  and  artificial  marks  of  his  horse  were 
recorded  in  Farmington.* 

In  1656,  in  the  three  river  towns  there  were  447  land  owners, 
whose  estates  were  valued  at  ;£47,7io.  Dr.  Daniel  Porter's  "sal- 
lery"  was  continued,  and  a  Dutchman,  whose  name  was  "Mr." 
Lawrence  Cornelius,  was  admitted  by  New  London  and  the  General 
Court  an  inhabitant  of  that  town,  he  to  have  free  trade  there.  Free- 
men were  admitted  to  the  colony  by  the  General  Court;  inhabitants 
were  admitted  to  a  town  by  a  major  vote  of  the  town.  The  deputies 
of  a  town  were  to  give  certificates  to  men  desiring  to  be  made  free- 
men, that  the  candidates  were  of  peaceable  and  honest  conversation, 
but  the  court  reserved  the  right  to  accept  or  reject  them  at  its 
pleasure.  The  qualifications  required  were,  that  the  candidates 
should  be  householders  who  were  one-and-twenty  years  of  age,  who 
had  borne  office,  or  who  possessed  thirty  pounds  estate.  In  the  end 
of  this  year  Stephen  Hopkins,  our  first  miller,  he  who  built  the  mill 
which  was  here  in  1680,  was  made  a  freeman.  In  1656,  also,  the 
troubles  in  the  church  at  Hartford  culminated.  Massachusetts  min- 
isters and  elders  voluntarily  proposed  to  visit  that  town  and  counsel 
the  opposing  parties.     A  "  synnod  "  was  held. 

In  May,  1657,  sixty-five  freemen  were  added  to  the  list,  and  the 
Gunn  name  appears  in  the  colony  in  the  person  of  Jasper  Gunn, 
who  was  freed  from  training,  watching  and  warding  "during  his 
practise  of  physsicke."     He  had  been  in  Connecticut  earlier,  cer- 

*  See  references  to  Mantow  and  Momantow  on  pag^e  30. 


no  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

tainly  in  1648,  and  in  1649  he  was  attending  the  mill  at  Hartford, 
while  Thomas  Gunn  was  a  jurym?an  still  earlier.  The  Gunn  family- 
filled  an  important  place  in  the  life  of  Waterbury  in  subsequent 
years. 

Indians  at  Farmington  were  troublesome  in  1657.  A  "most  hor- 
rible murder"  was  committed  by  them  at  that  place.*  Tekomas, 
Agedowsickf  and  Wonanntownagun,  alias  Great  James,  were  to 
be  kept  in  prison  as  pledges  until  the  murderers  should  be  brought 
forth  to  trial  and  judgment.  The  estate  of  one  Indian  was 
sequestered,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Farmington  were  to  seek  out, 
and  bring  before  the  governor,  Indians  who  might  be  suspected  of 
the  crime,  while  the  Indians  themselves  in  and  about  Farmington 
were  directed  to  nominate  a  sachem.  It  was  a  serious  office  to  hold, 
that  of  an  Indian  sachem,  for  the  English  held  the  "heathen 
prince"  strictly  accountable  for  all  the  crimes  committed  by  his 
tribe;  but  in  this  case  at  Farmington  there  seems  to  have  been  no 
sachem  to  bring  to  account.  A  fire  was  also  occasioned  at  the  same 
or  nearly  the  same  time,  by  which  certain  houses  were  burned;  it 
is  believed  that  the  houses  were  owned  by  William  Lewis  or 
Francis  Browne,  or  perhaps  both.  For  this  fire  the  Indians  of 
Tunksis  Sepus  or  Farmington,  mutually  pledged  themselves  to 
make  an  annual  payment  to  the  court  for  seven  years  of  the  full 
sum  of  eighty  fathom  of  wampum.  "  Mamanto,"  (our  "  Mantow,"  it 
is  thought),  was  one  of  the  four  Indians  who  signed  this  agreement. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  distribute  the  payments  to  Lieutenant 
Lewis  and  Francis  Browne,  to  make  up  their  loss  by  fire.  This  year 
1657  comes  to  us  of  Waterbury  with  a  thrill  of  interest,  for  this  is 
the  year  in  which  we  have  direct  and  recorded  evidence  that  white 
men,  whose  names  we  know,  traversed  some  portion  at  least,  of  our 
valley;  men  who  a  little  later  were  active  in  preparations  for  its 
settlement,  and  one  of  whom,  John  Stanly,  lived  an  honorable  and 
active  life  in  our  community  until  after  1700;  the  other,  John 
Andrews,  died  while  preparations  for  settlement  were  in  progress. 

The  patience  of  the  law-givers  must  have  been  greatly  tried 
when  Indians  who  had  a  grievance  met  in  court,  each  sachem 
to  plead  his  own  case.  The  court  wearied  with  their  speeches, 
when  on  one  occasion  Uncas  and  a  sachem  named  Foxon  "justi- 
fied in  many  words."  Great  wisdom  was  required  to  bestow  just 
verdicts,  when  present  troubles  were   complicated  with  old  feuds 


*In  the  diary  of  John  Hull,  under  date  of  April  23d,  in  this  year,  he  tells  us  that  this  murder  was  that 
of  an  English  woman  and  her  maid,  and  that  a  little  child  was  sorely  wounded,  '*all  within  their  house," 
and  that  the  house  was  fired,  *'  which  also  fired  some  other  houses  or  bams  ; "  that  the  Indians,  being  appre- 
hended, delivered  up  the  murderer,  who  was  most  horribly  executed. 

+  Another  form  of  Hatchetowsuck  ;  see  pp.  34,  35. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  T'S  PLANT  A  TION  IN  CONNECTICUT       1 1 1 

running  back  more  than  a  generation,  and  one  is  not  surprised 
when,  after  an  all-day  session  of  Indian  special  pleading,  the  verdict 
was— that  the  Indians  should  be  left  to  fight  it  out  among  them- 
selves on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  but  no  Englishman's  house,  per- 
son or  property  was  to  be  injured.  In  the  beginning  of  1658,  thirty- 
seven  men  were  formed  into  a  cavalry  company,  under  the  name  of 
"Troopers."  They  made  choice  of  their  own  officers,  and  the  court 
confirmed  them.  The  officers  commissioned  were  a  captain, 
lieutenant,  "  cornet,  three  corporals" — one  of  whom  was  Nicholas 
Olmsted,  one  of  the  five  men  who  ordered  Waterbury's  first  steps 
in  town  ways — and  a  quartermaster.  This  company  of  troopers 
was  formed  from  the  men  of  the  three  original  towns.  It  was 
in  March,  1657,  in  the  very  last  days  of  the  year,  that  the  order 
was  issued  forbidding  any  persons  to  "  embody  themselves  into 
church  estate  without  consent  of  the  General  Court  and  approba- 
tion of  the  neighbor  churches."  There  was  a  provision  in  this 
law,  out  of  which  grew  in  later  years,  within  the  townships,  the 
winter  privileges,  and  the  church  societies,  which  in  turn  re- 
solved themselves  into  towns  again.  The  provision  was  that  the 
order  should  not  "  take  place  upon  such  as  were  hindred  by  any 
just  impediments  [such  as  our  Naugatuck  river]  on  the  Sabbath 
day  from  the  publicke  assemblies  by  weather  or  water,  and  the 
like." 

In  1658  the  court  was  more  tried  with  the  "differences"  that  had 
broken  out  in  the  churches  at  Hartford,  and  in  other  towns,  than 
with  the  Indians  themselves,  and  sternly  ordered  an  "  utter  cessa- 
tion of  all  further  p'secution  "  by  the  church  at  Hartford  towards 
the  withdrawers  from  them  until  the  court  decided  the  differences 
between  them.  The  court  could  not,  or  would  not,  arbitrate  these 
matters.  It  was  greatly  buffeted  with  ecclesiastical  "  strikes,"  and 
sent  the  matter,  as  t|jey  did  Miantonomo,  up  to  "The  Bay,"  or 
rather,  sent  for  the  "  Bay "  elders  to  come  across  country  to  Hart- 
ford. 

No  less  than  seventy  men  were  made  free  before  the  Court  of 
Election  in  May,  and  the  great  number  caused  tumult  and  trouble, 
so  that  thereafter  freemen  were  admitted  at  the  October  court ;  and 
here  we  meet  for  the  first  time  with  the  "squire,"  so  familiar  to  our 
ears  a  score  of  years  ago,  and  now  well  nigh  obsolete.  The  new 
recorder,  Mr.  Daniel  Clark,  makes  use  of  it  as  a  prefix  to  the  name 
of  Mr.  Winthrop. 

The  Farmington  Indians  were  entertaining  strange  Indians  at 
this  time — contrary  to  their  agreement  with  the  English, "  when  they 
sat  down  "  there — and  carrying  on  hostilities,  thereby  endangering 


112  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

life  by  bullets  shot  into  the  town,  and  Thomas  Judd,  the  father  of 
the  five  young  men  of  that  name  who  came  to  Waterbury  as  pro- 
prietors, was  on  the  committee  to  inform  the  Indians  that  they 
were  required  "  to  provide  another  place  for  their  habitation  and 
desert  the  place  wherein  they  were  then  garrisoned."  In  this  year, 
1658,  "the  season  was  intemperate,  the  harvest  thin,  and  there  was  a 
sore  visitation,  by  sickness  in  several  plantations,"  and  Governor 
Edward  Hopkins  died.  The  act  against  the  Quakers  did  not  long 
survive  on  Connecticut  soil.  It  was  modified  in  such  manner  that 
if  one  was  "found  fomenting  his  wicked  Tenets  and  was  legally 
convicted  to  be  disturbing  the  public  peace,"  that  Quaker  was 
to  be  "  dealt  with "  by  "  fine,  or  banishment,  or  corporal  pun- 
ishment." 

One  of  the  most  weighty  matters  coming  before  the  law-givers 
again  and  again  and  continually,  related  to  the  selling  of  spirit- 
ous  liquors.  Laws  were  enacted  regulating;  laws  prohibiting;  laws 
repealing  laws;  but  the  question  did  not  seem  answerable  to  law. 
At  last  they  tried  the  experiment  of  permitting  Indians  to  have 
cider,  provided  it  should  be  "  drank  "  before  the  eyes  of  the  seller 
thereof,  in  order  to  prevent  excess,  but  this  liberty  was  soon  with- 
drawn, and  no  man  might  even  give  any  Indian  cider.  The  first 
intimation  of  negro  slavery  is  met  with  in  the  law  of  1660,  that 
neither  Indian  nor  "negar"  servants  should  be  required  to  train, 
watch,  or  ward  in  the  colony.  The  laws  of  this  year  were 
especially  clear  and  practical.  No  person  might  be  admitted  an 
inhabitant  of  a  town  unless  he  was  known  to  be  of  an  honest  con- 
versation and  was  accepted  by  the  major  part  of  the  town.  A  sec- 
ond small  troop  of  horse,  of  eighteen  men,  was  permitted  to  be  gath- 
ered out  of  Fairfield,  Stratford  and  Norwalk.  No  inhabitant  could 
sell  his  house  and  lands  without  offering  them  first  for  sale  to  the 
town  in  which  they  were  situated.  The  above  was  one  of  the  laws 
which  was  cited  as  being  contrary  to  English  law,  when,  at  a 
later  period,  the  charter  was  in  peril.  No  man  or  woman  could  live 
more  than  two  years  in  Connecticut,  if  he  or  she  had  wife  or  hus- 
band "in  foreign  parts."  Every  town  in  the  colony  was  ordered  to 
send  forth  its  Indians  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away  from  the  town.  The 
law  forbidding  to  sell  fire-arms  to  Indians  was  still  unrepealed; 
nevertheless,  the  Indians  possessed  guns,  for,  at  this  time,  laws 
were  made  Regulating  their  fire-arms,  as,  that  Englishmen  might 
seize  any  guns  brought  in  by  them,  to  be  redeemed  by  the  Indians 
on  payment  of  six  shillings  each;  and  a  little  later,  in  i66i,  they 
had  free  liberty  to  carry  them  through  towns,  if  not  above  ten  men 
were  in  company. 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  Y'S  PLANTATION  IN  CONNECTICUT       113 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  order  went  forth  causing  sales, 
grants,  bargains,  and  mortgages  of  lands  to  be  in  writing  and  placed 
upon  record,  duly  witnessed  by  one  witness  and  the  recorder. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  Housatonic  river  was  merged  into  the 
Stratford  river  in  1660,  for  Dr.  Bray  Rossiter — who  had  been  at 
Hartford  in  attendance  upon  "John  Talcott  in  his  sickness'* — had 
applied  to  the  court  to  sanction  his  purchase  of  lands  at  *'  Paugusset, 
on  Stratford  River."  His  request  was  granted;  he  was  given  per- 
mission to  buy  another  hundred  acres,  and  Connecticut  colony 
accepted  the  lands  thus  acquired  under  its  government.  Hunting- 
ton, Long  Island,  also  was  received  to  its  **  power  and  protection." 

In  1 66 1,  the  Colony  was  very  active  and  deeply  absorbed  in  car- 
rying out  the  desire  of  its  corporate  heart — to  obtain  from  King 
Charles  II.  the  long  desired  charter.  Everything  was  made  ready 
for  that  event.  The  financial  part  of  the  business  enterprise  was 
secured.  It  was  five  hundred  pounds.  An  address  to  the  King  was 
made  ready  by  Governor  Winthrop,  and  a  petition  prepared  by  a 
committee,  and,  with  the  money,  the  address,  and  the  petition,  and 
a  long  and  minutely  worded  letter  of  instructions  in  the  premises, 
the  Governor  set  forth  on  a  voyage  to  England,  at  once  momentous 
in  its  hopes  and  results  to  the  Colony. 

In  his  address  Governor  Winthrop  assures  King  Charles  that  the 
"  Fathers  of  the  Colony  had  very  pious  and  public  ends  in  view,  when 
they  transported  themselves,  with  their  wives  and  children,  unto 
this  western  world  " — even  the  "  propagation  of  the  blessed  Gosple 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  amongst  the  Heathen,"  as  well  as  "the  farther 
extent  and  honor  of  the  British  Monarchy."  He  then  reminds  him 
of  the  full  and  free  consent  that  his  father,  Charles  I.,  gave,  together 
with  his  gracious  "  L"  Pattents,"  to  them  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
later  explains  how  Connecticut  came  to  be  settled,  and  that  the  lands 
were  purchased  of  "  Indian  sachems,"  kindly  explaining  to  the  King 
the  fact  that  Indian  sachems  were  "  Heathen  Princes,"  and  then 
adds  that  when  the  sad  and  unhappy  times  of  troubles  and  wars 
began  in  England,  his  subjects  on  the  Connecticut  River  could  only 
"bewaile  w'**  sighes  and  mournful  teares."  Then,  writing  for  the 
people,  he  declares  that  they  "have  ever  since  hid  themselves 
behind  the  mountains,  in  that  desolate  desert  [the  Connecticut  Val- 
ley !]  as  a  people  forsaken,  choosing  rather  to  sit  solitary  and  wait 
only  upon  the  Divine  Providence  for  protection  [that  is,  without 
a  charter]  than  to  apply  themselves  to  the  changes  of  powers 
[the  Commonwealth  and  Oliver  Cromwell],  assuring  his  majesty 
that  his  subjects  had  kept  their  hearts,  as  well  as  their  stations,  free 
from  all  illegal  engagements,  and  entire  to  the  interests  of  their 
8 


114  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

King."  Presently,  he  implores  favor  and  gracious  protection,  and 
asks  his  acceptance  of  the  colony,  reminding  the  king  that  it  is 
"  his  own  Colony,  a  little  branch  of  his  mighty  Empire,"  and  explains 
many  things  that  his  poor  pilgrims  have  done  for  the  glory  of  Eng- 
land. The  address  makes  most  humble  apology  for  the  colonists,  in 
that  they  had  "publickly  and  solemnly  proclaimed  and  declared  for 
his  majesty  in  Connecticut,  before  a  form  and  express  order  for  such 
testimony  of  allegiance  had  arrived  by  the  ships  from  England," 
and  closes  with  the  hope  that  his  majesty  will  be  pleased  to  excuse 
the  poverty  that  has  nothing  to  present  the  King  of  England  from 
the  wilderness,  but  hearts  and  loyal  affections.  It  ends  with  the  most 
profound  professions  of  loyalty  and  submission  and  devout  suppli- 
cations to  "  His  Eternal  Majesty,  the  King  of  Heaven  and  Earth,"  to 
pour  down  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings  upon  the  "Royal 
Throne "  of  Charles  II.  This  address,  written  by  Governor  Win- 
throp,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  which  was  empow- 
ered to  "  compile  or  methodize  the  Instrument."  Hence,  the  very 
remarkable  production.  However,  it  accomplished  its  purpose,  and 
the  charter  was  received  at  Hartford,  with  honest  acclamation  of 
joy,  and  "  publiquely  read  in  audience  of  ye  Freemen,  and  declared 
to  belong  to  them  and  their  successors  "  on  the  9th  of  October,  1662. 
It  had  been  duly  signed  and  sealed  on  April  23rd;  had  been  pub- 
licly exhibited  in  Boston  in  September,  and  was  delivered  in  Hart- 
ford for  safe  keeping,  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Willys,  Captain  John 
Talcott,  of  Waterbury  interest,  and  Lieutenant  John  Allyn,  persons 
chosen  for  that  office  by  the  freemen.  A  "  Charter  Keeper's  Oath  " 
was  administered  to  the  three  men,  and  the  wheels  of  government 
were  once  more  adjusted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  assistants  and 
deputies  who  "established  all  officers  in  the  Colony,  both  civil  and 
military,  in  their  respective  places  and  power." 

A  new  era,  bright  with  satisfied  longings,  and  brilliant  with  hope 
had  dawned.  It  is  at  this  date  that  we  bid  farewell  to  the  General 
Court  and  advance  under  the  order  of  the  General  Assembly,  which 
frequently  steps  back  into  the  old  ways,  and  calls  itself  always  the 
Court,  and  frequently  the  General  Court,  but  its  marching  orders 
are  with  few  exceptions  under  General  Assembly. 

It  is  quite  impossible  fully  to  appreciate  the  situation  of  the 
colonists  either  before  or  after  the  charter  was  obtained.  Hitherto 
every  step  had  been  taken  with  secret  distrust  and  often  with  per- 
ceptible hesitation,  but  always  in  the  hope  that  Mr.  Fenwick  would 
be  able  to  transfer  to  them  whatever  jurisdiction  he  either  held  or 
might  be  supposed  to  hold  by  virtue  of  patent,  at  the  time  when  he 
sold  to  them  the  fort.     But  now  all  was  changed  !     Everything  was 


MASSACHUSETTS  BA  T'S  PLANTA TION  IN  CONNECTICUT      1 1 5 

tinged  with  hope,  and  the  chartered  colony  was  afloat  on  the  sea  of 
success.  It  grew  in  a  day,  in  a  manner  that  must  have  filled  the 
river  people  with  becoming  pride;  the  doubting  towns  came  hurry- 
ing up  to  Hartford  for  shelter  under  charter;  for  the  Englishman 
respects  law  and  reverences  the  law-giver.  It  was  on  the  first  day 
after  the  charter  was  proclaimed  that  the  Hartford  Train  Band  was 
given  precedence  over  all  other  military  organizations,  a  precedence 
that  it  has  never  wholly  lost.  Southold,  Stamford,  Greenwich,  and 
even  Guilford,  through  a  portion  of  its  inhabitants,  came  under 
jurisdiction.  The  court  declared  its  claim,  under  patent,  to  all  of 
Long  Island,  received  West  Chester  as  a  "  member  of  its  corpora- 
tion," and  conferred  plantation  rights  upon  "  Homonoscetts,"  or 
Killingworth,  as  it  could  maintain  thirty  families.  The  General 
Assembly  was  busy  with  new  enactments  fitting  the  new  environ- 
ment, casting  off  laws  that  the  colony  had  outgrown,  and  removing 
restraints  no  longer  desirable. 

When,  in  1664,  New  Haven  colony  submitted  to  the  inevitable, 
and  came,  in  her  own  proud  way,  to  the  point  of  yielding  up  her 
colonial  rights,  the  heart  of  Connecticut  throbbed  with  fullness  of 
satisfaction,  and  the  married  life  of  the  colonies  has  been,  from  that 
time  to  this,  not  free  from  troubles,  but,  on  the  whole,  an  estate  for 
the  better  for  both  parties.  New  Haven  gave  up  her  colonial  name 
and  her  individuality,  but  never  relinquished  her  influence  and  her 
formative  power.  Two  years  later,  in  1666,  the  counties  of  Hartford, 
New  Haven,  New  London  and  Fairfield  were  formed.  Waterbury, 
naturally,  took  her  place,  when  she  came  into  being,  within  Hart- 
ford county,  for,  while  its  eastern  and  western  bounds  were  not 
given,  its  north  bound  was  that  of  Windsor  and  Farmington;  its 
south,  the  "South  end  of  ye  bounds  of  Thirty  Miles  Island,"  now 
Haddam.  County  courts  were  also  appointed  for  each  county,  to  be 
held  twice  in  the  year. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

WAS  THE  DISCOVERY  OF  MATTATUCK  DUE  TO  THE  SEARCH  FOR  METALS? 
MINING  RIGHTS  OF  1657  IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  MATTATUCK 
RIVER — POSSIBLE  MINING  INDUSTRIES  INTERRUPTED  BY  INDIAN 
TROUBLES  AT  FARMINGTON — WATERBURY'S  MINE  OF  1 735 REST- 
LESSNESS   OF    SETTLERS    AT    FARMINGTON     AND     ELSEWHERE LANDS 

AT    BRISTOL    GRANTED    IN    1663 THE    FIRST    STEP    TOWARD  WATER- 
BURY    IN    1670 DEACON     STEPHEN     HEART'S     FARM     IN    MATTATUCK. 

BEFORE    IT    BECAME     A     PLANTATION THREE    MEN    OF    FARMINGTON 

VIEW      MATTATUCK TWENTY-SIX       MEN      PETITION      THE      GENERAL 

COURT      FOR      A      PLANTATION COMMITTEE      APPOINTED     TO     VIEW 

THE    LANDS  — ITS     RETURN     TO     THE     COURT THE    GENERAL    COURT 

APPOINTS    A     COMMITTEE     TO     REGULATE     AND     ORDER     A     PLANTA- 
TION   AT    MATTATUCK. 

IT  will  probably  never  be  possible  for  any  investigator  to  deter- 
mine what  Englishman  first  beheld  the  lands  on  which  we 
dwell  in  Waterbury,  or  to  declare  the  purpose  that  led  him 
into  the  valley  through  which  ran  the  Mattatuck  river.  Historians 
have  hitherto  accorded  to  the  territory  no  charms  beyond  those 
known  to  the  hunter ;  and  it  has  been  thought  that  even  the 
Indians  held  the  region  in  avoidance,  except  for  its  animal  life, 
down  to  the  time  when  it  was  solicited  of  the  General  Assembly 
for  a  plantation  by  certain  men  of  Farmington ;  but  there  are  indi- 
cations that  Indians  dwelt  here,  and  it  is  known  that  land  was  laid 
out  here  before  the  establishment  of  the  plantation. 

That  the  Waterbury  of  to-day  owes  its  eminence  among  manu- 
facturing towns  to  the  working  of  metals,  no  man  may  deny.  That 
the  discovery  of  Mattatuck  may  be  attributed  to  the  search  for  its 
supposed  metallic  treasures,  is  quite  within  the  bounds  of  proba- 
bility. Indeed,  we  have  facts  recorded  which  in  the  line  of 
evidence  indicate  that  energetic  search  for  metals  was  made  here 
at  least  seventeen  years  before  the  region  was  selected  for  a  planta- 
tion. The  Winthrop  name  of  two  centuries  and  more  ago  stood  for 
so  much  in  the  way  of  endeavor  and  enterprise,  that  no  one  can  be 
very  much  surprised  to  hear  it  connected  with  even  the  discovery 
of  Waterbury.  On  the  13th  of  May,  165 1,  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  was 
living  at  Pequot  (New  London).  From  that  place  he  sent  a  letter 
to  the  General  Court  on  a  subject  that  was  of  special  interest  to 
himself.     In  this  letter  Mr.  Winthrop  wrote  : 


UONNECTlGUra  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUCK.  nj 

There  hath  been  earnest  motions  to  me  from  some  well-willers  to  the  com- 
mon good,  to  make  some  search  and  trial  for  metals  in  this  country,  and  there  is 
hope  that  there  might  be  a  stock  gathered  for  that  purpose,  if  there  were  encour- 
agements from  the  several  jurisdictions.  I  have  therefore  made  bold  to  propound 
the  enclosed  grant  to  yourself  and  the  court ;  professing  this,  that  I  neither  know 
nor  have  heard  of  any  mines  or  metals  within  this  jurisdiction,  for  I  have  not  yet 
made  any  search,  but  only  propound  it  for  encouragement  to  any  that  will  be 
adventurers  and  join  in  the  undertaking  of  such  a  design. 

Mr.Winthrop  then  cites  "The  Bay"  as  an  example,  giving  Lynn 
and  "  Nuberry "  as  two  places  where  he  knows  that  lead  has  been 
found  ;  "  but,"  he  adds. 

That  at  Lynn,  being  challenged  by  the  Towne,  and  so  neare  the  Iron  worke 
that  takes  up  all  the  wood,  that  it  cannott  bee  wrought  there;  and  the  Towne  hath 
beene  at  charge  for  the  finding  of  the  veine,  but  it  cannot  bee  found,  and  so  they 
are  discouraged ;  for  it  was  oncly  loose  peeces  that  were  found.  I  doe  not  much 
desire  to  have  anything  put  in  about  gold  and  silver,  yet,  if  it  be  put  in,  it  may 
incourage  some. 

The  action  of  the  court  on  the  receipt  of  the  letter  quoted  from, 
follows : 

Whereas,  in  this  rocky  country,  amongst  these  mountains  and  stony  hills,  there 
are  probabilities  of  mines  of  metals  and  minerals,  the  discovery  whereof  may  be 
for  the  great  benefit  of  the  country,  in  raising  a  staple  commodity,  and  whereas, 
John  Wenthrop,  Esq. ,  doth  intend  to  be  at  charge  and  adventure  for  the  search 
and  discovery  of  such  mines  and  minerals — for  the  encouragement  whereof,  and  of 
any  that  shall  adventure  with  the  said  John  Wenthrop,  Esq.,  in  the  said  business. 
It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  court,  that  if  the  said  John  Wenthrop,  Esq.,  shall 
discover,  set  upon  and  maintain,  or  cause  to  be  found,  discovered,  set  upon  and 
maintained  such  mines  of  lead,  copper  or  tin,  or  any  minerals,  as  antimony  vitriall, 
black  lead,  alum,  stone-salt,  salt  springs  or  any  other  the  like,  within  this  jurisdic- 
tion, and  shall  set  up  any  work  for  the  digging,  washing,  melting,  or  any  other 
operation  about  the  said  mines  or  minerals  as  the  nature  thereof  requireth,  that 
then,  the  said  John  Wenthrop,  Esq.,  his  heirs,  associates,  partners,  or  assignes. 
shall  enjoy  forever  the  said  mines,  with  the  lands,  wood,  timber  and  waters  within 
two  or  three  miles  of  the  said  mine,  for  the  necessary  carrjring  on  of  the  works  and 
maintaining  of  workmen  and  provision  of  coals  for  the  same;  provided  it  be  not 
within  the  bounds  of  any  Town  already,  or  any  particular  persons  propriety,  nor  in 
or  bordering  upon  any  place  that  shall  or  may  by  the  court  be  judged  fit  to  make  a 
plantation  of. 

Within  six  years  from  the  date  of  John  Winthrop's  letter,  John 
Standley  and  John  Andrews,  two  nien  of  Farmington,  who  later 
cast  their  lot  with  the  men  of  Waterbury,  had  penetrated  the  wil- 
derness to  the  west  of  their  township,  and  from  a  hill  had  carried 
with  them  to  Farmington  a  mineral  substance  which  was  believed 
to  be  black  lead.  The  record,  as  we  have  it,  is  very  incomplete. 
We  are  not  told  that  John  Standley  and  John  Andrews  were  pros- 
pecting for  metals  under  the   incitement   of  Winthrop's  and  the 


ii8  HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT, 

court's  encouragement,  but  we  may  suggest  the  probability  of  it. 
We  are  not  even  told  that  they  discovered  the  hill  containing  it,  but 
simply  that  they  brought  the  "lead**  from  a  certain  hill.  Whether 
they  were  the  discoverers  of  it  or  not,  the  fact  that  the  hill  with  its 
"  black  lead  "  was  discovered,  evidently  aroused  the  Farmingtonians 
of  1657  to  action.  Two  of  their  number,  William  Lewis  and  Samuel 
Steele  in  that  year  obtained  from  three  Indians  of  Farming^on 
(whose  names  upon  the  Farmington  record  of  the  transaction — 
which  appears  to  be  the  original  deed  —  are  written  Keoaga[m?] 
Queromus  and  Mataneg,  or  as  ordinarily  rendered  in  copies  of  the 
same,  Kepaquamp,  Querrimus  and  Mataneage),  "a  tract  of  land 
called  Matetacoke,  that  is  to  say,  the  hill  from  whence  John  Stand- 
ley  and  John  Andrews  brought  the  black  lead."  By  this  deed  the 
Indians  did  not  convey  their  title  to  the  lands.  They  simply  con- 
ferred mining  rights  in  a  great  circle  of  land  whose  diameter  was 
sixteen  miles,  with  the  hill  as  its  central  point.  By  this  grant,  or 
lease,  they  had  permission  "to  dig  and  carry  away"  to  any  extent 
desired ;  they  could  also  "  build  on  the  land  for  the  use  of  the 
laborers,  but  not  otherwise  improve  it." 

Whatever  plans  may  have  been  made  to  develop  this  mine,  they 
were  doubtless  held  in  abeyance,  for  it  was  at  this  time,  in  1657, 
that  the  "horrible  murder,"  already  referred  to,  took  place  in  Farm- 
ington, that  so  greatly  alarmed  the  inhabitants.*  From  this  time 
onward,  the  Farmington  Indians  were  restless,  and  being  required 
by  the  inhabitants  to  leave  their  homes  and  move  on,  we  can 
understand  why  the  "black  lead"  was  left  in  its  native  hill.  Where 
this  hill  was,  and  is,  remains  to  this  day  a  secret.  That  it  was 
within  the  bounds  of  Mattatuck  plantation  might  be  inferred  from 
the  name.  It  has  been  considered  by  historians  safe  to  place  it  in 
Harwinton.  The  mention  of  the  fact  that  Waterbury's  bounds 
with  Farmington,  and  with  Hartford  even,  were  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury in  getting  established,  suggests  the  possibility  that  in  the 
beginning  the  hill  was  where  its  name  indicates,  and  near  the  north 
line  of  the  Waterbury  township  of  1686.     The  Rev.  E.  B.  Hillard  in 


*  In  1840,  Rev.  NoRh  Porter,  in  his  historical  address,  delivered  on  the  two-hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
settlement  of  Farmington,  tells  us  that  it  was  the  house  of  John  Hart  that  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  that  in 
the  same  year  Mr.  Scott  was  cruelly  murdered.  Mr.  Julius  Gay  gives  the  date  of  the  burning  of  John  Hart's 
house  as  December  15,  1666.  The  Mr.  Scott  referred  to  was  perhaps  Joseph,  the  son  of  Edmund  Scott  of 
Waterbury,  but  his  death  occurred  nearly,  if  not  quite  fifty  years  later.  August  18,  1657,  the  Indians  belong- 
ing to  Tunksis  Sepus,  being  treated  with  about  the  damage  done  by  fire,  occasioned  by  Mesupeno,  they 
obliged  themselves  to  pay  unto  the  General  Court  in  October,  for  the  term  of  seven  years,  the  full  sum  of 
eighty  fathom  of  wampum.  *  *  *  Four  Indians  signed  this  agreement  in  the  name  and  with  the  consent  of  the 
rest.  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  Vol.  I,  p.  303.  The  Indians  did  not  make  prompt  payment,  and  in  May,  1660,  the 
Court  appointed  a  committee  **  to  take  in  the  consideration  of  the  loss  of  Lt.  Lewis  and  Francis  Browne,  and 
according  as  they  judge  requisite  to  make  distribution  to  both  parties  of  that  which  the  Indians  have 
engaged  to  pay  yearly  to  make  up  their  loss  by  fire  until  the  whole  sum  Jl>e  paid  in  by  the  Indians." 


aONNEVTIOUrS  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUGK,  119 

his  "Sketches  of  the  History  of  Plymouth/*  1882,  has  ventured  to 
place  it  a  little  north  of  the  Harwinton  line,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
highway  running  past  the  house  of  Arthur  Cleveland,  and  as  lying 
about  half  a  mile  back  of  the  above  house.  He  tells  us  that  "marks 
of  rock-blasting  are  still  apparent,  which  could  have  been  only  for 
mining  purposes." 

We  find,  in  Waterbury  Town  Records,  of  1735,  "a  place  called 
the  mine."  It  was  situated  "near  the  upper  end  of  the  bounds." 
We  further  learn  that  "  it  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  Naugatuck 
River,"  and  that  "it  was  against  English  Grass  Meadow;"  and  still 
further,  we  are  told  by  record  that  "  English  Grass  Meadow  is  at 
the  Mouth  of  East  Branch,  or  Lead  Mine  Brook."  It  is  the  most 
northern  meadow  lot,  save  one — the  Plum  Trees — within  the 
ancient  bounds.  Both  meadow  lots  were  named  before  1688.  The 
law  forbidding  persons  to  acquire  title  to  lands  from  the  natives, 
was  not  made  until  1663,  six  years  after  the  date  of  the  conveyance 
of  the  mining  rights  to  Lewis  and  Steele;  hence,  its  validity  as 
recognized  in  later  transactions. 

Since  writing  the  above,  a  visit  to  English  Grass  Meadow  has 
been  made.  It  was  impossible  to  mistake  the  beautiful  curved 
meadow,  lying  at  the  mouth  of  the  East  Branch.  Mr.  Irwin  Fenn, 
who  lives  in  its  vicinity,  remembers  it  by  its  English  Grass  name. 
It  was  so  called  sixty  years  ago  by  its  then  owner,  Mr.  John  Allen. 
It  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  George  Gilbert,  and  is  in  this  August  of  1892, 
beautiful  with  com,  and  plentiful  with  its  crops  of  potatoes  and 
grain.  Mr.  Fenn  thinks  that  the  "  Plum  Trees,"  were  on  the  East 
Branch  itself,  and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  above  English 
Grass  Meadow.  He  remembers  when,  about  fifteen  years  ago,  the 
last  of  the  plum  trees  that  gave  name  to  the  meadow  were  cut 
down.  They  were,  at  that  time,  reduced  to  a  few  rods  in  extent. 
The  present  owner  is  Mr.  Samuel  Baldwin.  The  region  has,  from 
time  to  time,  been  sought  after  for  its  supposed  mineral  treasures. 
Mining  rights  have  been  secured  as  recently  as  within  about  twenty 
years  in  lands  very  near  the  mine  of  1735. 

Lewis  and  Steele  evidently  received  their  title  to  this  great 
<}ircle  of  land  as  representing  a  company  of  men ;  for  under  date 
•of  June  29,  1665,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Farmington,  "there  was 
chosen  Sarg'  Stanly  and  Sarg*  Hart  to  go  to  Left.  Lewis  and 
Eng"  Steel  to  demand  ye  Deed  of  Sale  of  Mattatuck  Land,  and 
have  it  assigned  to  them  In  ye  behalf e  of  ye  Company,  and  have 
it  Recorded. 

"  A  treu  Copie  Transcribed  out  of  ff armington  old  Town  Book 
pr  John  Hooker,  Regst^" 


I20  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

In  17 12,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  Farmington,  with  full 
power  to  lease  out  to  Col.  William  Partridge  and  Mr.  Jonathan 
Belcher  for  sixty-eight  years,  "all  their  mines  except  iron  and  pre- 
cious stones  and  the  fifth  part  of  all  oar  of  silver  and  gold  that 
might  be  found  within  the  common  and  sequestered  land,  not  yet 
granted  to  any  particular  person  or  persons."  These  gentlemen  of 
Massachusetts  were  undoubtedly  men  of  large  enterprise.  They 
secured  to  themselves  for  terms  of  years  varying  from  eight  to 
sixty-eight,  the  working  of  all  mines,  iron  excepted,  within  Farm- 
ington, Wallingford  and  Simsbury.  In  Wallingford  and  Simsbury, 
mineral  wealth  was  known  to  exist  at  the  period  named.  In  17 14, 
the  General  Assembly  confirmed  the  acts  of  the  towns'  committees 
in  relation  thereto,  and  granted  the  persons  employed  in  the  mines 
exemption  from  military  duties.  It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suggest 
that  early  Waterbury  shared  in  the  same  enterprise  and  that  the 
place  called  "The  Mine,"  was  an  outcome  of  that  period,  if  indeed 
it  did  not  date  back  to  the  lease  of  1657. 

When  one  looks  upon  the  Farmington  meadows  of  to-day,  and 
goes  back,  in  thought,  to  the  time  when,  in  1672  or  1673,  but  eighty- 
four  men,  with  their  families,  inhabited  the.  great  township,  the 
Indians  occupying  only  their  reservation  of  two  hundred  acres, 
together  with  "  the  little  slip,  staked  out,  to  avoid  contention,"  the 
question  forces  itself  upon  the  mind  anew :  Why  were  these  men 
not  content  ?  The  question  of  land,  surely,  could  not  have  been  a 
serious  one;  nor  were  its  divisions  so  arbitrary  as  to  account  for  the 
spirit  of  unrest  that  prevailed  in  Farmington,  as  elsewhere.  Men 
were  not  equal.  The  government  of  towns  was  in  the  hands  of  a 
few  men.  Few  were  the  changes  in  the  more  honorary  offices,  and 
heavy  was  the  repression  felt  by  the  individual,  consequent  upon 
the  letter  of  the  law,  whose  weight  weighed  him  down  more  heavily 
than  he  could  bear.  Hence  the  efforts  of  the  individual  to  seek 
out  some  tract  of  land,  even  if  distant  from  the  settlement,  where 
he  could,  at  least  to  his  little  herd  of  cattle,  speak  his  mind,  with- 
out suffering  the  consequences.  However  many  other  good  and 
sufficient  reasons  there  may  have  been  for  the  continual  wandering- 
in  townships  by  man,  and  out  of  townships  by  bands  of  men,  we 
think  we  must  look  beneath  surface  indications  for  the  foundations 
whence  this  spirit  of  restlessness  was  upheaved. 

As  early  as  1663,  we  find  that  three  or  four  men  had  strayed 
away  into  that  portion  of  Farmington  then  called  Poland — and  now 
Bristol — and  by  permission  of  the  town,  had  there  selected  lands  to 
be  laid  out  to  them  when  granted  by  the  town.  Richard  Bronson,. 
Thomas  Barnes  and  Moses  Ventrus  seem  to  have  been  the  pioneers 


CONNECTICUrS  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUCK  121 

in  securing  grants.  These  grants  were  followed  in  1664  by  one  of 
twenty  acres  to  our  John  Lankton. 

In  1670  a  movement  began,  that  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  first 
and  vital  step  toward  Waterbury,  and  yet  it  occurred  within  the  lim- 
its of  Farmington  itself.  Land  in  Great  Swamp  was  conferred 
upon  men  of  Farmington  upon  conditions.  This  Great  Swamp  lay 
along  the  branches  of  the  Mattebeset  river  and  was  allotted  in  par- 
cels, varying  from  twenty  to  fourteen  acres,  "  through  the  conde- 
scendency  of  particular  persons  in  the  town  to  part  with  something 
which  is  their  right,  to  persons  of  lesser  estate,  on  these  conditions." 
The  conditions  were,  that  the  lands  were  forever  to  be  a  part  of 
Farmington;  "never  to  be  a  distinct  people  from  the  town  without 
their  liberty  and  consent."  The  land  was  to  return  to  the  town  "  if 
the  people  living  there  should  endeavor  to  rend  themselves  off  from 
the  town  to  be  a  distinct  people  of  themselves,  or,  with  any  other." 
Neither  could  any  man  thus  endowed  with  his  acres  in  the  Great 
Swamp  make  sale  of  this  land  until  he  had  lived  his  four  years  in 
Farmington,  and  further,  no  one  was  allowed  to  go  there  to  live 
except  he  owned  the  land.  Twenty-eight  of  the  men  who  just  four 
years  later  signed  the  "  Articles  Agreed  upon  for  the  Settling  a  Plan- 
tation at  Mattatuck,"  were  twenty-eight  of  the  men  who  had  by 
waiting  secured  for  themselves  these  lands  at  Great  Swamp.  In 
1687,  the  town  of  Farmington  agreed  to  give  Richard  Seymour,  a 
blacksmith,  twenty  shillings,  as  a  "gratewety  "  for  his  moving  to  the 
Swamp,  and  1686  is  the  date  given  by  historians  for  the  settlement 
at  "  Farmington  Village  in  and  about  Great  Swamp." 

We  have  already  given  evidence  that  the  region  within  ten  miles 
of  Waterbury — at  Bristol — was  sufficiently  well  known  in  1663  to 
be  selected  and  granted,  in  part,  to  three  men  of  Farmington.  We 
also  know  of  one  colonial  grant  of  a  farm  that  was  laid  out 
within  Waterbury's  borders  before  we  have  any  evidence  of  a 
design  on  the  part  of  the  men  of  Farmington  to  petition  for  a  plan- 
tation here. 

In  1673  the  court  bestowed  upon  Deacon  Stephen  Heart  a  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acre  farm.  In  the  records  of  1705  we  learn  for 
the  first  time  that  "this  grant  was  laid  out  to  him  within  the  town- 
ship of  Waterbury,  which  afterward  being  granted  for  a  plantation^  he 
or  his  heirs  relinquished,  and  it  was  to  be  removed  to  a  place  upon 
Mattatuck  river  to  the  northward  of  the  town  there."  We  may  not 
stop  to  follow  this  grant.  Like  the  Indians  it  was  compelled  to 
move  on  in  advance  of  townships,  being  now  at  the  meeting  of  the 
bounds  of  Windsor,  Simsbury  and  Farmington,  and  again  sent  over 
the  Connecticut  river  into  Killingly,  where  possibly  it  remained. 


122  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 

We  return  thanks  to  this  wandering  farm  for  the  light  it  reflects 
from  1705  on  1673.  Having  thus  shown  conclusively  that  land  was 
held  within  the  bounds  of  Mattatuck  in  May,  1673,  we  must  give  to 
Deacon  Stephen  Heart  the  honor  of  being,  so  far  as  known  to  the 
writer,  the  first  English  landed  proprietor  in  Waterbury;  but  it 
does  not  follow  that  he  had  no  predecessor.  We  have  already 
alluded  to  the  earliest  grant,  that  of  Fisher's  Island  in  1641,  to  John 
Winthrop.  This  was  soon  followed  by  grants  to  the  soldiers  of  the 
Pequot  Massacre,  and  from  that  early  date  the  grants  grew  rap- 
idly in  number,  and  in  size  to  one  at  least  of  one  thousand  acres.  A 
very  suggestive  grant  is  that  to  Thomas  Judd  and  Anthony  Haw- 
kins, of  four  hundred  acres  in  i66i.  The  evidence  has  not  been 
met,  but  the  suggestion  is  here  offered  to  a  coming  investigator 
that  the  whole  or  a  portion  of  this  land  was  laid  out  in  present 
Naugatuck,  and  that  this  farm  gave  rise  to  the  name  by  which  that 
territory  was  known  for  so  many  years  while  it  was  a  part  of  Water- 
bury — not  Judd's  Meadow,  but  Judd's  Meadows.  If  this  should 
prove  to  be  tenable,  then  Deacon  Stephen  Heart  must  give  place  to 
Deacon  Thomas  Judd,  his  fellow  townsman.  This  Deacon  Judd  of 
Farmington  was  the  father  of  William,  John,  Benjamin,  Lieuten- 
ant Thomas,  Philip  and  Samuel  Judd,  every  one  of  whom  had  some 
part  in  the  settlement  of  Waterbury.  Therefore  Deacon  Thomas 
Judd's  six  sons  may  have  been  familiar  with  our  hills  and  valleys, 
even  in  their  boyhood.  This  view  has  been  taken  as  one  of  the  pos- 
sibilities of  the  situation,  and  may  be  upheld  by  several  plausible 
facts,  one  of  which  is  that  the  Judds  must  have  had  a  reason  for 
not  desiring  a  plantation  at  Mattatuck;  for  not  a  Judd  name  is  to  be 
found  in  the  list  of  the  petitioners  for  it,  while,  when  the  planta- 
tion arises  on  their  landed  horizon,  the  entire  family  rush  in  as 
planters  !  Was  this  because  they  had  been  improving  the  two  hun- 
dred-acre farm — granted  to  be  laid  out  in  not  more  than  four  pieces 
— at  Judd's  Meadows  for  thirteen  years,  and  fain  would  keep  it  from 
the  iron  hand  of  a  plantation  ?  And  is  this  an  explanation  of  records 
which  reveal  to  us  certain  facts  that  we  are  unable  to  account 
for — such  expressions  in  the  first  book  of  Proprietors'  Records  as 
"Butler's  House,"  " Butler's  House  Brook,"  "Where  Butler's  House 
was"  when  we  have  no  knowledge  of  any  Butler  among  the  early 
inhabitants  of  Waterbury — a  man  whose  house  was  a  thing  of  the 
past  in  1689 !  Was  he  the  farmer  of  Judd's  Meadows,  or  was  he  a 
Stratford  Butler  and  a  Quaker,  one  of  the  five  Quakers  in  the 
colony  at  that  date,  and  obliged  to  move  on  ?  or  who  was  this  But- 
ler ?  Before  October  6th,  1673,  Thomas  Newell  Sen',  John  Warner, 
Sen',  and  Richard  vSeamor,  all  of  Farmington,  "partly  for  their  own 
satisfaction,  and  for  the  satisfaction  of  some  others,"  came  to  view 


CONNECTICUT'S  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUCK 


123 


***  Matitacoocke  "  in  reference  to  a  plantation  and  made  report  that 
they  "  judged  it  capable  of  the  same." 

October  9th,  1673,  twenty-six  men,  all  of  Farmington,  and  not  a 
Judd  of  the  number,  sent  up  a  petition  by  John  "  Lankton  "  to  the 
court  then  in  session  at  Hartford.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  that 
petition  as  it  appears  in  the  State  Records  of  Towns  and  Lands, 
vol.  I,  page  162.  The  original  papers  relating  to  the  period,  of 
which  this  is  one,  have  been  carefully  preserved  by  pasting  them  to 
the  leaves  of  volumes.  On  holding  the  leaf  on  which  this  petition 
is  found  to  the  light,  it  was  seen  that  upon  the  back  of  it  had  been 
written,  "  Farming  petition  for  to  make  Mattacock  a  plantation,  9 
Octob'  1673.  John  Lancton  payes  for  this  petition."  John  Lane- 
ton  therefore  paid  ten  shillings  for  the  privilege  of  having  the  peti- 
tion read  in  court,  for  such  had  been  for  eleven  years  the  require- 
ment. 

THE   PETITION   FOR   A   PLANTATION. 

To  the  honerd  general!  court  now  siting  In  Hartford  Octobr  9,  73 

Honerd  gentlemen  and  fathers  we  being  sensible  of  our  great  neede  of  a  com- 
fortable subsistance  doe  herby  make  our  address  to  your  selfes  In  order  to  the 
same  Not  Questioning  your  ceare  and  faithfulness  In  y*  premisses:  allso  hoping  of 
your  freeness  and  readyness  to  accomtdate  your  poore  supplicants  with  y*  which  we 
Judge  to  be:  In  your  hands:  acording  to  an  orderly  proseeding  we  therefore 
whose  names  are  hereafter  Inserted  to  humbly  petition  your  honours  to  take  cong- 
nicance:  of  our  state  who  want  Land  to  Labour  upon:  for  our  subsistance  &  Now 
having  found  out  a  trackt  at  a  place  called  by  ye  Indians  matitacoock:  which  we 
aprihend  may  susfetiently  acomidate  to  make  a  small  plantation:  we  are  therefore 
bould  hereby  to  petition  j'our  honors  to  grant  vs  y«  liberty  of  planting  y«  same  with 
as  many  others  as  may  be:  capable  comfortably  to  entertaine  and  as  for  the  pur- 
chasing of  y*  natives  with  your  alowance  we  shall  take  care  of:  &  so  not  to  trouble 
with  farther  Inlargement  we  rest  only  desiring  your  due  consideration  &  a  return 
By  our  Louing  ffriend  John  Lankton  and  subscribe  our  selfes  your  nedy  petitioners 

Thomas  Newell  Daniell  wamer 

!ohn  Lankton  Abraham  Andrews 

ohn  andrews  Thomas  hancox 

ohn  wamer  seinio'  John  Carrington 

)aniell  porter  Daniell  An(kews, 

Edmun  Scoot  Joseph  heacox 

John  Standly  Junior  thomas  standly 

abraham  brounsen  Obadiah  richards* 

Richard  seamer  Timothy  standley 

John  Wamer  Junio'  william  higgeson 

Isack  brounsen  ^^'^  porter 

Samuell  heacox  Thomas  Barnes 

John  Wellton  John  woodruff. 

Attention  is  requested  to  the  apparent  distinction  made  in  this 
petition  between  the  tract  of  land  desired  for  a  plantation  and  the 
place  within  it — the  language  it  will  be  noted  is,  "  having  found  out 
a  trackt  at  di place  called  by  ye  Indians  Matitacoock." 


*  In  a  different  hand  writing. 


124  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUBT, 

THB  ANSWER  OF  THB  COURT  TO  THE  PETITION   FOR  A  PLANTATION. 

Oct.  9.  1673 
In  answer  to  the  petition  of  severall  inhabitants  of  the  towne  of  Farmington  that 
Mattatock  that  those  lands  might  be  granted  for  a  plantation,  this  Court  have  seen 
cause  to  order  that  those  lands  may  be  viewed  sometime  between  this  and  the  Court 
in  May  next,  and  that  reporte  be  made  to  the  Court  in  May  next,  whether  it  be 
judged  fitt  to  make  a  plantation.  The  Committee  appoynted  are  L°*  Tho:  Bull, 
L°*  Rob^  Webster  and  Daniel  Pratt. 

The  same  distinction  is  preserved  in  the  response  of  the  Court 
in  the  words:  "  that  Mattatock  that  those  lands  might  be  granted."  Dr. 
J.  Hammond  Trumbull  in  editing  the  published  Records  of  the  Col- 
ony notices  this  apparent  vagary  of  language,  and  adds  in  a  note,  the 
words,  "  So  in  the  Record."  Nothing  is  more  unsafe  to  historical 
accuracy  than  the  easy  assumption  that  the  early  writers  were  care  - 
less  or  used  language  unadvisedly,  when  the  fact  may  be  and  usu- 
ally is,  that  we  fail  to  comprehend  the  intricacies  of  the  situation^ 
or  are  ignorant,  or  unmindful,  of  important  factors  in  the  case. 

Unfortunately  for  us,  the  early  records  of  AVaterbury  have  been, 
twice  at  least,  harvested,  with  an  abundant  portion  of  excellent  his- 
torical grain  left  in  the  field,  but  no  gleaners  passing  that  way  to 
garner  it.  Events  that  were  familiar  to  the  men  of  that  time,  and 
for  which  there  seemed  to  them  to  be  no  future  use,  were  omitted 
in  the  new  volumes  of  record,  the  old  books  being  discarded  and 
lost.  It  will  be  remembered  that  it  was  upon  the  ninth  of  October, 
1673,  that  the  committee  was  appointed  to  view  the  lands  in  ques- 
tion, and  that  it  was  to  make  report  concerning  them  at  the  May 
session  of  Court,  1674.    It  did  so,  and  here  is  the  report,  as  rendered: 

THE   COMMITTEES   RETURN   ABOUT   MATTATOCK. 

April  6.  7.  8.  9.  1674. 

Wee,  whos  names  are  underwritten  (according  to  the  desire  and  appointment  of 
y«  honoured  Court)  have  viewed  y*  lands  upon  Mattatuck  river  in  order  to  a  planta- 
tion, we  doe  apprehend  that  there  is  about  six  hundred  acres  of  meadow  and  plow- 
ing land  lying  on  both  sides  of  y«  river  besides  upland  convenient  for  a  towne  plot, 
with  a  suitable  out  let  into  y*  woods  on  y*  west  of  y«  river,  and  good  feeding  land 
for  cattell. 

The  meadow  &  plowing  land  above  written  a  considerable  part  of  it  lyeth  in  two 

peices  near  y«  town  plot,  y*  rest  in  smaller  parcels,  y«  farthest  of  which  we  judge 

not  above  fower  miles  from  y"  towne  plot:  and  our  apprehensions  are  that  it  may 

accommodate  thirty  familyes 

Thomas  Bull 
Nicho:  Olmstead 
Robert  Webster. 

[For  some  reason,  not  apparent,  Nicholas  Olmstead  acted  in  the  place  of 
Daniell  Pratt.] 

It  will  be  seen  that  Thomas  Bull,  Nicholas  Olmstead  and  Robert 
Webster,  occupied  four  days  in  the  investigation.    They  must  there- 


GONNECTIGJJTS  PLANTATION  AT  MATTATUGK, 


125 


fore  have  passed  the  nights  of  April  6th,  7th  and  8th,  1674,  in  the 
wilderness,  if  it  was  all  wilderness  at  that  time,  or  possibly,  like  the 
earlier  travelers  between  Connecticut  and  "  The  Bay,"  they  lighted 
upon  Indian  wigwams  by  the  way,  and  were  hospitably  entertained. 
Is  it  urged  that  there  were  no  wigwams  at  Mattatuck  ?  We  have  the 
best  of  evidence  that  there  was  here  one  of  the  ^^ Long  Wigwams'' 
that  were  built  for  the  use  of  the  Indians  when  they  assembled  in 
large  numbers  for  festive  and  other  purposes.  "The  path  that 
comes  from  the  Long  Wigwam,"  occurs  more  than  once  in  our 
records.  We  suppose  this  wigwam  to  have  been  in  the  vicinity  of 
Wigwam  Swamp,  "  whose  west  end  is  at  the  north  end  of  Burnt  Hill," 
and  from  which  a  brook  flows  into  Hancox  Brook.  This  committee, 
in  its  report,  proves  itself  to  have  done  efficient  work.  In  four  days 
the  men  journeyed  from  Farmington  to  present  Waterbury;  crossed 
Mattatock  River;  selected  the  town  site  upon  our  present  Town 
Plot;  estimated  the  meadow  and  ploughing  land,  available  for  imme- 
diate use,  at  six  hundred  acres;  examined  the  territory,  we  have 
reason  to  think,  both  up  and  down  the  river,  as  they  give  an  opinion 
of  the  distance  of  the  more  remote  meadows  from  the  "town  plot " 
of  their  selection  as  not  above  four  miles ;  reported  good  feeding 
ground  for  cattle,  and,  finally,  concluded  their  report  with  the  oft- 
repeated  and  much-misunderstood  "  apprehension  "  concerning  the 
ability  of  the  region  to  support  thirty  families. 

Having  lost  from  the  records,  in  the  case  of  Farmington,  the 
formula  for  the  formation  of  plantations,  and  their  care  by 
committees  during  the  period  of  their  infancy,  before  they  arrived 
at  the  stature  of  towns,  with  every  one  then  committed  to  the 
care  of  its  duly  appointed  King  Constable,  we  are  compelled 
to  gather,  here  and  there,  what  facts  we  may,  regarding  the 
conditions  under  which  a  plantation  might  be  granted  by  the 
Court.  We  add  here,  what  has  perhaps  been  already  intimated, 
that  one  of  the  requirements  was,  that  as  many  as  thirty  fami- 
lies must  be  secured  to  form  a  plantation,  for  the  reason  that 
that  number  of  house-holders  was  deemed  sufficient  to  support  a 
minister;  therefore  this  return  to  the  General  Court  of  the  ability 
of  the  region  to  support  thirty  families  did  not  limit  it,  even  in  the 
opinion  of  the  committee,  to  that  number  of  inhabitants,  but  merely 
gave  evidence  that  that  requirement  of  the  Court  could  be  met  in 
the  case  of  Mattatuck.  It  was  also  added  that  there  was  a  suitable 
outlet  into  the  woods  on  the  west  of  the  river.  The  significance  of 
the  last  sentence  does  not  seem  clear.  It  may  have  had  reference  to 
Mattatuck's  access  to  Woodbury.  Woodbury  was  then  but  an  infant 
of  eleven  months,  just  that  time  having  passed  since  four  men  and 
their  associates  had  been  granted  permission  "  to  errect  a  plantation 


126  HISTORY  OF  WATEEBUBY. 

at  Pomperoage."  Woodbury  is  somewhat  apt  to  hold  her  head 
proudly  with  age  above  Waterbury,  but  her  plantation  grant  is 
less  than  a  year  older  than  ours,  although  her  English  name  and 
town  estate  bear  earlier  date. 

It  was  on  Tuesday,  the  19th  of  May,  1673,  that  the  report  con- 
cerning Mattatuck  lands  was  received  by  the  Court,  considered, 
accepted,  and  acted  upon  by  the  appointment  of  "  Major  John  Tall- 
cott,  L°*  Rob^  Webster,  L°'  Nicho :  Olmstead,  Ens  :  Sam"  Steele  and 
Ens :  John  Wadsworth  to  be  a  committee  to  regulate  and  order  the 
setleing  of  a  plantation  at  Mattatock  in  the  most  suitable  way  that 
may  be ; "  and  thus  Mattatuck  was  duly  committed  to  the  martial 
nurses  of  its  infancy — a  major,  two  lieutenants,  and  two  ensigns — 
and  it  still  does  credit  to  its  early  training.  Of  this  committee, 
Major  John  Talcott  was  the  most  conspicuous  member.  From  the 
time  when  he  was  "  chosen  ensign  by  the  Trained  Band  of  Hartford  " 
in  1650,  to  the  date  of  his  death  in  1688,  John  Talcott,  Jr.,  led  a  busy, 
eventful  and  important  life.  The  marvel  is,  that  a  man  so  weighted 
with  colonial  trusts  of  magnitude,  should  have  been  chosen  to  lay 
the  foundations  of  a  plantation  of  minor  importance.  He  never- 
theless attended  to  the  commission  valiantly  and  well.  We  have 
abundant  proof  of  this,  in  the  still  existing  documents  relating  to 
Mattatuck  in  his  excellent  legible  handwriting.  In  the  November 
following  this  appointment  he  was  nominated  and  appointed  "  Com- 
mander-in-Chief "  of  all  the  military  forces  to  be  raised  in  the 
colony,  and  sent  against  New  York.  He  already  held  the  position 
of  assistant  to  the  Governor;  was  treasurer  of  the  colony;  commis- 
sioner of  the  United  Colonies,  and  on  the  very  next  day  after  the 
Mattatuck  appointment,  he  was  on  a  committee  to  hear  the  "  Indian 
Complaints  "  and  draw  them  to  an  issue;  two  days  after  that,  he  was 
to  go  over  to  Long  Island,  empowered,  with  two  others,  "  to  order 
and  settle  the  affairs  of  those  people,  establish  military  officers  "  and 
perform  other  trusts  of  magnitude;  also,  he  was  "  to  consider  of  and 
dispose  of  some  tracts  of  land  for  the  country  "  on  still  another  com-^ 
mittee;  and  to  **  consult  of  some  way  to  promote  the  public  good  "  on 
another;  beside  being  requested  to  look  after  the  fencing  of  the 
meadows  between  Farmington  and  Simsbury.  Independent  of  all 
these  matters,  he  was,  it  would  seem,  expected  to  obtain  from  the 
owners  a  deed  of  the  territory  of  Mattatuck.  His  genius  for  coax- 
ing Indians  was  believed  in.  Just  what  tactics  were  used  in  the 
case  of  Waterbury  we  are  not  able  to  delineate,  for  records  are 
silent,  but  we  can,  perhaps,  obtain  a  dim  outline  from  his  own 
description  of  the  manner  in  which  he  influenced  the  Indians  of 
Simsbury  to  part  with  the  lands  that  formed  that  township. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

WATERBURY's    first      entrance     upon      plantation      life — THE      "  NEW- 
TOWN GOEING  UP    AT  MATTATUCK  "    IN   1675 — THE  EFFECT    UPON  IT 

OF  "king"  Philip's  war — the  supposed  flitting  of  the  inhab- 
itants   TO     farmington — Connecticut's    indian    governor — 

progress    of    the    war — SALE    OF    THE    SURRENDERING    INDIANS  — 
MAJOR  TALCOTT'S  INDIAN  BOY — THE  "  IRISH  CHARITY  "  OF  1680. 

THE  Committee  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  for  the 
ordering  of  the  settlement  at  Mattatuck,  acted  with  com- 
mendable promptness.  The  company  of  and  from  Farm- 
ington knew  that  the  land  was  virtually  their  own,  and  we  are 
quite  ready  to  believe  that  men  did  not  wait  for  their  allotments 
in  severalty,  in  the  spring  time  of  1674.  Everything  was  just 
edging  toward  newness  of  life,  a  life  made  enjoyable  by  the  tem- 
porary amiability  of  their  Indian  neighbors.  That  year's  crops 
may  have  been  already  planted  in  the  heaven-made  meadows  on  the 
day  when  the  committee  announced  that  it  had  formulated  the 
laws  and  the  covenants  under  which  Mattatuck  might  take  its 
place  as  the  twenty-sixth  town  within  that  portion  of  Connecticut 
colony  that  is  now  included  in  the  bounds  of  the  State.*  This 
formula  of  obligations  and  agreements  covers  eight  conditions. 

The  first  one  permits  every  accepted  inhabitant  to  have  eight  acres  for  a  house 
lot.  The  second,  bases  the  amount  of  land  to  be  distributed  in  the  meadows,  upon 
the  amount  of  each  man's  estate,  and  limits  the  value  of  that  estate  for  this  distri- 
bution, to  one  hundred  pounds.  The  third,  provides  for  the  payment  of  public 
charges,  for  five  years,  by  a  tax  upon  the  meadows.  The  fourth,  requires  every 
person  who  shall  take  up  allotments  within  four  years  from  the  date  of  the 
"Articles"  to  build  "  a  good,  substantial  dwelling  house,  at  least  eighteen  feet 
long,  sixteen  wide,  and  nine  feet  between  Joynts  "  with  a  good  chimney. 

The  fifth,  requires  the  fourth  article  to  be  complied  with  in  every  particular, 
under  penalty  of  loss  of  the  allotments — buildings  excepted — and  the  return  of  the 
allotments  to  the  committee  for  future  bestowment  upon  a  more  complying  inhab- 
itant. The  sixth,  requires  the  possessor  of  an  allotment— he  having  built  his  house — 
to  take  up  his  personal  residence  in  it  as  an  inhabitant  within  the  four  specified  years. 
If  a  man  failed  to  perform  his  duty  in  building  and  occupying,  he  was  to  forego  not 
only  his  allotments,  but  his  lands  also.  It  is  supposed  that  this  failure  operated  to 
shut  him  out  from  any  further  rights  in  the  township,  notwithstanding  any  pur- 
chase money  he  had  paid.  The  seventh  requirement  is,  that  a  man,  having  built 
his  house,  must  live  in  it  four  years  before  coming  to  the  full  ownership  of  it,  or 

*At  the  time  when  Mattatuck  became  a  plantation  the  eastern  portion  of  Long  Island  was  nnder  the 
Jurisdiction  of  Connectlcnt  Colony. 


13° 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


This  paper  was  prepared  by  Major  Talcott  and  delivered  to  the 
men  of  Mattatuck,  and  is  a  copy  of  the  original  manuscript  with 
its  autograph  signatures,  which  was  undoubtedly  returned  to  the 
General  Court.     The  illustrations  show  that  it  was  written  upon 


■'*-i- 


v_.^:^^3M.i^^'^^S^^ 


j.       .     —  •*  .-41: 1,  ^./-,6,      ^* — r,« 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  131 

three  sheets  of  paper,  which  were  afterward  made  one  by  sewing 
the  parts  together.  At  the  fourth  article  the  stitches  are  taken 
with  a  red  worsted  cord  which  has  kept  its  color  well  for  nearly 
two  hundred  and  twenty  years.  At  the  sixth  and  seventh  articles 
it  is  again  sewed  by  brown  linen  thread.  The  document  entire  is 
a  little  less  than  a  yard  in  length.  It  has  been  bound  in  glass  and 
framed,  and  will  be  handed  down  to  the  care  of  coming  genera- 
tions. The  third  page  of  the  illustration  shows  the  reverse.  The 
writing  upon  it,  except  the  signatures,  is  that  of  John  Wadsworth. 

The  document  was  found  in  1890,  together  with  other  orders 
relating  to  the  settlement.  This  discovery  included  two  of  the 
Indian  deeds  of  the  township;  the  original  lay-out  of  the  three 
acre  lots,  and  a  very  valuable  paper  relating  to  the  houses  of  1681. 
They  were  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  D.  Kingsbury,  on  North 
Main  street,  in  Waterbury.  Soon  after  the  decease  of  that  gentle- 
man, his  son.  Honorable  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury,  sent  this  docu- 
ment to  the  writer,  and  the  finding  of  it  led  to  the  examination  of 
thousands  of  papers  that  were  in  the  same  house.  The  older 
papers  had  been  handed  down  from  one  town  clerk  to  another, 
until,  in  1793,  the  inheritance  fell  upon  John  Kingsbury.  He  was 
then  a  young  man  of  thirty-one  years.  During  a  life-time  of 
official  service,  from  town  clerk  to  presiding  judge  of  New  Haven 
County  Court,  Judge  Kingsbury  had  accumulated  many  valuable 
documents,  all  of  which  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  writer,  to 
the  very  great  advantage  of  this  work.  When  Dr.  Henry  Bronson 
prepared  his  history  of  the  town  he  was  without  the  valuable 
assistance  thus  acquired.  A  comparison  of  the  original  paper 
here  represented  with  the  version  of  it  as  rendered  by  the  recorder 
of  the  period  and  faithfully  reproduced  by  Dr.  Bronson  will  result 
to  the  advantage  of  Major  Talcott's  paper.  The  recorder  for 
Waterbury  omitted  the  name  of  one  signer,  that  of  Benjamin 
Judd,  thus  making  it  appear  that  the  signers  of  1674  were  thirty 
in  number,  instead  of  thirty-one. 

This  paper  is  not  only  important  in  itself,  but  is  noteworthy  as 
the  only  one  to  which  the  autograph  of  every  member  of  the  com- 
mittee is  attached,  and  also  as  the  only  one  that  has  been  found 
relating  to  Mattatuck  during  the  first  three  years  of  its  existence 
as  a  plantation.  We  are  thus  left  without  direct  evidence  of  what 
was  achieved  in  the  year  1674,  and  that  part  of  1675  before  the 
inhabitants  were  ordered  away.  We  know  from  subsequent  events 
and  recorded  references,  that  the  beautiful  ridge  of  high  land  that 
we  still  call  Town  Plot,  was  the  chosen  town  site.  It  was  selected 
by  the  committee  to  view  the  lands,  and  approved  by  the  commit- 


132  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURY. 

tee  to  order  the  plantation.  From  the  "Articles  of  Agreement," 
we  naturally  infer  that  eight-acre  house  lots  were  allotted  to  the 
subscribers,  but  even  this  ample  provision  may  have  been  modi- 
fied in  order  to  bring  the  habitations  into  more  immediate  neigh- 
borhood. These  house  lots  we  are  told,  were  laid  out  on  either 
side  of  a  highway.  That  there  was  a  highway  extending  north 
and  south  through  the  old  Town  Plot  we  know,  and  we  know  that 
its  width  as  originally  laid  out  was  264  feet.  This  we  learn  by  a 
subsequent  order  for  its  reduction  to  two  rods.  This  was  after  the 
town  site  had  been  chosen  on  the  cast  side  of  the  river,  in  1677. 
It  was  after  that  time  often  called  the  "town  spot,"  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  town  plot. 

We  are  left  with  little  knowledge  of  the  achievements  of  our 
fathers  during  the  period  between  June  6th,  1674,  and  the  tenth 
month  of  the  year  1677.  Tradition  points  her  finger  to  the  hill  on 
which  the  Waterbury  Hospital  stands,  as  the  site  of  certain  cellars 
which  the  men  of  Farmington  digged  in  its  eastward  declivity  for 
protection  during  their  first  winter  here.  It  has  long  been  believed 
that  men  spent  that  winter  at  or  near  the  point  where  Sled  Hall 
Brook  flows  into  the  river.  The  finding  of  Indian  arrow-heads  at 
this  place  suggests  that  wigwams 
|^^^**"7*"     '  /"F^^     may  have  been  there  also.     Sled 

^riit''     '  ■■  '■'       I    ^^"  Brook  might  tell  us  that  it 

':;.a;-.-       1    ran  a  saw-mill  that  first  winter, 
-"■    '        ;■    but  its  voice  has  departed  with  its 
;    falling   waters,  and  we   listen   in 
J    vain   at    the   closed    door   of   the 
past, 

1  '  Leaving  tradition,  we   do  not 

■  .       ■  '    know    how   many   of    the   thirty- 

one  men  presented  themselves  to 
]    accept    house    lots ;     neither    do 
,    we   know   how  many  habitations 
r  **  i!    graced  Town  Plot  in  1674  and  1675. 

t-~  i    Whatever  was  done  at  that  time 

L' .  :    i:|   :     has  been  utterly  lost   to  us;   but 

Cr'"'!."  '    ''   I     the  finding  of  the   orders  of  the 

f  __.  i     committee  for   1677   affords   us  a 

S^\  "  '  l^    bit  of  material  on  which  to  specu- 

""^^  late  in  house  lots.    On  the  back  of 

'"" "'"''  '^""'' '"'"'''''  the   order   to  reduce   the   dimen- 

sions of  the  highway  on  "Old  Town  Plotf  is  traced  what  appears 
to  be  the  lay-out  of  the  original  town  or  village,  and  we  may  accept 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION,  133 

it  with  more  or  less  uncertainty.  It  certainly  is  not  the  new  town 
spot  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Fifty-two  years  later,  when 
these  old  eight-acre  house  lots  came  in  question  and  they  were  to 
be  looked  up  and  laid  out  anew,  we  find  "  that  it  was  by  vote  agreed 
that  if  the  committee  for  the  old  Town  Plot  lots  can  not  find  all 
the  old  Town  Plot  lots  for  all  the  original  proprietors,  those  that 
aire  wanting  may  have  liberty  to  take  them  up  in  the  undivided 
lands."  If  we  rely  upon  the  house  lots,  as  plotted  on  the  back  of 
the  order,  we  shall  at  once  see  that  the  whole  number  of  sub- 
scribers does  not  appear  to  be  represented.  There  is  a  highway, 
on  one  side  of  which  nine  lots  of  varying  size  are  outlined,  with 
eight  on  its  opposite  side.  At  either  end  of  this  highway  are 
transverse  ways,  on  one  of  which  we  find  five  lots,  on  the  other 
three,  making  twenty -five  in  all;  thus  intimating  that  twenty- 
five  of  the  original  proprietors  made  some  progress  in  building 
on  the  original  town  site,  before  the  inhabitants  were  ordered 
away  in  1675. 

One  word  or  more  may  be  allowed  just  here  regarding  the  gen- 
eral condition  of  the  colony  at  the  time  Mattatuck  had  its  first 
beginning;  for  it  seems  to  have  had  two  distinct  entrances  upon 
plantation  life,  the  first  in  1674,  the  second  in  1677. 

The  year  1674  was  a  period  exceptionally  free  from  disturbance 
in  colonial  life  in  New  England.  The  treaty  of  peace  had  been 
signed  between  England  and  the  States  General  of  the 
United  Netherlands,  by  which  New  York  had  been  restored  to  the 
English.  Major  Andros  did  not  arrive  in  New  York— to  begin  dis- 
turbances and  claim  jurisdiction,  for  the  Duke  of  York,  over  all  the 
region  to  the  Connecticut  River— until  November  in  that  year,  and 
he  waited  until  the  May  following  to  demand  surrender  of  the  ter- 
ritory. The  growth  of  towns  in  the  colony  was  extremely  grati- 
fying. So  quiet  and  peaceful,  comparatively  speaking,  was  the 
country  that  there  seems  to  have  been  no  occasion  for  the  meeting 
of  the  authorities  between  May  and  October,  and,  when  the  last 
Wednesday  in  that  month  was  appointed  "  to  be  kept  as  a  day  of 
publique  Thanksgiving  throughout  the  colony  to  prayse  God  for 
the  continuance  of  His  mercy  and  goodness  to  the  English  nation," 
thanks  were,  to  be  given  "  for  freedom  from  the  dangers  of  war 
which  did  surround  them,  for  the  enjoyment  of  God's  holy  word 
and  ordinances  with  peace,  for  health,  which  had  been  continued 
in  the  plantation,  and  for  the  comfortable  harvest  the  Lord  had 
been  pleased  to  grant  them."  All  the  business  before  this  court 
related  to  matters  of  peace.  Time  was  found  even  for  establish- 
ing a  table  of  rates  for  post-riders  and  their  expenses  throughout 


134  HISTORY  OF  WAIERBURT. 

the  colony,  with  Hartford  as  the  hub  of  the  wheel.  Under  such 
circumstances  can  we  suppose  that  the  best  blood  in  Farmington 
would  remain  idle  in  Waterbury?  that  no  sounds  of  the  builder 
were  heard  on  Town  Plot  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  one 
year  and  the  summer  of  another  year  ? 

That  the  town  was  in  building^  in  May  of  1675,  appears  from  the 
action  of  the  Court  on  the  petition  of  Joseph  Hawkins  and  John 
Hull,  of "  Pagawsett,"  that  "Pawgasuck"  (Derby),  might  be  made 
a  Plantation.  In  view  of  the  facts  as  given  by  them  to  the  General 
Court — **  that  about  twelve  families  were  settled  there  already,  and 
more,  to  the  number  of  eleven,  were  preparing  for  settlement 
forthwith;  that  the  people  had  engaged  a  minister  to  settle 
amongst  them  speedily,  and  had  expended  about  one  hundred 
pounds  in  preparing  a  house  for  him  " — the  court  was  induced  to 
look  with  favor  upon  the  petition,  reserving  to  itself  the  power  to 
settle  the  bounds  of  the  place  "  so  as  may  be  most  accommodating 
and  least  inconvenient  to  the  said  Pawgasuck  and  the  new  town 
goeing  up  at  Mattatocky 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1675,  began  the  first  war  between  Indi- 
ans and  Englishmen,  with  "  King  Philip "  of  Rhode  Island,  who 
was  said  to  be  the  son  of  Miantonomah,  and  the  grandson  of 
Massasoit,  as  the  generally  accredited  aggressor.  It  was  marked 
at  every  step  by  horrors  and  cruelties  that  can  never  be  forgotten 
so  long  as  the  meaning  of  the  word  war  is  retained  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  an  Englishman.  Massachusetts  is  to  this  day  monumented 
with  memories  of  it.  No  pen  needs  to  trace  anew  the  story,  from 
the  day  in  June,  when  Philip,  roused  to  anger  by  the  execution  of 
three  of  his  friends  by  the  English,  because  of  their  murder  of  an 
Indian  Missionary,  marched  out  from  his  fortress  on  Mount  Hope, 
near  Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  fell  upon  the  little  company  at  "  Swansey," 
in  Plymouth  Colony,  down  to  the  date  of  his  death,  in  August,  of 
the  following  year.  On  the  first  day  of  July  the  news  reached 
Hartford  of  the  attack  upon  Swansea.  Measures  were  at  once 
taken  to  send  thirty  dragoons  and  ten  troopers  to  aid  in  the 
defence  of  Stonington  and  New  London.  The  men  were  raised 
out  of  the  three  original  towns,  and  Nicholas  Olmstead  was  com- 
missioned as  their  lieutenant.  They  set  forth  at  a  day's  notice. 
Word  was  hurried  down  the  way  to  New  Haven,  and  ordered  to  be 
sent  on  to  all  the  towns  lying  on  the  sea  coast,  that  "  the  Indians 
were  up  in  arms  in  Plimouth  and  in  the  Narrogancett  Country; 
that  they  had  assaulted  the  English;  slain  about  thirty;  burnt 
some  houses,  and  that  they  were  engaging  the  Indians  round  about 
by  sending  locks  of  some  English  that  they  had  slain,  from  one 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION, 


135 


place  to  another."  To  add  to  the  intricate  situation,  Governor 
Andros  arrived  with  two  sloops  at  Saybrook.  He  was  come 
ostensibly  to  make  a  visit,  and  to  give  aid,  but  everything  in  the 
way  of  usurpation  was  momentarily  expected  from  him  and  his 
forces.  The  utmost  of  delicate  and  firm  diplomacy  was  required. 
The  council  and  the  commander,  Captain  Thomas  Bull,  proved  equal 
to  the  occasion,  and  after  some  expressive  words  and  impressive 
ceremonies  between  the  parties  of  both  parts,  Governor  Andros 
made  a  formal  departure  without  having  forcibly  carried  out  his 
supposed  right,  which  was  to  take  possession  of  the  territory  lying 
west  of  the  Connecticut  River,  for  the  Duke  of  York. 

That  the  Pequot  Indians,  west  of  the  Mystic  River,  remained 
friendly  to  the  English  in  this  war,  may  have  been  largely  owing 
to  a  fact  that  seems  to  have  been  lost  sight  of.  Only  two  months 
before  the  contest  began,  the  government  of  that  tribe  had  been 
duly  organized  by  Connecticut;  a  code  of  laws  drawn  up,  under 
which  they  were  required  to  live,  and  the  government  placed  in 
the  hands  of  an  Indian  governor  with  an  associate  and  two  Indian 
assistants.  For  the  support  of  this  government,  largely  instituted 
by  our  Major  Talcott,  whose  laws  are  extremely  interesting  and 
suggestive,  "each  Indian  man  above  sixteen  years  of  age,  was  to 
contribute  annually  five  shillings  in  current  Indian  pay."  This 
revenue  to  the  governing  Indians,  doubtless  played  an  important 
part  in  keeping  the  peace.  Governor  Cassicinamon  was  wily 
enough  to  beg  that  the  Indians,  whom  he  was  to  govern,  should 
not  be  informed  of  his  own  interest  in  the  income,  thus  acquired. 

"About  I  in  the  morning  of  August  fifth,  1675,  the  Council," 
consisting  of  Governor  Winthrop,  Major  Talcott,  Captain  Allen 
and  three  other  gentlemen,  was  called  together.  A  messenger 
had  arrived  in  Hartford  with  thrilling  tidings.  Less  than  forty 
miles  away,  at  Quabaug,  now  Brookfield,  one  of  the  most  stirring 
events  of  the  war  had  taken  place.  The  Indians,  in  pursuit  of 
fleeing  victims  had  entered  the  town — ^but  we  all  know  the  story! 
We  learned  it  in  childhood.  We  almost  know  that  house  by  sight 
— the  large  one  on  the  hill — into  which  all  the  village  folk  are 
fled.  We  enter  with  them,  and  for  two  long  days  watch  and  wait, 
while  all  around  us  houses  burn,  until  this  one  in  which  we  crouch 
is  the  only  one  left  in  the  town.  We  hear,  are  forced  to  hear,  the 
piercing  in  of  the  musket  balls  that  pelt  the  house,  for  the  Indians 
have  muskets  now!  We  are  made  to  feel  the  flash  of  fiery  brands 
hurled  upon  roof  and  clapboard,  to  catch  the  fumes  of  sulphur,  as 
rags  dipped  in  brimstone  stifle  the  air  they  aje  tossed  through. 
We  dart  back  from  the  fire-tipped  arrows  that  are  shot  against  it. 


136  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERS URT. 

We  are  even  compelled  to  watch  with  well  nigh  fatal  fascination 
that  cart^  while  Indians  lade  it  with  flax  and  tow  until  it  can  hold 
no  more;  while  they  throw  on  the  flaming  torch  and  thrust  for- 
ward the  fiery  load  that  strikes  the  house  with  a  burning  thud;  to 
know,  at  last,  that  the  house  is  kindling!  Shall  we  stay  to  burn,  or 
open  that  door  and  rush  forth  to  meet  three  hundred  foes,  every 
one  of  whom  has  heard  the  story  of  the  burning  of  his  Indian 
fathers  in  swamp  and  fort  by  Englishmen  ?  While  we  hesitate,  the 
**  heavens  are  opened,"  the  floods  descend,  the  fire  is  quenched, 
help  cometh,  and  we  are  saved! 

It  was  after  Hadley,  Deerfield  and  Northfield  had  been 
attacked  ;  after  the  seventy  young  men  from  Essex  county,  con- 
veying grain  from  Deerfield  to  Hadley,  had  been  surrounded  and 
slain  while  gathering  grapes  at  Muddy  Brook,  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing force  of  nearly  eight  hundred  Indians;  after  thirty  houses  had 
been  burned  at  Springfield,  that  advice  "  to  be  observed  '*  came 
from  the  General  Court.  The  inciting  cause  for  this  advice  was  a 
letter  received  from  Governor  Andros  of  New  York.  It  was  writ- 
ten October  loth,  and  informed  the  Council  that  an  Indian,  profess- 
ing friendship  for  Englishmen,  had  given  warning  that  the  Con- 
necticut Indians  planned  to  attack  Hartford  during  the  "  light 
moon "  of  October.  Governor  Andros  received  this  news  in  the 
morning  and  hurried  it  off  by  post.  He  added  to  it  the  report 
that  other  towns  between  Hartford  and  Greenwich  were  in  the 
same  danger,  and  that  between  five  and  six  thousand  Indians  were 
**  engaged  together"  to  make  the  attacks.  The  urgency  of  this  let- 
ter is  well  expressed  by  its  inscription.  After  the  usual  address 
to  Deputy  Governor  Leete,  Governor  Andros  added,  *'  to  be  forth- 
with posted  up  to  the  Court,  post,  haste,  post — night  and  daye." 
This  letter  confirmed  fears  that  were  already  in  force  because  of 
the  war-like  demonstrations  in  Connecticut's  own  towns.  The 
Indians  of  Milford  made  complaints  of  hard  treatment,  and  even 
the  Paugasuck  Indians  of  Derby  "  were  prepared  with  their  arms 
in  a  hostile  manner."  This  had  so  alarmed  the  inhabitants  that 
the  Council  was  appealed  to  for  advice.  The  Court  had  already 
advised  the  inhabitants  "to  remove  their  women  and  children; 
their  best  goods  and  their  corn — what  they  could  of  it — to  some 
bigger  town  that  had  a  better  capacity  to  defend  itself,"  and  had 
given  the  same  counsel  to  all  small  places  and  farms  throughout 
the  Colony. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  letter  advice  crystallized  into  law. 
Under  the  impression  of  imminent  danger,  the  Council  set  forth  in 
crisp  language  the  well  nigh  defenceless  condition  of  all  the  plan- 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  137 

tations,  and  ordered  each  one  to  make  places  of  defence  and 
appoint  room  in  them  for  the  women  and  children,  and  others  not 
able  to  help  themselves,  to  repair  into  in  case  of  assault.  It 
ordered  all  weak  places  and  out-livers  on  farms  speedily  to  remove, 
with  the  best  of  their  estates,  to  places  of  the  most  hopeful 
security.  This  order  was  issued  October  14,  1675.  Treaties  were 
at  once  formed  with  the  Indians  of  Hartford,  Farmington, 
Wethersfield,  and  Middletown.  The  Indians  were  to  set  their 
wigwams  where  ordered,  that  they  might  be  kept  under  the  watch 
and  ward  of  the  respective  towns.  This  was  done  to  prevent  their 
departure  to  join  hostile  tribes  or  to  do  injury  to  Englishmen,  and 
also  to  prevent  any  cause  of  offence  that  might  be  offered  to  them 
by  white  men.  At  Hartford,  a  list  of  every  Indian  man,  woman 
and  child  was  taken.  When  the  night  watch  went  on  duty,  each 
Indian  answered  to  the  roll-call.  When  the  ward  began  in  the  day 
the  list  was  handed  over  to  the  warders,  and  each  made  answer 
again  to  the  name  on  the  roll.  No  Indian  could  be  abroad  after 
night  fall,  neither  could  he  be  absent,  except  by  ticket  of  leave, 
unless  accompanied  by  an  inhabitant. 

We  naturally  infer  that  it  was  at  this  time,  and  consequent 
upon  the  order  recited,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Mattatuck  took  the 
Council's  warning.  We  know  that  the  men  of  Woodbury  returned 
to  Stratford,  their  old  home,  and  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  many  of  them  were  persuaded  to  return  to  the  wilderness 
when  the  war  was  ended.  A  considerable  number  of  the  then 
planters  of  Mattatuck  still  held  home  lots  and  houses  in  Farming- 
ton.  No  written  evidence  of  the  fact  has  been  found  by  the 
writer,  but  it  seems  almost  necessarily  true  that  the  "  new  town 
going  up  at  Mattatuck "  ceased  in  its  building;  that  its  dwellers 
left  their  houses  on  our  Town  Plot,  crossed  the  river  near  Sled 
Hall  Brook,  followed  the  raised  roadway,  still  apparent,  leading 
from  that  point  across  the  meadows  to  Willow  street,  and  thence 
took  their  way  by  "  the  Watterbury  path "  to  Farmington.  This 
discouragement  must  have  fallen  heavily  upon  the  little  band  of 
workers,  that  doubtless  was  compelled  to  leave  certain  of  its  num- 
ber to  gather  in  the  Indian  and  English  corn  and  convey  it  to  the 
nearest  place  of  safety.  Wallingford  was  at  the  time  the  nearest 
place  of  safety,  as  there  were  garrison  houses  there. 

Other  orders  soon  followed.  Simsbury  was  given  but  one  week 
to  remove  in — Hartford,  New  Haven  and  other  towns  that  could 
do  so  were  enjoined  to  fortify.  They  were  "  to  compleat  and  lyne 
their  stockadoes  and  flanckers  with  a  ditch  and  breast  worke — that 
persons  might  have  recourse  to  them  to  annoy  and  withstand  ene- 


138  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

mies,  and  all  men's  courage  more  animated  and  emboldened  to  do 
their  dutys."  Milford  gave  the  Council  some  concern.  The  peo- 
ple there  differed  in  the  matter  of  their  fortifications.  They  had 
trouble  also  with  their  Indian  neighbors,  these  not  keeping  within 
the  bounds  prescribed,  "  and  the  people  of  Milford  wishing  to  deal 
with  them  as  enemies."  The  Council,  without  a  day's  delay,  posted 
off  a  letter  to  Mr.  Alexander  Bryan  of  that  town,  desiring  him  to 
cause  "all  the  people  to  carry  so  tenderly  towards  the  Indians  that 
they  may  not  receive  any  just  provocation  to  stir  them  up  against 
us,"  adding :  "  We  have  enemies  enough,  and  let  us  not  by  any 
harsh  dealing  stir  up  more  yet !  Let  us  walk  wisely  and  warily, 
that  God  may  be  with  us." 

The  necessity  for  a  standing  army  caused  an  order  to  be  issued 
in  May  of  1676  for  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  be  raised  as  the 
standing  army  of  the  colonies.  How  many  men  of  the  Mattatuck 
of  1674  and  1675,  beside  Timothy  Standly  and  John  Bronson,  were 
volunteers  in  the  companies  that  went  forth  to  battle  with  the 
enemy,  and  were  to  have  all  the  plunder  that  they  could  seize; 
"both  of  persons,  corn  or  estate,"  the  only  condition  being  that 
"authority  should  have  the  first  tender  of  their  dispose  of  captives, 
allowing  them  the  market  price,"  or  how  many  of  their  number 
were  pressed  into  the  more  regular  service  has  not  been  learned.* 
Farmington  was  largely  represented  in  this  war,  more  than  fifty 
men  being  demanded  of  her;  and  once,  at  least,  she  was  warned, 
by  post,  to  stand  upon  guard  for  her  own  defence. 

We  learn,  with  interest,  the  effect  that  this  war  had  upon  one 
of  the  thirty-one  men  of  Mattatuck  in  determining  his  future  resi- 
dence. John  Judd  and  John  Hawkins  were  the  sons  respectively 
of  the  Deacon  Thomas  Judd  and  the  Anthony  Hawkins  who  had 
grants  of  four  hundred  acres  in  1661.  John  Judd  had  married  Ruth 
Hawkins,  a  sister  of  John  Hawkins,  and  the  latter,  when  about  to 
go  forth  with  the  army,  made  a  will,  from  which  I  quote : 

THIS   FOR   MY   BROTHER,    JOHN   JUDD. 

January  the  nth,  1676. 

These  may  inform  you  and  those  whom  it  may  concern  that  if  the  providence  of 
God  shall  so  order  it  that  I  fall  on  the  field  and  loose  my  life,  or  miscarry  any  other 
way  before  I  come  home,  that  the  small  estate  that  God  hath  given  me  shall  be 
disposed  as  is  here  mentioned. 

To  his  nephew,  the  four-year  old  child  of  John  Judd  and  his 
sister  Ruth,  he  gave  his  house  and  home-lot,  together  with  other 


^  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  in  Hartford,  December  5th,  1676,  there  was  granted  to  John  Bronson  of 
Farmington,  the  sum  of  five  pounds  **  as  reparation  for  his  wounds  and  damage  received  thereby,  and  qoar- 
teridg  and  halfe  pay  to  the  first  of  this  present  month.'*  To  Timothy  Standly,  there  was  granted  a  soldier's 
lot.    There  were  three  John  Bronsons  in  Farmington. 


MATT4TUCK  A8  A  PLANTATION.  139 

lands,  when  he  should  be  twenty-one  years  of  age.  (In  this  will 
the  child  is  called  the  "cousin  "  of  the  testator).  During  the  inter- 
vening seventeen  years,  the  benefits  arising  from  house  and  lands 
were  to  be  held  by  John  Judd.  That  John  Hawkins  fell  in  battle, 
or  soon  died,  is  apparent  from  the  date  of  the  inventory  of  his 
estate,  which  is  September  fifth,  of  the  same  year.  Thus,  we 
account  in  part — the  removal  of  Deacon  Thomas  Judd  to  Hadley 
in  1679  being  an  additional  motive — for  the  fact  that  John  Judd 
never  came  to  build  on  and  occupy  the  house  lot  of  two  acres 
extending  along  the  west  side  of  Bank  street,  from  the  "Green," 
nearly  to  the  Waterbury  Bank,  which  was  duly  assigned  to  him. 

As  we  hasten  on,  this  not  being  in  any  wise  an  outline  of  the 
war,  we  turn  most  willingly  away  from  all  the  horrors  of  the  win- 
try march  of  near  two  thousand  Englishmen  with  their  faithful 
Indian  allies,  and  its  outcome,  in  the  greatest  of  all  the  swamp 
fort-fights,  that  of  Narragansett,  and  come  to  the  close  of  the 
conflict,  making  mere  mention  of  the  fact  that  throughout  King 
Philip's  war,  the  most  careful,  earnest  and  painstaking  efforts 
were  made,  first  and  last,  by  the  General  Court,  and  the  Council  to 
"conciliate,  pacificate,  and  well  treat"  the  Indians  within  their 
borders.  The  safety  of  the  colonists  at  home,  depended  on  keep- 
ing their  Indian  neighbors  "contented  in  their  minds,"  and  in  gen- 
eral, success  attended  their  efforts.  When  subject  to  the  rigors  of 
long  marches,  taken  in  cold  and  hunger,  their  Indian  allies  were, 
seemingly,  if  not  in  fact,  treated  with  greater  consideration  than 
were  the  colonists  themselves;  so  fearful  were  they  of  losing  their 
dusky  friends.  The  Court  entreated  her  children  in  all  the  towns 
to  come  to  some  agreement  with  their  neighbor  Indians,  by  which 
they  might  be  able  to  distinguish  them  from  the  enemy,  and  "not 
to  put  them  upon  any  unrighteous  and  intolerable  terms,  to  be 
observed,  least  trouble  break  out  to  the  country  thereby."  Connec- 
ticut colony  lost  few  of  its  inhabitants  within  her  own  bounds.  A 
man  named  Kirby  was  killed,  between  Middletown  and  Wethers- 
field,  by  five  Indians.  Near  Windsor,  G.  Elmore  was  slain.  Henry 
Denslow,  William  Hill,  and  perhaps  others,  fell  victims  to  Indian 
warfare.  When  Cohause,  an  Indian,  who  was  taken  prisoner  by 
Indians,  between  Milford  and  New  Haven,  was  examined  before 
the  Council,  at  Hartford,  he  admitted  his  knowledge  of  and  parti- 
cipation in  most  of  the  above  murders.  As  "a  child  of  death,  the 
council  sentenced  him  to  suffer  the  pains  and  terrors  of  death." 
His  executioner  was  an  Indian. 

Although  it  has  been  intimated  that  this  war  ended  with  the 
death  of  King  Philip,  it  kept  its  active  life  long  past  that  event. 


I40  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

Hatfield  and  Deerfield  receiving  "  visits  from  fugitive  Indians  in 
September  of  1677.  They  burned,  it  is  said,  seven  houses,  took 
captive  twenty-four  inhabitants,  and  killed,  at  Hatfield,  several 
persons.  This  news  aroused  once  more  the  people  of  Connecticut. 
Post-riders  were  sent  forth;  towns  were  warned  to  put  themselves 
in  defensive  order;  Hartford  County  was  ordered  to  bake  one 
thousand  pounds  of  bread;  the  other  counties  five  hundred  each, 
and  hold  it  in  readiness  for  instant  use,  and  fifty  men  from  the 
triplet-towns  on  the  river  were  rushed  forth  to  Hatfield,  with 
horses,  long  arms  and  ammunition.  During  this  war,  horses  were 
comparatively  few  in  number,  and  the  prices  at  which  they  were 
held  were  very  high.  On  the  long  marches  the  proportion  of  horses 
to  men  was  about  one  to  three. 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  last  requisition  of  troops  that  was 
made.  Gradually  the  conflict  softened,  the  Indians  either  fied  to 
the  northward,  or  surrendered.  The  surrendering  Indians,  if  not 
proved  murderers,  were  to  "  have  their  lives  "  and  were  "  not  to  be 
sold  out  of  the  country  for  slaves,'*  but  all  persons  sixteen  years  of 
age  or  older  were  to  be  sold  for  servitude.  If  under  sixteen,  the 
time  of  such  servitude  was  to  extend  until  the  subject  of  it 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  If  over  sixteen,  the  time 
was  ten  years.  There  was  a  division  of  Indians  made  to  each 
county,  and  the  "  committee  men  "  were  to  divide  the  county  pro- 
portion, to  the  several  towns  in  that  county.  When  so  divided, 
the  Indians  were  offered  for  sale  in  each  town  unto  "  such  as  they 
thought  most  meet  to  educate  and  well  nurture  them,  at  such 
price  as  was  thought  equal."  Each  assistant  and  each  "  committee 
man  was  to  have  one  for  himself  freely."  The  prisoners  of  war 
were  otherwise  disposed  of.  Some  of  the  number  belonged  to  the 
captors;  others  were  bestowed  upon  "friend  Indians;"  and,  perhaps 
the  more  dangerous  sort,  were  sent  out  of  the  country  and  sold  into 
slavery.  Could  a  greater  hardship  befall  an  American  Indian — 
with  all  the  free-born  blood  of  the  forest  ranger  running  from 
heart  to  brain — than  to  be  made  a  slave  in  an  English  town,  even 
when  his  master  was  just  and  kind  ?  Our  Major  Talcott  had  one  of 
these  Indian  boys,  whom,  according  to  his  account  book,  now 
in  the  State  Library  at  Hartford,  he  bought  of  Mr.  Wolcott.  The 
Major  kept  a  little  account  in  his  "  waste  book  "  of  the  running 
away  of  this  Indian  boy,  that  well  illustrates  the  tendency  of  the 
Indian  to  roam  at  will,  and  we  give  it. 

January  1680,  Dick  was  gone  away  three  days. 

July  30,  168 1,  Dick  ran  away  at  the  time  of  Indian  Dance,  three  days  in  Harness 
expended  to  find  him. 

August  20,  ran  away  two  days. 


MATTATUCK  A8  A  PLANTATION,  141 

August  25,  Dick  ran  away  and  was  found  next  day  by  his  father,  being  but  one 
day,  found  at  Mr.  Lord's  bam. 

August  27,  Dick  ran  away  and  was  gone  six  days. 

September  13,  Dick  ran  away  with  his  father,  as  they  say,  went  up  to  the  West 
Mountain,  and  came  not  until  September  19th,  six  days  in  all.  Cost  me  one  way 
and  another  to  send  out  after  them  five  shillings. 

November  4th,  Dick  ran  way  four  days. 

November  15th  and  16,  Dick  ran  away  all  three  days,  and  was  off  and  on  in  the 
neck  of  land  where  was  a  Town  of  Indians,  and  his  father  brought  him,  after  much 
time  spent.     That  time.  I  was  at  charges  in  looking  after  him.  four  shillings. 

October  24th,  1684,  Dick  went  way  to  Simsbury  to  Seposs  his  wigwam.  The 
English  saw  him  and  advised  Sepos  to  bring  him  home,  but  I  sent  two  men  to 
search  after  him  and  they  brought  him  home  and  Sepos  came  with  them.  He  was 
gone  that  time  six  days  and  spoyled  his  cloathes  very  much  that  time.  The  charges 
in  looking  after  him  was  nine  shillings  that  I  was  out  of  purse. 

May  19,  1685.  Dick  went  away  again.  I  sent  to  Podunk  then,  as  I  always  did^ 
and  to  Farmington,  Weathersfield  and  Simsbury  as  my  manner  was  always  to  send 
around,  that  if  I  got  out  of  one  town,  he  would  be  taken  in  the  other  towns,  but 
Coakham  seieed  him  on  the  East  side  of  the  Great  River  and  brought  him  home. 
I  expended  in  my  search  for  him  that  time,  three  shillings  and  six  pence  and  he 
was  gone  bout  iive  days. 

But  the  crowning  aggravation  came  in  1687,  when,  "  Dick  ran 
away  in  hay  time  !  I  sent  a  man  to  Farmington  on  purpose  with 
letters  to  Mr.  Wadsworth  to  enquire  of  the  Indians,  and  to  Sims- 
bury, to  Weathersfield,  and  over  the  Great  River,  and  at  last  Mr. 
Hooker's  Indian  boys  brought  him  home,  who  was  gone  that  time 
five  days  and  the  charges  this  time  was  six  shillings."  This  run- 
ning account  of  Dick's  running  away  was  kept  with  a  legal  pur- 
pose. It  could  be  brought  up  against  him  at  the  end  of  his  ten 
years  of  service  and  would  prevent  his  release  from  servitude.  A 
glance  at  Dick's  "  wast "  book  for  the  other  side  of  his  account, 
though  earnestly  desired,  is  denied  to  us.  It  should  be  told  here 
that  Major  Talcott  had  the  power  to  sell  Dick,  as  a  captive,  to  be 
transported  out  of  the  country  for  his  running  away,  and  also 
that  each  Indian  who  returned  Dick  received  two  yards  of  cloth. 

We  have  made  no  attempt  to  give  even  an  outline  of  King 
Philip's  war.  Connecticut  disclaimed  all  responsibility  for  it,  but 
she  suffered  from  it  in  untold  ways.  We  have  been  able  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  the  cost  of  it  to  Waterbury.  It  seems  to  have  cost  us 
the  loss  of  a  number  of  original  planters;  to  have  thrown  a  cloud 
of  discouragement  over  the  enterprise  that  was  many  years  in  lift- 
ing; to  have  added  greatly  to  the  burdens  of  those  who  had 
the  moral  and  physical  courage  to  continue  the  work— begun 
so  auspiciously  and  interrupted  at  the  vital  point;  and  finally,  to 
have  thrown  our  town  so  out  of  line  with  progress  at  its  very 
beginning,  and  dwarfed  it  so  completely  that  it  was  thrown  back 


142  EISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

for  several  generations  to  rely  solely  upon  self -effort  under  most 
discouraging  conditions.  Waterbury's  position  to-day  among  towns 
is  that  of  a  "  self-made  "  town.  Let  us  think  thoughtfully  of  these 
things  in  her  history;  let  us  give  credit  where  credit  is  due;  for 
the  natural  advantages  of  the  township  were  less  than  those  of 
any  one  of  the  towns  settled  at  an  early  date. 

Mattatuck  bore  her  early  trials  and  troubles  without  an  apparent 
moan.  Not  a  word  has  been  found  in  relation  to  the  sufferings  of 
her  people  during  King  Philip's  war.  Not  a  cry  for  aid  has  been 
heard.  Not  a  petition  for  redress  has  been  seen.  It  is  only  by 
looking  up  facts  that  tell  of  the  troubles  of  surrounding  towns  that 
we  can  throw  the  light  from  their  beacon  fires  of  distress  into  our 
plantation.  Is  it  probable  that  Mattatuck  escaped  the  experiences 
that  befell  Woodbury  and  Derby  ? 

There  is  at  Hartford  a  petition,  which  has  never  been  published, 
that  was  sent  up  in  relation  to  the  grievances  of  Woodbury  and 
Derby.  It  was  not  seen  until  after  the  chapter  relating  to  that  war 
was  in  print.  It  was  addressed  to  the  General  Court,  October  12, 
1676,  in  behalf  of  those  towns,  by  their  respective  ministers.  Rever- 
end Zachariah  Walker  and  Reverend  John  Bower.  The  writer  of 
the  petition  was  Mr.  Bower.     A  portion  of  it  only  is  here  given  : 

"  That  whereas  the  providence  of  God  hath  so  ordered  that  by 
meanes  of  late  troubles  brought  upon  the  country;  we  the  inhab- 
itants of  Woodbury  and  Derby  have  been  necessitated  to  remove 
from  our  dwellings,  and  a  more  favorable  aspect  of  Providence 
at  the  present  inviting  us  to  a  return,  and  the  necessity  of  many 
of  our  families  in  part  enforcing  it;  yet  forasmuch  as  we  can  not 
be  assured  but  the  like  danger  may  again  arise;  we  make  bold 
before  such  our  return  to  request  this  honored  Court  to  resolve  us 
in  our  important  inquiry,  viz. :  in  case  the  war  with  the  Indians 
should  be  again  renewed;  what  we  may  expect  and  trust  to  from 
the  authority  of  this  realm  in  order  to  our  protection  and  safety  ? 
We  humbly  request  that  this  our  inquiry  may  neither  be  judged 
offensive  nor  concluded  irrational  till  the  following  grounds  of  it 
be  considered. 

"  First,  we  cannot  be  insensible  of  our  former  experience  viz.,  that 
in  a  time  when  danger  threatened  the  loudest  and  our  two  planta- 
tions above  s*d  were  in  greatest  hazard,  we  were  not  only  without 
any  other  help  but  our  own  for  the  guarding  of  our  said  places,  but 
our  own  [men]  also,  which  were  indeed  too  few,  were  taken  from  us 
time  after  time,  being  pressed  from  the  sea  side  towns,  when  occa- 
sionally they  came  thither  about  necessary  business,  whereby  we 
had  more,  proportionable  to  our  numbers,  from  our  two  plantations. 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION. 


143 


imployed  in  the  publick  service  than  (we  suppose)  any  other  town 
of  the  colony :  And  as  by  that  means  we  were  forced  to  a  removall 
so  yt  we  had  not  the  least  benefit  of  any  guard  for  the  safety  of  our 
own  persons  or  goods.  Neither  can  we  be  insensible  how  unable  many 
persons  will  be,  after  a  second  remove  to  those  plantations,  without 
mine  to  their  families  to  return  again  to  these  their  plantations; 
partly  by  meanes  of  the  chargeableness  of  such  removes,  and  partly 
by  meanes  of  what  disappointments  we  have  already  met  with." 

The  letter  or  petition  then  defines  the  mutual  obligations  of  sub 
jects  and  rulers,  and  sets  forth  the  benefits  that  would  accrue  to 
New  Haven  and  Fairfield  counties  by  securing  the  plantations  of 
Woodbury  and  Derby,  and  adds,  "because  the  Indians  would  not 
set  upon  lower  plantations  until  they  had  attempted  those  above, 
and  if  they  fail  there,  they  will  be  the  more  shy  of  pounding  them- 
selves by  coming  lower.'* 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  during  the  period  just 
referred  to — in  1676— Ireland,  touched  by  the  story  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  her  English  brethren  in  New  England,  sent  a  gift  of  one 
thousand  pounds  for  their  relief.  It  is  called  in  the  records  the 
"Irish  Charity."  Massachusetts  caused  a  list  to  be  made  of  the 
suffering  families  within  her  own  borders  and  sent  for  correspond- 
ing lists  from  Plymouth  and  Connecticut.  A  list  from  Connecti- 
cut was  forwarded,  but  when  it  became  known  that  Massachusetts 
alone — with  twelve  towns  yet  to  hear  from — had  within  her  bor- 
ders six  hundred  and  sixty  families  that  were  in  absolute  distress, 
Connecticut,  like  the  brave  little  Colony  that  she  has  ever  been, 
remitted  all  her  right,  title  and  interest  in  the  "  Irish  Charity  "  to 
Plymouth,  and  Massachusetts  colonies.  Connecticut's  list,  if  in 
existence,  could  give  to  us  the  names  of  families  that  were  driven 
out  of  their  habitations;  the  owners  of  houses  that  were  burned, 
and  also  the  names  of  those  persons  and  families  that  were  sus- 
tained by  charity;  for  they  were  all  included  in  it. 


CHAPTER  X. 

MATTATUCK's  second  entrance  upon  plantation  life — A  NEW  TOWN 
SITE  CHOSEN — TRANSFER  OF  TITLE  TO  THE  PLANTERS — MAJOR 
TALCOTT'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  PURCHASE  OF  A  TOWNSHIP  FROM  THE 
INDIANS — A  GLANCE  AT  CONNECTICUT  COLONY  IN  THE  YEAR 
1679. 

THE  Committee  appointed  to  establish  the  plantation,  without 
doubt,  made  due  return  to  the  Court  of  its  acts  concerning 
our  town,  but  no  record  of  such  accounting-  has  been  found; 
whereas,  in  the  case  of  Derby  an  km  pie  and  minute  return  was  ren- 
dered, even  to  the  care  that  had  been  taken  in  providing  a  place  for 
yards,  where  goods  and  cattle  brought  to  the  ferry  from  Woodbury 
and  Mattatuck  might  be  stored.     This  was  accomplished  in  1676. 

Mattatuck's  second  entrance  upon  plantation  life  is  heralded  to 
us  by  the  announcement  of  a  meeting,  held  by  the  proprietors  in 
May,  1677.  They  assembled  to  discuss  the  question  that  had  arisen 
concerning  the  town  site.  "  Difficulty  "  was  recognized  in  setting  the 
town  where  it  was  then  laid  out.  No  hint  is  given  concerning  the 
nature  of  this  "difficulty."  Dr.  Bronson  has  suggested  that  it  may 
have  arisen  from  the  desire  to  be  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  with 
their  Farmington  friends,  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  Indians; 
from  the  difficulty  of  access  from  the  east,  both  for  themselves  and 
their  harvests,  and  from  the  fact  that  to  Farmington  they  must 
resort  "for  the  regular  ministrations  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel." 
All  these  things  must  have  received  due  consideration  when  the 
original  site  was  chosen,  and  the  conditions  seem  not  to  have 
changed,  except  that  the  danger  from  Indian  raids  had  increased; 
but  even  then,  Woodbury  was  nearer  to  them  on  the  west  and  Derby 
on  the  south  than  Farmington  was  on  the  north.  It  would  seem  that 
some  weightier  cause  than  all  these  causes  combined  had  arisen  to 
throw  discouragement  over  the  Town  Plot  enterprise,  and  very  natu- 
rally the  men  who  had  been  foremost  in  building  and  in  making 
improvements  on  the  hill  would  be  the  strong  objectors  to  the  change. 
Evidently  the  proprietors  were  not  of  one  mind,  for  they  left  the  mat- 
ter in  the  hands  of  a  committee,  and  chose  men  of  discretion  and 
years  to  decide  for  them.  These  men  were  "  Deacon  Judd,  John  Langh- 
ton,  Ser.,  John  Andrus,  Senr,  Goodman  Root,  and  John  Judd  and  Dan- 
iell  Porter."  They  were  to  view  and  consider  whether  it  would  "  not 
be  more  for  the  benefit  of  the  proprietors  in  general  to  set  the  town 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION, 


145 


on  the  east  side  of  the  river."  They  were,  in  so  doing,  to  content 
themselves  with  "less  home  lots.*'  Those  formerly  laid  outwore 
to  be  secured  to  them.  The  committee  was  instructed  in  the  follow 
ing  words,  which  it  may  be  noticed  differ  slightly  from  the  render- 
ing heretofore  given  :  "  provided  also  they  think  and  concede  it  so 
to  be,  to  advise  with  the  Grand  Committee,  and  in  conjunction  with 
them,  they  giving  liberty,  so  to  do."  Under  this  agreement,  the 
proprietors  promised  to  act  according  to  the  decision  of  the  com- 
mittee, "notwithstanding  what  is  already  done." 

If  we  could  cast  the  shadow  of  a  coming  event  in  the  right 
direction  we  might  throw  legal  light  on  the  change  of  site,  for 
at  the  session  of  the  General  Court  next  following,  it  was  ordered 
that  "for  the  future,  all  plantations   or  townships   that   shall  or 
may  settle  in  plantation-wise  shall  settle  themselves  in  such  near- 
ness together  that  they  may  be  a  help,  defence  and  succour  each 
to   other  against    any   surprize,   onset   or  attempt   of   any  comon 
enemie ;  and  the  General  Court  from  time  to  time  shall  appoynt 
some   committee   to  regulate   such   plantation   settlement  accord- 
ingly."   This  enactment  was  made  because  of  the  "woefull  experi- 
ence of  the  late  war,"  and  because  the  "  Providence  of  God  seemed 
to  testify  against  a  scattered  way  of  living,  as  contrary  to  religion." 
Each   family  upon   an   eight-acre   lot  would   necessarily  be  more 
remote  from   neighbors   than   the   same    family  upon   a  two-acre 
lot.     The  removal  to  a  plot  one  fourth  the  size  of  the  first  lay- 
out of  the  town  made  the  settlement  very  compact,  and  far  more 
capable  of  self-defence.      It  may  also  be  suggested  that,  as  more 
than   once   in   our  history.  Mad   River  has  played   an   important 
part,  it  also  became  a  factor  in  this  change.     The  corn  mill  was 
of  the  foremost  importance,  and  the  urgent  need  that  it  should 
be  near  by  the  house  lots  was  recognized.     The  excellent  natural 
advantages  which  Mad  River,  at  that  time  called  Roaring  River, 
possessed  as  a  mill-site  could  not  have  been  overlooked,  for  we 
very  soon  find  it  with  its  name  changed  to  Mill  River,  and  a  mill 
upon  it.     Our  authority  for  its  first  name  is  the  paper  on  which  is 
the  original  lay-out  of  the  three-acre  lots.     Three  of  the  lots  were 
laid  out  on  Roaring  River,  two  on  the  south  side  of  it,  and  one  on 
its  east  side. 

The  question  of  immediate  water  supply  determined  the  site  of 
all  or  nearly  all  early  homesteads.  We  find  that  through  the  acres, 
about  seventy-five  in  number,  that  comprised  the  second  town  plot, 
four  streams  coursed  their  way.  Great  Brook  and  Little  Brook 
passed  through  the  house  lots  that  lined  the  east  side  of  Bank  and 
North  Main  streets.     The  West  Main  street  habitations  were  sup- 


lO 


146  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

plied  by  the  considerable  rivulet  that  came  down  from  the  north- 
ern highlands  east  of  present  Central  avenue,  and  by  another 
stream  that  came  from  the  westward.  Both  streams  crossed  West 
Main  street  near  the  site  of  St.  John's  Church,  uniting  on  its  south- 
ern side.  From  that  point  the  brook  flowed  westward  through  sev- 
eral house  lots  on  its  way,  by  meadow  and  cove,  to  the  Great  River.* 
The  chosen  spot  was  sufficiently  well  watered  to  supply  to  the 
town  even  its  name  "  Watterbury." 

The  next  ray  of  light  concerning  the  settlement  falls  upon  it 
four  months  later  through  an  Indian  deed.  The  Assembly's  Com- 
mittee transfers  the  title — Major  Talcott  alone  signing  the  deed — 
to  a  tract  of  land  ten  miles  in  length  from  north  to  south,  and  six 
in  breadth,  to  "  Thomas  Judd,  John  Stanley,  Samuel  Hikcox  and 
Abraham  Bronson,  inhabitants  of  Mattatuck."  As  it  names  the 
above  men  and  refers  to  the  remainder  of  the  company  in  the 
words,  **  and  to  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  belonging  to  the  said  Mat- 
tatuck,"  a  fair  inference  is  that  in  September,  1677,  the  four  men 
named  were  already  housed  in  the  new  plantation.  Concerning 
this  deed,  we  learn  that  the  proprietors  of  Mattatuck  paid  the  com- 
mittee thirty-eight  pounds,  "in  hand  received,  or  security  suffi- 
ciently given  for  payment  thereof.*'  The  Indian  side  of  this  sale 
does  not  appear  in  manuscript,  but  we  get  light  on  the  possible 
means  used  in  the  purchase  of  Mattatuck  lands  from  the  following 
items,  found  in  the  account  book  of  Major  Talcott,  which  relate  to 
his  purchase  of  the  township  of  Simsbury.  It  is  probable  that 
similar  tact  and  wiles,  and  Trucking  cloath  Coats,  meat,  bread, 
beer  and  cider,  Indian  corn,  and  a  shilling  in  money,  played 
their  part  in  the  acquiring  of  our  township — Major  Talcott  being 
the  purchaser  of  both  townships.  The  account  is  in  his  hand 
writing. 

1682. 

May  15  :  Simsberry  Town  is  D'  Pr  my  payment  of  their  indian  parchas  of  their 
Bounds  of  their  Town. 

To  pay'd  Totoo:  and  Nesahegon  each  of  them  a  Trucking    £.   s.    d, 
cloath  Coat  to  Joshep  whiting  to  John  moses      .  00  06  00 

To  Seokets  wife  a  Coat,  Aups  a  Farmington  indian  a  Coat, 
Nenepaush  Squa  one:  Coate,  Nesaheages  Squa  one  Coate, 
Cherry  one  Coate,  and  mamantoes  squa  one  Coat  for  these 
six  Coats  I  charge 04  16  00 

♦The  name  of  our  larger  river  was,  while  Watcrbury  remained  a  plantation,  Mattatuck  River.  After 
that  date,  the  inhabitants  called  it  the  Great  River,  when  necessary  to  designate  it.  This  soon  became  in 
the  lay  out  of  lands  and  in  deeds  simply  "the  river/'  Occasionally,  in  a  document  relating  to  matters 
extending  beyond  the  limits  of  the  township,  it  became  Waterbury  River.  The  name  Naugatuck  for  our 
section  of  the  river  is  quite  modern.     It  was  not  universally  adopted  until  after  1800.  I 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  147 

> 

May  1 8th  To  payd  Nesahegan  for  his  right  in  tantuuquafooge  Six  bush- 
ells  of  indiati  Corne 

To  him  payd  for  his  right  in  weatooge  Nine  bushells  of  indian 
Corn  att  this  time  indian  corn  fetch  ready  money  2:  shillings 

for  which  I  expect  money — i  17  06 

May  1 8th  To  payd  Masecup  2:  Bushells  by  the  Indians  order,  to  Cogri- 
uoset   2:   bushells — pr  the  same  order,  to   wayump    pr  ye 

same  order  one  Bushell 

May  i8th  To  Seoketts  squa  2  bushells,  to  nenepaush  squa  2:  bushells,  To 
Aups  2:  Bushells  To  pashoners  squa  2:  Bushells  To  totoos 
bushells  seaven.  To  one  bushell  the  Indians  wear  payd  more — 
all  as  good  as  money  soe  I  sould  and  others  that  sould,  this 

being  21:  Bushells 02  12  06 

Pd  chery  more  in  money  one  shilling  .... 

pd  to  momantooes  sqa  four  bushells  of  indian  Corne     .         .        00  1 1  03 

pd  to  M'  Joseph  whiting  of  the  Country  for  a  Coat  Serg'  John 

Griflfin  had  for  an  indian  that  he  payd  for  the  purchass*    .        00  18  00 
pd  p.  charges  of  Twenty  Indians  first  day  at  proudingf  terms 
of  a  bargaine  set  the  pot  with  good  meat  and  bread  beer 
and  sider  provided  that  day  for  Capt:  Allyn  and  Capt:  New- 

bery  yo'  comittee 01  05  00 

Spent  sundry  times  besides  for  2  years  together  sometimes  10: 
sometime  20  sometimes  15  sometimes  6  or  7  indian  with  Cider 
victuall's  and  beer,  at  lest  16  days  compleat  myself  and  the 
first  time  cost  me  six  dayes  most  of  which  I  rod  to  pook  hill 
[Podunk?]  to  the  indians  to  drive  on  the  bargaine  they 
demanding  one  100  pounds  was  afraid  any  of  o'  English 
should  put  me  by  the  businis  by  adviseing  them  to  insist 
upon  that  great  sume  for  which  I  reckon      .  .        .        06  10  00 

18  16  03 
1684  May,  To  so  much  payd  Mr.  Joseph  Whiting  for  a  Coat  yo'  Towns 

man  had  see  folo  82 i  00  00 

19  16  03 
Simsbury  Towne  is  pr:  contra:  Credited.    The  Towne  of  Simsbury  have  granted 

to  me  three  hundred  Acres  of  Land  on  the  West  side  of  the  Town  upon  the  River 
that  runs  there  where  the  Indians  ust  to  ketch  samon  at  a  place  called  cherrys  land 
and  any  where  within  theire  Bounds  by  that  sayd  River  to  be  taken  up  in  one  Two 
or  Three  places  as  I  see  cause,  as  by  Town  grant  doth  fully  appear,  a  coppy 
whereof  I  have  in  keeping  and  this  to  be  in  full  sattisf action  of  all  my  cost  and 
charge  of  the  purchase  of  their  bounds  of  Ten  mile  squar,  and  therefore  must  be 
accounted  in  my  books  at  eighteen  poundes  sixteen  shillings  and  three  pence 

18  16  03 
More  on  the  other  side 01  00  00 

19  16  03 
The  following  is  from  the  "  History  of  Simsbury:"  J  "  The  Indians 

not  having  been  paid  [for  their  lands]  made  a  grevious  complaint 

♦John  Griffin  had  obtained  from  an  Indian  a  deed  of  a  portion  of  the  Simsbury  land,  before  this  pur- 
chase.       iSo  in  the  manuscript.        tNoah  \,  Phelps,  author  of  History  of  Simsbury. 


148  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT. 

• 

to  the  Major,  and  being  incessantly  urging  for  their  dues,"  the  town, 
"  to  still  their  acclamations  and  to  bring  to  issue  the  said  case,  and 
to  ease  the  Major  of  those  vexatious  outcries  made  by  the  Indians 
for  their  money,"  ordered  the  sale  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  land  to  extinguish  the  debt. 

We  will  glance  for  a  moment  beyond  the  hills  of  this  plantation 
gathering  at  Mattatuck,  in  the  year  1679,  and  look  out  upon  the 
English  Colony  that  encompasses  it.  We  find  Connecticut  lying 
between  "Narraganset  River"  on  the  east,  and  "Mamaronock 
Rivulet "  on  the  west.  Within  her  borders  are  twenty-six  towns — 
Mattatuck  apparently  not  included  in  the  number;  for  although 
Mattatuck  seems  to  have  been  the  twenty-sixth  plantation,  her 
town  number  was  twenty-seven — another  plantation  having  gained 
precedence  in  the  race  for  town  honors.  In  every  settlement  in  the 
Colony  except  two,  that  are  "newly  begun,"  there  is  a  "settled  min- 
ister," and  the  two  "are  seeking  out  for  ministers  to  settle  amongst 
them."  The  highest  salary  paid  is  one  hundred  pounds;  the  lowest 
is  estimated  at  not  less  than  fifty.  We  find,  with  a  little  surprise, 
that  already  in  the  twenty-six  towns  the  people  are  divided  into 
"  strict  Congregational  men,  more  large  Congregational  men,  and 
moderate  Presbyterians,"  while  within  the  Colony  there  are  "  four 
or  five  Seven-day  men,  and  four  or  five  Quakers."  Ministers  are 
preaching  to  the  people  twice  every  Sabbath  day  and  sometimes  on 
Lecture  days.  Masters  of  families  are  catechizing  their  children 
and  servants  with  regularity,  being  so  required  to  do  by  law.  The 
poor  are  relieved  by  the  towns  where  they  live,  every  town  provid- 
ing for  its  own  poor  and  impotent  persons.  There  are  seldom  any 
that  need  relief,  because  labor  is  dear.  Two  shillings  and  some- 
times two  shillings  and  sixpence  for  a  day  laborer  is  paid  and 
provisions  are  cheap.  Wheat  is  four  shillings  a  bushel;  beef  two 
and  a  half  pence  a  pound,  and  butter  six  pence;  other  provision  in 
proportion.  "Beggars  and  vagabond  persons  are  not  suffered. 
When  discovered,  they  are  bound  out  to  service." 

In  the  twenty-six  towns  are  living  2,552  trained  soldiers,  for 
every  man,  with  a  few  exceptions,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and 
sixty,  is  in  his  country's  service.  There  is  one  "  Troope  "  of  about 
sixty  horses.  The  Governor  of  the  colony  is  the  General  of  all  the 
forces.  There  is  a  major  in  each  one  of  the  four  counties,  who 
commands  the  militia  of  that  county.  The  horsemen  are  armed 
with  pistols  and  carbines;  the  foot-soldiers  with  muskets  and  pike. 
There  is  one  small  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  River.  The 
Indians  left  alive  in  the  colony,  are  estimated  at  five  hundred 
fighting  men. 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  149 

Thus  early,  it  is  with  authority  declared  that  most  of  the  land 
that  "is  fit  for  planting  is  taken  up,"  that  what  remains  "must  be 
subdued  and  gained  out  of  the  fire  as  it  were,  by  hard  blows  and 
for  small  recompence."  The  principal  trade  of  the  colony  is  man- 
aged in  the  four  towns  of  Hartford,  on  the  Connecticut  River. 
New  London  on  the  Pequot  River  and  New  Haven  and  Fairfield  by 
the  sea-side.  The  buildings  are  described  as  "  generally  of  wood, 
some  of  stone  and  brick;  many  of  them  of  good  strength  and  come- 
liness for  a  wilderness,  many  forty  foot  long  and  twenty  broad  and 
some  larger,  three  and  four  stories  high." 

The  commodities  of  the  country,  the  larger  part  of  which  are 
transported  to  Boston  and  bartered  for  clothing,  are  wheat,  pease, 
rye,  barley,  Indian  corn,  pork,  beef,  wool,  hemp,  flax,  cider,  perry 
(pear  cider)  tar,  deal  boards,  pipe  staves,  and  horses.  There  is  also 
a  trade  carried  on  with  Barbadoes,  Jamaica  and  other  islands,  for 
money,  rum,  cotton  wool,  and  sugar;  with  an  occasional  vessel 
laden  with  staves,  pease,  pork  and  "  flower  "  to  Madeira  and  Fayal. 
There  are  in  the  colony  about  twenty  merchants ;  some  trade  to 
Boston  only,  others  to  Boston  and  the  Indies;  others  to  Boston  and 
New  York;  others  include  Newfoundland  in  their  ventures.  The 
vessels  that  are  owned  in  the  colony  are  four  ships;  one  owned  in 
Middletown,  one  in  Hartford,  and  two  in  New  London.  One  of  the 
New  London  ships  and  the  Hartford  ship  are  of  ninety  tons 
burden  each.  To  these  may  be  added  three  pinks,  twelve  sloops, 
six  ketches  and  two  barks ;  the  total  tonnage  being  about  seven 
hundred.  Absolute  free  trade  is  in  full  operation,  except  that  a 
duty  is  collected  on  wine  and  liquors,  which  is  improved  toward  the 
maintenance  of  free  schools.  Dwelling  houses  in  the  colony  are 
not  taxed,  because  they  are  so  chargeable  to  maintain.  The  total 
valuation  of  the  estates,  dwelling  houses  not  included,  in  the  year 
1679  is  ;;^i53,6i4.  This  picture  is  not  drawn  with  a  free  hand.  It 
betrays  at  every  step  an  evident  desire  not  to  paint  th^  facts  in  glow- 
ing colours  lest  England  exact  more  tribute  for  her  King  than  the 
colonists  are  willing  to  yield;  for  these  items  have  been  gleaned 
from  the  replies  made  by  authority  of  the  General  Assembly  to 
certain  questions  concerning  "  His  Majesties  Corporation  of  Con- 
necticut." The  questions  were  sent  to  New  England  by  the 
"Committee  for  Trade  and  Foreign  Plantations,"  in  England. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE    FIRST    MEETING    OF    THE    GENERAL   ASSEMBLY'S   COMMITTEE,   IN    JANU- 
ARY,   1677 — THE    SECOND    MEETING    IN    1678 — THE    THIRD    MEETING 

IN    NOVEMBER,    1679 THE    FOURTH    MEETING    IN     1680 — THE     FIFTH 

MEETING    IN    1680. 

HOW  many  meetings  were  held  by  the  Assembly's  Committee 
for  Mattatuck  in  the  interests  of  that  plantation,  cannot  be 
told  with  accuracy.     We  have,  well-preserved,  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Major  Talcott,  the  orders  of  six  meetings.     They  extend 
over  a  period  of  five  years,  from  1677  to  1682.     By  following  their 
order  we  shall  learn  something  of  the  growth  of  Mattatuck. 

New  Year  Day  in  England  was  March  twenty-fifth  until  the  date 
was  changed  to  the  first  of  January,  by  act  of  Parliament,  in  the 
year  1752.  England's  colonies  obeyed  the  law  implicitly,  so  long  as 
required  to  do  so.  Attention  is  called  to  this  point,  for  the  reason 
that  the  writer  has  followed  the  usage  of  the  period  throughout  its 
extent,  thereby  avoiding  any  confusion  of  dates,  or  unnecessary 
reference  to  "Old  Style  and  "New  Style." 

THE    ORDERS    OF    THE    ASSEMBLY'S   COMMITTEE — THE    FIRST    MEETING. 

In  January,  1677,  a  meeting  was  held,  probably  in  Farmington, 
by  the  committee  for  Mattatuck,  at  which  six  points  were  "  agreed 
and  concluded."  The  first  one  accepts  John  Root,  senior,  he  sub 
scribing  to  the  "Articles  for  settling  of  Mattatuck  in  behalf  of  one 
of  his  sons."  The  autograph  of  John  Root,  as  a  subscriber  to  the 
"Articles,"  has  not  been  found.  The  name  is  found  placed  upon  a 
fence  division  at  a  later  day.  It  was  before  this  date  that  Abraham 
Bronson*  withdrew  from  Mattatuck  and  went  to  Lyme;  that  Rich- 
ard "  Seemor,"  Thomas  Gridley,  and  John  Porter  dropped  out  of  the 
race — John  "vScovel,"  Benjamin  Barnes,  Joseph  Gaylord  and  David 
Carpenter  coming  in  at  this  meeting  to  take  their  places.  It  was  at 
this  meeting  that  the  highways  were  to  be  "  mended  sufficiently  " — 
Benjamin  Judd  being  appointed  to  call  the  proprietors  out  each  in 


♦As  early  as  October  of  1877,  Abraham  Bronson  had  taken  up  his  residence  in  Lyme.  Bronson  and  Joseph 
Peck  were  candidates  for  the  office  of  Lieutenant.  '*  The  remonstrants  "  against  Bronson's  confirmation 
declared  themselves  *'  possessed  with  many  fears  what  will  become  of  our  sweet  and  pretious  peace  which 
the  Most  HiRh,  praysed  be  his  name,  hath  favoured  us  with."  This  election  appears  to  have  been  made  with 
all  due  formality.  That  it  might  be  carried  on  in  a  solemn  way,  there  was  at  least  '*  a  fortnight's  warning 
given  before  the  choice,"  and  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes.  Abraham  Bronson  was  elected  Lieu- 
tenant, Joseph  Peck,  Ensign— Lieutenant  Bronson  was  also  a  deputy  from  T>yme,  to  the  General  Assembly, 
for  a  number  of  years. 


ORDERS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY'S  COMMITTEE, 


151 


his  turn,  to  do  his  just  part,  and  Benjamin — Mattatuck's  resident 
surveyor — was  warned  by  the  committee  "to  attend  the  Country 
Law  '*  in  this  service.  With  great  consideration  the  committee 
granted  to  the  proprietors  one  year  more  in  which  to  take  up  resi- 
dence, each  in  his  own  house,  in  Mattatuck.  The  time  that  was 
formerly  granted  was  soon  to  expire— on  May  30,  1678.  This  exten- 
sion of  time  was  to  May  30,  1679.  The  final  order  related  to  public 
charges.  They  were  to  be  borne  "  one  year  longer  or  more  "  than 
had  been  ordered  in  the  third  article,  dated  May  30,  1677.  Major 
Talcott  perhaps  intended  to  write  May  30,  1674  —  the  date  of  the 
original  articles — the  third  one  of  which  does  relate  to  public 
charges  —  or  it  may  have  been  that  there  was  an  annual  meeting 
on  May  30,  1677,  and  that  the  orders  were  given  on  that  day  which 
would  give  us  knowledge  of  the  layout  of  the  first  highways,  house 
lots,  meadow  allotments,  garden -spots  of  an  acre  and  less  in 
Munhan  Neck,  and  other  events  of  interest  that  we  can  not  learn 
the  time  and  manner  of.  It  is  evident  that  there  was  a  meeting 
prior  to  the  one  whose  orders  we  are  following. 

It  was  in  January,  1677  also,  that  the  committee  took  occasion  to 
announce  that  during  the  time  it  continued  in  power,  it  should 
appoint  men  "  to  lay  out  all  necessary  highways  for  the  use  of  the 
inhabitants  that  were  needful "  and  afterward  the  "  Town  was  to 
state  and  lay  them  out,  together  with  what  common  passages 
should  be  judged  necessary."  Then  it  was  that  the  broad  highway 
on  the  old  Town  Plot  was  reduced  to  two  rods,  and  that  the  common 
field  fence  on  the  "  East  side  of  the  river,  for  securing  the  meadows, 
was  ordered  to  be  made  sufficiently  by  the  last  of  May."  Does  the 
question  arise  ;  How  do  we  know  that  the  above  order  is  not  the 
beginning  of  orders  concerning  the  common-fence  and  field  ?  The 
answer  is  furnished  in  the  list  of  names,  whose  owners  were 
appointed  to  make  the  portion  of  the  fence  that  was  first  allotted 
to  them.  It  was  appointed  unto  them  to  make  it,  at  a  time  when 
Abraham  Bronson,  Richard  Seamor,  Thomas  Gridley  and  John 
Porter  were  members  of  the  plantation,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  they 
had  left  it  before  this  meeting  was  held.  Furthermore,  on  its  roll, 
there  is  not  the  name  of  a  man  who  joined  the  organization  at  this 
time  ;  showing  conclusively  that  the  common  field  and  its  fence 
had  been  the  subject  of  an  earlier  order.  During  the  year  1678  the 
settlement  lapses  into  silence.  Not  a  note  of  life  can  we  extract 
from  it,  or  find  in  relation  to  it,  until  ^larch  in  that  year. 

THE   SECOND    MEETING. 

Three  men  of  the  committee  met  "according  to  joint  agree- 
ment" at  Farmington,  March  11,  1678,  and  determined  that  those 


152 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT, 


lots  not  yet  laid  out  to  the  proprietors  should  be  laid  out  by 
"  Lieutenant  Standly  [of  Farmington]  with  the*  helpfulness  of 
William  Judd,  and  John  Standly  Jr."  It  speaks  well  for  this 
committee  of  father  and  son  that  John  Standly  Junior's  allot- 
ments were  such  that  Talcott  and  Company  afterward  advised  the 
town  to  make  amends  to  him  because  of  the  "meanness"  of  them. 
In  this  second  spring  of  the  new  beginning  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  in  1678,  there  was  "  a  mile  of  fence  or  thereabouts,"  ordered 
to  be  made  within  fifty  days,  and  the  three  acre  lots,  which  had 
been  granted  to  the  proprietors  by  a  former  grant,  were  to  be  laid 
out.  William  Judd,  having  had  a  grant  that  his  three -acre  lot 
should  be  "layd  out  upon  the  west  end  of  his  House  Lott,"  the 
grant  was  confirmed.  The  three  acres  still  lie  to  the  southwest- 
ward  of  the  house  lot  on  which  the  late  "Johnson  house"  stood,  on 
North  Willow  street. 

THE    THIRD    MEETING. 

By  the  twenty-sixth  of  November,  1679,  as  winter  was  close  at 
hand,  the  few  courageous  souls  who  had  complied  with  the  condi- 
tions, and  adventured  themselves  and  their  families  in  the  enter- 
prise, had  appealed  to  the  committee.  These  men  doubtless  felt  that 
they  were  entitled  to  the  presence  and  protection  of  every  man  who 
had  signed  the  agreement  to  help  build  the  town.  Many  of  the  pro- 
prietors still  lingered  in  their  old  homes.  Each  man  had  some 
reason,  sufficient  unto  himself,  for  his  course  of  action,  but  his 
neighbor,  in  the  lonely  plantation  on  Great  and  Little  Brooks,  failed 
to  see  why  the  obligation  should  not  be  met.  The  committee  con- 
vened at  Farmington  and  held  a  meeting  that  continued  two  days. 
During  this  time  it  considered  the  case  of  the  delinquent  sub- 
scribers, and  declaring  that  their  delay  led  to  the  discouragement 
of  the  men  already  at  Mattatuck,  and  weakened  their  hands,  "  deter- 
mined and  resolved "  to  bring  about  a  better  state  of  things.  To 
that  end,  the  announcement  was  made  that  every  man  who  was  not 
personally  present  with  his  family  at  Mattatuck  by  the  last  of  May, 
1680,  there  to  abide,  must  forfeit  his  title  and  interest  in  all  the  allot- 
ments that  had  been  granted  to  him  there.  This  meant  his  house 
lot;  his  old  Town  Plot  house  lot;  his  three-acre  lot,  and  such  other 
grants  as  the  committee  had  made  every  man  equal  in,  without  regard 
to  the  number  of  pounds  annexed  to  his  name.  To  add  to  the  force  of 
the  argument  for  speedy  removal,  it  was  sejmingly  declared  that 
mere  personal  presence,  although  it  might  hold  allotments,  was  not 
sufficient  to  hold  title  as  a  proprietor  in  the  undivided  lands  of  the  township 
itself.  To  secure  his  hold  upon  them  and  place  it  upon  a  foundation 
never  to  be  moved,  he  was  required  to  build  a  mansion  house  in  all 


ORDERS  OF  THE  A8SEMBLT8   COMMITTEE.  153 

respects  up  to  the  specifications  given  on  the  last  of  May,  1674,  and 
to  have  it  finished  the  thirtieth  day  of  May,  1681,  and  to  be  abiding 
in  it  on  that  date.  The  committee  had  been  very  considerate.  In 
the  first  place,  the  time  limited  was  from  May,  1674,  to  May,  1678. 
Because  of  the  intervening  war,  this  time  was  extended  to  May, 
1679.  When  that  time  expired,  an  additional  term,  it  is  thought, 
must  have  been  granted,  but  we  find  no  extension  covering  the 
interval  to  November,  1679.  Then,  apparently,  consideration,  ex- 
tension and  grace  being  alike  failures,  the  penalty  was  annexed. 
We  shall  soon  be  able  to  see  the  result  of  this  new  law  with  its 
forfeitures. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  paper  on  which  the  above  order  is  writ- 
ten, we  find  that  Major  Talcott  has  traced  the  announcement  of  the 
second  death,  so  far  as  we  have  learned,  that  took  place  in  the  little 
band  of  thirty-one  men,  that  of  Daniel  Warner.  The  language  of 
the  original  record  in  the  words  that,  "he,  with  his  family,  were 
upon  the  remove  to  Mattatuck,  and  on  that  juncture  of  time,  the 
Divine  providence  of  God  removed  the  sayd  Daniel  out  of  the  Land 
of  the  Living,"  suggests  the  possibility  that  his  death  was  caused 
by  accident,  during  the  removal.  "  Out  of  compassion  to  his  relict 
and  children  Left  behinde  him,"  the  allotments  were  confirmed  to 
them,  without  conditions.  Mrs.  Warner  was  advised,  as  were  her 
relatives,  to  build  a  dwelling-house  with  all  possible  speed,  and  to 
inhabit  there,  or  to  cause  some  person  to  dwell  there  in  her  stead. 
Even  in  building,  she  was  not  compelled  to  abide  by  the  time  set 
for  other  settlers.  The  first  death  of  a  signer  is  believed  to  have 
been  that  of  John  Warner,  Sen',  the  father  of  Daniel.  The  priority 
of  his  death  appears — in  our  records —only  from  the  fact  that  he 
was  not  in  Mattatuck  when  the  first  and  second  divisions  of  fence 
were  ordered,  while  Daniel  Warner  is  the  active  maker  of  his  pro- 
portion, in  both  divisions. 

On  the  next  day,  the  committee  was  again  occupied  with  our 
interests.  We  learn  at  this  session  that  Lieutenant  Samuel  Steel  laid 
out  our  first  highways.  East  Main  street  was  one  of  the  number 
laid  out  by  him.  It  is  described  as  "that  Highway  at  the  east  end 
of  the  Town  plot  at  Mattatuck,  running  eastward  out  of  Sayd  Town 
plot,  being  Three  rods  wide."  It  was  determined  that  it  should  be 
and  remain  for  public  and  common  use.  It  is  further  described  as 
lying  between  Joseph  "  Gaylers  "  lot,  and  a  house  lot  of  two  acres 
"reserved  for  such  inhabitant  as  shall  hereafter  be  entertained." 
Joseph  Gaylord's  lot  is  now  the  site  of  Irving  block.  The  reserved 
lot  is  the  corner  of  East  Main  and  South  Main  streets,  reserved  to 
be  the  birth-place  of  the  renowned  Samuel  Hopkins. 


154  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

It  was  on  this  memorable  27th  of  November,  1679,  that  certain 
lands  were  designated  and  set  apart  for  a  specified  use  forever. 
Why  those  lands  are  not  to-day  serving  the  uses  for  which  they 
were  set  apart,  is  an  unanswerable  question.  Here  are  the  words 
of  the  authorized  committee:  **It  is  agreed  and  determined  that 
the  House  Lott  of  Two  Acres,  lying  at  the  east  end  of  the  Town 
abutting  Northerly  on  Thomas  Warner's  Hous  Lott,  and  a  piece 
of  Meadow  and  Swamp  conteyning  about  fifteen  Acres,  by  estima- 
tion lying  upon  Steele's  Brook,  [the  bounds  being  given]  and 
a  piece  of  Land  conteyning  by  estimation  Three  Acres,  lying 
in  the  pasture  Land,  commonly  so  called,  shall  be  and  remayne 
for  the  use,  occupation  and  improvement  of  the  ministry  of  the 
sayd  Town  forever,  without  any  alteration  or  dissposal,  use  or 
improvement  whatsoever."  The  two-acre  house  lot  was  the  third 
lot  of  the  six  two-acre  lots  that  occupied  the  east  side  of  Bank 
street,  between  East  Main  and  Grand  streets.  The  well-known 
First  Church  property  at  the  foot  of  Grand  and  Willow  streets 
is  the  portion  that  is  left  of  the  three  acres,  lying  in  the  pasture 
land.  It  is  the  only  remaining  fragment,  the  little  crumb  that 
is  left  of  the  generous  loaf  designed  for  the  support  of  the 
ministry  forever.  The  First  Church  was  amply  endowed  by  the 
Colony's  committee,  but  permitted  her  inheritance  to  depart  from 
her.  Somewhere  about  eight  hundred  years  hence,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  a  lease,  the  fifteen  acres  on  Steele's  Brook  may  return 
to  her. 

After  providing  for  the  ministry,  the  committee's  next  act  was 
to  encourage  an  inhabitant,  by  allowing  "  an  additional  House  Lott 
to  what  was  formerly  allowed,"  to  be  laid  out.  And  here  we  get  an 
insight  into  the  allotments  that  were  before  granted  to  each  man, 
by  the  grants  that  were  to  accompany  the  new  house  lot.  They 
were  "  eight  acres  on  the  old  Town  plot  and  a  three  acre  lot."  To 
the  former  grants  were  now  to  be  added  eight  acres  in  the  new 
division  to  be  laid  out,  ten  acres  upon  a  plain  on  the  west  side  of 
Steels  meadow,  and  about  twelve  acres  in  "  Buck "  meadow 
"being  an  Island."  When  a  town  was  in  need  of  an  inhabitant, 
because  of  his  skill  in  any  of  the  lines  of  its  development,  special 
grants  were  bestowed.  This  inhabitant  thus  provided  for,  was 
probably  then  in  waiting.  He  was  a  man  who  was  undoubtedly 
welcomed  with  all  the  greeting  little  Mattatuck  had  to  offer,  for  he 
was  a  carpenter !  His  name  was  Stephen  Upson.  He  subscribed 
to  the  articles  in  December  1679,  and  probably  made  his  mark  on 
more  than  one  of  the  houses  that  were  waiting  for  the  builder,  for 
we   have  his   testimony  that  "Samuel  Judd's  house  was  shingled 


0RDER8  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY'S  COMMITTEE.  155 

about  Michaelmuss *'  and  that  "he  went  into  it  in  November  1681,"^ 
and  that  "it  was  not  fit  before." 

The  last  bit  of  advice  to  the  inhabitants  on  this  day  in  Novem- 
ber 1679,  was,  to  build  a  sufficient  corn  mill  for  the  use  of  the 
town.  Thirty  acres  of  land  were  proffered  to  the  persons  who 
should  build  such  a  mill  "  and  keep  the  same  in  good  reparation  for 
that  work  and  service  of  grinding  Corne."  The  thirty-acres  of  land 
were  to  be  laid  out,  to  **  be  and  remain  to  their  heirs  and  assigns 
forever,  he  or  they  maynteyning  the  sayd  grist  mill,  as  afore  sayd, 
forever."  The  last  words  of  this  meeting  are  the  following:  "We 
allow  the  standing  of  Thomas  Warner's  cellar  without  molestation, 
according  to  agreem*^  of  Lieut.  Sam"  Steel."  This  was  also  a  con- 
cession probably  because  of  bereavment,  and  it  gives  us  the  assur- 
ance that  there  was,  at  least,  a  cellar  in  Mattatuck,  in  Nov.  1679. 
John  Warner  had  recently  died.  He  had  undoubtedly  built  the 
cellar  of  his  house  on  his  house  lot  on  the  east  side  of  Exchange 
place.  It  must  have  occupied  the  land  near  where  vSouth  Main 
street  begins,  also  the  part  of  Exchange  place  that  was  taken  for 
that  street  when  South  Main  street  was  laid  out  about  1806.  It 
probably  included  the  site  of  Apothecaries'  Hall,  it  being  the  second 
lot  from  the  northward  of  the  six  two-acre  lots  already  referred  to, 
as  filling  the  space  between  East  Main  and  Grand  streets.  The 
cellar  may  have  been  placed  there  before  Lieutenant  Steel  laid  out 
the  highway,  as  it  seems  for  some  reason  to  have  been  an  intru- 
sion upon  it.  However  it  may  have  been,  the  committee  did  not 
compel  Thomas  Warner,  the  son  of  John  Warner  deceased,  to 
remove  it,  and  it  is  agreeable  to  learn  that  the  curved  line  of  the 
east  side  of  Bank  street  probably  had  its  origin  in  a  kindly  intent 
toward  the  son  of  the  man  who  was  the  first  to  die,  of  the  men  of 
Mattatuck. 

THE    FOURTH    MEETING. 

Major  Talcott  and  Mr.  John  Wadsworth  met  at  Hartford,  May 
22,  1680,  and  appointed  William  Judd,  Thomas  Judd,  and  John 
Standly,  or  such  others  as  the  inhabitants  of  Mattatuck  should 
appoint,  to  meet  with  men  of  Woodbury,  to  determine  a  bound  line 
between  the  towns.  Representing  the  town^  John  Welton  and  Samuel 
Hickcox  acquiesced  in  the  appointments  made  at  Hartford,  and 
declared  that  they  did  not  see  cause  to  appoint  any  other  persons  to 
determine  the  bound.  This  town  act  is  the  earliest,  perhaps,  on 
record,  and  indicates  that  the  inhabitants  had  already  chosen  offi- 
cers, and  before  having  been  granted  power  to  do  so.  The  date  is 
May  31,  1680.  It  appears  upon  the  same  paper  with  the  commit- 
tee's act  making  the  appointments,  and  is  signed  by  John  "  Well- 


1^6  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

ton  "  and  Samuel  Hickcox  "in  the  behalfe  of  the  teste."  Therefore 
John  Welton  and  Samuel  Hickcox  were  the  first  townsmen,  or  select- 
men. The  same  day,  Major  Talcott  and  Mr.  Wadsworth  sent  a  com- 
munication addressed:  "To  Our  Friends  at  Mattatuck/'  in  which 
more  than  a  mile  of  new  fence  was  ordered  to  be  made.  The  need 
of  this  fence  must  have  been  very  great,  for  the  proprietors  were 
directed  to  make  it  within  nineteen  days. 

THE    FIFTH    MEETING. 

This  meeting  was  held  at  Farmington,  on  the  fifth  of  February, 
1680.  Three  members  were  present.  Town  officers  had  been  chosen 
by  the  inhabitants  as  before  stated,  and  without  apparent  authority. 
The  committee  gave  power  to  the  officers  "  to  execute  their  respect- 
ive offices"  and  gave  the  inhabitants  liberty,  "being  orderly  called 
and  convented  "  by  their  major  vote,  to  choose  their  "  Townsmen, 
constables,  surveyors,  fence-viewers  and  haywards,  or  any  other 
civil  officers,  from  time  to  time,  without  any  farther  order  from  the 
committee." 

Stephen  Hopkins  had,  at  this  date,  built  a  mill  in  Mattatuck.  He 
was  granted  to  have  the  "  thirty  acres  appointed  and  intailed  in  a 
former  order  to  such  as  should  erect  a  mill  there."  To  the  thirty 
acres,  the  committee  now  added  "  so  much  more  land  as  should  be 
necessary  to  advance  the  grant  to  be  in  value  of  one  hundred  pound 
alottment." 

Deacon  John  Lankton,  William  Judd  and  David  Carpenter,  had 
been  complained  of  for  not  meeting  their  obligations  as  subscribers. 
They  had  doubtless  failed  to  arrive  at  Mattatuck  with  their  families 
on  or  before  May  30th,  1680,  and  their  allotments,  granted  at  Matta- 
tuck, were  declared  to  be  forfeited.  Should  any  persons  appear  and 
desire  allotments,  they,  by  subscribing,  building  a  house,  and  set- 
tling in  the  place  with  their  families  within  a  year  from  the  time 
of  subscribing,  were  to  be  invested  with  the  allotments.  If  the 
new  subscribers  failed  to  fulfill,  the  lands  were  to  return  to  the 
committee.  "  Leavyes "  for  defraying  the  public  charges,  except 
for  watching  and  warding,  were  to  be  raised  upon  the  meadows  for 
one  year  from  date.  Uplands  were  permitted  to  be  added  to  the 
meadow  lands  of  Isaac  Bronson  and  Benjamin  Judd,  sufficient  to 
raise  the  meadow  land  to  the  value  of  an  hundred  pound  allotment. 
Thus  early  we  hear  the  cry  raised  for  more  land  to  improve.  The 
applicants  are  Daniel  Porter  and  Thomas  Richardson.  The  town 
was  granted  liberty  to  add  the  desired  land  and  the  committee 
appointed  men  to  lay  it  out,  and  also  to  lay  out  to  Stephen  Hopkins, 
his  lands.     Necessary  fences  for  securing  lands  under  improvement 


ORDERS  OF  TUB  ASSEMBLY'S  COMMITTEE. 


157 


were  again  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  last  of  April,  1681.  Stephen 
Upson  complained  that  he  was  much  straightened  in  his  possession 
of  lands.  Whatever  addition  the  town  should  see  cause  to  lay  out 
to  him,  was  granted.  A  house  lot  of  two  acres  was  granted  to 
Stephen  Hopkins.  It  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out  "  as  conveniently 
as  might  be  to  suit  the  mill;"  also  a  three  acre  lot,  "according  as 
the  other  inhabitants  have  granted."  The  final  act  was  the  grant 
to  Benjamin  Judd  of  "some  land  at  the  north  end  of  his  house  lot, 
to  build  on."  This  was  the  first  legalized  encroachment  upon  the 
fine  broad  way  laid  out  through  the  town  plot.  Our  beautiful 
"  Green  "  is  the  portion  that  testifies  to  its  original  width.  To  this 
grant  of  "  some  land,"  the  condition  was  annexed,  that  the  highway 
should  always  be  and  remain  four  and  one-half  rods  wide. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE    INHABITANTS    OF     MATTATUCK ITS    PLANTERS     YOUNG    MEN FARM- 

INGTON  WELL  REPRESENTED — THE  PLANTATION  OF  1681 — THE 
GREEN  PLAIN — HOUSE  LOTS  SURROUNDING  IT — THE  HOUSES — THE 
OWNERS    AND    THEIR    FAMILIES. 

AN  attempt,  however  imperfect  its  result  may  be,  to  gather  by- 
name and  family  the  little  band  of  town-builders  that  grad- 
ually constructed  the  compact  village  of  Mattatuck,  will  not 
be  without  interest.  It  may  be  said,  with  approximate  truth,  that 
the  plantation  of  1677  was  the  work  of  young  men.  That  these  men 
were  "  poor "  men  has,  in  one  way  and  another,  been  so  impressed 
upon  our  minds,  that  w^e  find  it  almost  natural  to  think  of 
them  and  to  speak  of  them  as  pioneers,  driven  by  stress  of 
lands  and  worldly  goods  to  leave  Farmington  and  live  in  log 
houses  in  the  wilderness,  in  order  to  eke  out  a  livelihood; 
but  the  facts,  as  they  have  one  after  another  been  relieved 
from  obscurity,  compose  a  brighter  picture.  The  young  men  were, 
with  few  exceptions,  married  men  with  families.  Some  of  the 
number,  perhaps  every  one  who  came  from  Farmington,  owned  his 
own  house  in  that  place.  Dr.  Henry  Bronson  had  not  seen,  when  he 
pictured  the  log  houses  of  the  planters,  the  evidence  granted  to  us, 
that  the  houses  were  both  clapboarded  and  shingled.  Neither  did 
he  know  that  his  own  ancestor — the  John  Bronson  who  is  thought 
to  have  been  of  the  company  that  migrated  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hooker  from  Massachusetts  Bay  in  1636;  who  owned  a  house  lot 
and  other  lands  in  Hartford  in  1639;  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Pequot  war,  and  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Farmington 
— that  he,  also,  reached  out  his  aging  hands  to  bless  in  the  most 
practical  manner  the  beginnings  of  our  town.  We  find  that  he  had 
here,  when  he  died  in  1680,  the  early  form  of  the  saw-mill — in  a  "  pitt 
saw,  Tiller  and  box."  He  also  had  other  implements  of  the  builder, 
given  in  the  inventory  of  his  estate  as  "at  Mattatuck."  They  were 
"  4  plaine  stocks  with  Iron  and  file.  3  Augurs  and  a  zest  [rest],  a  plow^ 
stock  Irons  and  chisell."  Beside  these,  he  had  here,  cattle,  and 
"one  small  feather  bed." 

Farmington  did  not  send  out  men  whom  she  could  spare,  because 
they  were  "unwholesome  members  of  her  community,"  to  found 
Mattatuck.  She  parted  with  some  of  her  very  best  men;  men  who 
had  assisted  to  lay  her  own  foundation  walls;  men  who  were  and 


MA TA TUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION. 


159 


who  continued  to  be  owners  of  many  fruitful  acres  in  her  beautiful 
valley;  young  men,  whom  she  needed  to  serve  her  own  places  and 
purposes.  There  were  not  many  families  of  note  in  Farmington 
that  were  not  represented  here  by  some  one  of  their  number.  The 
Farmington  church,  that  stood  for  all  that  was  highest  and  best  in 
the  civil  and  social  life  of  the  time,  yielded  to  us  abundantly  of  her 
treasures.  More  than  thirty  of  the  men  and  women  who  came  here, 
and  who  were  dwelling  in  their  own  houses  before  the  last  of  May, 
1681,  came  hither  out  of  the  full  communion  of  that  church.  The 
greater  number  of  them  had  spent  their  entire  lives  under  its  influ- 
ence, guided  by  the  religious  teachings  of  Reverend  Roger  Newton 
and  Reverend  Samuel  Hooker — while  at  least  six  of  them  could 
remember  a  boy-life  in  Hartford,  and  the  teachings  of  Reverend 
Thomas  Hooker.  Beside  these,  the  church  parted,  a  little  later, 
with  Robert  Porter,  one  of  her  seven  pillars,  and  doubtless  would 
have  yielded  to  us  another  one,  had  John  Bronson,  Senior,  lived  to 
accompany  his  three  sons  in  their  removal.  Whatever  may  be  said 
of  the  planters  of  Mattatuck,  it  must,  through  all  time,  be  admitted 
that  they  were  a  people — God-fearing,  God-worshiping,  God-loved, 
and  we  hope,  God-loving.  That  they  were  well-born  and  well-bred, 
we  know,  for  we  have  followed,  even  though  it  has  been  in  a  very 
imperfect  and  fragmentary  manner,  the  path  leading  through  time, 
and  marked  with  the  events  in  which  they  and  they  fathers  had 
been  led  from  1628  to  1677. 

Of  the  elder  men  who  ventured  themselves  to  brave  the  discom- 
forts and  dangers  incident  to  migration;  who  attended  the  prepar- 
atory stages  of  the  plantation,  guiding  its  initial  steps  with  their 
experience;  not  one,  so  far  as  we  have  learned,  perfected  his  resi- 
dence as  an  inhabitant  in  1681.  John  Warner,  Senior,  another 
soldier  of  the  Pequot  war,  had  passed  on  in  the  endless  migration  to 
the  Unknown,  before  that  time  came;  John  Bronson,  as  we  have  seen, 
had  already  followed  him,  while  John  Andrews,  Senior,  was  about 
to  write  his  will,  in  which  he  describes  himself  as  "grown  aged," 
and  "attended  with  many  weaknesses,"  and  even  John  Langdon— a 
deacon,  at  a  later  day,  in  the  Farmington  church — who  had  been 
energetically  interested  in  the  plantation,  carrying  up  to  the  Court 
the  petition  for  its  formation,  and  paying  the  ten  shillings  neces- 
sary for  the  sending  of  it  on  its  courtly  way,  failed  to  secure  his 
position  as  inhabitant  and  proprietor — thus  leaving  young  men  at 
the  front  in  every  line  of  endeavor. 


i6o 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


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HOUSE  LOTS  OF  MATTATUCK,  1681.        LThe  top  of  the  page  is  west  ] 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  i6i 

The  central  fact  of  the  early  New  England  village,  was  its  green 
plain.  Around  it  and  along  its  very  borders  the  town  plot  was  laid 
out.  Its  surrounding  house  lots  were  narrow  and  deep.  The  green 
plain  of  Mattatuck,  the  eastern  portion  of  which  is  now  called, 
sometimes  the  Green,  and  sometimes  Centre  Square,  was  at  the  time 
of  the  settlement  but  little  more  than  the  marshy  result  of  a  former 
swamp.     It  has  required  time  and  much  labor  to  evolve  it  into  its 


present  form  of  beauty.  The  most  careful  research,  reveals  to  us 
the  town  spot,  as  it  was  laid  out  under  the  care  of  the  Assembly's 
Committee.  On  the  north  side  of  the  green  plain  were  twelve 
house  lots — on  its  south  side,  twelve— on  Willow  street,  four— on  the 
north  street,  four— on  Bank  street,  four.  Thirty-one  of  the  number 
were  allotted  to  the  thirty-one  men  who  were  the  signers  of  1674. 
One   was  given   to  Stephen  Upson.     One   was   bestowed  upon  the 


i62  mSTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 

miller.     Three  remained  as  great-lot  house  lots  for  the  benefit  of 
the  public. 

We   introduce  here   (see  page    i6o)    an    outline  map  of    these 
lots,  with  explanations.     The  small  lot  of  three-quarters  of  an  acre, 
on  which  now  stands  the  stately  ruin  of  the  Judge  Kingsbury  house, 
was  given   to  young  Thomas  Judd,  the  son  of  William,  when  he 
became  of  age  to  receive  it.     Two  house  lots  have  been  added  to  the 
plot  although  they  were  not  laid   out  until  about  1685.     This  has 
been  done  in  order  to  show  their  true  position  in  the  plan.     They 
were  bestowed,  one  upon  Samuel  Scott  (a  son  of  Edmund),  the  other 
upon  Richard  Porter.     The  Atkins  building,  at  the  corner  of  Grand 
and    Bank   streets,   is  on  the  lot  of  Richard  Porter.     The  map  of 
"  Mattatuck  Village "  that  was  prepared  for  Dr.  Bronson's  History 
of    Waterbury    is   also   reproduced.     It    represents    not    only  the 
earliest  house  lots,  but  also  a  period  later  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
He  placed  three  house  lots  below  Grand  street  because  one  of  the 
number,  Richard  Porter's,  required  a  highway  for  its  south  bound, 
and  he  did  not  find  that  part  of  Grand  street   that  lies  eastward 
from  Bank  street.     We  find  that  Grand  street  east  of  Bank  street, 
being  an  original  highway,  was  conveyed  in  1697  to  Richard  Porter 
in  exchange  for  the  Union  Square   front   of  his   Bank  street  lot. 
Thus  early  did  the  townsmen  begin  the  work  of  diverting  the  lands 
which  had  been  granted  to  the  ministry  in   perpetuity,  from  the 
original  intent  of  the  grantors  ;  for  this  temporary  closing  of  a  por- 
tion of  Grand  street  was  the  entering  wedge  that  opened  the  way 
for  the  relinquishment  of  the  ministry  lot  on  Bank  street,  for  other 
land,  and   this   took   place   while  the   founders  of  the  town  were 
living.     The  street  was  re-opened  April  9,  17 12. 

We  have  so  long  delayed  to  introduce  the  inhabitants  of  Matta- 
tuckby  name,  that  we  are  come  to  November  in  the  year  1681.  It 
is  now  six  months  since  the  time  expired  that  was  granted  by  the 
committee  for  finishing  the  houses.  The  past  year  has  been  one 
of  great  trials  to  the  elder  towns,  and  we  may  be  quite  certain  that 
this  new  plantation  has  had  its  full  share  of  tribulations.  Rever- 
end Simon  Bradstreet  tells  us  in  his  journal,  that  during  June, 
July,  and  August  of  this  year  a  great  drouth  prevailed,  destroying 
corn  and  grass  to  the  value  of  many  thousand  pounds.  The  drouth 
was  followed  by  "  a  malignant  fever  of  which  many  died  in  many 
places  in  the  colony  during  September  and  October."  The  "rod  of 
the  anger  of  the  most  High  had  been  shaken  "  so  severely  over  the 
people  that,  for  the  first  time  in  its  history,  the  General  Assembly 
closed  its  October  session  without  the  appointment  of  a  day  for 
general  thanksgiving.  "  And  yet,"  the  Reverend  journalist  adds  : 
**  there  was  enough  left  for  a  meat  and  a  drink  offering." 


MATTATUCK  A8  A  PLANTATION.  163 

The  specifications  for  house-building  formulated  in  1674  by  the 
committee,  were  exceedingly  simple.  It  was  not  forbidden  to  build 
a  palace,  but  it  was  required  that  every  man  should  have  a  good, 
substantial  dwelling  house,  at  least  eighteen  feet  long,  sixteen  feet 
wide,  and  nine  feet  between  "  joynts,  with  a  good  chimney  in  the 
fore  sayd  place."  The  "fore  sayd  4)lace"  has  not  before  been 
mentioned,  but  it  probably  referred  to  the  chimney-space.  It 
seems  highly  probable  that  the  earliest  effort  at  a  habitation 
was  one  erected  in  common,  with  sufficient  of  comfort  for  the 
workers  during  the  week,  and  that  the  men,  inured  to  riding, 
thought  little  of  returning  to  their  families  at  Farmington  as  often 
as  occasion  required.  But  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  each 
man  should  be  found  living  in  his  own  finished  house,  with  his 
family  abiding  with  him. 

We  will  begin  our  acquaintance  with  the  founders  of  the  town 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  "  Green."  The  lot  is  marked  on  the 
plan  **  Deacon  Thomas  Jtidd  for  John  Judd,"  with  the  name  of 
'*  Abraham  Andrews,  cooper,"  beneath  it.  We  find  this  lot  without 
a  house  upon  it.  We  have  already  learned  why  John  Judd  gave  up 
his  claim  to  Mattatuck  lands.  Abraham  Andrews,  his  successor, 
although  he  has  attained  his  thirty -third  year,  is  still  waiting  for 
his  coming  bride.  She  will  be  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Robert  Por- 
ter^ and  will  arrive  from  Farmington  at  some  time  during  the  com- 
ing year. 

On  the  lot  lying  to  the  westward,  Daniel  Porter,  the  well-known 
surgeon  of  the  River  Towns,  or  his  son  Daniel,  has  built  a  house, 
but  it  has  no  chimney.  The  younger  Daniel  himself,  although  he 
is  now  twenty-nine  years  old,  seems  to  have  neither  fireside  nor 
wife.  Eighteen  years  later,  in  1699^  we  shall  find  him  living  in  this 
house  with  his  wife,  Deborah  Holconjb,  and  one  child. 

Adjoining  the  Porter  lot,  and  where  now  is  standing  our  Town 
and  City  Hall,  we  find  the  house  of  Timothy  Standly.  In  1634,  John 
Stanley  died  while  on  the  passage  from  England  to  New  England, 
leaving  three  little  children.  One  of  the  children  died.  The  two, 
John  and  his  sister  Ruth,  were  left  to  the  care  of  their  uncles 
Thomas  and  Timothy  (their  father's  brothers),  between  whom  the 
estate  of  John  Stanley  was  divided  by  the  Court  for  the  benefit  of 
the  children.  The  little  boy,  John,  became  Captain  John 
"Standly,"  of  Farmington,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Mattatuck 
Standlys.  We  find  Timothy  Standly's  house  "large  enough  and 
ovned."  In  it  are  living  Timothy  himself,  who  is  twenty-nine 
years  old,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Strong,  of  Windsor.  They  have  been 
married  five  years,  and  are  without  children. 


i64  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

On  the  fourth  lot,  where  now  is  the  Silas  Bronson  Library  build- 
ing, Leavenworth  street,  and  a  part  of  the  Kendrick  homestead 
land,  John  Carrington  is  living,  with  his  wife  and  their  four  chil- 
dren.    John  is  about  thirty-nine  years  old.     The  children  are : 

John,  age  14  years,  Hannah,  age  6  years, 

Mary,  age  9  years,  ^  Clark,  age  3  years. 

There  is  an  interest  and  a  pathos  about  this  name  John  Carrington. 
It  is  connected  with  an  event  so  pathetic  that  it  sends  shudders  of 
pity  through  all  the  years  from  1650  to  1892;  and  yet  there  are 
events  occurring  every  day  in  the  current  of  our  boasted  civilization 
that  will,  without  doubt,  send  the  self-same  storm  of  pity  surging 
through  the  hearts  of  men  and  women  two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
hence — events  that  we  accept  without  a  protest.  John  Carrington 
and  his  wife,  Joane,  of  Wethersfield,  in  1650,  were  tried  before  the 
court  at  Hartford  for  the  crime  of  witchcraft.  Our  John  Carrington 
was  then  a  lad  of  about  eight  years.  We  are  not  able  to  say  that  he 
was  the  child  of  the  above  John  and  Joane  Carrington,  but  there 
seems  to  be  no  reason  to  doubt  that  such  was  the  fact.  "  At  a  Par- 
ticular Court  in  Hartford  on  the  20th  of  February  1650,  John  Car- 
rington and  Joane  Carrington  of  Wethersfield,  were  on  trial  for 
their  lives."     We  find  the  following  : 

JOHN  carrington's  inditement. 

"  John  Carrington  thou  art  indited  by  the  name  of  John  Carring- 
ton of  Wethersfield,  carpenter,  that  not  having  the  feare  of  God 
before  thine  eyes  thou  hast  Interteined  ffamiliarity  with  Sathan 
the  great  Enemye  of  God  and  mankind  and  by  his  helpe  hast  done 
workes  above  the  course  of  nature  k^r  w'^h  both  according  to  the 
Lawe  of  God  and  the  Established  Law  of  this  Commonwealth  thou 
deservest  to  dye. 

The  Jury  findes  this  Inditem'  against  John  Carrington  the  6th  of 
March  i6fy.*' 

Then  follows  the  name  of  his  wife  Joane,  and  the  same  indite- 
ment in  the  same  words,  with  the  same  finding  by  the  same  jury. 
On  this  jury  we  find  men  with  whose  names  we  are  already 
familiar.  Thomas  Judd,  William  Lewis,  Stephen  Heart  and  Mr. 
Tailcoat,  the  father  of  our  Major  Talcott,  are  of  the  number.  That 
the  finding  of  this  jury  was  followed  by  the  execution  of  John  and 
Joane  Carrington,  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  entry.  I 
have  not  the  date  of  it :  "  There  was  presented  to  this  Courte  an 
inventory  of  John  Carrington's  estate  which  was  ordered  to  be  filed, 
but  not  recorded."  The  inventory  on  file  has  never  been  found. 
We  return,  from  this  painful  departure,  to  Mattatuck,  and  find  the 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  165 

house  of  John  Carrington  too  small  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
committee,  although  large  enough  to  hold  many  bitter  recollections 
for  its  owner. 

On  the  next  lot — belonging  to  Edmund  Scott— we  find  a  house 
perfect  according  to  the  specifications  of  the  committee.  Not  a  com- 
plaint has  been  made  against  the  work  of  this  man.  The  original 
house  lot  of  the  late  Hon.  Green  Kendrick,  together  with  Leav- 
enworth street,  occupies  all  of  Edmund  Scott's  lot,  and  one-half  of 
John  Carrington's  lot.  In  this  perfect  habitation  we  find  a  family- 
notable  for  the  number  of  its  members  who  fell  victims  to  the  rage 
of  the  Indian.  The  family  consists  of  Edmund,  his  wife,  who  was 
Elizabeth  Fuller  and  the  widow  of  Thomas  Upson,  seven  sons  and 
one  daughter,*  No  other  one  of  the  proprietors  is  so  well  equipped 
with  sons  as  is  Edmund  Scott.  It  is  not  surprising  that  many  acres 
on  mountain  and  in  meadow  are  early  recorded  to  the  Scott  name, 
when  we  find  that  the  boys  of  the  following  list  are  aids  to  their 
father  in  subduing  the  wilderness.  The  following  ages  are  esti- 
mated from  the  records  of  the  Probate  Court: 

Joseph,  about  20  years,  George,  about  12  years, 

Edmund,  about  18  years,  David,  about  10  years, 

Samuel,  about  16  years,  Robert,  about  8  years, 

Jonathan,  about  15  years,  Elizabeth,  about  5  years. 

On  Thomas  Richason's  two-acre  lot  we  find  no  house  in  1681,  for 
he  is  living  with  his  wife,  Mary,  and  their  seven  children,  in  a  cel- 
lar. The  language  of  the  complaint  is  that  he  "  hires  a  cellar  to 
live  in."     The  children  are  : 

Mary,  age  14  years.  Israel, 

Sarah,  age  12  years,  Rebecca,  born  in  IVaUrbury,  April 

John,  age  9  years,  27th,  1679. 

Thomas,  age  7  years,  Ruth,  age  6  months. 

We  have  here  the  record  of  the  birth  of  the  first  English  child  of 
Mattatuck.  It  is  difficult  to  understand  why  Thomas  Richason  is 
living  in  a  cellar  in  1681,  when  we  learn,  by  the  record  of  the  birth 
of  his  daughter  Rebecca,  that  he  has  been  living  in  Mattatuck  at 
least  two  and  one-half  years.  The  construction  of  the  early  houses 
was  such  that  many  of  them  were  easily  burned;  but,  had  disaster  by 
fire  fallen  upon  this  proprietor — the  man  who  held  the  least  interest 
in  the  township,  his  right  being  but  fifty  pounds — the  committee 
would  surely  have  forborne  to  take  away  his  allotments. 


♦The  oldest  known  grave  in  ancient  Waterbury  is,  with  little  if  any  doubt,  the  grave  of  Joseph,  the 
eldest  son  of  this  family.  It  lies  in  a  lonely  spot  in  the  very  heart  of  the  wilderness— about  half  a  mile  west 
from  Reynolds  Bridge— and  marks  the  spot  where  he  was  killed  by  Indians.  This  was  before  February  of 
1708. 


1 66  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

The  lot  to  the  westward  on  which  will  be  found  "  The  house  for 
the  minister,"  is  one  of  the  three  house  lots  belonging  to  the 
same  number  of  great-lots,  that  were  set  apart  by  the  committee 
for  special  service  to  the  community.  One  of  the  number  will  be 
seen  at  the  west  end  of  "the"  highway,  or  West  Main  street,  the 
other  on  "a"  highway,  or  Bank  street.  The  one  on  Bank  street  had 
been  devoted  to  the  "ministry"  already,  but  in  this  same  year,  the 
dwelling  houses  having  been  fairly  well  completed,  one  for  each 
family,  the  question  arose,  "  Which  of  the  great-lots  shall  be  for  the 
minister's  use?"  This  question  was  asked  in  a  letter  written  a  few 
months  later  in  the  same  year,  on  February  20,  1681,  by  Timothy 
Standly,  and  Abraham  Andrews,  **  select  men,"  to  the  committee. 
Surely  this  was  commendable  promptness  on  the  part  of  the 
founders  of  the  town  in  preparing  the  way  for  the  coming  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  The  answer  of  the  committee  was  deferred 
until  April,  when  it  was  given  in  the  following  words :  "  We 
leave  it  to  your  judgment,  to  be  determined  by  the  major  part 
'of  the  inhabitants,  and  if  you  cannot  agree,  we  shall  determine." 
We  infer  that  the  lot  was  chosen  by  the  inhabitants,  in  the  absence 
of  any  evidence  contrary  to  that  inference.  The  house  that  was 
built  on  that  lot,  it  is  thought,  occupied  a  site  that  included  the 
land  on  which  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  house  of  Mrs. 
John  C.  Booth  is  standing. 

Next  west  of  the  minister's  house,  is  a  lot  that  was  originally 
allotted  to  William  Higginson,  who  was  twenty-six  years  of  age  at 
the  time  he  signed  the  Articles  in  1674.  His  wife  was  Sarah,  the 
daughter  of  John  Warner,  Senior,  thus  associating  with  the  first  days 
of  the  Plantation,  as  original  planters,  John  Warner,  his  sons  John, 
Daniel,  and  Thomas,  and  his  daughter  Sarah — the  date  of  whose 
marriage  with  William  Higginson  I  have  not  learned — as  well 
as  the  third  generation  of  Warners,  in  the  children  of  John,  Junior, 
Thomas,  and  Daniel.  This  lot  was  subsequently  bestowed  upon 
Edmund  Scott,  Junior.  Our  only  authority  for  the  ages  of  the 
children  of  Edmund  Scott  is  the  Probate  Court  record,  according 
to  which,  Edmund,  Junior,  is  at  this  time,  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  yet  he  had  been  granted  the  house  lot  of  William  Higgin- 
son in  1679,  and  his  house  is  now  complained  of,  because  it  has  no 
chimney.  The  gift  at  this  time,  to  Edmund  Scott,  Junior,  from  his 
father,  of  a  house  on  the  same  lot,  in  order  to  avoid  the  forfeiture 
of  his  son's  allotments,  suggests  that  we  perhaps  ought  to  find  two 
houses  on  the  lot. 

The  next  lot  is  Benjamin  Judd's.  He  has  been  living  nominally 
in  Mattatuck,  several  years,  but  delayed  to  finish   his  house  until 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  167 

two  months  ago.  His  wife  is  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Captain 
William  Lewis  of  Farmington — Benjamin  is  not  yet  forty  years 
of  age.     His  wife  is  thirty-six.     Their  children  are: 

Benjamin,  age  10  years,  Sarah,  age  4  years, 

Mary,  age  6  years,  Hannah,  age  2  months. 

The  next  house  lot  is  John  Welton's.  His  age  and  parentage  are 
unknown.  On  this  lot  he  has  built  a  house  to  the  acceptance  of  his 
townsmen,  for  no  complaint  has  been  made  by  them  to  the  com- 
mittee. In  it,  John  is  living  with  his  wife,  Mary,  and  their  six 
children. 

Abigail,  age  14  years,  John,  age  8  years, 

Mary,  age  12  years,  Stephen,  age  3  years, 

Elizabeth,  age  10  years,  Richard,  age  19  months. 

Especial  interest  is  attached  to  the  above  infant,  Richard  Wel- 
ton,  because  family  tradition  claims  his  birth  as  that  of  the  first 
English  male  child  in  Mattatuck.  An  account  "  of  the  Welton 
family  in  Waterbury,"  by  Richard  Welton,  who  writes  that  he  (the 
writer)  "is  the  great-grandson  of  John  Welton,  who  came  from 
England,"  gives  the  date  of  Richard's  birth  as  **  September  27* 
1679  ;  "  but  it  is  the  only  date  given  in  the  manuscript.  Our  town 
record  states  that  this  child  was  "  bom  in  Waterbury,  sometime  in 
March,  1680."  Assuming  that  the  public  record  is  the  true  one, 
Richard  Welton  seems  to  have  two  competitors  for  the  honor.  One 
of  them  is  little  John  Warner,  who  by  record  was  "  born  in  Water- 
bury,  March  6th,  1680  ; "  the  other  is  Abraham  Andrews,  the  next 
door  neighbor  of  young  Richard. 

Abraham  Andrews,  Senior,  was  early  on  the  ground,  and  seems  to 
have  fulfilled  all  his  obligations  with  great  faithfulness.  His  house 
lot  is  next  west  of  John  Welton's.  Here  he  lives  with  his  wife 
Rebecca  Carrington,  daughter  it  is  believed  of  John  Carrington  of 
Wethersfield,  and  sister  of  John  Carrington  of  Mattatuck,  with  their 
four  children, 

Rebecca,  age  9  years,  Hannah,  2ge  3  years, 

Mary,  age  7  years,  Abraham,  born  October  14th,  1680. 

The  record  of  Abraham  Andrews*  children  does  not  say  that  this 
Abraham  was  born  in  Waterbury,  but,  as  one  of  the  requirements 
was  that  the  proprietors  should  be  personally  living  with  their 
families  at  Mattatuck  by  May,  1680,  and  other  men  have  been  com- 
plained of  because  they  were  not  here  at  that  time,  and  Abraham 
has  escaped  all  censure,  we  infer  that  he  was  living  here  in  his 
own  house  when  this  child  was  born.  Based  upon  the  above  as  a 
conclusion,  the  birth  of  this  young  Abraham  Andrews  antedates 
that  of  Richard  Welton  and  John  Warner  by  five  months. 


1 68  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

Next  west,  we  find  a  "  great-lot/' — house  lot,  whose  first  occu- 
pant will  be  Reverend  John  Southmayd,  about  1 704, 

Having  reached  Willow  street,  w.e  find  on  its  western  border  a 
lot  with  John  Langton's  name  on  it.  Of  this  lot  we  know  little. 
There  was  probably  no  house  upon  it. 

Benjamin  Jones  is  the  owner  and  occupier  of  the  adjoining  lot. 
His  wife  is  Hannah  Spencer,  to  whom  he  has  been  married  twenty 
years.  They  have  at  least  one  child,  Benjamin,  age  unknown. 
Benjamin  Jones  has  been  absent  from  the  plantation  too  much  to 
please  his  neighbors,  and  complaints  have  been  made  ;  but,  as  he 
was  on  the  ground  in  time,  and  built  his  house  in  time,  the  commit- 
tee will  ignore  complaints.  This  is  also  the  lot  on  which  John 
Andrews,  the  father  of  Abraham,  the  cooper,  intended  to  build  and 
live. 

We  will  pass  by  the  small  lot  of  only  three-quarters  of  an  acre, 
on  which  young  Thomas  Judd  will  live  when  he  becomes  of  age  to 
receive  lands.  Crossing  West  Main  street,  we  come  to  the  home- 
stead of  the  late  Judge  Bronson.  It  is  the  scene  of  Abraham  Bron- 
son's  early  attempts  to  settle  in  Mattatuck.  This  was  before  Lyme 
and  his  wife  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Matthew  Griswold  of  that 
plantation,  lured  him  away.  He  was  married  three  months  after 
the  articles  were  signed,  and  was  living  in  Mattatuck  in  1677.  Now 
we  find  John  Scovill  in  possession,  the  allotments  having  been 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  committee.  John  Scovill's  house  is 
without  a  chimney.  In  1688  "  the  town  of  Farmington  voted  to  have 
a  town  house  to  keep  school  in."  It  was  to  be  eighteen  "foot'* 
square  "besides  the  chimney  space."  Mr.  Julius  Gay,  of  Farming- 
ton,  in  his  "  Schools  and  Schoolmasters  in  Farmington  in  the  Olden 
Time,"  refers  to  the  above  clause  relating  to  the  chimney  as  "  sig- 
nificant," and  tells  us  that  "chimneys  were  at  first  built  on  the  out- 
side of  the  houses;  that  they  were  not  built  of  bricks,  for  there 
were  no  bricks  in  the  country  except  those  brought  by  the  Dutch- 
men from  Holland;  that  they  were  not  built  of  stone,  because  there 
was  no  lime  for  mortar  but  the  little  that  could  be  obtained  from 
the  burning  of  oyster  shells.  Accordingly,  chimneys  were  built  of 
wood,  laid  up  log-house  fashion,  and  lined  with  clay.  Of  course  the 
clay  was  continually  coming  off  and  the  houses  taking  fire."  How- 
ever the  chimneys  of  Farmington  may  have  been  built,  the  men  of 
Waterbury  built  stone  chimneys,  laid  in  clay,  oXsivery  early  date,  and 
there  is  reason  to  think  that  the  houses  of  the  first  settlers  were 
constructed  with  stone  chimneys.  There  was  a  house,  built,  it  is 
thought,  by  the  first  Stephen  Upson— it  was  certainly  given  by  him 
to  his  son  Stephen — that  had   a   stone   chimney.     It  stood  on  the 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  169 

southwest  corner  of  Grand  and  Bank  streets,  and  was  taken  down 
in  1839,  after  the  death  of  David  Prichard,  who  had  lived  in  it  more 
than  a  century.  The  late  Johnson  house,  that  was  built  before  1723, 
by  a  son  of  John  Scovil,  the  planter,  had  a  stone  chimney,  laid  in 
clay;  while  the  heirs  of  another  "signer"  divided  among  them- 
selves the  house  of  their  father,  even  to  the  stones  of  the  chimney. 
Two  of  the  houses  referred  to  certainly  had  chimneys  in  the  centre. 
The  fact  that  there  are  in  1681  four  houses  without  chimneys,  cer- 
tainly indicates  that  the  chimney  was  supplementary  to  the  house. 
John  Scovill  has  been  married  about  sixteen  years.  His  wife  is 
Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Barnes,  of  Farmington.  Their  chil- 
dren are  John,  who  is  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  William,  Benjamin, 
and  perhaps  others. 

Lying  to  the  northward  of  the  John  Scovill  lot  is  the  habitation 
of  William  Judd.  William,  three  of  his  brothers  and  John  Stanley, 
communicated  to  the  church  at  Farmington  their  desire  to  remove 
to  Mattatuck.  The  following  is  the  reply  that  was  made  concern- 
ing William's  request :  "  Particularly  to  our  brother  William  Judd, 
that  it  having  pleased  God  to  deal  so  bountifully  with  him,  that  not 
many  of  the  brethren  with  us  have  so  large  accommodations  as  him- 
self, yet  see  not  his  call  to  remove  on  account  of  straightness  for 
outward  subsistence  and  therefore  counsel  him,  if  it  may  be  with 
satisfaction  to  his  spirit,  to  continue  his  abode  with  us,  hoping  God 
will  bless  him  in  so  doing."  In  May  1680,  William's  family  was  not 
living  in  Mattatuck.  Because  of  this  omission  his  allotments  were 
taken  from  him.  But  last  March  he  accepted  them  again  and 
promised  to  live  in  Mattatuck.  Therefore,  we  expect  to  find  him  in 
November  of  1681,  very  comfortably  housed.  He  is  about  forty- 
five  years  old  ;  has  been  married  twenty-three  years  to  Mary,  the 
daughter  of  John  Steele.  Their  eldest  child,  Mary,  has  been  for  two 
years  the  wife  of  Abel  Jones,  of  Northampton.  The  children  at 
Mattatuck  are  six: 

Thomas,  age  18  years,  Samuel,  age  8  years, 

John,  age  14  years,  Daniel,  age  6  years, 

Rachel,  age  11  years,  Elizabeth,  age  3  years. 

Returning  to  West  Main  street,  on  the  corner  where  Mr.  Charles 
Mitchell  is  now  living,  we  find  John  Warner,  Junior.  He  has  built 
his  house  without  delay  or  deficiency,  unconscious  of  the  fact  that 
he  is  living  on  the  ground  where  sixty  years  later  will  be  erected 
the  first  Church  of  England  edifice  in  the  Naugatuck  Valley.  Here 
we  find  him  with  his  wife  and  their  five  children: 

John,  age  1 1  years,  Ebenezer,  age  4  years, 

Ephraim,  about  11  years,  Lydia,  age  6  months. 

Robert,  age  unknown. 


lyo 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Next  eastward  is  the  lot  given  to  John  Porter  and  resigned  by 
him  in  1677,  we  know  not  why.  David  Carpenter  was  the  next  owner, 
but  he  is  under  sentence  of  forfeiture.  It  stands  now  in  the  hands 
of  the  committee  awaiting  the  coming  of  Robert  Porter  in  1684. 

Going  eastward  we  find  on  the  next  lot,  containing  one  and 
three-quarter  acres,  the  unfinished  house  of  Thomas  Hancox.  It 
is  "covered  almost  all  and  clabborded  and  noe  chimney."  Three 
of  his  neighbors  testify  that  he  has  "  deserted  the  place,  being  gone 
all  or  the  greatest  [part]  of  the  year  past."  Thomas  Hancox  has 
the  largest  estate,  save  one — that  of  William  Lewis — in  Farmington. 
This  evidence  does  not  speak  well  for  Thomas,  and  perhaps  not  for 
Rachel  Leonard  of  Springfield,  who,  apparently,  keeps  him  waiting 
for  three  years  before  she  consents  to  live  in  Mattatuck  as  Mrs. 
Hancox.  Meanwhile,  the  settlers  will  complain  relentlessly; 
Thomas  will  return  to  duty;  sign  anew  the  promise  to  keep  his 
pledges  ;  finish  his  house,  and  perhaps  furnish  his  neighbors  w^th 
food,  for  Thomas  Hancox  is  a  butcher.  He  will  stay  long  enough 
to  perfect  his  title  as  a  proprietor — to  have  two  islands,  a  brook, 
beautiful  meadows,  and  one  little  child,  bear  his  name — ^and  then  he 
will  flit  to  Farmington,  to  Hartford,  to  Farmington  again — and 
years  afterward  a  grandson  will  sell  his  rights  in  the  township. 

On  the  lot  bearing  the  name  of  Samuel  Gridley,  with  Thomas 
Newell  beneath  it,  we  find  Thomas,  aged  thirty-one  years,  with  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  Wrotham,  and  their  infant  son  Thomas.  "  He  came 
not  according  to  Articles  ;  neither  built  according  to  Articles.  Ye 
house  not  finished  in  time."  The  time,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
the  thirtieth  of  last  May. 

John  Bronson  has  the  first  two-acre  house  lot  that  we  have  met 
with  since  leaving  Willow  street.  He  has  the  honor  of  having  per- 
formed the  conditions  of  his  contract  to  the  acceptance  of  his  towns- 
men and  the  committee.  No  complaint  has  been  made.  His  age  is 
thirty- seven.  His  wife  is  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Moses  Ventrus. 
Her  age  is  thirty-two.     Their  children  are: 

John,  age  11  years,  Dorothy,  age  six  years, 

Sarah,  age  9  years,  Ebenezer,  age  4  years. 

Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  has  a  larger  house  lot  than  has  been  allotted 
to  any  of  his  neighbors  to  the  westward,  for  it  is  two  and  one- 
quarter  acres.  This  Thomas  Judd,  "Junior"  in  Farmington,  is  to 
become  our  Lieutenant  Judd.  He  will  be  our  first  deputy  to  the 
General  Court.  Dr.  Bronson  speaks  of  him  as,  "  the  leading  man  of 
the  infant  town."  He  has  followed  in  John  Bronson's  footsteps. 
He  arrived  in  time.  His  family  was  in  Mattatuck  by  the  last  of 
May,  1680,  and  the  last  of  May,  1681,  he  was  living  in  his  own  finished 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION, 


171 


house,  his  family  abiding  with  him.  He  is  now  forty-three  years 
of  age.  About  twenty-one  years  ago  Thomas  Judd  married  Sarah, 
the  daughter  of  John  Steel  of  Farmington.    Their  children  are  : 

Thomas,  about  18  years,  John,  about  12  years. 

Sarah,  about  16  years, 

The  next  lot  was  bestowed  upon  Daniel  Warner.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  he  died  two  years  ago,  when  the  family  was  mov- 
ing from  Farmington  to  Mattatuck.  We  may  expect  to  find  that 
Mrs.  Warner  has  built  her  house  according  to  the  advice  of  the 
committee,  and  that  she  is  living  in  it  with  her  children : 

Daniel,  age  14  years,  Samuel,  age  6  years, 

John,  age  10  years,  Thomas,  age  4  years. 

Abigail,  age  8  years. 

The  lot  of  Obadiah  Richards  lies  to  the  eastward  of  the  Warner 
lot.  It  contains  three  acres.  He  has  built  a  house,  but  "  it  is  not 
according  to  the  dimensions  of  articles."  Whether  the  length 
was  too  long,  or  the  breadth  was  too  narrow,  we  are  not  informed  ; 
neither  are  we  told  that  the  house  was  too  small.  Dr.  Bronson  tells 
us  that  Obadiah  Richards  joined  the  settlement  early  ;  that 
he  had  an  old  Town  Plot  lot,  and  that  he  made  his  propor- 
tion of  fence  in  all  the  divisions,  but  that  he  had  a  tardy,  slip-shod 
way  of  doing  things,  and  that  when  the  crisis  came  it  was  found 
that  he  had  not  rendered  a  full  compliance  with  the  conditions  of 
the  articles,  and  his  allotments  were  condemned — that  he  mended 
his  ways,  however,  and  his  rights  were  restored.  By  means  of  the 
paper  on  which  Major  Talcott  recorded  the  complaints,  we  learn 
the  exact  nature  of  each  proprietor's  sin  against  the  law  of  the 
committee,  and  are  able  to  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  Obadiah  Rich- 
ards. So  far  from  being  "  slip-shod,"  he  certainly  has  been  exceed- 
ingly enterprising  and  industrious  to  have  accomplished  so  much 
as  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  house  and  home  building,  especially 
when  we  stop  to  consider  that  he  has  but  one  boy  to  help,  and  five 
little  girls  to  hinder  him  in  his  struggle  with  the  wilderness.  He 
was  granted  the  only  three-acre  house  lot  fronting  the  green  plain. 
It  extended  on  the  north  to  present  Grove  street.  Before  the 
estate  to  which  this  house  belongs  is  settled,  the  lot  and  the  house 
will  be  divided  among  the  sons  and  the  daughters,  even  to  the 
stones  of  the  chimney.  About  fifteen  years  ago,  when  about  twenty- 
eight  years  old,  Obadiah  Richards  married  Hannah,  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Andrews,  of  Farmington.     Their  children  are  : 

John,  age  14  years,  Elizabeth,  age  6  years, 

Mary,  age  12  years,  Sarah,  age  4  years, 

Hannah,  age  10  years,  Obadiah,  age  2  years. 
Esther,  age  8  years, 


172 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 


On  March  21st,  1679,  in  the  old  meeting-house  at  Farmington, 
Obadiah  Richards  and  his  wife  presented  their  seven  children  for 
baptism.  It  was  probably  just  before  their  removal  to  Mattatuck. 
We  find  the  same  seven  children  here  in  1681. 

The  next  lot  will  be  found  marked  Thomas  Judd,  for  son  Sam", 
and  beneath,  Philip  Judd.  Samuel  Judd  was  not  of  age  in  1674, 
therefore  his  father  became  responsible  for  him.  In  the  house  on 
this  lot  we  have  the  pleasure  to  present  to  all  whom  she  may  inter- 
est, the  first  English  bride  of  Mattatuck.  She  is  only  eighteen,  and 
the  wedding  journey  has  been  from  Massachusetts  to  Mattatuck. 
The  arrival  and  the  moving  into  the  new  house  has  taken  place  this 
very  month.  The  bride  is  Mariah,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  Strong,  of  Northampton.  In  his  "Thomas  Judd  and  his 
Descendants,"  Mr.  Sylvester  Judd  tells  us  that  this  marriage  cere- 
mony took  place  **  about  1681."  We  are  able  to  add  to  that  testimony 
that  "  Samuel  Judd  built  and  went  into  his  house  in  Mattatuck  in 
Novemb',  '81:  and  not  fit  before — that  it  was  shingled  about  Mich- 
aelmus."  The  above  testimony  was  given  by  Stephen  Upson,  Isaac 
Bronson,  and  Daniel  Porter.  The  first  child  of  Samuel  Judd  was 
bom  in  the  October  following.  Philip  Judd  did  not  become  the  occu- 
pant until  1687. 

Joseph  Hickok  *  is  the  owner  and  occupier  of  the  next  lot,  hav- 
ing met  and  fulfilled  all  the  required  conditions.  We  find  Joseph 
Hikcox  and  his  wife  in  their  finished  house  with  their  children: 

Joseph,  age  9  years,  Mary,  age  5  years, 

Benjamin,  age  7  years,  Elizabeth,  age  2  years. 

Samuel  Hickox,  one  of  the  influential  men  of  Mattatuck,  lives  to 

the  eastward  of  his  brother  Joseph,     In  every  way,  he  seems  to  have 

done  his  duty,  and  although  he  is  not  one  of  the  eleven  planters 

whose  interests  are  represented  by  ;^ioo,  we  expect  to  find  on  his 

lot  a  larger  and  a  fairer  house  than  his  neighbors  have  indulged  in. 

His  wife  is  Hannah .     Their  children  are: 

Samuel,  age  13  years,  Thomas,  age  7  years, 

Hannah,  age  11  years,  Joseph,  age  4  years, 

William,  age  9  years,  Mary,  age  i  year. 

We  are  now  come  to  the  house  lot  occupied  in  part  in  1892, 
by  The  Citizens'  Bank  and  by  Mr.  Henry  Scovill.  Richard  Sea- 
mer  was  the  first  recipient  of  it.     He  built  his  proportion  of  the 


*  This  name,  now  usually  rendered  Hickox,  has  been  given  in  many  forms,  seemingly  ranging  at  pleasure 
from  Hitchcock  to  Hicks.  When  Samuel  Hickox,  brother  of  Joseph,  signed  his  name  to  the  inventory  of 
the  estate  of  John  Bronson  in  Mattatuck,  in  1680,  the  recorder  at  Hartford  made  it  Samuel  Hitchcock.  The 
baptismal  records  at  Farmington  give  it  as  Hitchcock,  and  as  Hickcock.  Waterbury  Records  usually  render 
it  Hikcox.  While  upon  the  tombstone  of  a  member  of  the  same  family  was  placed  the  name  Hicks.  There 
lies  before  me  an  agreement,  made  in  1707,  between  William  and  Benjamin  Hickox,  sons  of  Samuel  the 
planter,  to  which  iheir  autographs  are  appended.    The  one  is  William  Hickcox,  the  other,  Benjamin  Hecock. 


.VATTATUCE  AS  A  PLANTATION: 


>73 


first  division  of  the  common  fence,  and  then  left  the  plantation. 
Benjamin  Barnes  was  his  successor.  There  is  a  house  upon  the  lot 
at  this  date.  Benjamin  Barnes  is  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  The 
name  of  his  wife  we  know  only  as  Sarah— and  the  date  of  the  mar- 
riage has  not  been  found.  Benjamin,  their  first  child  of  which  we 
have  record,  was  born  in  1684.  Mention  is  here  made  of  this  Ben- 
jamin Barnes  to  preserve  the  fact  that  his  grave-stone  is  the  oldest 
one  known  to  be  within  the 
ancient  township  of  Waterbury. 
It  is  here  given,  and  is  identified 
from  its  date,  ly'g,  and  the  ini- 
tials B.  B.  Benjamin  Barnes 
died  in  1709,  aged  twenty-five 
years.  The  stone  was  discover- 
ed in  1890,  in  the  Grand  street 
cemetery.  It  had  sunken  until 
the  rough  edge  only  of  what 
appeared  to  be  a  common  field 
stone  was  raised  perhaps  a  half- 
inch  out  of  the  soil.  It  bears  a 
date  at  least  seventeen  years 
earlier  than  any  other  tomb- 
stone in  the  township.* 

Leaving  the  green  plain,  we 
turn  to  the  left,  enter  the  North 
highway,  and  visit  the  most 
northern  habitation  of  the  plan- 
tation. No  latch-string  is  out,  for 
John  Newell,  his  neighbors  say, 
does  not  stay  at  home.  His  house 
is  finished  and  waiting.  John  Newell's  life-story  we  may  not  tell 
He  brings  no  bride  to  cheer  the  North-street  house  during  all  the 
lonely  thirteen  years  that  he  holds  it.  His  age  is  thirty-nine  years. 
The  name  upon  the  lot  is  "Thomas  Newell  son." 

We  turn  to  his  neighbor  on  the  south,  the  reliable  Isaac  Bron- 
son.  He  is  a  man  who  seems  in  all  ways  to  have  been  faithful  to 
his  promises,  building  on  his  four-acre  lot  in  time,  and  "according 
to  articles,"  and  therefore  not  afraid  to  enter  complaints  against 
others.  Isaac  is  thirty-five  years  of  age.  His  wife  is  Mary,  the 
daughter  of  John  Root  of  Farmington.     Their  children  are: 

Isaac,  age  11  years,  Samuel,  age  5  years, 

John,  age  8  years,  Mary,  age  i  year. 


!l  Hopkim 


h  Hopkin. 


174  HiarORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

John  Standly,  Junior,  or,  as  usually  written  on  Waterbur}^ 
Records,  John  Standly,  is  the  occupier  of  the  next  lot,  containing 
three  and  one-half  acres.  In  1681,  this  young  man  of  thirty-four 
years  is  quite  unconscious  of  the  important  position  he  is  destined 
to  fill  during  the  coming  fourteen  years  of  the  town's  life.  Our 
regret  is  that  he  did  not  see  the  importance  of  copying,  for  preser- 
vation, more  of  the  events  connected  with  the  early  days  of  planta- 
tion and  town.  He  was  appointed  to  perform  that  duty  by  his 
townsmen  after  he  left  Waterbury.  It  is  now  twelve  years  since 
Hester  Newell  (the  sister  of  John,  who  has  the  house  two  doors 
above)  and  John  Stanley  were  married  in  Farmington.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  these  parents  have  known  the  broadening  touch  of  sorrow, 
for  bereavement  has  been  their  lot.  Before  coming  to  Mattatuck, 
they  lost  two  children,  Esther  and  John.    Their  children  in  1681  are: 

Esther,  age  7  years,  Nathaniel,  age  2  years. 

Samuel,  age  4  3'ears, 

On  the  next  and  last  lot  before  reaching  East  Main  street,  we 

find  the  land   originally  allotted  to   Thomas  Gridley;  but  it  does 

not  appear  that  he  even  attempted  to  make  a  rod  of  the  common 

fence,  or  to  fulfill  any  of  the   duties  incumbent  upon  a  "signer." 

John  Stanley,  naturally  wishing  his  own  sister,  Sarah  Gaylord,  to 

live  next  door,  assumed  the   responsibility  of    Thomas   Gridley's 

allotments  in  behalf  of    Joseph   Gaylord,   her    husband.      Joseph 

Gaylord  is  thirty-two  years  of  age,  his  wife  is  twenty -nine.     Their 

children  are  : 

Sarah,  age  10  years,  John,  age  4  years, 

Joseph,  age  8  years,  William,  age  i  year, 

and  perhaps  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth.  The  record  of  Joseph  Gay- 
lord's  children  is  not  quite  satisfactory,  either  as  to  their  number, 
order,  or  ages.  Neither  is  his  house  quite  satisfactory,  but,  "  it  is 
large  enough  and  ovned." 

Crossing  "  the  highway  runningeastwardout  of  the  Town  Plat,  " 
on  the  south-east  comer  of  the  green  plain  (now  East  and  South 
Main  streets)  we  are  at  the  house  lot  "  reserved  for  such  inhabitant 
as  should  thereafter  be  entertained."  The  "  entertained  "  resident 
guest  proved,  as  we  know,  to  be  the  miller,  Stephen  Hopkins.  The 
mill  at  Hartford  from  its  beginning  seems  to  have  been  held  in  the 
Hopkins  family;  Governor  Edward  Hopkins  himself  owning  the 
mill  or  an  interest  in  it.  It  is  not  easy  to  recognize  through  the 
centuries  the  exact  condition  of  this  lot  in  Mattatuck  in  1687.  It  is 
less  than  two  years  since  this  two  acre  lot  was  bestowed  upon 
Stephen  Hopkins,  who  had  built  the  corn-mill  in  1680,  but  what 
may  be  found  upon  it  in  November  1681,  we  are  not  able  to  record. 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  175 

Occupying^  the  next  lot  to  the  southward,  on  which  is  the  name 
^*  John  Warner,  Sr."  with  "  Thomas  Warner  "  beneath  it,  we  find  the 
son,  Thomas  Warner.  This  is  the  land  it  will  be  remembered  upon 
which  a  cellar  had  been  made  in  1679,  the  cellar  which  the  Assem- 
bly's Committee  permitted  to  stand.  Thomas  Warner  has  failed  to 
build  his  house  in  time.  It  is  not  finished,  but  that  fact  does  not 
necessarily  prevent  our  finding  that  his  family  is  living  in  it,  and 
as  our  records  tell  us  that  a  son  was  born  to  Thomas  Warner  in 
Mattatuck,  March  6,  1680,  and  the  family  continued  here,  we  may 
expect  to  find  him  here  with  his  wife  Elizabeth,  and  their  children, 

Elizabeth,  age  unknown,  John,  age  20  months. 

Benjamin,  age  unknown, 

Southward  of  Thomas  Warner's  homestead  lies  the  house  lot 
belonging  to  the  "  Ministry."  On  a  lot  south  of  the  above  lies  the 
new  house  lot  that  was  laid  out  for  Stephen  Upson,  the  accepted 
proprietor.  Stephen  has  without  doubt  built  his  house,  but  his 
home  lot  lies  in  a  lonely  spot,  he  having  no  next-door  neighbor, 
and  it  may  be  that  he  is  permitted  to  live  on  the  south  side  of  the 
green  plain,  where  he  has  a  merry  company  of  half-brothers,  for  his 
mother  is  now  the  wife  of  Edmund  Scott.  Stephen  is  destined  to 
wait  another  year  for  his  home,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Lee,  who  will 
come  from  Farmington.  Nearly  all  that  Mattatuck  gains,  Farm- 
ington  must  lose. 

Thus  we  find  that  in  1681,  Mattatuck  is  a  village  of  twenty- 
eight  dwelling-houses.  Fifteen  of  the  number  are  finished  houses, 
thereby  placing  their  owners  on  the  Roll  of  Honor ;  thirteen  are 
incomplete,  or  otherwise  unsatisfactory.  Two  of  the  planters  have 
failed  to  build;  and  two  house  lots  are  to  us  as  undiscovered  terri- 
tory. We  find  twenty-two  families  (including  one  widow)  in  which 
there  are  ninety-three  children;  and  one  household  is  without 
children.  There  is  one  new  home;  and  there  are  six  planters  who 
are  not  married  men.  To  these  must  be  added,  in  our  thought  of 
the  inhabitants,  the  unknown  number  of  persons  who,  in  the 
natural  course  of  town  building,  made  themselves  necessary  to  the 
young  plantation,  but  whose  presence  never  became  a  matter  of 
permanent  record.  It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  Matta- 
tuck received  some  of  the  Indian  captives — the  residue  of  the  war — 
and  that  they  lived  here  during  their  term  of  servitude  ;  for  the 
records  of  the  colony  are  replete  with  indications  that  the  early 
inhabitants  utilized  the  labor  of  the  "  Indian "  in  many  ways. 
Counting  only  the  legalized  inhabitants  whom  we  can  name  we 
find  one  hundred  and  forty-five  souls  in  Mattatuck  in  1681. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  LETTER  FROM  FARMINGTON — DIRECTIONS  REGARDING  THE  GREAT  LOTS 
— WAYS  FOR  PASSAGES  THROUGH  THE  MEADOWS — THE  COMMITTEE 
MEETING  OF  1682 — ITS   CONDEMNATIONS    AND    FORFEITURES. 

'"T^HREE  months  after  the  date  of  the  preceding  chapter,  Timothy 
J^  Standly  and  Abraham  Andrus,  as  selectmen,  wrote  to  the 
Committee  for  Mattatuck,  asking  advice.  The  date  of  the 
letter  was  February  20,  1681.  It  was  near  the  time  of  the  annual 
meeting  when  the  letter  was  written.  The  committee  waited  six 
weeks  before  answering  the  questions.  The  inquiries  may  be 
inferred  from  the  replies  given.  The  inhabitants  were  permitted 
to  choose  from  among  the  three  great  lots,  the  lot  that  should  be 
for  the  minister's  use,  and  were  told  that  in  case  they  could  not 
agree  among  themselves,  the  committee  would  decide  the  matter. 
Another  question  had  been  asked  in  regard  to  the  great  lots,  in 
reply  to  which,  the  committee  wrote  :  "  Our  answer  is,  men  at 
present  to  take  up  these  lots  do  not  appear  to  us.  We  are  not 
forward  to  break  them,  hoping  in  time  some  of  worth  and  useful- 
ness will  appear,  and  for  the  present  leave  it  in  the  hands  and 
power  of  Sergt.  Thomas  Judd,  Sergt.  John  Standly  and 
Samuel  Hikcox  [to]  let  out  the  three  great  lots,  and  to  break  up 
two  or  three  acres  in  each  lot,  and  to  defray  all  common  charges." 
This  reply  indicates  that  the  inhabitants  had  asked  if  the  great  lots 
could  be  divided  so  as  to  admit  men  who  desired  to  become  pro- 
prietors of  small  holdings  in  the  township.  It  also  reveals  to  us  that 
the  committee  held  ambitious  hopes  for  Mattatuck ;  hopes  which 
they  quietly  veil  behind  the  words  "  Some  of  worth  and  usefulness," 
when  they  might  have  written,  "some  of  wealth  and  station;  men 
fitted  to  rule  a  plantation." 

The  answer  to  the  second  question  is  especially  interesting,  as 
it  touches  the  subject  of  highways.  "In  reference  unto  ways  to  be 
laid  out  for  passage  through  your  meadow  lands,  our  answer  is,  that 
we  desire  and  appoint  [the  same  committee]  to  lay  out  ways 
through  sd  meadows  of  twenty  foot  wide  or  more  if  they  judge 
needful,  for  cart,  horse,  or  oxen  in  yoke  ;  every  man  to  hold  the 
property  of  the  land  taken  out  of  his  and  their  allotments  forever, 
only  to  be  improved  for  the  use  afores'd  of  a  passage,  the  pasturage 
to  belong  to  him   or  them  through  whose  lot  the  way  shall  be  laid 


MATTATUGK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  177 

out/'  "Serg.t"  Thomas  Judd,  Isaac  Bronson  and  Benjamin 
Judd  had  applied  to  the  committee  for  guidance  in  reference  to 
herding  of  cattle.  The  answer  was  :  "  We  do  order  and  appoint  for 
the  future  that  the  inhabitants  at  a  town-meeting,  the  major  part 
of  the  inhabitants  so  met  shall  have  full  power  to  resolve  and 
determine  the  way  and  method  for  herding,  and  to  state  what  shall 
be  charged  for  keeping  of  cows,  and  what  shall  be  levied  on  dry- 
cattle."  This  letter,  announcing  the  result  of  the  meeting,  is  signed 
by  three  members  of  the  committee,  John  Talcott,  John  Wadsworth 
and  Nicholas  Olmstead.  It  was  "  Taken  out  of  the  original "  by 
John  Wadsworth.  This  is  the  first  known  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee that  we  have  not  in  the  *'  original."  Without  doubt.  Major 
Talcott's  many  duties  prevented  him  from  sending  this  one  to  Mat- 
tatuck. 

February  6,  1682,  the  committee  met  again.     The  meeting  was 
held  at  Farmington.     It  was  fraught  with  momentous  consequences 
to   certain  proprietor   inhabitants    of  Mattatuck.     Fifteen  months 
had  passed  since  the  time  expired  that  had  been  appointed  by  the 
committee  for  the  dwelling  houses  in  Mattatuck  to  stand  perfected. 
In  the  interval,  sm  annual  meeting  had  been  held.     Its  permits,  and 
one  order,  we  have  just  enumerated  as  contained  in  the  letter  sent 
to  the  selectmen.     No  hint  has  been  given  of  condemnation  or  for- 
feiture.    The  inhabitants  have  been  allowed  to  go  on,  living  in  and 
finishing  their  houses  in  apparent   security,   when   suddenly    the 
sword  of  justice  descends  upon  them,  and — wonder  of  wonders — it  is 
wielded  to  the  drop,  through  the  agency  of  certain  of  the  planters 
themselves.     In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  few  men  who  came  first 
and  built  first  had  made  complaints  to  the  committee  because  their 
old  Farmington   neighbors  tarried  in  their  homes,  one  would  not 
naturally  expect  to  find  the  same  men  again  raising  their  voices  in 
complaint,   when  their  neighbors  and  their  brothers  had  arrived, 
and  were  making  their  very  hearts  glad  by  their  presence,  simply 
because  the  same  neighbors  and  brothers  had  been  a  little  late  in 
finishing  their  houses;  but  this  is  precisely  what  they  did  do.     We 
meet  here,  among  our  own  planters,  one  of  the  surprises  that  assail 
us  at  so  many  points  in  the  life  of  the  Puritan,  affording  another 
proof  that  there  was  something  in   the  men  of  that  day   that   we 
have  never  quite  understood — that  we  have  never  begun  to  under- 
stand— and  the  knowledge  of  this  facts  hould  cause  us  to  withhold  our 
judgment  in  numberless  instances.     This  not-understood  somethings 
led  our  planters  straight  on  in  the  path  of  law,  which  to  them  was 
the  King's  Highway  of  Duty,  and  valiantly  they  trod  it,  even  when 
the  journey  took  away  the  thing  they  had  most  earnestly  sought  for. 
12 


178  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

Thus  we  find  at  the  very  opening  of  this  meeting  at  Farmington, 
in  February,  1682,  the  following  statement  from  the  committee: 
**  We  having  heard  the  complaints  ;  and  Alligations  of  Serg'. 
Thomas  Judd,  and  Serg*.  John  Standly  and  other  Friends  sent 
from  Mattatuck,  as  persons  impowered  to  implead  sundry  of  the 
proprietors  there,  for  that  they  have  not  erected  their  dwelling 
Housen,  and  finished  the  same,  according  to  provision  and  enjunc- 
tion  by  Articles  concluded  by  the  Committee  for  Mattatuck, 
November  26,  1679."  We  have  no  reason  to  think  that  it  gave 
either  John  Standly  or  Thomas  Judd  any  pleasure  or  profit  to  have 
their  brothers  dispossessed  of  their  allotments,  or  to  lose  one-half 
of  the  householders,  and  yet  they  laid  and  pursued  the  plan  for 
precisely  that  result.  It  was  from  these  "  complaints  and  alliga- 
tions "  that  we  were  able  to  draw  the  picture  of  Mattatuck  in  i68i. 
At  the  risk  of  being  wearisome  we  will  give  them  in  their  due  form 
and  order.  As  the  committee  listened  to  the  story.  Major  Talcott 
made  notes  upon  a  piece  of  paper  seven  and  one-half  by  eight 
inches.  That  piece  of  paper,  yellow  with  age,  crumpled  and  worn, 
was  among  the  discovered  documents  so  often  alluded  to  ;  and  by 
its  light  we  have  been  able  to  throw  color  and  form  into  a  region 
that  seemed  destitute  of  both. 

The  first  act  of  the  committee  at  this  meeting  was  to  adjudge 
and  condemn  all  the  granted  allotments,  formerly  laid  out  to  Ben- 
jamin Judd,  Samuel  Judd  and  Thomas  Hancox,  to  be  condemned  as 
forfeited. 

Benjamin  Judd  was  arraigned  on  two  charges.  The  first  charge 
was  because  he  was  not  living  with  his  family  in  Mattatuck  on  May 
30,  1680.  The  second  was  that  his  house  was  not  finished  on  May 
30,  1 68 1.  Testimony  was  offered  that  it  was  done  in  September  of 
that  year.  Another  aggravating  circumstance  was  that  Benjamin 
had  "  drawn  oft  from  ye  place."  The  temptations  to  linger  long  in 
Farmington  must  have  been  very  great  to  most  of  the  early  settlers 
here.  There,  they  had  homes.  There,  family  ties  still  held  them. 
Their  church  relations  continued  there.  Schools  and  comforts, 
unknown  in  Mattatuck,  existed  there.  These  things  must  have 
appealed  strongly  for  sweet  delays  and  long  visits  to  men  like  Ben- 
jamin Judd,  and  to  his  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Captain  Will- 
iam Lewis,  and  to  others. 

Samuel  Judd  had  "not  built  according  to  time  prefixed.  He 
built  and  went  into  his  House  in  November,  :8i,  and  not  fit 
before."  Stephen  Upson,  the  carpenter,  testified  that  "  it  was 
shingled  about  Michaelmuss."  Daniel  Porter  and  Isaac  Bronson 
testified. 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION.  179 

Thomas  Hancox  was  the  next  culprit.  Of  him  it  was  said:  He 
"hath  a  House  covered  all  most  all  and  clabborded  and  noe  chim- 
ney, within  the  time  stated."  He  had  deserted  the  place,  "being 
gone  all  or  the  greatest  of  the  year  past." 

It  was  agreed  that  the  persons  to  whom  the  committee  should 
thereafter  grant  the  above  allotments  should  "  reside  and  dwell  in 
Mattatuck  the  full  term  and  time  of  four  years  in  a  steady  way  and 
manner  with  their  families  after  subscription  to  the  act  and  order." 
If  the  owners  of  the  buildings  on  the  condemned  lands  should 
refuse  to  sell  them  at  a  reasonable  rate,  or  if  the  parties  should  fail 
to  agree  in  the  matter  of  purchase  and  sale,  the  new  grantees  were 
at  liberty  to  build  upon  the  land  such  mansion  houses  as  the  com- 
mittee required  at  the  beginning.  The  same  penalties  for  forfeiture 
were  re-enacted  for  the  new  incumbents.  The  committee  evidently 
made  this  condemnation  and  forfeiture  of  the  allotted  lands  with 
genuine  regret,  for,  almost  in  the  same  breath,  certainly  in  the 
same  sentence  with  the  above  conditions,  we  find  the  words:  "And, 
in  case  those  friends  whose  lands  are  at  this  meeting  by  us  con- 
demned, do  desire  to  be  re-possessed  of  their  present  lands  condemned 
as  forfeited,  [they]  shall  subscribe  to  this  present  act  and  order,  in 
case  we  see  reason  to  re-possess  him  of  them."  Under  the  above 
act,  David  Carpenter's  formerly  condemned  lands  were  also  to  be 
admitted. 

The  "friends  sent  from  Mattatuck,"  also  complained  of  "Timothy 
Standly,  Joseph  Gaylord,  John  Carrington,  Abraham  Andrews, 
Cooper,  Thomas  Nuel,  Daniel  Porter,  Thomas  Warner,  Thomas 
Richison,  Obediah  Richards  and  JohnScovel,"  for  their  not  building 
in  time.  Edmund  or  Edward  Scott,  Jr.,  was  complained  of  at  the 
same  time;  but  his  father  came  to  the  rescue,  and  he  escaped. 
Benjamin  Jones  and  John  Newell  were  also  the  subject  of  com- 
plaint. To  begin  with  the  list,  we  find  that  Timothy  Standly  and 
Joseph  Gaylord  had  each  of  them  a  house  that  was  "  Big  enough, 
and  ovned."  [Ovened  ?] 

John  Carrington  was  complained  of,  because  his  4iouse  was  not 
large  enough. 

Abraham  Audrus,  the  cooper,  had  not  built  a  house  on  John  Judd's 
house  lot,  which  had  been  conferred  upon  him  by  the  committee. 

Thomas  Newell  had  failed  to  gain  a  residence  in  May,  1680,  and 
his  house  was  not  finished  in  May,  1681,  neither  was  it  done  when 
the  complaints  were  made. 

Daniel  Porter  had  built  a  house,  but  it  had  no  chimney. 

Thomas  Warner,  whose  father,  John  Warner,  the  old  "Pequot 
warrior,"  had  his  cellar  in  readiness  when  he  died,  had  failed  to 


i8o  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

comply  with  the  building  regulations.     The  house  was  still  unfin- 
ished. 

Thomas  Richason,  poor  fellow,  was  living  in  a  cellar,  and  even 
the  cellar  was  not  his  own,  for  the  record  tells  us  that  he  "hired  it  to 
live  in." 

Edmund  Scott,  Junr.,  had  a  house,  but  it  was  without  a  chimney. 
Obadiah  Richards  had  not  built  his  house  according  to  the  dimen- 
sions required  by  the  committee. 

This  paper  of  Major  Talcott's  bears  evidence  of  the  Major's 
weariness  of  white  men's  complaints,  for  the  latter  part  of  it  runs 
along  in  this  sleepy  fashion: 

"  Benjamin  Joanes  complayned  of  for  neglect  of  cohabitation. 

John  Nuel  complayned  of  for  ye  same — 

John  Scove  no  chinny — 

B:  Scott  conyslait — " 

The  last  word  is  not  easy  to  decipher.  It  does  not  seem  to  be 
complaint,  and  it  does  not  seem  clear  that  Major  Talcott  intended 
to  write  "comes  late." 

The  committee  exempted  Benjamin  Jones  and  John  Newell  from 
the  ban  of  condemnation  and  forfeiture.  To  the  other  men,  they 
gave  an  opportunity.  They  were  to  submit,  to  reform  and  live  upon 
the  place  one  year  longer  than  their  neighbors,  who  had  fulfilled 
conditions.  This  they  were  required  to  do,  in  order  to  become  abso- 
lute owners  of  the  soil.  They  all,  with  the  exception  of  Benjamin 
and  Samuel  Judd,  availed  themselves  of  the  way  of  return. 

Benjamin  Judd  withdrew  his  services  as  public  surveyor  and 
returned  to  Farmington.  Samuel  Judd  left  his  house,  into  which 
he  had  moved  with  his  bride  in  November,  1681,  and  followed  his 
father,  Deacon  Thomas  Judd,  to  Northampton,  where,  in  due  time, 
he  fell  heir  to  the  estate  of  his  father's  second  wife.  It  is  not 
known  what  became  of  their  houses;  but  it  seems  probable  that 
Samuel's  house  remained  for  the  occupancy  of  his  brother  Philip, 
who  came  in  1687,  and  received  from  the  committee  his  brother's 
allotments,  and  that  Benjamin's  house  was  occupied  in  1683,  by 
Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  his  nephew.  Thomas  Hancox,  after  fifteen 
months'  delay,  when  the  meadows  were  growing  green  again, 
thought  them  promising  enough  to  pay  him  for  subscribing  anew 
and  staying  the  additional  yeiir. 

Before  this  meeting  ended,  the  committee  agreed  that  all  public 
charges,  including  those  for  making  and  mending  highways,  should 
be  laid  on  the  meadow  allotments  for  two  years,  or  until  1684. 
They  also  granted  that  each  proprietor  inhabitant  should  have 
eight  acres  laid  out  in  such  places  as  the   inhabitants  should  agree 


MATTATUCK  AS  A  PLANTATION,  i8i 

upon,  and  they  confirmed  a  grant  of  land,  bestowed  by  the  planters 
themselves,  upon  Samuel  Hikcox.  I  think,  but  cannot  prove,  that 
this  grant  was  bestowed  upon  Samuel  Hikcox  at  this  early  date  in 
recognition  of  his  expenditures  for  a  saw-mill.  Philip  Judd  also, 
who  died  in  1689,  after  living  here  but  two  years,  owned  a  "  right  of 
eleven  pounds  in  the  saw-mill  and  horse  tackling."  Six  months 
before,  on  August  3,  1682,  the  inhabitants  had  held  a  meeting  in 
the  interest  of  Stephen  Hopkins.  Deacon  Langton's  allotments 
had  returned  to  the  committee,  and  at  this  meeting  the  inhabi- 
tants granted  them  to  Stephen  Hopkins,  with  the  understanding 
or  condition  that  one-half  of  the  proprietorship  should  be  entailed 
to  the  mill,  in  the  same  manner  that  the  thirty  acres  had  been.  A 
copy  of  the  record  of  this  town  meeting  was  prepared  and  sent  over 
to  the  Assembly's  Committee,  that  the  act  of  the  inhabitants  might 
be  ratified  by  the  power  that  still  governed  the  plantation.  Among 
the  early  documents,  we  unfold  this  very  copy  that  went  from 
Mattatuck  to  Farmington  in  1682,  and  was  returned,  with  the  acts 
of  the  committee,  at  an  unknown  date.  There  is  upon  it  the  words, 
*'  transcribed  on  page  23  b."  This  indicates  that  Mattatuck  Records 
at  that  date  filled  twenty -three  pages.  Samuel  "  Hickcox  **  signed 
his  name,  and  John  Warner  made  his  mark  on  the  copy;  they  being 
the  townsmen  in  that  year.  At  some  time  between  the  date  of  the 
town  meeting — or  more  strictly  speaking  the  proprietors*  meeting, 
for  as  yet  there  was  no  town — and  this  meeting  of  the  committee 
in  February  1682,  vStephen  Hopkins  must  have  resigned  the  care  of 
the  -mill  to  his  son  John,  for  when  the  committee  at  the  meeting 
whose  acts  we  are  considering,  ratify  the  act  of  the  inhabitants  con- 
cerning Deacon  Langton's  allotments,  the  name  of  "  John  Hopkins, 
the  present  miller,"  is  substituted  for  that  of  his  father  Stephen. 
The  last  words  of  this  meeting  are  given  in  the  form  of  advice. 
^*  Serg'.  John  Stanly  "  had  petitioned  the  committee  to  allow  him  to 
have  four  or  five  acres  of  meadow  land  up  the  river,  even  though  he 
must  go  four  or  five  miles  away  from  the  village  to  find  it.  The 
committee  advise  the  inhabitants  to  comply  with  Sergeant  Standly's 
request,  "in  consideration  of  the  meanness  of  his  allotments." 
This  land  grant  was  called  Standly's  Jericho  and  the  name  still  lives 
in  Jericho  bridge,  on  the  Naugatuck  railroad. 

The  acts  of  this  meeting  were  not  signed  until  the  next  day;  the 
committee  having  taken  time  to  duly  consider  all  the  evidence 
offered.  There  is  nothing  to  throw  light  upon  the  case  of 
**  Edward  "  Scott,  Junior.  He  had  a  house  upon  the  lot  that  had 
been  allotted  to  William  Higginson,  but  it  will  be  remembered  that 
it  had  no  chimney.     On  this  day  his  father  "  Edward  "  Scott,  Senior, 


i82  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT, 

appeared  before  the  committee,  and  made  a  verbal  deed  of  gift  to 
his  son  of  "  that  house  set  for  a  dwelling  house  on  the  home  lot 
granted  to  his  son  by  Mattatuck  committee,"  and  all  his  rights  in 
the  other  grants  received  that  belonged  to  the  home  lot  on  which 
the  house  then  stood,together  with  all  the  charges  and  expenses  there- 
on. This  gift  included  what  "  he  had  disburst  for  the  lands  in  refer- 
ence to  the  purchase  thereof."  This  first  deed  of  land  in  Mattatuck 
bearing  date  February  7,  1682,  is  recorded  by  Major  Talcott  upon 
the  same  paper  that  contains  the  records  of  this  most  important 
meeting.  "John  Talcott  and  John  Wadsworth  Assistants/*  sign 
the  deed  as  ^witnesses. 

We  are  not  able  to  account  for  the  house  on  this  lot  without  a 
chimney,  and  at  the  same  time,  another  house  on  the  same  lot  that 
met  all  the  requirements  of  the  committee,  unless  we  assume  that 
William  Higginson  had  built  a  house  on  it,  and  that  Edward,  Sen- 
ior, had  bought  it,  without  the  land.  Similar  transactions  were 
frequent  at  this  period. 

This  is  believed  to  be  the  last  meeting  held  at  Farming^on  by 
the  Committee  for  Mattatuck,  for  upon  the  same  paper  and  beneath 
the  deed  of  Edmund  Scott,  John  Wadsworth  wrote  the  following 
formula  for  signatures : 

"  We  whose  names  are  here  under- written  do  subscribe  to  a 
faithful  submission  and  observation  of  the  act  of  the  committee  on 
the  other  side  of  this  lefe  February  6,  1682."  Nearly  four  months 
passed  away  before  a  penitent  approached  to  promise  "submission" 
and  "observation,"  and  then  we  find  appended  the  following  list  of 
four  names  with  their  dates  of  signature. 

Subscribed  this  4  June  83  Thomas  Hancox. 

Jan.  10  83  Thomas  Judd. 
May  26=  84=  Robert:   Porter. 
June  13.  87  Philip  Judd. 

In  a  little  comer  of  space  left  on  the  paper  in  the  deed  of 
Edmund  Scott  to  his  son,  and  above  the  formula  for  signatures, 
John  Wadsworth  tucked  in  the  explanation  of  Philip  Judd's  signa- 
ture in  the  following  words:  "  We  the  committee  grant  Philip  Judd 
the  quiet  possession  of  the  land  and  allotments  at  Mattatuck  that  was 
formerly  his  Broth  Samuel  Judds  lands  this  13th  of  June  1687  pr  us. 


John  Talcott         )  CommitUe." 
ToHN  Wadsworth  3 


John  Wadsworth 

Thomas  Hancox  was  the  only  penitent.  Thomas  Judd  was 
"accepted  as  an  inhabitant  at  Mattatuck  "  on  the  day  he  signed  the 
agreement.     The  following  is  the  document: 


MATTATUCK  A6  A  PLANTATION.  183 

"  Hartford,  Jan^y:  the  loth:  1683. 

Thomas  Judd  Jun'  is  accepted  as  an  inhabitant  at  Mattatuck  his  father  Thomas 
Judd  having  signified  his  desires  of  the  same  he  the  sayd  Thomas  Judd  Jun':  sub- 
scribing to  the  Act  and  order  of  the  Committee  February  the  sixt  1682.  in  reference 
to  Benjamin  Juds  allotment,  and  privilidg  of  reseizen  of  the  same  upon  condissions 
in  the  sayd  Act  and  order  granted.  It  being  determined  by  us  the  Committee,  in 
case  any  grant  or  grants  be  made  by  the  inhabitants  of  Mattatuck  to  Thomas  Judd 
Jun':  in  reference  to  possession  of  any  parcels  or  Tracts  of  Land  is  hereby  made 
voyd  and  of  none  effect,  notwithstanding  any  thing  to  the  contrary.  And  whereas 
there  is  an  Addission  formerly  granted  by  the  Committee  to  Benjamin  Judd's  home 
Lott,  it  is  now  ordered  that  the  sayd  Addission  shall  not  run  further  into  the  High- 
way [West  Main  street,  about  present  State  street]  than  it  was  layd  by  Serg*  Jn« 
Stanley  Thomas  Judd,  and  the  Townsmen  appointed  for  that  service. 

John  Talcott 


Pr  us    John  Wadsworth  ^ 

"Ly  r\  r  Committee. 

NicHO.  Olmstead        1 


»> 


Sam  u ELL  Snell  Senr  J 

This  is  the  latest  document  that  has  been  found  containing  the 
autographs  of  the  surviving  members  of  the  committee.  It  sug- 
gests that  Thomas  Judd,  Junior,  had  before  that  date  received  from 
the  inhabitants,  either  with  or  without  the  sanction  of  the  commit- 
tee, certain  lands  that  he  could  no  longer  hold  when  invested  with 
the  allotments  of  his  uncle,  Benjamin  Judd. 

Lieutenant  Nicholas  Olmstead  died  soon  after  he  signed  the 
acceptance  of  Thomas  Judd,  Junior,  as  a  proprietor  of  Mattatuck. 
Lieutenant  Samuel  Steele,  died  in  1685,  thus  leaving  but  two  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  of  five.  Lieutenant  Steele  had  more  personal 
interest  in  our  plantation  than  any  other  one  of  the  number,  for 
two  of  his  sisters  lived  here,  they  having  married  the  brothers 
William  and  Thomas  Judd.  Three  children  of  Deacon  Thomas 
Judd  of  Farmington,  married  three  children  of  John  Steele,  of 
Farmington.  As  long  as  Mattatuck  continued  its  plantation  life, 
all  the  acts  of  the  inhabitants  that  included  the  granting  of 
lands,  or  the  acceptance  of  proprietors,  required  the  sanction  of 
the  committee;  but  after  1682,  we  find  that  gradually  the  inhabit- 
ants became  more  independent  in  their  acts,  because  the  comn^ittee 
more  and  more  lessened  its  grasp  upon  affairs.  In  October,  1685, 
the  Court  "appointed  Major  Talcott  and  Mr.  Wadsworth  to  con- 
tinue in  full  power  as  a  committee  for  Mattatuck,  as  formerly,  not- 
withstanding the  decease  of  some  other  of  the  committee." 

Dec.  26,  1685,  Major  Talcott  gave  directions  for  raising  rates  for 
defraying  public  charges.  There  is  in  the  writer's  possession,  a  let- 
ter written  by  Mr.  John  Wadsworth  to  the  selectmen  of  Waterbury, 
that  is  of  interest  in  this  connection.  It  is  the  last  communication 
from  a  member  of  the  committee.  When  folded  in  the  creases  made 
by  the  writer,  the  letter  is  about  two  and  one-half  by  two  inches. 


1 84  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT. 

It  still  bears  upon  the  red  sealing-wax  the  impression  of  the  writer's 
seal,  which  is  so  broken  that  only  the  sections  of  an  anchor  can  be 
identified.  We  give  the  letter.  It  speaks  for  itself  as  clearly  as  we 
could  interpret  its  meaning.  We  do  not  follow  the  spelling  or  punc- 
tuation: 

'*  To  the  Selectmen  of  Waterbury: 

Gentlemen: — When  we  had  the  last  meeting  at  Farmington  concerning  your 
affairs,  it  was  pleaded  and  owned  by  some  of  yourselves  that  there  was  a  division 
of  land  laid  out,  wherein  it  was  agreed  by  yourselves  and  the  committee  that  laid  it 
out  that  there  should  be  an  addition,  namely,  5-4  for  one  acre;  that  is  to  say,  [in] 
part  of  that  division;  but  through  forgetfulness  or  oversight  it  was  omitted,  and  so 
the  persons  concerned  fall  short  of  what  they  should  have  had.  This  is  therefore 
to  request  and  desire  you  to  accommodate  those  persons  concerned  with  that  which 
may  be  just  on  the  fore  mentioned  account,  and,  so  as  they  may  be  suited  as  well 
as  you  can;  for  without  doubt  they  will  be  losers  by  not  having  it  together  with 
fore  said  division — which  is  all  at  present  from  him  who  is 

Your  assured  friend  and  Servant,  John  Wadsworth. 

Postscript — Your  "  atendent "  of  the  above  said,  shall  be  allowed  by  us  the  Com- 
mittee. 

Farmington,  Sept.  9,  1687." 

The  custom  of  "  throwing  in "  land  in  the  measurements  of  it 
was  extensively  practiced  in  our  township.  Hills  were  sometimes 
thrown  in,  and  waste  land  not  estimated.  There  is  one  instance  of 
a  land  division  wherein  three  roods  of  the  best  land  was  laid  out  for 
one  acre  and  seven  roods  of  the  "worst"  land  for  one  acre.  This 
arrangement  was  entered  into  in  order  to  equalize  values,  as  Mr. 
Wadsworth  explains.  At  last  on  the  fifteenth  of  May,  in  the  year 
1686,  twelve  years  after  the  plantation  was  formed,  the  General 
Assembly  was  pleased  to  accept  the  plantation  into  Hartford  County 
and  to  bestow  upon  it  the  name  of  "  Watterbury." 

We  have  closely  followed  the  government  of  the  committee  to 
the  present  date.  Meanwhile,  the  inhabitants  have  carried  on  their 
own  enterprises  in  the  most  enterprising  manner.  They  have  built 
their  houses,  constructed  miles  of  common  fence,  built  a  corn-mill, 
and  we  feel  constrained  to  write,  a  saw-mill,  although  we  can  offer 
no  evidence  as  to  its  site,  unless  the  saw-mill  near  the  corn-mill  was 
the  earliest  one  built.  Already  the  lot  for  the  minister's  use  is 
chosen  and  perhaps  built  upon.  It  may  have  been  the  presence  of 
the  minister  in  the  plantation  that  caused  the  General  Assembly  to 
confer  upon  it  acceptance  into  the  Corporation  of  Connecticut.  It 
is  at  points  like  the  present  one  that  we  miss  the  sight  of  the 
twenty- three  pages  of  Mattatuck  Records,  ungrateful  for  the 
moment,  for  all  that  is  left  to  us.  During  the  nine  years  that  have 
passed  since  the  close  of  King  Philip's  war,  not  one  note  of  alarm, 
so  far  as  we  know,  has  been  sounded  in  Mattatuck,  that  was  caused 
by  the  word  or  act  of  a  single  "dusky  child  of  Adam." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

FARMINGTON's  bounds  —  DEEDS  FROM  TUNXIS  INDIANS  —  MATTATUCK 
LANDS  CONVEYED  TO  THE  PROPRIETORS  BY  INDIANS — BOUND  LINE 
WITH  DERBY — BOUND  LINE  WITH  WOODBURY — A  SUGGESTION — THE 
THREE  SISTERS — DEATH  OF  KING  CHARLES  II. — JAMES  II.  PRO- 
CLAIMED   KING,    AT    HARTFORD — THE   CHARTER    IN    PERIL. 

AS  in  all  her  beginnings  Waterbury  must  go  back  to  Farming- 
ton  as  the  source  of  her  life,  so  must  we  study  the  boundaries 
of  that  township  and  examine  her  Indian  titles  in  order  to 
establish  clearly  and  definitely  our  own  territory.  The  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly  and  the  acts  of  the  Indian  are  so  firmly  inter- 
woven and  adjusted  to  fit  the  web  of  civilization,  that,  if  taken  sep- 
arately, we  lose  the  meaning  of  the  design.  Therefore,  diflficult  as 
it  may  be  to  follow  outlines,  we  make  the  attempt,  resisting  the 
temptation  to  give  the  interesting  details  that  crowd  close  to  one's 
pen  and  claim  to  be  put  upon  record. 

When,  in  1645,  the  bounds  of  Farmington  were  established,  there 
seemed  no  necessity  for  a  western  boundary  on  its  wilderness  side, 
and  no  bound  was  appointed.  Its  eastern  limit  was  five  miles  west 
from  the  Connecticut  river.  The  Round  hill,  in  the  great  meadow 
toward  Masseco  (Simsbury),  was  the  point  of  measurement  for  its 
north  and  south  bounds.  Its  south  bound  was  five  miles  south 
from  this  hill,  with  the  following  very  significant  liberty :  "  They 
shall  have  liberty  to  improve  ten  miles  further  than  the  said  five^  and  to  hinder 
others  from  the  like^  until  the  Court  see  fit  otherwise  to  dispose  of  it**  Here 
stands  revealed  the  fact  that  Farmington  had  jurisdiction  over  all 
of  the  territory  comprised  within  ancient  Waterbury  for  twenty- 
two  years,  before  any  restriction  whatever  was  placed  upon  her 
improvements  by  the  court. 

We  will  try  and  learn  how  the  "Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  "  acquired  the  title  under  which  the  terri- 
tory could  be  granted  to  subjects.  The  honest  men  of  Farmington 
answer  this  question  for  us.  It  was  "  taken  for  granted  that  the 
magistrates  bought  the  whole  country  to  the  Mohawk's  country  of 
the  chief  sachem,  Sequassen."  After  the  three  bounds  of  1645  had 
been  established,  it  became  necessary  to  look  up  the  title  that  had 
been  obtained  from  the  Indians,  at  the  first  settlement.  About  1650 
there  was  a  "discovery  made,  in  writing,  of  such  agreements  as  were 
[made]  by  the  magistrates  with  the  Indians  of  Tunckses  concerning 
the  lands,  and  such  things  in  reference  thereunto  as  tend  to  settle 


1 86  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT, 

peace,  in  a  way  of  truth  and  righteousness,  between  the  English 
and  them."  It  is  by  this  "discovery,  in  writing,'*  that  the  above  fact 
appears  in  relation  to  the  supposed  title.  We  repeat  it.  It  was 
'*  taken  for  granted  that  the  magistrates  bought  the  whole  country  to 
the  Mohawk's  country  of  Sequassen,  the  chief  sachem ! "  The  record 
goes  on  to  narrate  that  "notwithstanding  their  interest  by  that 
means,  yet  that  the  magistrates  did  in  a  friendly  manner  come  to 
terms  with  the  Tunckses  Indians  that  some  English  might  come 
and  live  amongst  them,  which  terms  were  these :  That  the  Indians 
should  yield  up  all  the  ground  that  they  had  under  improvement  at 
that  time  when  the  bargain  was  first  made,  and  reserve  ground  in 
place  together  compassed  about  with  a  creek  and  trees,  and  now 
also  to  be  staked  out  only  in  that  piece.  The  English  were  to  have 
the  grass  for  their  cows,  which  now  they  are  willing  to  let  go,  also 
one  little  slip  to  be  staked  out,  to  avoid  contention."  There  was 
also  an  agreement  made,  by  which  the  English  were  to  break  up 
lands  in  the  grounds  that  were,  in  time  to  come,  to  be  used  by  the 
Indians.  This  bargain,  or  deed,  seems  to  have  been  made  with  a 
full  understanding  on  the  part  of  the  Indians;  for  John  Stanton, 
the  interpreter,  was  present,  and  is  one  of  the  witnessing  signers; 
and  the  very  language  of  it  impresses  one  with  the  spirit  of  fair- 
ness evinced  by  the  men  of  Farmington.  The  Indians  are  told  in 
the  plainest  words,  in  this  document,  that  "all  the  lands  the  Eng- 
lish have  are  of  little  worth  until  the  wisdom,  labor,  and  estate  of 
the  English  are  improved  upon  them,  and  that  the  magistrates, 
when  they  have  land  for  a  place,  give  it  away  to  the  English  to 
labor  upon,  and  take  nothing  for  it."  The  advantages  that  the 
Indians  were  then  enjoying  through  the  presence  and  protection  of 
white  men  are  then  very  prettily  pictured  in  words,  after  which 
the  following  promise  is  made  by  the  chiefs  of  the  tribe : 

"In  this  we,  the  chief  Indians,  in  the  name  of  all  the  rest, 
acknowledge;  and  we  engage  ourselves  to  make  no  quarrels  about 
this  matter."  The  Indians  who  signed  this  agreement  were  Pethus 
and  Ahamo,  said  to  be  the  son  of  Pethus.  The  marks  or  heraldic 
devices  appended  to  this  deed  are  notable;  the  first,  because  the 
signature  is  made  with  two  separate  marks,  perhaps  in  imitation  of 
English  names;  the  second,  or  Ahamo's  mark,  is  replete  with  a  sig- 
nificance that  merits  consideration.  It  is  an  elaborate  device, 
nearly  two  inches  in  height  and  more  than  an  inch  in  width,  show- 
ing care  and  intention  on  the  part  of  the  signer  to  express  his 
meaning.  The  original  deed  forms  a  part  of  the  volume  of  record. 
This  deed,  or  agreement,  was  the  second  one,  or  rather  it  was  a 
combination  of  the  two  agreements  that  had  been  made,  one  in  1640 
and  the  other  in  1650. 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1686.  187 

In  1667,  "  the  Court  granted  unto  Farmington  to  run  their  bounds 
from  the  Round  hill  to  the  southward  ten  miles,  provided  it  did  not 
prejudice  any  former  grant  to  any  town  or  particular  person."  It 
will  be  seen  that  by  this  grant,  five  miles  of  the  ten  that  had  for- 
merly been  secured  to  Farmington  for  improvement,  now  came 
within  her  own  proper  bounds,  leaving  the  five  miles  that  she  had 
had  liberty  to  improve,  entirely  outside  of  her  jurisdiction.  In  1671, 
twenty-six  years  after  she  became  a  plantation,  Farmington 's  west 
bound  was  established.  It  was  to  run  ten  miles  west  from  Hartford 
bounds,  or  fifteen  miles  west  from  Connecticut  river.  Farmington 
in  167 1  was  anxious  to  have  her  western  bound  established.  Was 
it  not  with  direct  reference  to  the  possible  plantation  at  Mattatuck? 
It  is  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  men  of  Farmington  remained 
in  profound  ignorance  of  the  region  in  which,  for  nearly  a  genera- 
tion they  had  had  liberty  to  improve  the  lands,  or  that  the  impetus 
toward  a  settlement  was  unfelt  up  to  the  time  when  legal  steps 
were  taken  to  that  end.  With  this  thought  in  view,  we  can  under- 
stand how  certain  places  were  already  named,  when  the  legalized 
settlement  of  Mattatuck  began,  and  understand  why  we  are  unable 
to  account  for  the  naming  of  Steele's  brook  and  plain  and  meadow; 
of  Bucks  hill  and  Wooster  swamp;  of  Mount  Taylor,  of  John 
"  Macy's  "  land  and  Golden's  meadow.  They  are  one  and  all  sug- 
gestive of  the  days  when  Farmington  had  liberty  to  improve,  and 
the  General  Court  used  all  the  inducements  in  its  power  to  per- 
suade its  subjects  to  raise  commodities,  for  export.  Could  a  better 
field  have  been  found  for  Edward  Wooster,  the  great  hop-raiser  of 
the  region,  than  Wooster  swamp  ? 

Farmington  seems  to  have  been  keenly  alive  to  her  landed  inter- 
ests at  about  the  time  the  settlement  at  Mattatuck  was  in  the 
thoughts  of  her  sons,  for  in  1672  she  secured  along  her  entire  west- 
ern border  an  additional  mile  of  territory,  and  even  Wallingford, 
apparently  in  dread  of  too  near  a  neighbor  on  her  western  side, 
petitioned  for  and  secured  two  miles  of  additional  territory  on  her 
western  border.  The  grant  to  Farmington  pushed  Mattatuck  a  mile 
to  the  westward. 

But  the  Indians  of  Farmington  had  never  conveyed  the  lands 
extending  ten  miles  to  the  southward  of  the  Round  hill,  and  ten 
miles  to  the  westward  from  Hartford's  west  bound,  and  now  the 
court  had  added  the  eleventh  mile  !  A  new  agreement  was  entered 
into  on  May  22,  1673,  in  order  to  cover  the  above  territory.  This 
argeement  recognized  the  deed,  or  treaty  of  1650,  between  Pethusand 
Ahamo,  and  the  English,but  explained  that  in  course  of  time,  dissatis- 
faction had  "been  growing  amongst  the  Indians  in  reference  to  the 
premises,  on  which  account  the  town  of  Farmington  gave  them  a 


1 88  HI8T0RT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

meeting  by  a  committee."  How  could  it  have  been  otherwise,  when 
the  court  was,  without  authority,  giving  away  their  lands,  and 
Farmington  was  receiving  them,  without  making  payment  for  them? 
However,  at  this  meeting  both  parties  came  to  a  friendly  and  final 
conclusion,  based  upon  the  court's  present  lay  out  of  lands.  For  all 
the  miles  of  territory  they  gave  up,  the  Indians  received  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  upland  within  the  bounds  of  the  plantation,  and  three 
pounds  in  other  pay.  Upon  this  deed,  also  the  original  document, 
there  is  traced  an  outline  of  the  Round  hill,  which  is  nearly  a  cir- 
cle, on  the  interior  of  which  is  written,  "ye  round  hill — Wepansock 
ye  Indian  name."  From  the  circumference  of  the  hill,  lines  are 
drawn  to  the  cardinal  points,  with  the  distance  from  the  hill  given 
on  each  line.  Twenty-six  Indians  were  present  at  the  signing  of 
this  deed,  and  made  their  marks  upon  it.  The  territory  covers 
fifteen  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  eleven  from  east  to  west. 

It  was  not  until  May  i8th,  1674,  just  nineteen  days  before  the 
signing  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement  for  the  Settling  of  Mattatuck, 
that  Farmington's  southern  and  western  bounds  were  measured  and 
laid  out  and  returned  to  the  court.  The  south  bound  reached  a 
tree  on  the  west  side  of  a  swamp  under  the  Hanging  hill,  near  the 
south  end  of  the  hill.  The  tree  was  marked  with  initials,  and  the 
date.  May  7,  1672.  It  is  with  interest  that  we  note  the  western 
bound  of  Farmington,  for  it  indicates  the  existence  of  a  recog- 
nized, and,  without  doubt,  habited  place,  farm  or  farms,  before  the 
plantation  was  organized.  James  Steele,  the  surveyor,  makes  the 
return  to  the  court,  as  follows:  "Farther,  I  being  appoynted  to 
measure  the  bredth  of  Farmington  bownds  from  Hartford  bownds 
westward,  have  accordingly  measured  out  eleven  miles  tau^ards  Mat- 
tatuck to  a  white  oak  tree  marked  with  divers  letters  and  figures,  as 
S:  S:  [Samuel  Steele]  I:  S.  [James  Steele]  F:  B.,  I:  W.  I:  R.,  May  7: 
'73.  with  divers  other  trees  marked  in  the  sayd  line." 

That  Mattatuck  was  not  at  that  date,  simply  a  territorial  region 
to  which  the  name  was  applied,  and  that  there  was  something  beyond 
this  western  bound  of  Farmington,  which,  when  reached  was 
the  Mattatuck^  towards  which  James  Steele  measured  is  certainly  dis- 
closed by  the  words  chosen  to  describe  the  western  bound  of  Far- 
mington. 

August  26,  1674,  fourteen  Indians  (six  of  whom  signed  the  deed 
covering  the  court's  extension  of  Farmington  lands  the  year  before), 
conveyed  to  the  committee  "one  parcel  of  land  at  Mattatuck, 
situate  on  each  side  of  Mattatuck  River;  being  ten  miles  in  length 
north  and  south  and  six  miles  in  breadth."  The  eastern  bound  of 
this  tract  of  land  was  upon  Farmington.  In  1677,  the  committee 
conveyed  this  sixty  square  miles  to  the  thirty-one  proprietors  of 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1686,  189 

Mattatuck,  they  having  paid  the  purchase  price  thereof.  It  must 
be  kept  in  mind,  that,  as  yet,  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  had  con- 
firmed no  right  in  the  soil  to  the  planters.  It  simply  held  jurisdic- 
tion over  the  territory,  and  only  quitclaimed  its  interest  in  lands, 
when  the  inhabitants  had  secured  title  to  them  from  the  aboriginal 
owners.  Thus,  we  get  a  glimpse  of  the  value  to  the  settlers  of  the 
"  uncouth  "  marks  of  the  native  potentates,  and  no  longer  marvel  at 
the  efforts  made  by  the  planters  to  secure  an  enlarged  township  by 
bargaining  with  the  tribes  for  land  to  the  north,  south,  east  and 
west,  of  the  sixty  square  miles  of  1674.  It  must  be  kept  in  mind 
that  the  colony  had  in  1640,  simply  "taken  for  granted"  that  it  pur- 
chased of  Sequassen  all  the  lands  to  the  Mohawk  country — but  it 
soon  fell  back  from  that  untenable  assumption,  and  required  would- 
be  proprietors  to  buy  their  own  lands.  Meanwhile,  it  was  decided 
to  look  ahead,  and  determine  what  might  be  suitable  lines  of  divi- 
sion between  town  and  town.  Accordingly  on  May  18,  1675,  ^  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  view  the  lands  and  the  distances  between 
Derby,  Woodbury,  Mattatuck,  Pototock  (Southbury)  and  Wyante- 
nuck,  and  to  consider  what  might  be  suitable  bounds  for  each  town. 
Three  years  passed  by,  accompanied  by  King  Philip's  war,  without 
a  return  to  the  court  from  this  committee.  During  this  interval, 
Mattatuck  had  awaited  development;  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbury 
had  entered  into  retreat  at  Stratford  and  perhaps,  like  our  own  peo- 
ple, they  returned  to  their  old  love  with  renewed  affection,  for  the 
town  of  Woodbury  found  it  necessary  to  appeal  to  the  court  to 
make  an  order  that  might  enforce  the  people  who  had  taken  up  lots 
to  return  and  inhabit  there.  The  court  made  the  order,  which  was 
very  compelling  and  armed  with  penalties.  Because  of  these  things, 
the  bounds  had  been  neglected. 

In  1678,  the  boundary  committee  appointed  in  1675,  was  called 
upon  to  report,  but  failed  to  do  duty,  and  in  October,  1679,  was 
again  called  upon  to  report  in  May  1680;  and  it  was  ordered  that 
"  no  farm  be  laid  out  within  eight  miles  of  either  of  those  places, 
until  return  had  been  made."  In  May,  1680,  the  four  men,  Wm. 
Judd,  Edward  Worcester  [Wooster],  Lieut.  Joseph  Judson,  and  Mr. 
John  Banks,  proving  still  delinquent,  a  new  committee  was 
appointed  "to  view  and  measure  the  distances  between  Derby, 
Woodbury  and  Mattatuck  and  consider  what  might  be  suitable 
bounds  for  each  plantation." 

It  is  evident  that  Derby  and  Mattatuck  had  become  weary  with 
waiting  for  the  court's  committee  to  act,  for  on  the  last  day  of 
April,  1680,  the  respective  towns  had  appointed  a  committee  to  act 
in  determining  a  line  between  the  settlements,  and  had  given  their 
agents  full  power  "to  make  a  final  issue  of  the  matter  before  it 


ipo 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATEBBURT, 


should  comg  to  the  Court."  And  so  it  happened  that  three  days 
after  the  appointment  of  the  court's  new  committee,  Derby  and 
Mattatuck  appeared,  on  May  i8,  1680,  before  that  tribunal  with  the 
following  as  their  agreement  concerning  Mattatuck's  south  and 
Derby's  north  bound  line.  Twelve-Mile  hill  has  long  been  a  recog- 
nized landmark.  It  was  given  its  name,  and  the  twelve-mile  stake 
was  placed  upon  it,  to  indicate  that  Derby's  north  bound  was  twelve 
miles  from  Milford's  north  bound.  The  name  and  the  stake  carry 
the  date  back  to  the  year  167 1,  when  Derby  was  not  even  a  planta- 
tion, but  the  home  of  a  few  settlers  who  were  ambitious  to  be 
recognized  and  owned  by  the  colony.  To-day,  Twelve-Mile  hill  is 
called  Andrews  hill.  It  lies  to  the  west  of  Naugatuck,  and  has  an 
interesting  and  eventful  history  of  its  own. 

The  following  is  the  agreement  between  Derby  and  Mattatuck 
that  was  sanctioned  by  the  court  on  May  18,  1680 : 

"  The  sowth  bounds  of  Mattatock  doe  begin  at  a  stake  at  Derby's 
Twelve  Mile  end,  and  from  that  stake  to  extend  a  west  line  where 
Derby  and  Mattatuck  shall  meet  Woodbury  bounds,  and  from  that 
stake  aforesaid  at  the  end  of  Derby  Twelve  Miles,  to  goe  w***  a 
straight  line  to  a  stone  marked  w"*  M  on  the  north  side,  and  D  on 
the  south  side,  lyeing  on  the  west  side  of  Nagatuck  or  Mattatuck 
river,  and  from  that  stone*  to  the  mouth  of  Beacon  Hill  brook 
where  it  falls  into  the  Nagatuck  or  Mattatuck  river,  and  that 
brook  to  be  the  dividing  line  eastward  between  Mattatuck  and 
Derby."  Thus  the  first  boundary  line  of  the  township  was  estab- 
lished before  town  rights  were  bestowed,  and  without  the  interven- 
tion of  the  court,  and  to  the  evident  satisfaction  of  both  parties. 

The  precedent  seemed  a  good  one  for  Mattatuck  and  Woodbury 
to  follow.  Accordingly,  on  June  29,  1680,  William  and  Thomas 
Judd  and  John  Standly,  Junior,  for  Mattatuck — John  Minor,  Joseph 
Judson  and  Israel  Curtice  for  Woodbury,  had  a  meeting  and  unani- 
mously agreed  upon  the  following  boundary : 

"That  there  be  a  line  run,  due  east  from  the  westernmost  part 
of  the  bounds  agreed  and  concluded  between  Mattatuck  and  Derby, 
to  Mattatuck  river,  and  so  that  line  to  be  run  from  the  sayd  river 
two  miles  and  twelve  score  rodd  due  west,  and  then  a  line  runn 
from  the  eastermost  part  of  the  great  pond  comonly  known  by  the 
name  Quassapauge,  from  such  a  part  of  the  pond  as  by  us  allready 
is  agreed  on,  fowerscore  rods  due  east,  and  then  a  straight  line 
from  that  fourescore  rod  to  the  aforesaid  west  corner  between 
Derby  and  Mattatuck,  and  from  the  aforesaid  corner  fouerscore  rod 
due  east  from  the  pond."     The  bounds  were  to  run  from  the  given 


\ 


*It  is  thou£^ht  that  the  marked  stone  referred  to  was  lost  or  destroyed  about  1849,  in  the  construction  of 
the  Naugatuck  railroad. 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1686.  jpi 

points  due  north  to  the  northward  extent  of  each  plantation's 
bound.  May  i8,  1681,  the  General  Court  "confirmed  and  rattified 
the  boundaries  agreed  upon  between  Mattatuck  and  Woodbury  and 
granted  that  Mattatuck  plantation  should  run  eight  miles  north 
from  the  town  plott;"  and  also  that  Mattatuck's  bounds  on  the  east 
should  be  upon  Farmington's  bounds.  The  north  bound  of  Wood- 
bury was  not  established  until  two  years  later;  it  was  to  run  eight 
miles  north  from  the  north  bounds  of  Derby. 

Lieutenant  John  Standly  and  John  Norton  were  "to  lay  out 
Mattatuck  bounds."  That  very  day,  May  19,  1681,  our  John  Standly 
had  been  confirmed  lieutenant  of  the  "traine  band  of  Farmington," 
of  which  organization  his  father,  John  Standly,  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  the  captain.  Accordingly  the  court  gave  to  him  his  new 
title  when,  a  few  hours  later,  they  placed  him  upon  the  committee 
to  lay  out  our  bounds.  What  a  temptation  it  must  have  been  to  stay 
in  Farmington,  with  the  added  glory  of  being  a  lieutenant  there ! 
If  anything  could  have  won  him  from  allegiance  to  the  new  planta- 
tion, surely  this  temptation  offered  by  his  townsmen,  would  have 
accomplished  its  purpose;  but  he  laid  his  military  title  down  and 
became  plain  John  Standly  of  Mattatuck.  On  several  committees 
that  were  made  in  reference  to  local  matters,  he  was  afterward 
called  Lieutenant  Standly.  Although  the  committee  had  been 
appointed  in  1681,  and  had  duly  attended  the  commission,  the  court 
did  not  accept  and  ratify  the  return.  Possibly  it  awaited  the  time 
when  the  proprietors  should  have  acquired  title  to  the  entire  terri- 
tory within  its  allotted  area.  In  the  year  1684,  three  deeds  were 
obtained  from  its  Indian  owners.  April  29,  1684,  nine  Indians,  for 
nine  pounds,  conveyed  a  section  of  land,  as  an  addition  to  the  tract 
conveyed  in  1674.  It  was  on  its  north  side,  and  extended  eight  miles 
north  from  Mount  Taylor.  On  an  east  and  west  line  its  extent  was 
eight  miles.  At  a  point  on  this  eight-mile  northern  line  of  the 
township,  Standly  and  Norton  marked  a  certain  tree  with  their 
initials.  This  tree,  in  time,  became  lost,  and  the  loss  of  it  led  to 
complications  which  proved  a  loss  of  territory  to  Waterbury;  but 
we  must  wait  forty  years  for  the  coming  of  that  event. 

December  2,  1684,  ten  Indians,  for  nine  pounds,  conveyed  "one 
parcel  of  land  at  Mattatuck  situate  on  [the]  east  side  of  Nagatuck 
or  Mattatuck  river,  to  extend  three  miles  westward  from  the  afore- 
sayd  river — three  miles  toward  Woodbury,  butting  upon  the  rock 
called  Mount  Tayler;  an  east  line  to  be  run  from  thence  to  Farm- 
ington bounds,  [and]  a  west  line  from  the  fore-mentioned  rock,  this 
to  be  the  butment  north — butting  east  on  Farmington  bounds,  and 
from  the  great  rock  called  the  ordinary  at  the  west  of  Farmington 
bounds  upon  a  south  line  to  Beacon  Hill  brook  or  Milford  or  New 


192  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Haven  bounds,  butting  south  upon  Beacon  Hill  brook  and  Pauga- 
suck  bounds — west  upon  Pototuck  and  Pomeraug.  This  parcel  of 
land  being  [and]  laying  within  the  township  of  Mattatuck  bounded 
as  afore  prescribed." 

February  20,  1684,  twelve  Indians,  for  six  pounds,  conveyed 
twenty  parcels  of  land;  nine  on  the  east  and  eleven  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Naugatuck  river.  On  the  east  side,  the  nine  parcels 
with  attractive  Indian  names  lay  between  the  mouth  of  Beacon  Hill 
brook  and  Fulling  Mill  brook  {at  Union  City),  while  the  eleven  par- 
cels on  the  west  side  seem  to  have  extended  from  the  first  men- 
tioned brook  to  Cedar  swamp,  on  the  north  side  of  Quassapaug 
pond.  This  deed  is  replete  with  points  of  interest.  It  presents  to  our 
notice  the  very  unusual  fact  that  twelve  Indians  conveyed  nine  par- 
cels of  land,  each  parcel  bearing  its  own  descriptive  name  (its  sig- 
nificance unknown  to  us),  and  the  nine  parcels  circumscribed  in 
area  by  two  tributaries  of  the  Naugatuck  river,  which  are,  possibly, 
not  more  than  two  miles  asunder,  and  this  in  a  region  popularly 
supposed  to  have  contained  no  "town  of  Indians."     We  here  pre- 


^^ 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1636.  193 

sent  this  unique  deed.     The  reproduction  is  a  little  less  than  one- 
third  of  the  size  of  the  original, 

A  timid  suggestion  may  perhaps  be  allowed  to  enter  here,  in 
view  of  the  above  deed  and  other  facts  that  have  come  to  the  notice 
of  the  writer.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  small-pox  raged  so 
extensively  about  1634  that  the  Indian  tribes  as  far  to  the  westward 
of  the  Connecticut  river  "as  could  be  heard  of,"  were  almost  depop- 
ulated by  that  disease.  In  view  of  that  fact,  we  can  readily  under- 
stand how  once  populous  "towns  of  Indians"  came  to  be  broken  up 
and  deserted.  The  suggestion  is,  that  the  twelve  signers  of  the 
deed  of  February,  1684,  were  the  representatives  of  a  tribe  whose 
tribal  name  was  the  "Nagantucks,"  and  that  it  had  a  "town"  at 
some  point  between  the  two  brooks;  a  town  which  had  been  given 
up  at  a  date  prior  to  the  conveyance  of  the  lands  to  the  men  of  Mat- 
tatuck.  In  that  region  there  was  very  early  (certainly  before  Mat- 
tatuck  was  settled),  a  place  called  "The  Deer's  Delight."  Can  one 
imagine  a  more  fitting  deer  park  than  the  region  lying  between  the 
entrance  of  Beacon  Hill  brook  into  the  river  and  present  Seymour, 
or  a  finer  place  for  an  Indian  village  than  the  vicinity  of  that  brook 
at  the  straits  of  the  river?  In  1672,  Nagantucks  was  recognized  as  a 
place  or  locality.  It  was  associated  (in  the  bounds  of  New  Haven 
or  Milford,  perhaps  both),  directly  with  "  the  rock  called  the 
Beacon,  lying  upon  the  upper  end  of  the  hill  called  Beacon  Hill,  and 
with  the  three  chestnut  trees  growing  from  one  root,  being  on  the 
next  hill,  called  the  Reare  Hill."  We  here  present  the  said  three 
chestnut  trees  of  1672.  They 
were  still  growing  from  one  root 
in  1891,  The  town  charter  of 
New  Haven  described  the  north- 
west comer  of  that  township  as 
marked  by  the  same  three  chest- 
nut trees  growing  from  one  root, 
in  which  patent  they  are  called 
the  Three  Sisters.  These  trees 
became  the  boundary  corner  of 
the  towns  of  Waterbury,  Wal- 
lingford  and  New  Haven,  and 
also  one  corner  of  a  bound  be- 
tween Watcrbury  and  Milford. 
They  were  .sometimes  called  the 
Three  Brothers.  This  clump  of 
trees  seems  never  to  have  been 
cut,  but  to  have  been  left  to 
13 


f94  niSTORT  OF  WATEBBURT. 

Stand  until  nature  laid  it  to  rest  and  appointed  its  heirs.  At 
the  present  time,  three  large,  ancient  looking  chestnut  trees  remain 
at  the  place  and  constitute  the  corner  bounds  of  Naugatuck,  Beth- 
any and  Prospect. 

It  may  be  noticed  that  Mattatuck's  north  bound  was  to  run 
**  eight  miles  north  from  the  /^zf/i //^/,"  which  gave  to  that  planta- 
tion about  five  miles  of  wilderness  north  of  the  north  bound  of 
Woodbury,  whose  north  line  was  to  run  eight  miles  north  from  t/ie 
north  line  of  Derby, 

Just  four  days  after  the  men  of  Mattatuck,  in  little  Connecticut 
Colony,  obtained  from  the  Indians  the  last  of  the  deeds  of  1684,  there 
was  sent  forth  from  the  "Councill  Chamber  in  Whitehall "  to  the 
"  Principal  Officers  and  Inhabitants  of  Connecticut,"  the  announce- 
ment of  the  death  of  King  Charles  II.,  which  event  occurred  on 
that  very  day;  and  on  the  same  day  the  proclamation  of  his  only 
brother  and  heir  as  King  James  II.,  was  likewise  announced  to  Con- 
necticut. Directions  were  sent  out,  and  the  form  for  the  same  was 
enclosed,  that  similar  proclamations  might  be  made  in  the  chief 
towns.  All  men  in  office  here  were  to  continue  in  office  until  the 
pleasure  of  the  new  king  should  be  made  known.  James  II.  was 
duly  proclaimed  at  Hartford,  April  19,  1685,  about  two  of  the  clock, 
with  great  solemnity  and  affection,  and  then  Robert  Treat,  of  Mil- 
ford,  Governor, — he  who  but  two  months  before  was  receiving  the 
Indians  to  witness  the  marks  they  signed  on  Mattatuck's  deed — by 
order  of  the  Council,  did  address  the  new  King  in  due  form,  giving 
assurance  that  "his  proclamation  as  King  of  Great  Britain,  Ireland 
and  France  had  been  duly  made  with  acclamations  of  joy  and  affec- 
tion, properly  accompanied  with  petitions  to  the  King  of  Kings  for 
the  long  life  and  happy  reign  of  his  Majesty."  Then,  having  done 
his  duty  by  the  king,  he,  the  same  day,  prepared  an  address,  in 
which  he  besought  his  most  "Excellent  Majestic  to  grant  the 
benign  shines  of  his  favour  to  the  poor  Colony  of  Connecticut  in 
the  continuance  of  the  liberties  and  properties  granted  by  their 
late  sovereign,  Charles  the  Second,  of  blessed  memory,  that  they 
might  be  encouraged  in  their  small  beginnings  and  live  under  his 
royal  shadow  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  hon- 
esty." The  address  closed  with  due  protestation  of  loyalty,  duty 
and  obedience. 

But  we  must  turn  away  from  the  response  of  King  James  II. — 
from  all  the  arts  and  wiles  of  his  would-be  "Counsellors,"  and  the 
efforts  that  were  made  to  dissolve  the  colonial  system — and  simply 
announce  that,  before  Mattatuck  became  a  town,  Connecticut  colony 
had  every  reason  to  apprehend  the  loss  of  its  charter.     For  twenty- 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1G8G.  195 

t 

three  years  it  had  rejoiced  in  its  possession  and  experienced  all  the 
blessings  of  its  kingly  protection.     The  men  who  received  it  were 
yet  alive.     They  had  in  memory  the  ninth  of  October,  1662,  the  day 
on  which  it  was   **publiquely  read  in  audience  of  ye  freemen,  at 
Hartford,  and  declared  to  belong  to  them."     They  had  heard  the 
oath  administered  to  "  Mr.  Willys,  to  Captain  John  Talcott,  and  to 
Lieut.  John  Allyn;"  the  solemn  oath  to  take  into  their  custody  the 
priceless  three  sheep-skins,  and  safely  to  keep  them.     To  the  same 
men  they  had  seen  Governor  John  Winthrop  deliver  the  "Duplicate 
of  that  charter,"  in  1663.    They  had  paid  their  full  share  of  corn  for 
that  costly  luxury;  paid  it  in  two-thirds  wheat  and  one-third  pease 
— dry  and  merchantable.     Their  persons  and  carts,  their  boats  and 
canoes  had  been  hired  or  pressed  into  service  "to  carry  and  trans- 
port" the  corn  from  the  towns  to  the  vessels  that  bore  the  grain  to 
New  London.     They  had  felt  all  the  glad  elation  that  came,  when 
from  Long  Island  and  from  the  farthest  western  bounds,  even  to 
the  very  borders  of  the  Hudson's  river,  the  towns  one  after  another 
came  up,  by  deputy  or  petition,  to  be  taken  under  the  protection  of 
that    charter.     Then     the    freemen     had    kept    a    Thanksgiving, 
appointed  because  of  the  success  of  their  "Honored  Governor  in 
obtaining  the  Charter  of  his  Majestic,,  their  Sovereign,"  and  for  the 
free  trade  that  had  been  ordered  in  all  places  in  the  colony.     Now, 
a  day  of  public  humiliation  was  appointed,  to  lament  "the  sin  of 
their   great   unreformedness  under    the   uplifting  of  God's  hand 
against  them."    In  the  election  sermon  it  was  declared  that  He  had 
"smitten   them   in    all   the   labers   of    their    hands,   by  blastings, 
mildews,  catterpillars,  worms,  tares,  floods  and  droughts." 

In  1686,  just  as  the  inhabitants  of  Mattatuck  were  waiting  for 
the  crown  of  all  their  labors — acceptance  into  the  corporation,  as  a 
town  entitled  to  send  its  deputies  to  the  assembly — the  priceless 
charter  was  in  peril. 

The  freemen  of  Connecticut  were  aroused  !  Many  miles  of  terri- 
tory, rich  in  mystery  and  replete  with  possibilities,  lay  to  the  north- 
ward and  westward  of  the  settled  townships.  The  charter  gave 
authority  to  "  The  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut"  to  bestow  these  lands  upon  the  colonists;  but  there  was 
no  time  for  the  organization  and  settlement  of  new  towns.  The 
General  Assembly  resolved  to  enlarge  the  River  Towns.  To  Hart- 
ford and  Windsor  was  given  all  the  region  lying  between  Wood- 
bury and  Mattatuck',  and  the  Massachusetts  line  on  the  north;  and 
between  Farmington  and  Simsbury,  and  the  Housatonic  river  on  the 
west.  It  gave  to  other  townships  other  lands.  It  bestowed  hun- 
dreds of  acres  upon  individual  men,  for  reasons  that  were  not  stated 
of  record. 


196 


mSlORY  OF  WATERS  us  r. 


To  properly  equip  the  little  Ship  of  State  to  outride  the 
approaching  onset,  it  anchored  each  town  within  its  jurisdiction 
fast  to  the  precious  charter,  by  a  "  pattent "  chain.  The  pattern, 
after  which  each  chain  was  to  be  wrought,  was  prepared.  It  was  in 
readiness  in  court  on  May  14,  1685;  the  day  on  which  the  towns 
were  ordered  to  take  out,  each  one,  its  own  little  charter.  Matta- 
tuck  had  never  sent  a  deputy  to  the  Assembly  at  Hartford  in  1685, 
and  therefore,  in  alt  probability,  did  not  petition  for  a  charter  at 
the  date  given  in  the  instrument  as  May  14,  1685,  but  merely  fol- 
lowed, when  she  did  petition,  the  formula  that  was  provided  at  that 
time.  If  the  above  date  be  accepted  as  the  true  one,  then  Water- 
bury  and  Lyme  were  the  earliest  petitioners  for  charters,  and  the 
patent  must  have  been  sought  by  Mattatuck.  Mattatuck's  last 
appearance  in  public,  by  name,  was  May  19,  1686,  and  the  date  of 
the  granting  of  Waterbury's  charter  was  the  following  February. 

A  glance  at  a  copy  of  Waterbury's  patent  of  1686,  under  the 
light  of  the  following  facts,  will  convince  the  observer  that  it  was 
not  a  valid  charter.  The  patents,  or  charters,  were  "to  be  signed 
by  the  governor,  and  by  the  secretary,  in  the  name  and  by  order  of 
the  General  Court  of  Connecticut."  The  month  after  they  were 
thus  signed,  it  was  ordered  that  they  be  sent  back  to  Hartford,  that 
they  might  receive  the  legal  title  of  "  Authority."  They  were  then 
to  be  signed  by  "  The  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut." Waterbury's  charter  of  1686,  as  copied  for  Bronson's  His- 
tory, bears  the  following  signature  only: 

"  Pr  order  of  the  General  court  of  Connecticut. 

John  Allyn,  Secret'y." 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  168G.  197 

We  give  the  charter  of  that  date,  accompanied  by  a  view  of  the 

lands  included  within  it.     The  circular  map  of  the  township  was 

sketched   from   the  summit  of  Malmalick,  one  of  the  finest  of  the 

lofty,  round  hills,  for  which  the  region  is  noted.     It  lies  south-west 

of  Town  Plot.     From  its  summit  the  entire  range  of  the  township 

can  be  seen. 

waterbury's  patent  of  1686. 

Whereas  the  Generall  Court  of  Connecticut  have  formerly  Granted  unto  the 
inhabitants  of  Waterbury  all  those  lands  within  these  abutments  viz.  upon  New 
Haven  in  part  &  Milford  in  part  &  Derby  in  part  on  the  south  &  upon  Wood- 
bury in  part  &  upon  the  comons  in  part  on  the  west  &  upon  comon  land  on  the 
North:  &  east  in  part  upon  Farmington  Bounds  &  in  part  upon  the  comons  & 
from  the  South  to  the  north  line  extends  Thirteen  Miles  in  length  &  from  Farm- 
ington bounds  to  Woodbury  about  nine  Miles  breadth  at  the  North  &  somewhat 
less  at  the  South  end,  the  sayd  lands  having  been  by  purchase  or  otherwise  law- 
fully obtayned  of  the  native  proprietors.  And  whereas  the  proprietor  Inhabitants 
of  Waterbury  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut  in  Newengland  have  made  application 
to  the  Governor  &  company  of  the  sayd  colony  of  Connecticut  assembled  in  Court 
the  fourteenth  of  May  one  Thousand  Six  Hundred  &  Eighty-five  that  they  may  have 
a  patent  for  the  confirmation  of  the  afoarsayd  lands  as  it  is  Butted  &  Bounded 
afoarsayd  unto  the  present  proprietors  of  the  sayd  Township  of  Waterbury  which 
they  have  for  some  years  past  enjoyed  without  Interruption.  Now  for  more  full 
confirmation  of  the  premises  &  afoarsayd  Tract  of  land  as  it  is  butted  and  Bounded 
afoarsayd  unto  the  present  proprietors  of  the  Township  of  Waterbury  Know  yee 
that  the  sayd  Gov  &  company  assembled  in  Generall  Court  according  to  the 
commission  granted  to  them  by  our  late  Soveraign  Lord  King  Charles  the 
Second  of  the  blessed  Memory  in  his  letters  patent  bearing  date  the  Three 
iB  Twentyeth  day  of  April  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  his  Sayd  Ma'*«»  Reigne 
have  given  and  Granted  &  by  these  presents  doe  give  grant  rattify  &  confirm 
unto  Thomas  Judd,  John  Standly,  Robert  Porter,  Edmund  Scott,  Isaac  Brun- 
son,  John  Wilton  &  the  rest  of  the  proprieters  Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of  Water- 
bury &  their  heirs  &  assigns  forever  &  to  each  of  them  in  such  proportion  as 
they  have  already  agreed  upon  for  the  division  of  the  Same  all  that  afoarsayd 
Tract  of  land  as  it  is  butted  &  Bounded  together  with  all  the  woods  uplands 
arable  lande  meadows  pastures  ponds  waters  Rivers  fishings  foulings  mines 
Mineralls  Quarries  &  precious  Stones  upon  and  within  the  sayd  Tract  of 
lands  with  all  other  profits  and  commodities  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any 
wise  appertaining  &  we  doe  also  Grant  unto  the  aforenamed  Thomas  Judd, 
John  Standly,  Robert  Porter,  Edmund  Scott,  Isaac  Brunson,  John  Wilton 
&  the  rest  of  the  p'^sent  proprietors  Inhabitants  of  Waterbury  their  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  that  the  foresayd  Tracts  of  land  shall  be  forever  hereafter  deemed 
reputed  &  be  an  Intire  Township  of  it  Selfe  to  have  &  to  hold  the  sayd  Tract 
of  lands  &  premises  with  all  &  Singular  their  appurtenances  together  with  the 
priviledges.  Immunities  «&  franchises  herein  given  and  granted  to  the  sayd 
Thomas  Judd,  John  Stanly,  Robert  Porter,  Edmund  Scott,  Isaac  Brunson,  John 
Wilton  &.  others  the  present  proprietor  Inhabitants  of  Waterbury  their  heirs 
assigns  &  to  the  only  proper  use  and  behoof e  of  the  sayd  Thomas  Judd,  John 
Standly,  Robert  Porter,  Edmund  Scott,  Isaac  Brunson,  John  Wilton  &  the  other 
proprietors  Inhabitants  of  Waterbury  their  heirs  &  assigns  forever  according  to 
the  Tennore  of  his  Ma»'"  Manar  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  County  Kent  in  the 


IITSTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  KSO. 


200  HISTOBT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Kingdom  of  England  in  fee  A  common  soccage  <&  not  in  capitee  nor  Knight 
service  they  yielding  &  paying  therefore  to  our  Soverigne  Lord  the  King  his  heirs 
4&  successors  onely  the  fifth  part  of  all  the  oare  of  Gold  &  Silver  which  from 
time  to  time  &  at  all  times  hereafter  shall  be  there  gotten  had  or  obtained  in  Lue  of 
all  rents  services  dutys  &  demands  whatsoever  according  to  the  charter  in  wit- 
ness we  have  hereunto  affixed  the  Seal  of  the  Colony  this  eighth  of  febuary  in  the 
Third  year  of  the  reign  of  s**  Soveraigne  lord  James  the  Second  by  the  grace  of 
God  of  England,  Scotland,  france  &  Ireland  King  defender  of  the  faythe  of  o"" 
Lord  1686: 

Pr  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut, 

John  Allyn,  Secret'y. 

That  the  proprietors  of  Waterbury  discovered  that  they  held  no 
legal  title  to  their  township,  appears  in  the  very  words  of  their 
petition  for  a  new  one.  In  1720,  they  ask  that  a  "deed  of  release 
and  quitclaim  of  and  in  the  lands  within  the  town  may  be  granted, 
and  be  signed  and  sealed  by  the  Honorable  the  Governor  and  the  Sec- 
retary" 

The  omission  on  the  part  of  the  governor  to  sign  Waterbury *s 
Charter,  was  but  a  sign  of  the  times.  The  colony  was  in  a  state 
of  excitement  and  alarm.  Sir  Edmond  Andros  was  daily  expected 
to  arrive,  and  to  usurp  the  government.  Waterbury  had  no  repre- 
sentative at  Hartford  to  look  after  her  interests  and  it  is  highly 
probable  that  the  town's  patent,  unsigned  by  the  governor,  and 
unsealed,  was  still  at  Hartford  on  June  15,  1687,  when  "Sundry  of 
the  court,  desiring  that  the  Patent  or  Charter  [of  the  colony]  might 
be  brought  into  Court,  the  secretary  sent  for  it,  and  informed  the 
Governo'"  and  Court  that  he  had  the  Charter,  and  showed  it  to  the 
Court:  and  the  Governo'"  bid  him  put  it  into  the  box  againe  and  lay 
it  on  the  table,  and  leave  the  key  in  the  box,  which  he  did  forth- 
with." This  is  all  that  relates  to  the  story  of  the  Colony's  Char- 
ter that  is  on  record. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Trumbull,  Gershom  Bulkley,  and  tradition,  give  to 
us  the  Charter  Oak,  and  the  rest  of  the  interesting  story  from  the 
time  when  the  box  containing  the  charter  was  left  upon  the  table 
with  the  key  in  the  lock.  It  must  have  been  a  dark  day  in  June, 
when  lights  were  required  in  the  court  room;  or  an  evening  ses- 
sion must  have  been  held — it  is  difficult  to  contend  with  traditions, 
even  that  of  the  Charter  Oak — so  dear  to  Connecticut.  The  charter 
itself  still  proclaims  by  its  presence  in  the  State  Capitol,  that  it  was 
never  given  up. 

On  the  13th  of  the  October  following.  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  in 
the  name  of  King  James  II.  took  the  government  of  the  colony  into 
his  own  hands.  Under  the  advice  of  unwise  counselors,  the  king 
had  planned  to  revoke  the  charters  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  Plymouth, 


THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  1686.  201 

Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  and  Connecticut  Colony, 
and  to  consolidate  them  under  one  government.  The  Province  of 
Maryland,  and  the  Proprieties  of  East  and  West  Jersey  and  of  Dela- 
ware were  to  be  united  with  the  Province  of  New  York.  Edward 
Randolph  had  been  for  some  time  in  possession  of  five  writs  of  Quo 
Warranto,  with  summons  from  the  sheriffs  of  London,  summoning 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  with  other  colonies,  to  appear  before  the 
English  Court,  and  show  by  what  authority  the  Governor  and  com- 
pany held  power.  Certain  articles  of  misdemeanor  had  been  drawn 
lip  against  "Authority  "  in  Connecticut,  as  early  as  July  15,  1685.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  General  Assembly  was  not  too  early  in  getting 
ready  for  the  expected  disaster.  Accusations  were  brought  against 
the  colony  for  promulgating  and  enforcing  nine  acts  and  laws,  a 
number  of  which  were  declared  to  be  contrary  to  the  law  of  Eng- 
land. We  cite  one  only.  It  was  distinctly  charged  that  the  inhabi- 
tants were  denied  the  "  exercise  of  the  religion  of  the  church  of 
England."  A  diligent  search  of  the  acts  of  the  General  Court,  and 
of  the  code  of  laws  fails  to  find  any  proof  of  such  denial.  This 
accusation  was  based  upon  the  following  law: 

"It  is  ordered,  that  where  the  ministry  of  the  Word  is  established  throughout 
this  colony  every  person  shall  duly  resort  and  attend  thereunto  respectively  upon  the 
Lord's  Day,  and  upon  such  Fast  Days  and  days  of  Thanksgiving  as  are  to  be  gen- 
erally kept  by  the  appointment  of  authority.  And  if  any  person  within  this  Juris- 
diction, without  necessar}'  cause,  withdraw  himself  from  hearing  the  public  minis- 
try of  the  word,  he  shall  forfeit  for  his  absence  from  every  such  meeting,  five  shil- 
lings." 

That  the  accusation  was  without  foundation  appears  by  an  act 
made  by  the  Connecticut  legislators  in  1669,  and,  so  far  as  we  have 
found,  never  revoked;  showing,  most  conclusively,  that  the  cere- 
monial rites  of  the  Church  of  England  were  not  denied  to  the  in- 
habitants by  any  law  made  or  existing  after  May  13,  1669. 

•  •  This  Court  having  seriously  considered  the  great  divisions  that  arise  amongst 
us  about  matters  of  Church  Government;  for  the  honor  of  God,  welfare  of  the 
Churches  and  presevation  of  the  public  peace  so  greatly  hazarded,  do  declare  that 
whereas  the  Congregational  Churches  in  these  parts  for  the  generale  of  their  pro- 
fession and  practice  have  hitherto  been  approved,  we  can  do  no  less  than  still 
approve  and  countenance  the  same  to  be  without  disturbance  until  better  light  in 
an  orderly  way  doth  appear;  but  yet  forasmuch  as  sundry  persons  of  worth  for 
prudence  and  piety  amongst  us  are  otherwise  persuaded  (whose  welfare  and  peace- 
able sattisfaction  we  desire  to  accommodate)  this  Court  doth  declare  that  all  such 
persons  being  also  approved  according  to  law  as  orthodox  and  sound  in  the  funda- 
mentalls  of  Christian  religion,  may  have  allowance  of  their  perswasion  and  profes- 
sion in  Church  wayes,  or  assemblies,  without  disturbance." 

Sir  Edmund  Andros  took  possession  of  the  Government  in  Octo- 
ber of  1687.    James  II.  abdicated  his  crown  fourteen  months  later. 


202  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

Dec.  II,  1688.  On  February  thirteenth,  in  the  same  year,  King  Will- 
iam III.  and  Queen  Mary  assumed  his  discarded  inheritance.  Will- 
iam and  Mary  had  been  on  the  throne  less  than  three  months,  when 
Sir  Edmund  Andros  having  departed,  the  General  Court  of  Connec- 
ticut was  again  convened.  The  date  was  May  9,  1689,  and  that  was 
the  thrilling  session,  at  which  Waterbury,  for  the  first  time  in  her 
history  sent  a  deputy  to  represent  her  interests.  "  Ensign  Thomas 
Judd  for  Waterbury,"  is  the  magical  sentence  found  in  the  records 
of  that  court  which  tells  us  that  Waterbury,  after  having  served 
fifteen  years  as  a  minor,  took  her  place  in  1689  (under  the  reign  of 
William  and  Mary)  as  a  unit  in  the  political  life  of  the  colony. 

Major  Talcott  did  not  live  to  see  the  plantation,  for  which  he 
had  done  such  excellent  service  throughout  the  period  of  its  youth, 
celebrate  its  majority.  He  died  after  a  most  active,  eventful, 
honored  and  useful  life,  in  July  of  1688.  A  singular  independence 
in  thought  and  act  characterized  this  Puritan.  Secretary  Allen  in 
writing  to  Governor  Andros  three  months  after  that  gentleman  took 
his  place  as  "  Governor  in  Chief e  of  his  Ma^***  Territories  in  New 
England,"  wrote  of  Major  Talcott,  that  he  was  **  one  who  loves  to 
act  his  matters  by  himself."  Of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  one  may  be 
permitted  in  parting  with  him  to  write,  that  he  performed  unpleas- 
ant obligations  to  his  sovereign,  with  the  least  possible  friction  to 
the  colonists. 

We  find  many  **  snap  shots  "  taken  of  him  both  by  professional 
and  amateur  historians,  that  utterly  fail  to  give  likeness  to  his  life 
and  character.  His  treatment  of  the  Indians  and  his  care  for  their 
welfare,  is  extremely  winning.  He  constantly  urged  that  the  peo- 
ple should  everywhere  "  faile  not  to  have  regard  to  ye  Indians  as 
their  own  pebple."  If  he  tasted  the  sweets  of  power  in  America,  he 
also  drank  the  cup  of  sorrow,  for  but  three  months  after  he  began 
to  rule,  his  wife.  Lady  Andros,  died  at  Boston.  As  a  picture  of 
burial  rites  in  1687,  we  give  an  extract  from  the  Diary  of  Judge 
Sewell,  relating  to  her  funeral :  "  Between  7  and  8  lychns  [links] 
illuminating  the  cloudy  air,  the  corpse  was  carried  into  the  hearse 
drawn  by  six  horses,  the  soldiers  making  a  guard  from  the  govern- 
ors house  down  the  prison  lane  to  the  South  meeting  house;  there 
taken  out  and  carried  in  at  the  western  door  and  set  in  the  alley 
before  the  pulpit  with  six  mourning  women  by  it.  House  made 
light  with  candles  and  torches." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  RELATION    OF    EACH     MAN'S     PROPRIETY     TO     THE     PURCHASE    OF    THE 
TOWNSHIP — LAND    GRANTS THE    LOTTERY — MEADOW    ALLOTMENTS 

—  MINISTRY    LANDS— THE    THREE- ACRE    LOTS — THE    MINISTER'S    LOT 

—  MR.    FRAYSOR REVEREND     JEREMIAH     PECK     INVITED    TO    BECOME 

THE    SETTLED    PASTOR     IN    WATERBURY — THE     MINISTER'S    HOUSE 

THE  SCHOOL-MASTER — THE  "GREAT  SICKNESS"  OF  1689 — THE 
DEATH  OF  ROBERT  PORTER  AND  PHILIP  JUDD — THE  BURYING 
YARD — WATERBURY's  FIRST  LIEUTENANT,  COMMISSIONERS,  AND  TAX 
LIST. 

FROM  1677  to  1689,  Waterbury  made  excellent  progress  in  all 
the  lines  of  her  development.  Neither  death  nor  disaster,  so 
far  as  we  may  know,  attended  her  growth  to  that  date.  It  is 
true  that  she  had  lost,  by  removal,  two  of  her  proprietors,  Joseph 
Hickox  and  Thomas  Hancox;  but  Robert  and  Richard  Porter  had 
been  added  to  the  number.  During  this  period  of  twelve  years 
much  had  been  accomplished;  the  inhabitants  had  proceeded  with 
their  various  industries  without,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  taking 
thought  of  fear  concerning  their  Indian  neighbors.  They  had  made 
definite  and  apparently  satisfactory  agreements  with  their  prede- 
cessors in  the  ownership  of  the  soil,  covering  an  extent  of  territory 
about  eighteen  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  of  an  average 
breadth  of  from  eight  to  nine  miles.  Over  this  stretch  of  country 
they  had  wandered  at  ease,  examining  every  bit  of  meadow  land  on 
the  Great  river  and  its  tributaries.  The  familiarity  of  the  inhab- 
itants at  a  very  early  ^period,  with  their  meadows,  swamps,  boggy 
lands,  uplands,  mountains,  hills,  *4o"  lands  and  high  lands;  their 
islands,  rivers,  brooks,  ponds,  "grinlets,"  and  "runs  of  water," 
when  we  consider  the  extent  of  the  township,  and  the  labors. that 
filled  their  hands,  is  surprising.  During  the  life  of  the  plantation, 
a  man's  acres  in  the  meadows  determined  the  amount  of  his  taxable 
estate.  His  interest  in  the  purchase  of  the  township  w^as  deter- 
mined by  the  number  of  pounds  annexed  to  his  name  as  a  signer  of 
the  plantation  agreement — the  highest  interest  being  indicated  by 
;;^ioo,  the  lowest  by  ;;^5o.  The  relation  between  the  one  hundred 
or  the  fifty  pound  interest,  and  the  "purchase  paid,"  has  not  been 
learned.  That  there  was  a  purchase  of  the  township  made  by  the 
planters  in  some  form,  and  quite  distinct  from  the  purchase  from 


204  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

the  aboriginal  inhabitants,  is  evident;  but  nothing  definite  or  explan- 
atory concerning  it  has  been  left  on  our  records.  The  scheme  that 
seems  to  have  been  carefully  wrought  out  for  the  adventurers  and 
voyagers,  before  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Company  set  sail  from 
England,  affords  certain  hints  in  relation  to  the  sub-divisions  of 
interests  and  lands  that  ensued  in  that  colony,  and  also  in  Con- 
necticut. It  seems  probable  that  the  proprietors  became  holden  to 
the  colony,  through  the  committee  appointed  by  it,  for  all  the  costs 
and  charges  incident  to  the  settlement  of  the  plantation,  including 
their  Indian  purchases  and  the  work  of  the  committee,  together 
with  all  other  incidental  expenses.  In  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
every  adventurer  who  placed  ;^5o  in  the  common  stock  was  to  have 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  So  in  our  own  case,  each  planter 
secured  lands  according  to  his  venture  in  the  common  stock.  The 
division  or  allotment  of  lands  in  the  former  case  was,  in  the  begin- 
ning, left  to  the  governor;  in  Mattatuck,  to  the  committee.  It  is 
true  that  the  men  of  Farmington  told  the  Indians  that  the  "Colony 
gave  away  their  lands  for  the  English  to  work  upon  without  taking 
anything  for  it,"  but  that  was  years  before  Waterbury  was  settled. 
If  the  above  suggestion  is  in  accordance  with  the  actual  purchase, 
then  the  amount  of  a  man's  propriety,  if  it  was  nominally  ;^ioo, 
governed  the  amount  of  money  he  paid  toward  that  purchase.  In 
return  for  this  payment,  the  man  with  the  ;^ioo  propriety  received 
from  the  committee  twice  as  much  meadow  land  as  his  neighbor  who 
held  but  half  his  tenure  in  the  township.  There  is  no  one  thing 
that  more  finely  sets  forth  and  fully  illustrates  the  implicit  faith 
of  our  fathers  in  the  all-controlling  power  of  the  God  in  whom 
they  trusted,  than  the  manner  of  their  drawing  of  lots  for  their 
lands.  To  them,  this  was  a  "solemn  and  awful  ordinance;"  it  was 
God  who  stood  within  it,  directing  the  issues  that  fell  to  His  chil- 
dren. If  a  man  drew  the  first  chance,  which  gave  him  power  to 
choose  his  land  where  he  pleased,  it  was  the  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth  who  dwelt  in  that  chance  and  appointed  that  he  should 
receive  it.  The  man  who  was  reserved  to  the  last  and  left  no  choice, 
believed  that  he  was  appointed  for  that  lot,  and  accepted  his  por- 
tion. We  believe  that  the  men  of  Mattatuck,  in  like  manner  and 
with  equal  solemnity,  approached  "the  solemn  and  awful  ordinance 
of  a  lot,"  and  accepted  their  allotments  and  divisions  of  upland  and 
boggy  meadow  in  the  same  spirit  of  devout  submission.  We  stand 
two  centuries  away  from  this  belief  and  condemn  the  lottery,  quite 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  our  fathers  held  it  as  an  holy  ordinance, 
and  that  it  is  this  very  elimination  of  God  from  it  which  brought  it 
into  disrepute. 


WA  TERB  Un  Y  IN  168U,  205 

Before  1689,  the  following  apportionment  of  lands  had  been 
made:  The  eight-acre  house  lots  on  Town  Plott  in  1674;  the  two- 
acre  house  lots  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  1677  or  1678;  and  to 
these  had  been  added,  probably  at  the  same  time,  and  apparently 
to  each  proprietor,  one  acre  in  Manhan  neck.*  This  must  have 
been  to  afford  a  garden  spot,  where  the  land  was  already  in  readi- 
ness tor  the  planter,  on  which  food  supplies,  needful  for  immediate 
use,  might  be  raised.  There  was  also  an  eight-acre  lot  given  to 
each  proprietor.  In  addition  to  the  above,  there  was  a  division  of 
meadow  land  before  1679,  and,  probably  before  that  time,  one  of 
boggy  meadow.  Of  the  layout  of  the  above  two  divisions  no  record 
has  been  found.  In  the  eleventh  volume  of  the  Land  Records  we 
find  a  copy  of  the  order  for  the  dividing  of  certain  meadow  lands  in 
1679.  In  1891,  the  order  itself  was  found,  which  we  give  below. 
The  literal  form  of  the  original  document  is  not  copied,  as  the  inex 
perienced  reader  would  need  a  translator  to  comprehend  it,  but  the 
language  is  carefully  followed.     It  is  called : 

TflE    DIVISION    TO    THE   STRAITS. 

The  order  which  is  agreed  of  in  the  dividing  of  and  drawing  of  lots  for  those 
lands  which  **Lyeth"  down  the  river  from  those  lands  already  laid  out  to  the 
**rivurit'*  [Beacon  Hill  brook]  which  runneth  into  the  river  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  at  the  straits  [of  the  Naugatuck  river,  below  Naugatuck] ;  and  also  a  meadow 
which  is  up  the  river  from  the  town  plot  called  by  the  name  of  Buck  meadow  [on 
the  w^est  side  of  the  river  above  Mount  Taylor]  ;  and,  in  the  dividing  of  the  above 
said  lands,  we  agree  that  three  roods  of  the  best  of  this  land  shall  be  accounted  as 
one  acre,  and  the  worst  of  the  land  which  we  divide  shall  be  accounted  seven  roods 
but  for  one  acre,  and  so  rise  or  fall  in  this  divi.*iion  according  to  the  goodness  or 
badness  of  this  land,  and  this  to  be  considered  and  equalized  by  those  which  are  or 
shall  lay  out  this  aforesaid  land  into  their  several  allotments ;  and  also  w^e  agree 
that  there  shall  be  five  acres  allowed  to  a  hundred  pound  allotment,  and  if  these 
lands  appointed  to  this  division  shall  fall  short  to  allow  according  to  this  propor- 
tion to  every  allotment,  then  those  which  fall  short  to  take  up  their  proportion  in 
any  undivided  meadow,  except  a  piece  of  land  called  the  pasture,  or  a  parcell  of 
land  which  lyeth  at  the  brook  which  runneth  into  Steele's  meadow  ;  and  in  this 
division  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  above  said  persons  if  they  see  reason  so  to 
do  to  throw  in  lands  into  the  several  allotments  and  count  it  not  in  the  measure 
according  to  their  discretion  and  we  begin  in  this  division  at  the  south  side  of  the 
river  and  the  lots  to  run  south  aud  north  which  we  count  up  and  down  the  river 
and  the  first  lot  in  order  to  be  accounted  that  next  the  river  and  so  run  down  the 
meadow  to  the  "  stray ts"  aud  take  the  lots  in  order  as  they  fall  at  the  north  end 
and  at  the  straits  run  over  the  river  at  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  like  manner,  and 
go  upward  and  end  at  the  divided  land  at  the  fore  said  side,  and  then  go  up  into 
Buck's  meadow  and  begin  in  that  allotment  at  the  southward  or  lower  end  and  go 
upward  and  end  at  the  upper  side  or  end  of  that  meadow. 


*  Manhan  neck  surrounds  Neck  hill,  which  is  the  meadow  hill  that  overlooks  the  present  ball  grounds. 


2o6  HISrORT  OF  WATERS URY. 

The  lots  as  they  fell  by  succession  ; 

Great  Lot.  Benjamin  Jones, 

Abraham  Andrus,  Samuel  Hikcox, 

John  Carrington,  John  Warner, 

Benjamin  Barnes,  Samuel  Judd, 

John  Wilton,  Daniel  Warner, 

William  Judd,  Timothy  Standly, 

John  Judd,  Benjamin  Judd, 

William  Higginson.  Thomas  Warner, 

David  Carpenter,  Daniel  Porter, 

Joseph  Gaylord,  Isaack  Bronson, 

John  Scovill,  Joseph  Hikox, 

Edmund  Scott,  Thomas  Newell, 

Thomas  Richason,  Thomas  Judd, 

John  Langdon,  John  Standly. 

John  Newell,  ••  y  lote  Botte." 

[The  lot  bought]. 
Obadiah  Richards, 
Thomas  Hancox, 
John  Bronson, 
Great  Lot, 

The  two  pieces  of  land  that  were  excepted  from  use  in  this 
division,  were  the  Little  pasture,  and  the  fifteen  acres  on  Steel's 
brook,  which  had  been  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,  by  the 
Assembly's  Committee  in  November,  1679.  That  act  remained  in 
force  until  the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connec- 
ticut (1893),  at  which  session  the  First  Church  of  Waterbury,  after 
enjoying  its  inheritance  for  two  hundred  and  sixteen  years,  sought 
and  obtained  legal  power  to  alienate  it.  The  moral  right  is  still  in 
question. 

The  Waterbury  Driving  Co.  is  the  present  owner,  or  occupier 
of  the  fifteen  acres  on  Steel's  brook.  This  division  of  meadow 
lands  has  been  so  carefully  followed,  that  we  are  able  to  place  defi- 
nitely the  land  of  each  and  every  owner.  The  mouth  of  Hop 
brook  was  the  place  of  departure.  TJie  land  between  the  brook 
and  the  river  was  a  "great  lot."  Afterward,  it  belonged  to  the  pro- 
priety that  was  given  to  Rev.  John  Southmayd,  who,  when  he 
recorded  it  to  himself  (as  seven  acres  and  one-half),  stated  that  it 
included  the  island  between  the  river  and  the  brook.  This  is  the 
island  that  lies  in  the  Naugatuck  river  against  the  mouth  of  Hop 
brook.  Abraham  Andrews  seems  to  have  had  his  lot  cast  next  the 
minister  on  this  as  well  as  on  other  occasions.  His  house  lot,  his 
Straits  division,  his  Beaver  meadow,  his  Hancox  meadow,  his  Tur- 
key hill  field,  and  even  his  seat  in  the  meeting-house,  were  next  the 
minister.     In   course  of  time   the  lot   of  Andrews,   by    purchase, 


WA  TERB  UR  T  IN  1689.  207 

became  twelve  acres,  and  about  1790  was  still  known  as  Andrews 
is/and/  The  railroad  station  at  Union  City  is  on  a  portion  of  it. 
John  Carrington,  Benjamin  Barnes  and  John  Welton  also  had  their 
lots  on  Hop  brook,  substantially  between  it  and  the  river.  William 
Judd*s  lot  began  below  where  the  Great  hill  meets  the  river,  against 
Mr.  J.  H.  Whittemore's  house,  and  extended  below  the  present  river 
bridge.  In  1687  this  was  called  eight  and  a  half  acres.  The  point 
was  so  heavily  washed  by  floods,  and  so  much  of  it  was  hopelessly 
barren,  that  when  duly  measured  it  was  accounted  twenty  acres, 
showing  how  great  was  the  discretion  of  the  measurers  in  "throw- 
ing in"  land.  This  became  the  "Deacon's  meadow,"  which  name  it 
retained  for  many  years.  The  three  men  whose  names  are  next  on 
the  list  had  their  lots  on  the  west  side  of  the  river — David  Carpenter's 
lying  on  both  sides  of  "  Towantick  "  brook  [Long-Meadow].  The 
hill  against  the  canoe  place  was  passed  over,  and  then  five  lots, 
(John  Langton's  being  the  southernmost),  occupied  the  meadow 
spaces  as  far  down  as  "  Straight's "  mountain.  We  find  fourteen 
meadows  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  On  the  east  side,  the  lots 
were  divided  by  the  rough,  rugged  hills  that  came  to  the  river,  so 
that  only  nine  lots  (beginning  with  John  Newell's  at  Beacon  Hill 
brook,  and  ending  with  Daniel  Porter's  lot,  which  for  some  not 
understood  reason,  ended  before  reaching  the  "hither  end  of  Judd's 
meadows,"  leaving  ten  acres  between  it  and  Squantuck  or  Fulling 
Mill  brook).  Ten  lots  in  this  division  were  laid  out  up  the  river, 
beginning  at  Buck's  meadow;  Isaac  Bronson's  being  the  first,  and 
the  others  following  in  the  order  given  in  the  list.  "  Y.  lote  Botte" 
or  The  Lot  Bought,  became  Reverend  Jeremiah  Peck's.  Obadiah 
Richard's  lot  was  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Buck's  meadow  not 
containing  sufficient  land  to  complete  the  list,  Thomas  Hancox's  lot 
was  given  to  him,  perhaps  a  mile  above,  at  a  place  spoken  of  as  the 
"Slip,"  and  also  as  "The  Butcher's  Island,"  Hancox  Island,  Ensign 
Judd's  Island  and  Welton's  Island.  John  Bronson  went  into  Wal- 
nut Tree  meadow,  above  Buck's  meadow,  for  his  allotment.  The 
final  lot  was  a  great  lot.  It  became  Jeremiah  Peck's  and  the  school 
lot.  This  lay  east  of  the  river  at  Walnut  Tree  meadow.  Walnut 
Tree  and  Buck's  meadow  we  find  used  interchangeably,  that  is  for 
the  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

The  following  preamble  in  relation  to  a  meadow  division  of  1679, 
is  new  material  that  was  found  in  1890: 

A   MEADOW   DIVISION   OF    1679. 

May,  '79.  The  plantars  of  Mattatuck  being  at  the  town  plot  added  by  vote 
Thomas  Judd  to  William  Judd,  John  Standly,  and  Sam.  Stell,  to  equalize  the  land 
to  lay  out  in  the  division  of  land  from  Manhan  meadow  upward  and  make  addition 


208 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


to  those  lots  in  that  division  according  to  the  quality  of  the  land  and  remoteness  of 
it  as  the  foresaid  parties  shall  judge  to  be  just  and  right. 

The  first  meadow, 

2d        "  

3d        "        west  side  the  river. 
East  side  river,  the  first  meadow  from  the  south 

12  acres.     Island  5  acres, 
Second  meadow,  east  side,        .... 


It 


II 


20 

acres. 

33 

t  ( 

27 

1 

•  1 

17 

i  1 

23 

it 

120 


<i 


The  following  is  the  result  of  the  work  of  the  committee  : 

The  division  of  the  remainder  of  the  land  in  Manhan  meadow  and  Steel's  mead- 
ow, and  Ben.  Judd's  meadow,  and  Hancox  meadow  and  at  the  small  brook,  as  foUow- 
eth  :  We  first  began  at  Manhan  meadow,  and  second,  in  Hancox  meadow,  and 
third,  at  a  bit  of  land  at  the  west  side  of  the  river  against  Hancox  meadow,  and 
fourth,  at  the  south  end  of  the  brook  against  Hancox  meadow,  fifth  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  land  which  lies  at  the  brook  which  comes  down  into  Steele's  mead- 
ow, and  go  upward  and  end  at  the  north  end  of  Ben.  Judd's  meadow,  at  Will- 
iam  Higginson's  lot,  and  according  to  this  order  to  draw  lots,  two  acres  to  a 
hundred  pound,  and  if  these  lands  herein  expressed  fall  short  of  this  divison,  then 
to  be  made  up  by  any  undivided  lands  except  this  *'  Bit  of  Lande  called  a  Pastors." 
We  began  in  Hancox  meadow  at  the  southward  end  at  that  bit  at  the  west  side  of 
the  river  against  Hancox  meadow  at  the  south  end 

The  lots  as  they  fell  in  this  division  in  or  by  drawing. 


1  John  Bronson, 

2  Joseph  Gaylord, 

3  Tho.  Warner, 

4  Edmund  Scott, 

5  Obadiah  Richards, 

6  Daniel  Warner, 

7  John  Newell, 

8  Thomas  Hancox, 

9  John  Warner, 

10  Great  Lot,  . 

11  John  Carrington.  . 

12  Ben.  Jones, 

13  Samuel  Hicox  [£  95] 

14  Will.  Higginson, 

15  John  Welton, 

16  Tho.  Newell,     . 

17  Benj.  Judd, 

18  John  Langdon, 

19  Isaac  Bronson, 

20  John  Judd, 

21  Thomas  Richason, 

22  Abraham  Andrews, 

23  Great  Lot, 

24  Great  Lot,  . 

25  John  Scovill, 

26  David  Carpenter, 


[(ES. 

HALF- ACRES. 

RODS. 

I 

half 

16 

I 

half 

32 

2 

00 

00 

2 

00 

00 

I 

half 

16 

I 

00 

32 

2 

00 

00 

2 

00 

00 

I 

03  roods 

3 

3 

00 

00 

I 

00 

32 

2 

00 

00 

I 

[?] 

32 

I 

I  rood, 

24 

I 

half 

16 

I 

3  rood. 

8 

I 

3 

8 

2 

•    00 

00 

I 

3  rood, 

3 

2 

00 

00 

I 

00 

00 

I 

half 

16 

3 

00 

00 

3 

00 

00 

I 

half 

16 

I 

half 

16 

WATERBURT  IN  1689,  209 

ACRES.      HALF-ACRES.     RODS. 

27  John  Standly, 2  00  00 

28  Daniel  Porter i                 3  roods  3 

29  William  Judd, 2  00  00 

30  Timothy  Standly,      .....  i                 3  roods  24 

31  Joseph  Hikcox, i  00  32 

32  Ben.  Barnes, 2  00  00 

33  Samuel  Judd i  half  16 

34  Tho.  Judd, 2  00  00 

THE    THREE-ACRE    LOTS. 

In  March,  1678,  an  order  was  given  for  the  laying  out  of  the  addi- 
tion to  the  house  lots.  The  lots  of  this  division  are  known  as  the 
three-acre  lots.  Our  records  contain  nothing  in  relation  to  it,  but 
the  quaint  old  paper  containing  the  lay  out  was  among  the  treas- 
ures recovered  in  1890.  It  is  here  given;  and  is,  it  is  thought,  in  the 
writing  of  William  Judd. 

The  order  which  the  addition  of  the  house  lots  in  Mattatuck  as  it  is  to  be  taken 
up.  Those  that  desire  to  take  up  their  addition  in  the  rear  of  their  house  lots  we 
shall  do  all  that  we  can  to  accommodate  each  man  in  that  particular  to  be  suited 
first  and  2-3  so  go  on  in  that  order. 

1  Benjamin  Barnes. 

2  Samuel  Hickox. 

3  Joseph  Hickox. 

4  John  Welton.     [Next  east  of  the  Burying  Yard.] 

5  Abraham  Andrus.     [Between  the  Mill-land  and  the  Mad  River,  and  South  of 

Union  Square.] 

6  Benjamin  Judd.     [Between  the  ancient  Judd's  Meadow  road  that  ran  east  of 

the  Pine  hill  (now  removed)  and  the  Mill-land  ] 

7  John  Bronson.     [Seldom,  if  ever,  had  his  lands  recorded.] 

8  William  Higginson.      For '*  Will"  Higginson   **piched"  north  side  of  '*Sam" 

Judd. 
9,  Thomas  Newell.     [Between  Farmington  Road  and  the  Mad  River,  largely  on 

the  West  Side  of  Dublin  Street.] 
10.  Thomas  Hancox. 

11  Samuel  Judd. 

12  John  Newell.     To  receive  two  acres  at  the  rear  of  his  lot.     [It  will  be  remem- 

bered that  John  Newell's  house  lot  when  recorded,  contained  five  acres.] 
13.  Great  Lot  next  Tho.  Richason.     Pitched  for  the  Great  Lot,  south  side  Ror- 

ing  river  .  .  .  butting  at  John  Carrington's  east.     [Mr.  Peck  was  allowed 

to  relinquish  this  lot,  and  take  three  acres  between  Farmington  road  and  the 

river,  east  of  Dublin  Street.] 
14  Thomas  Richason. 

15.  **  Ad  ward  "  Scott,  to  receive  his  lot  at  the  east  side  of  the  Roaring  River. 

16.  John  Carrington.     [Next  east  of  Mr.  Peck  on  the  south  side  of  Roaring,  or  Mad 

River.] 
17    Benjamin  Jones.     Ben  Jons  south  side  Roaring  River  next  to  that  I  piched  of 

for great  lot. 

18 

14 


2IO  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

19  David  Carpenter.     Piched  for  David  Carpenter  [illegible]  "  Tho  "  Hancox,  if  he 

like  it. 

20  ''Themothy"    Standly.     "Piched"     for  Timothy  Standly    at    the    south    of 

Thomas  Richason*s,  if  he  like  it. 

21.  Daniel  Porter. 

22.  John  Judd.     For  John  Judd,   north  side  of  John  Warner's  lot,  Roring  River 

if  he  like  it. 

23.  Thomas  Judd.     [Lieut.  Thomas  Judd's  three-acre  lot  was  in  the  rear  of  his 

house  lot,  but  separated  from  it  by  Grove  Street.  ] 

24.  John  Standly.     To  receive  "Achur"  more.     [This  acre  was  added  to  his  house 

lot.] 

25.  John  Scovill. 

26.  John  Lanckton.     Pitched  for  [?]  south  of  Timothy  Standly. 

27.  Obadiah  Richards. 

2S.  Great  Lot  next  Abraham  Andrus. 

29.  Thomas  Warner. 

30.  Isaac  Bronson.     To  receive  2  acres,  end  of  his  lot.     [This  lay  out  explains  w^hy 

Isaac  Bronson  held  a  four  acre  house  lot.] 
31  John  Warner. 

[32]  Daniel  Warner  next  John  Warner. 
[33]  Joseph  Gaylord. 
[34]  Great  lot  estend.    [This  was  the  ministry  lot  at  the  east  end,  on  Bank  street.] 

The  above  paper  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  the  first 
English  name  of  Mad  river  was  Roaring  river.  During  all  this 
period  we  find  nothing^  to  indicate  that  the  people  of  Waterbury 
possessed  that  most  essential  and  central  figure  of  colonial  townships, 
a  **  minister,"  but  we  may  not  for  one  moment  indulge  the  thought 
that  the  preaching  of  the  Word  and  the  teaching  of  the  inhabitants 
were  neglected.  The  General  Court  was  at  the  helm,  and  we  are 
persuaded  that  it  did  not  allow  Waterbury  colonists  to  drift  into 
barbarism.  It  is  true  that  we  cannot  point  to  a  single  line  of  evi- 
dence concerning  this  matter,  beyond  the  question  that  was  asked 
about  1682,  by  the  planters :  "Which  of  the  great  lots  shall  be  for 
the  minister's  use?''  until  the  year  1688,  when  a  certain  meadow 
division  that  had  been  planned  in  1684  was  consummated.  In  this 
division,  Mr,  Frayser  is  found  in  the  possession  of  land  belonging 
to  one  of  the  three  grand  divisions  of  ^^150  each.  The  title  Mr. 
was  reserved  exclusively  for  "  Ministers  of  the  Gospel "  and  digni- 
taries in  civil  affairs,  in  the  early  days  of  the  colony.  This, 
together  with  the  presence  of  the  same  name  in  1687  (where  it 
appears  as  Mr.  John  Fraysor)  in  a  list  of  gentlemen  who  were  clergy- 
men of  the  Established,  or  Congregational  church,  sugo^ests  that 
Mr.  Frayser  was,  at  the  time,  acting  minister  for  the  inhabitants  of 
Waterbury. 

A  somewhat  careful  study  of  the  dealings  of  the  General  Court 
with  the  towns  under  its  jurisdiction,  seems  to  justify  the  writer  in 


WA  TERB  UR  Y  IN  1089,  2 1 1 

a  statement  to  the  following  effect — that,  in  1686,  when  Mattatnck 
was  accepted  as  a  town,  she  had  chosen  a  minister,  and  that  he  was 
already  living  in  the  house  that  had  been  built  for  him  on  the  house 
lot  next  to  Thomas  Richason's  (the  site  now  occupied  by  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  John  C.  Booth),  and  that  the  Court's  blessing  was 
obtained  in  consequence  of  this  action  on  the  town's  part.  This 
statement  receives  substantial  aid  in  the  very  language  used  in  the 
proprietor's  meeting  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  invite  Mr.  Peck  to 
become  the  "  settled "  pastor.  For  thirty-three  years  the  paper, 
which  lies  before  me,  containing  the  acts  of  the  proprietors  in  rela- 
tion to  Mr.  Peck,  remained  unrecorded.  Reverend  John  South- 
mayd  testifies  on  the  document  that  he  recorded  it  in  the  "  first 
book,  p.  9,  March  20,  1722."  The  following  is  a  copy.  The  clerk's 
formula  has  been  retained. 

Att  a  meeting  of  the  propriators  of  Watterbury :  march  the  18:  1689  they  did  unani- 
musly  desire  M"^  Jerimy  pecke  Sen'^  of  grinage  [Greenwich]  to  setle  with  them  in 
the  worke  of  the  minestry: 

At  the  same  meeting  for  the  Incoragment  of  M'"  peck  Above  faid:  the  propria- 
tors gave  htm  the  houfs  built  for  the  minester,  with  the  horn  lote,  att  his  first 
Entaranc  there  with  his  family: 

Att  the  same  meeting  the  above  said  propriators  of  waterbury  granted:  M'  Jerimy 
pecke  of  grinage  the  other  alotmants  or  general  Devisons  belongin  to  the  mineslers 
lot  so  caled  provided  he  cohabit  with  them  four  yers  and  if  the  providens  of  god  so 
dispos  that  he  Dye  befor  the  four  yers  be  out  itt  shall  fall  to  his  heirs: 

Att  the  same  meetinge  the  propriaters  granted  to  Calabe  and  Jerimy  pecke  the 
to  hous  lots  layd  out  to  the  great  lots  on  buting  westerly  on  abraham  andrus  his 
hous  lot  [south-east  corner  of  West  Main  and  Willow  streets]  the  other  on  ben 
jons  his  home  lote  and  one  of  the  grat  lots  of  meddows  with  the  sevarall  Divisions 
of  upland:  upon  condisons  they  bild  each  of  them  a  tenan table  hous  that  is  to  say 
a  house  upon  each  hom  lote  and  dwell  with  them  four  yers: 

Two  days  later,  the  proprietors  held  another  meeting  at  which 
they  agreed  to  be  at  the  charge  of  the  transportation  of  Mr.  Peck 
and  his  family,  and  cattle,  and  goods,  to  Waterbury.  Samuel 
Hickox,  Isaac  Bronson  and  Obadiah  Richards  were  chosen  "to  take 
as  prudent  a  care  as  they  can  for  to  transport  Mr.  Peck  and  family 
and  estate  according  to  the  vote  above  written  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Town." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  proprietors,  in  giving  to  Mr.  Peck  a 
house,  describe  it  as  the  "house  built  for  the  minister  at  his  first 
entrance  there  with  his  family."  Mr.  Peck's  family  was  still  in 
Greenwich,  and  the  language  is  evidently  applied  to  an  act  already 
consummated,  and  refers  to  a  former  minister.  There  is  a  letter, 
written  at  Greenwich  by  Reverend  Jeremiah  Peck  in  response  to 
an  invitation  he  had  received  from  the  church  at  Barnstable  to 


212  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

become  its  pastor,  which  is  still  extant.  It  belongs  to  the  Governor 
Hinckley  papers,  and  is  in  the  Prince  collection,  which  is  in  the 
present  possession  of  the  Boston  Public  Library.  It  throws  light 
on  the  acts  of  the  Waterbury  proprietors,  in  relation  to  Mr.  Peck 
and  his  son  Jeremiah.  Mr.  Peck,  in  his  letter  to  Governor  Hinckley, 
asked  what  provision  the  men  of  Barnstable  would  be  willing  to 
make  for  his  declining  years,  (Mr.  Peck  was  no  longer  a  young  man) 
or  for  his  family  in  the  event  of  his  death.  He  also  inquired  what 
opportunity  Barnstable  would  afford  for  his  son,  as  a  school-master. 
The  first  question  seems  to  offer  an  answer  to  the  natural  inquiry  : 
Why  was  a  great  propriety,  with  all  its  belongings,  bestowed  upon 
Mr.  Peck,  when  the  use  of  that  land  was  in  the  thoughts  of  the  com- 
mittee and  of  the  people  ?  It  was  doubtless  freely  given  in  order 
to  secure  the  services  of  a  man  of  Mr.  Peck's  worth  and  ability. 

Waterbury  evidently  needed  a  school-master  to  teach  spelling, 
reading,  and  writing,  and  seemed  quite  as  ready  to  evince  gener- 
osity in  that  line,  as  in  the  former  ;  for  to  secure  the  presence  of  Jere- 
miah, Jr.,  and  Caleb,  two  sons  of  Mr.  Peck,  they  were  offered  the 
second  grand  division  of  the  three  held  by  the  township.  Caleb 
declined  his  allotments,  and  the  one-half  of  the  propriety  was  dedi- 
cated to  "the  school."  Jeremiah  Peck,  Junior,  was  probably 
Waterbury's  early,  if  not  earliest  school-master.  Reverend  Jere- 
miah Peck  himself,  was  master  of  the  Colony  school  at  New  Haven, 
twenty -nine  years  before  he  came  to  Waterbury. 

The  year  1689  was  a  memorable  one  in  our  history.  The  need 
for  the  services  and  consolations  expected  from  the  minister  was 
then  imperative.  "A  distemper  of  sore  throat  and  fever"  passed 
through  the  colony.  Secretary  Allen  in  writing  to  Governor  Brad- 
street,  under  date  of  August  9,  wrote:  "It  is  a  very  sickly  time  in 
most  of  our  plantations,  in  some,  near  two-thirds  of  our  people  are 
confined  to  their  beds  or  houses,  and  it  is  feared  some  suffer  from 
want  of  tendance,  and  many  are  dead  amongst  us,  and  the  great 
drought  begins  to  be  very  afflictive."  No  session  of  the  General 
Court  could  be  held  in  August,  because  the  Assistants  were  ill.  Mr. 
Wadsworth,  one  of  the  members  and  the  last  survivor  of  the  Com- 
mittee for  Mattatuck,  died  in  September.  In  Windsor,  twenty-nine 
persons  died  within  thirty-six  days.  In  New  London  more  than 
twenty  deaths  are  recorded.  We  have  no  means  of  knowing  the 
number  of  persons  who  fell  victims  to  the  disease  in  Waterbury. 
Through  the  Probate  Court,  we  learn  of  the  death  in  that  summer 
or  autumn  of  three  of  Waterbury's  proprietors  ;  the  eldest  man  in  the 
community — Robert  Porter,  and  Philip  Judd — the  last  proprietor 
whose  autograph  has  been  found  appended  to  the  Plantation  Agree- 


WATERBURT  IN  1G89,  213 

ment.  He  came  to  Waterbury  in  1677,  with  his  wife  Hannah,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Loomis  of  Windsor,  and  their  three  chil- 
dren, Philip,  Thomas  and  Hannah.  Two  children,  William  and 
Benjamin,  were  born  in  Waterbury.  According  to  Dr.  Bronson, 
"he  was  the  first  of  the  original  proprietors  who  died  in  Water- 
bury." The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Robert  Porter  was  presented 
to  the  Court,  September  18,  1689,  while  that  of  Philip  Judd  was  not 
received  until  November  2.  Robert  Porter's  son  Benjamin,  also  died 
in  1689.  Joseph  Hickox  was  the  first  of  the  planters  of  1681  to  die. 
He  removed  to  Woodbury  about  1686,  where  he  joined  the  church  in 
May  of  that  year,  and  his  son  Samuel  was  baptized  there  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year.  Benjamin  Jones'  estate  appears  in  the 
Probate  Court  at  New  Haven,  in  1690.  It  is  not  known  whether  the 
dead  of  1689  were  interred  in  Waterbury,  or  were  carried  to  Farm- 
ington.  John  Warner  made  his  will  when  about  to  leave  Farming- 
ton  for  Mattatuck,  and  requested,  in  the  event  of  his  death,  to  be 
laid  with  his  kindred  in  the  place  of  burial  at  Farmington.  The 
earliest  mention  of  the  "  Burying  yard  "  in  Waterbury,  that  has 
been  noticed,  is  in  the  entry  of  the  following  land  grant — made  by 
John  Hopkins  in  1695:  "The  town  grants  to  Edmund  Scott  a  par- 
cel of  land  laying  within  the  common  fence,  butting  east  on  the 
burying  yard,  north  on  the  fence,  west  on  the  highway."  This 
highway,  forming  the  western  bound,  was  the  highway  to  the  old 
Town  Plot.  It  ran  across  the  meadows  from  present  Willow  street 
to  the  river. 

In  September  the  business  before  the  Court  was  urgent  and  of 
the  utmost  importance;  but  so  universal  was  the  prevailing  illness 
that  fourteen  deputies  to  that  session  were  absent.  Ensign  Thomas 
Judd  was  of  the  number.  England  and  France  being  at  war, 
the  misery  of  it  extended  to  their  colonies.  The  Frenchmen  of 
Canada,  and  the  Englishmen  of  New  England,  alike,  sought  the  aid 
of  their  Indian  allies.  It  was  a  war  session  of  the  Court.  It  was 
determined  to  raise  two  hundred  volunteers  together  with  the 
Indians  who  were  willing  to  go  forth  against  the  enemy.  "  To 
guard  Albany  and  invade  the  French  toward  Canada,"  two  "foot 
companyes  "  were  ordered  to  go  forth  to  that  city.  One  company 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  our  Derby  neighbor,  Ebenezer 
Johnson,  who  "  had  liberty  to  beat  up  the  drum  for  volunteers  to  serve 
under  him  in  every  plantation  in  New  Haven  and  Fairfield  coun- 
ties." It  was  at  this  time  that  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
was  first  recognized ;  the  sergeant  major  of  each  company  as 
well  as  all  other  officers,  were  placed  under  command  of  that 
magnate. 


214  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

Waterbury's  list  was  to  be  made  out  in  this  year — apparently  for 
the  first  time.  "Tho.  Judd,  John  Stanly  and  Isaack  Brunson,"  being 
the  appointed  listers.  John  Stanly  was  also  "  confirmed  L***  and 
Thomas  Judd  ensigne  of  the  trayne  band  of  Waterbury."  Water- 
bury's  first  commissioners  were  appointed,  in  the  persons  of  Cap- 
tain Wm.  Lewis  and  Captain  John  Stanly,  who  also  served  Farm- 
ington  in  the  same  capacity.  This  was  the  year  when  freemen  were 
to  be  admitted  into  the  corporation,  "  being  twenty -one  years  of  age, 
of  peaceable,  orderly,  and  good  conversation,  and  possessed  of  forty 
shillings  in  country  pay,  per  annum."  Being  duly  endorsed  by  the 
selectmen  of  his  plantation,  each  man  so  admitted  was  to  be  duly 
"  enrowled  "  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Colony.  Waterbury  had  in  this 
year  ten  young  men  who  had  arrived  at  the  required  age.  They 
doubtless,  were  peaceable,  orderly,  and  of  good  conversation,  and, 
possibly,  to  make  their  eligibility  complete,  lands  were  granted  to 
them.  Two  of  the  number  had  already  been  made  proprietors,  and 
one,  Joseph  Scott,  seems  not  to  have  attempted  to  settle  in  Water- 
bury. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

BOOKS    OF     RECORD — THE     PROPRIETORS*    BOOK THE  ^PLACE     WHERE     THE 

MILL-STONES     WERE    BROUGHT     OVER — THE     NEW     ROAD     TO     FARM- 

INGTON — THE     FIRST     SAW-MILL THE    TEN    MILES   OF   SEQUESTERED 

LAND — THE    MINISTER'S     DIVISION     OF     FENCE — INDIAN     OCCUPANCY 

FORT    SWAMP — THE  LONG   WIGWAM — THE    SEVEN  ACRE    HOG  FIELD 

— NOTES    OF    WAR — WATERBURY    ENTERTAINS    SOLDIERS — SCOUTING 
MILITARY    WATCHES. 

THE  papers  in  the  hands  of  the  Assembly's  Committee;  the 
proprietors'  record  of  their  acts,  commonly  called  "  The 
Proprietors'  Book ;"  a  Book  of  Grants,  of  which  nothing 
remains  but  the  index;  a  town  book  for  conveyances  of  land,  in 
which  certain  planters  recorded  lands  which  they  owned  at  the 
time  of  record — the  owners  often  satisfying  themselves  by  simply 
announcing  their  ownership,  together  with  the  mention  of  the 
names  of  the  persons  from  whom  they  had  received  the  lands;  and 
fourth,  the  Book  of  Town  Meetings  and  Highways,  are  the  sources 
from  whence  we  derive  our  knowledge  of  the  progress  of  the  town 
during  a  large  part  of  its  first  half-century.  Into  the  book  of  town- 
meetings  and  highways,  many  grants  from  the  Proprietors'  Book 
were  copied;  but  the  old  book  itself  would  seem  to  have  fallen  into 
careless  keeping,  for  much  of  it  has  disappeared.  Dr.  Bronson 
described  it  in  1857,  as  "an  old,  dingy  manuscript  of  foolscap  size, 
which  he  dug  out  of  a  mass  of  forgotten  rubbish,  found  in  a  private 
family,  and  with  many  of  the  leaves  at  the  end  rent  and  broken, 
and  exceedingly  brittle  when  handled."  In  1890,  through  the  cour- 
tesy of  Dr.  Bronson,  it  was  received  from  the  New  Haven  County 
Historical  Society,  where  it  had  been  deposited  for  safe  keeping  in 
1862.  It  contains  twenty-six  folio  leaves,  and  its  appearance,  as 
here  presented,  testifies  the  accuracy  of  Dr.  Bronson's  description 
of  thirty-five  years  ago.  One  leaf  has  been  lost  since  1857.  This 
book  is  evidently  the  result  of  an  effort  made  to  preserve  as  much 
of  the  original  as  could  be  found  at  the  time  the  leaves  were  sewed 
together  in  their  present  form.  At  a  later  date,  additional  records 
were  prefixed,  they  having  been  made  by  Reverend  John  Southmayd, 
as  proprietors'  clerk.  It  contains  the  acts  of  sixty-three  meetings. 
The  earliest  date  is  1677 — the  latest,  1722.  But  two  entries  that 
were  made  before  1689,  remain. 


mSTORT  OF  WATEBBURT. 


The  following  miscellaneous  items  found  among  those  copied 
from  this  book  before  its  disintegration  began,  afford  a  glimpse  of 
the  growth  of  the  town  r 


^M 


Under  date  of  1680  (according  to  the  transcription),  there  was 
given  to  Abraham  Andrus,  Senior,  "a  piece  of  land  butting  on  the 
Mill  river,  and  on  the  common  fence  against  s'*  Andrus  3  acre  lot, 


FROM  1685   TO  1691.  217 

provided  it  do  not  prejudice  highways,  and  he  build  a  house,  or  set 
up  a  tan  yard."  In  1681,  Abraham  Andrews,  Senior,  had  a  house  on 
West  Main  street.  He  later  built  a  house  near  the  mill,  but  of  the 
tan  yard  we  find  no  mention.  Soon  after  1686,  a  decided  effort  was 
made  to  induce  young  men  to  build  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
but  this  inducement  to  Andrews  in  rdSo  suggests  a  probable  error 
made  by  the  copyist  in  the  date.  In  1685,  Joseph  Gaylord  received 
two  acres  of  boggy  meadow,  upon  y^  account  of  a  corner  of  his 
house  lot,  [supposed  to  be  the  Irving  Block  corner],  y*  he  hath  con- 
sented to  be  layd  out  to  y*  highway."  In  1686,  the  boggy  meadow 
was  increased  by  "  four  acres  on  y*  north  s''.  his  two  acres  lying  at 
y®  heather  end  y®  pople  grinlet,  to  join  to  y^  and  run  northward  till 
he  hath  his  compliment."  This  was  on  Long  Hill.  In  1687,  he 
received  four  acres  more,  described  as  "at  Judd's  meadows,  in  y®  lo 
land  np  among  y®  hills  in  a  kind  of  a  popple  swamp.""  These  lands 
were  on  **  Toantick  "  or  Long  Meadow  brook,  near  where  Samuel 
Warner  settled,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Butler's  house  of  pre-historic 
interest,  and  where,  at  a  later  date,  William  De  Forest  lived. 

In  1686,  Stephen  Upson  received  a  grant  of  the  ground  his  barn 
stood  on,  "  to  run  a  straight  line  to  his  gate  post,  and  4  acres  for  a 
pasture  on  the  north  side  John  Hopkins'  three-acre  lot  the  west 
side  the  Long  hill."  In  1687,  he  had  "4  or  5  acres  the  north  side 
the  above,  to  spring  to  the  hill  at  both  ends."  In  1686,  "The  town 
granted  Srg.  Judd  five  acres,  to  begin  at  the  mouth  of  the  brook 
that  comes  into  Mi//  river  where  the  mi//  stones  were  brought  over''  The 
next  year  he  was  granted  an  "addition  to  his  five-acre  lot  at  the 
Mad  river  from  the  mouth  of  the  brook  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  north- 
ward, and  to  take  in  the  low  land,  to  run  an  east  line  to  a  rock  from 
the  foot  of  the  hill."  These  grants  have  been  followed  until  we  are 
able  to  identify  the  mouth  of  the  brook  where  the  mill-stones  were 
brought  over,  as  Beaver  Pond  brook.  It  is  now  often  called  Hog 
Pound  brook,  the  name  of  a  branch  having  been  substituted  for  the 
main  brook.  It  enters  Mad  river  at  the  east  end  of  the  East  pond 
of  the  Brass  Mill  company.  The  grants  mentioned,  together  with 
a  subsequent  grant,  lie  on  the  west  side  of  Mad  river  south  of  the 
house  of  Mr.  James  Porter,  and  extend  from  the  mouth  of  the  brook 
mentioned  to  the  present  Cheshire  road.  The  rock,  which  was  the 
landmark  mentioned,  is  in  the  meadow  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  between  it  and  the  low  green  hill  in  the  meadow.  The  Plank 
road  may  perhaps  be  said  to  pass  through  the  first  of  the  three 
grants;  the  pumping  station  of  the  City  Water  works  to  be  on  the 
second — westerly  from  which,  the  bound  rock  lies;  while  the  third 
extends  to  the  present  Cheshire  road,  (at  that  point,  a  portion  of 


2i8  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  Farmington  road  of  1686).  Thomas,  a  son  of  Lieutenant  Judd, 
sold  the  land  to  Daniel  Porter  about  17 17.  Porter  sold  it  to  Isaac 
Spencer;  Spencer  to  Joseph  Hopkins,  and  Mr.  James  Porter  is  the  pres- 
ent owner  of  a  part,  if  not  all  of  the  land  included  within  the  origi- 
nal grants.  From  whence  the  mill-stones  were  brought,  we  do  not 
know.  There  was  a  mill-stone  maker  at  that  date,  named  Barnes, 
in  the  western  part  of  the  Colony,  but  there  is  no  proof  that  he 
made  our  mill-stones,  or  that  he  was  related  to  our  Benjamin 
Barnes.  The  elder  Governor  Winthrop  in  a  letter  to  his  son 
John,  then  in  England,  wrote:  "Bring  mill-stones — some  two  and 
some  three  feet  over,"  and  it  seems  probable  that  Waterbury*s  first 
mill-stones  were  imported,  and  that  they  were  borne  from  New 
Haven  along  the  ancient  road  from  Milford  to  Farmington,  until 
the  Wallingford  path  to  Waterbury  was  met.  They  were  brought 
over  Beaver  Pond  brook  six  years  before  the  road  from  Waterbury 
to  New  Haven  was  ordered  to  be  made. 

In  1686,  we  find  mention  of  a  new  road  to  Farmington.  We  get 
this  in  a  grant  to  Philip  Judd,  made  the  year  before  he  died,  when 
he  received  "  eight  or  ten  acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  branch  of  the 
Mad  river  on  the  right  hand  of  the  new  road  as  we  go  to  Farming- 
ton."  This  grant  was  long  known  as  Philip's  meadow,  and  is  on 
the  east  side  of  Linsley,  Linley  or  Lindly  brook,  which  was  prob- 
ably named  from  a  family  of  "Lindsleys."  While  still  of  Bran- 
ford,  they  owned  land  in  Farmingbury  Society  in  Waterbury,  in 
1780  and  later. 

We  obtain  our  first  knowledge  of  the  road  from  Cook  street  to 
Pine  Hole,  from  a  grant  in  1686  to  Abraham  Andrews,  of  "five  acres 
for  a  pasture  upon  the  Little  brook  where  the  way  shall  begin  at 
the  north  end  of  the  plain  above  the  Flaggy  swamp  and  so  to  run 
across  the  swamp  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  at  the  east  side — and  if  he 
goes  away,  it  shall  return  to  the  town  again." 

The  earliest  intimation  of  a  saw-mill  comes  in  like  manner. 
Samuel  Hikcox,  Jr.,  had  arrived  at  an  age  to  receive  land,  and  was 
granted  "  three  acres  at  the  Pine  swamp  by  the  path  that  leads  to 
the  saw-mill  on  the  brink  of  the  hill  taking  in  all  the  swamp."  This 
swamp  lies  this  side  of  Grange  Hall  on  Saw-Mill  plain,  and  the  Meri- 
den  road  crosses  it.  The  above  grant  establishes  the  fact  that 
there  was  207  years  ago  a  saw-mill  on  or  at  the  site  now  occupied 
by  the  "Leather  Works"  of  Mr.  William  Rutter.  The  complete 
history  of  that  mill  site  from  the  time  of  its  occupancy  in  1686,  or 
earlier,  down  to  the  present  time  is  doubtless  within  the  range  of 
possibilities.  There  was  a  gun  factory  there,  I  think,  during  the 
War  of  the  Revolution;  certainly  in  1800. 


FROM  1685   TO  1001.  219 

It  was  quite  reasonable  and  natural  that  the  northeastern  sec- 
tion of  the  township— that  lying  nearest  to  Farmington,  should 
first  be  selected  for  occupancy;  but  after  a  time  the  proprietors 
recognizing  that  the  lands  in  that  direction  were  rapidly  disappear- 
ing into  the  hands  of  individuals,  resolved  to  prevent  the  lay-out  of 
more  grants,  near  the  town,  on  that  side.  Accordingly,  late  in  1686, 
it  was  decided  that  "all  the  boggy  meadows  east  from  the  town 
fence  two  miles  north  and  southward  from  the  town,  should  be 
sequestered  for  common  lands."  The  same  day,  it  was  determined 
that  not  only  the  boggy  meadows,  but  '*  a//  the  land  on  the  east  side  the 
fence  around  to  the  Mill  river  and  to  the  East  Mountain  and  north- 
ward to  David's  brook,  should  be  and  remain  as  common  land." 
The  original  proprietors  understood  the  terms  of  this  sequestration, 
but  the  generation  of  twenty  years  later,  seemed  to  require  a  new 
statement  concerning  it,  and  in  1707,  the  proprietors  sequestered 
"  for  the  use  of  the  town  two  miles  from  the  corner  of  East  Main 
and  Cherry  streets  eastward,  or,  in  the  language  of  the  act,  *two 
miles  from  the  going  down  of  the  hill  beyond  Thomas  Hikcox  house 
east,  and  then  from  it  two  miles  north  and  two  miles  south,  and  then 
to  run  at  each  end  west  to  the  common  fence.' "  Within  this  area, 
which  must  have  included  about  ten  square  miles  of  the  township, 
as  it  ran  from  David's  brook  on  the  north  to  the  Long  Meadow  falls 
on  the  south,  were  the  common  pastures.  Waterbury  was  unique  in 
its  possession  of  a  Horse  pasture,  a  local  name  not  yet  entirely 
unfamiliar  to  the  ear.  "  Ways  for  drifts  of  cattle  "  into  the  common 
pasture  were  frequently  provided  for,  notably  that  one  across  the 
Mad  river  at  Baldwin  street.  In  this  sequestered  land,  any  inhab- 
itant might  take  fire  wood,  timber,  or  stone,  but  he  might  not  lay 
out  any  grant  of  land  within  it. 

The  "  Proprietor's  Book,"  as  we  now  have  it,  contains  none  of 
the  grants  cited.  They  belong  to  the  portions  of  it  that  have  dis- 
appeared. The  single  entry  of  1677  which  it  contains,  records  the 
removal  of  the  town  site  from  Town  Plot.  In  1686,  we  are  given 
the  apportionment  of  the  minister's  fence  in  five  divisions  of  the 
common  fence.  This,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  the  date  of  the 
town's  admission  into  the  Colony,  and  is  three  years  before  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Peck.  This  intimation,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
other  evidence  which  has  been  adduced,  seems  to  determine  the 
presence  of  a  minister  in  Waterbury  from  1686  to  1688,  if  not  at  a 
still  earlier  date. 

It  is  from  this  book  that  we  learn  that  Waterbury  possessed  a 
"  Long  Wigwam."  Long  wigwams  were  built  for  special  uses,  and 
were  designed  for  the  accommodation  of  assemblies  of  Red  Men. 


2  20  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

They  are  described  under  that  name  by  the  earliest  travelers  in 
New  England,  who  have  left  their  observations  upon  record.  Much 
time  has  been  spent  in  a  careful  investigation  of  the  region  lying 
between  the  eastern  bound  of  the  sequestered  lands,  and  the  western 
bound  of  the  ancient  township  of  Farmington.  By  this  investiga- 
tion, together  with  a  most  careful  and  exhaustive  search  of  our  town 
records,  a  line  of  Indian  highway,  and  as  we  believe,  of  Indian  occu- 
pancy, has  been  found  dotted  with  Indian  place  names,  and  extend- 
ing certainly  from  Farmington's  west-bound  to  a  point  north  of 
Waterbury's  village  plot  of  1689.  It  lies  along  the  region  that  may 
be  designated  as  bounding  the  land  on  its  northern  side  that  was 
sold  by  the  Tunxis  Indians  in  1674,  to  the  men  of  Mattatuck.  We 
find  within  our  borders  that  crowning  evidence  of  Indian  occupancy 
— a  fort  swamp.  It  lay  north  and  west  of  the  road  to  Farmington. 
The  Meriden  road  passes  through  this  swamp  east  of  the  house 
of  George  Hitchcock.  A  broad  point  of  land  extending  into  it,  and 
now  occupied  by  a  house,  formed  an  excellent  site  for  an  Indian 
fortress;  while  a  brook  called  Fort  Swamp  brook  flows  out  of  the 
northwest  part  of  the  swamp,  runs  west,  northwest  and  north  into 
Lilly  brook.  Before  reaching  the  brook  it  divides  itself  into  several 
streams  which  uniting  again  form  two  streams,  one  flowing  on  either 
side  of  a  small  hill  whence  they  enter  Lilly  Brook. 

A  discontinued  section  of  an  old  Farmington  road  ran  southeast 
of  Fort  swamp.  In  1788,  a  road  was  laid  out,  that  is  described  as 
beginning  at  Farmington  road  a  little  east  of  Edmund  Austin's, 
and  as  passing  "Fort  Swamp  and  brook,  Tame  Buck  [a  hill],  and 
extending  to  the  highway  by  Elnathan  Thrashers  and  Ebenezer 
Frisbies."  The  latest  mention  of  the  swamp  under  its  ancient  name 
that  has  been  met,  is  in  181 2.  It  has  been  called  in  recent  years  Ford 
swamp  and  sometimes  Frost  swamp,  the  names  having  become 
associated  with  it  through  the  ownership  of  lands  in  it,  or,  in  its 
immediate  vicinity. 

In  the  line  of  Indian  occupancy  referred  to,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing place  names :  "  Patucko's  Ring,"  a  name  that  covered  consider- 
able territory;  Man  toe's  House  Rocks,  and  Wigwam  Swamp,  whose 
**  west  end  lies  at  the  north  end  of  Burnt  Hill."  We  also  have  **  Kill " 
Plain,  sometimes  appearing  as  "Cill,"  and  again  as  "Kiln"  Plain; 
and  the  line  being  extended,  we  come  upon  Fort  Hill  (which  may 
be  of  English  origin).  It  is  a  sandy  spur  of  the  Mount  Taylor 
range,  and  sometimes,  from  its  peculiar  outline,  is  called  the  Tray 
Orchard,  while  to  the  northward  lies  "  Mount  Tobv."  This  is  fre- 
quently  written  Mount  Tobe,  while  Mr.  Southmayd  alone  probably 
gave  to  us  its  correct  name,  in  Mountobe,  an   Indian  name,  and 


FROM  1685   TO  1691.  221 

easily  corrupted  by  the  early  recorders  (who  evidently  disliked 
"  monotonous  spelling ")  into  Mount  Toby.  We  also  find  a  place 
called  Potostocks,  and  sometimes  Porterstocks,  whose  signification 
is  not  known,  and  Nonnewaug  Hill,*  and  Nonnewaug  Plain,  and 
Race  Plain,  while  in  the  west  part  of  the  township,  now  Middle- 
bury,  we  find  the  Wongum  Road. 

Taking  the  East  Farms  school-house  as  a  centre,  we  find  our- 
selves in  a  region  that  at  a  period  beyond  which  our  records  extend, 
tradition  notes,  as  a  hog  pound.  It  is  not  far  from  the  ancient 
bound  line  of  Farmington,  and  may  have  been  in  use  by  the  people 
of  that  town.  Corroborating  tradition,  in  1689,  when  lands  were 
granted  thereabout,  Hog  Pound  brook  antedated  the  grants.  South 
of  the  school-house,  it  is  said,  "lay  the  hog  pound  itself,  and  that 
the  swine  were  permitted  to  roam  the  country  at  will,  but  were 
accustomed  to  obey  the  call  that  occasionally  summoned  them  to 
the  pound,  where  they  were  rewarded  by  a  treat  of  corn."  How- 
ever that  may  have  been,  in  1689,  133  acres  in  that  vicinity  were 
divided  into  nineteen  hog  fields  of  seven  acres  each.  These  are 
arranged  in  five  groups,  and  were  distributed  to  nineteen  planters. 
The  first  three  fields  are  described  as  "  upon  the  hill  eastward 
of  the  path  from  the  longe  wigwam  upon  the  hill;*'  seven  were 
"on  the  hill  on  the  west  side  of  Hog  Pound  brook,"  (this  brook 
flows  into  Beaver  Pond  brook,  west  of  the  school-house);"  three 
more  were  "on  the  west  side  of  the  Beaver  Pond  brook;"  three 
were  "  on  the  hill  on  the  east  side  of  Hog  Pound  brook,  and 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road  that  leads  to  Farmington,"  while 
the  seven  acr^s  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck's  hog  field  are  now 
covered  by  the  waters  of  the  upper  "  East  Mountain "  reservoir, 
he  having  received,  together  with  two  of  his  parishioners,  allot- 
ments "at  the  southeast  end  of  Turkey  hill,  to  run  both  sides  of 
the  brook." 

Certain  well-known  names,  attached  to  lands,  served  to  denote 
locality  as  unerringly  as  the  lighthouse  fulfills  its  mission.  Bron- 
son's  meadow  was  one  of  the  number.  It  lay  along  the  Mad  river 
in  the  broad  valley  north,  or  northerly  of  the  red  house  where 
Justus  Warner  lived,  and  which,  together  with  the  ruin  of  the 
house  of  his  father,  Ebenezer  Warner,  with  its  central  chimney  and 
corner  fire-place  in  every  room,  is  still  standing.  The  path  to 
Bronson's  meadow  lay  over  Long  hill  in  1686.  A  grant  on  that  hill 
was  described  as  "on  the  north  side  the  path  that  leads  to  Bron- 
son's meadow." 


♦  Nonnewaug  Hill  is  between  Steele's  Brook  and  the  West  Branch,  its  southern  end  between  Steele's 
Brook  and  Obadiah's  Brook. 


222  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

The  year  1689  was  notable  for  the  many  and  special  gifts  be- 
stowed upon  the  young  men  of  the  town.  There  was  wide  scope 
for  this  generosity,  for  the  spirit  of  departure  was  abroad.  The 
reasons  for  this  were  ample.  Two  years  later,  in  writing  of  the 
condition  of  Waterbury,  Mr.  Peck  wrote  that  the  people  had  been 
brought  low  by  losses  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  losses  in  their 
living  stock,  and  especially  by  "much  sickness  during  the  space  of 
the  last  four  years."  To  add  to  the  picture  thus  drawn,  war  was 
again,  and  through  no  act  of  the  Colony,  thrust  upon  the  people. 
No  more  defenseless  town  existed  than  this  one.  To  the  north- 
ward, from  whence  the  French  and  Indians  might  descend  upon  it, 
there  was  no  habited  place.  Waterbury  had  but  thirty-seven  men 
to  defend  about  two  hundred  women  and  children.  It  is  not  sur- 
prising that  our  records  are  at  this  time  abundantly  sprinkled  by 
such  gifts  to  the  young  men  as  the  following,  in  order  to  induce 
them  to  stay  :  "To  John  Scovill,  Junior,  a  piece  of  land  butting  on 
John  Warner's  three  acre  lot  on  the  east,  on  a  highway  on  the  west 
and  south,  on  Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  on  the  north,  provided  he  build  a 
house  according  to  original  articles  and  coinhabit  four  years  after." 
This  was  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Pine  and  Willow  streets.  "To 
Jonathan  Scott,  a  piece  of  land,"  with  bounds.  This  was  on  Union 
square,  between  it  and  Bank  street.  Ephraim  Wainer  received 
a  "  piece  of  land "  on  Willow  street,  between  Pine  and  Grove 
streets. 

Waterbury  must  have  been  a  busy  hamlet  in  1690.  We  are  in- 
debted to  the  new  minister,  Mr.  Peck,  for  what  we  know  of  its  part, 
humble  though  it  was,  in  the  war  between  France  and  England. 
He  tells  us  that  horsemen  were  often  sent  out  in  search  of  an  ap- 
proaching enemy,  and  hints  at  timely  discoveries  that  proved  safe- 
guards to  neighbors  in  other  towns.  It  would  seem  that  Waterbury 
was  at  that  date  in  the  line  of  march  between  Hartford  and  Albany, 
for  he  informs  us  that  the  town  had  "  far  more  trouble  than  other 
towns  in  the  Colony  by  the  soldiers  passing  to  and  fro,  and  their 
often  entertainments  with  us." 

The  Colony  asked  to  borrow  of  the  people  in  every  town  pro- 
visions, grain,  or  any  other  estate,  upon  the  public  faith  of  the 
Colony,  to  be  repaid  again  in  ten  months.  Every  male  person 
whatsoever,  if  sixteen  years  of  age,  except  negroes  and  Indians, 
was  compelled  to  serve  upon  the  "  millitary  watches."  Any  inhab- 
itant, being  absent,  whether  at  sea  or  elsewhere,  was  compelled  to 
furnish  a  substitute  through  the  members  of  his  family  left  at 
home,  and  even  widows,  worth  fifty  pounds,  were  required  to  pro- 
vide a  man  to  watch  in  their  steads. 


FROM  1685   TO  1091.  223 

This  military  watch  was  kept  by  walking  or  standing  in  the 
places  where  danger  was  apprehended  from  the  enemy,  and,  from 
the  charge  given,  it  would  seem  that  firing  the  woods  was  one 
mode  of  warfare  adopted.  If  fire  was  discovered,  the  cry  ordered 
was  "Fire  !  Fire !  *'  If  the  enemy  was  at  hand,  the  watchman  cried 
**  Arme  !  Arme  !  "  Who  can  say  that  our  Burnt  Hill  does  not  date 
from  that  war?  Waterbury  was  one  of  the  towns  exempted  from 
listing  men  to  join  the  "fiyeing  army  of  dragoones,"  and  a  special 
grant  of  twelve  pence  a  bushel  was  allowed  it  for  what  of  the 
country  rate  should  be  transported  to  Hartford  or  New  Haven. 
Nothing  has  been  learned  regarding  the  earliest  fortified  house  or 
houses  here;  but,  as  every  town  in  1690  was  ordered  to  "complete 
f/ie  fortifications  that  had  been  ordered^'*  although  the  order  itself  has 
not  been  found,  it  undoubtedly  included  the  frontier  town  of 
Waterbury;  and  as  no  one  house  could  have  accommodated  the 
population  at  that  date,  more  than  one  must  have  been  prepared. 
We  find  no  mention  of  fortified  houses  until  1703. 


r 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE  REVEREND  JEREMIAH  PECK  —  HIS  PETITION  TO  THE  COURT  FOR 
PERMISSION  TO  GATHER  A  CHURCH  IN  WATERBURY — THE  CHURCH 
ORGANIZED — ITS  DEACONS — MR.  PECK  PETITIONS  FOR  ASSISTANCE 
IN    BUILDING    A    HOUSE    FOR    THE    WORSHIP    OF    GOD — THE    DISASTER 

OF     169I — DELAYS — MR.     PECK     UNABLE     TO     PREACH HE     CONVEYS 

HIS    PROPERTY    TO     HIS    CHILDREN  —  "THE     PRESENT     MINISTER" — 
THE    TOWN    BUILDS  A  HOUSE  FOR    ANOTHER    MINISTER — ENTHUSIASM 

OVER    JOHN    READ DEATH    OF    MR.    PECK BURYING-YARD    AT    THE 

FOOT     OF     HIS     GARDEN  —  PROPRIETORS     AT      THE     CLOSE     OF     THE 
CENTURY. 

'"'P^HE  exact  date  of  the  arrival  in  Waterbury  of  the  Reverend 
I  Jeremiah  Peck  is  not  evident,  but  that  it  occurred  prior  to 
May  20,  1689,  appears  from  a  town  act  of  that  date  :  "The 
Town  granted  Mr.  Peck  and  Edward  Scott,  Jr.,  an  addition  to  the 
north  end  of  their  house  lots — Scott  to  spring  northwards  three 
rods  on  the  northwest  corner,  and  Mr.  Peck  to  spring  a  rod  and  a 
half  from  the  northeast  corner  of  his  lot,  and  so  a  straight  line 
from  the  above  said  corners  to  bound  them  on  the  highway,  pro- 
vided they  make  and  maintain  a  good  and  safe  ditch  to  drain  the 
land."  This  referred  to  the  locality  surrounding  the  site  of  St. 
John's  Church.  Edmund  Scott,  Jr.,  lived  next  west  of  Mr.  Peck. 
Both  house  lots  were  between  Church  and  State  streets,  and  this 
land  received  the  waters  of  the  two  streams  that  crossed  West  Main 
street  near  the  corner  of  Church  street. 

A  clergyman  of  the  "Congregational  or  Established  Church  of 
Connecticut  Colony "  at  the  period  in  question,  could  perform  the 
functions  of  his  ministerial  office,  only  when  ordained  over  a  special 
church  and  people.  Therefore  Mr.  Peck,  when  he  left  Greenwich — 
where  he  must  have  been  an  ordained  minister,  for  we  find  him 
filling  the  various  offices  connected  with  the  position — could  not 
perform  the  same  duties  in  Waterbury  until  the  organization  of  a 
church,  and  his  ordination  as  its  pastor.  It  was  for  this  reason 
that  the  planters  continued  to  take  their  children  to  the  old  church 
at  Farmington  for  baptism,  even  after  the  arrival  of  a  minister 
already  venerable  in  the  service.  Sixty-three  children  (and  per- 
haps a  greater  number)  were  born  in  Waterbury  between  1681  and 
1 69 1.  Forty-five  were  baptized  in  Farmington  before  the  date  of 
the  organization  of  the  church  in  1691,  and  fourteen  of  the  number 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  WATERBVRY,  225 

after  Mr.  Peck  came.  The  last  child  baptized  there  for  the  reason 
given,  was  Ebenezer  Richardson,  son  of  Thomas,  the  planter,  on 
June  28,  1691. 

The  invitation  on  the  part  of  the  Grand  Proprietors  to  Mr.  Peck 
to  "settle  with  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,'*  was  unanimous. 
The  name  of  every  one  of  their  number  then  living  and  known  to 
have  been  within  the  town,  with  the  single  exception  of  John  War- 
ner's (whose  name  may  have  been — like  that  of  Benjamin  Judd 
from  the  list  of  original  proprietors — an  omission  of  the  recorder), 
is  appended  to  the  agreement  by  which  his  salary  of  sixty  pounds 
became  assured.     The  following  is  the  agreement : 

In  Considaration  of  settling  the  reuarant :  M'  Jerimy  pecke  in  the  worcke  of 
the  menestry  :  amongst  vs  :  in  watterbury  :  we  whos  names  :  are  vnder  writen  : 
doe  ingage  :  to  pay  to  the  aforsaid  :  m""  Jerimy  Pecke  acording  to  our  yerly  grand 
leuy  ecth  :  of  us :  our  proportions  of  sixty  :  pounds  by  y"  yere  :  to  be  payed  fifty  ; 
Pounds  in  Prouition  pay  :   and  ten  pounds  in  wood  and  thus  to  doe  :   yerly 

Robert  Porter :  John  brownson  John  newill 

Thomus  Judd  sen  Samuel  hickox  Abraham  andrews  Sen 

John  Standly  Obadiah  richards  Daniell  Warner : 

John  wilton  sen  pilip  Judd  beniamin  barns 

Edman  Scoote  sen  Abram  Andrews  Thomus  richardson 

Isaac  brownson  Thomus  Judd  Ju  Timothy  Standly 

Joseph  gayler  Thomus  wamer  :  John  hopkins  '. 

Daniel  Porter  :  Edman  SCoot  Ju  steuen  vpson 

Thomus  newell 

Of  the  twenty-five  men  who  signed  the  above  engagement, 
which  is  without  date,  all  are,  or  represent.  Grand  Proprietors. 
Robert  Porter,  whose  name  stands  first  on  the  list,  would  undoubt- 
edly have  been  deacon  of  the  church  had  he  lived  to  see  its  organ- 
ization. We  miss  six  names  from  the  number.  John  Carrington, 
Joseph  Hikcox  and  Benjamin  Jones  were  dead  at  the  time  of  the 
signing  of  the  agreement;  William  Judd  and  Thomas  Hancox  were 
removed  to  Farmington,  and  John  Scovill,  it  is  thought,  was  in 
Haddam.  Several  younger  men,  to  whom  lands  had  been  granted 
were  unrepresented. 

In  the  then  condition  of  the  town,  by  reason  of  the  disasters 
that  were  befalling  it,  Mr.  Peck's  presence  must  have  been  of  the 
utmost  importance  and  comfort  to  his  people,  for  the  minister  filled 
a  place  in  the  life  of  the  community  at  that  date,  that  is  not  gen- 
erally understood.  He  was  the  reigning  sovereign  over  his  people, 
holding  at  the  same  time  every  office  within  his  own  government 
— being  at  once  father,  guide,  counselor  and  deputy  in  all  matters 
relating  to  the  public  weal,  as  well  as  revealer  of  the  will  of  God  to 
his  children.     His  person  and  his  presence  were  regarded  with  awe 

15 


2  26  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY, 

and  reverence,  and  the  numberless  sacrifices  that  were  made  for 
the  privilege  of  possessing  a  "Minister  of  the  Gospel"  testify  to 
the  deep  appreciation  of  the  luxury.  However  grim  and  severe  the 
outline  of  the  planter's  own  house,  his  minister's  house  must  pos- 
sess a  chamber  chimney,  and  glass  for  the  windows;  and  a  well, 
even  though  his  own  wife  and  children  dipped  from  the  waters  of 
the  running  stream.  *  Accordingly,  we  have  found  a  house  already 
built,  and  ready  for  Mr.  Peck  when  he  arrived,  (his  family  consisting 
of  his  wife,  their  daughter  Anna,  and  sons  Jeremiah  and  Joshua). 
One  naturally  thinks  of  Mr.  Peck  with  a  feeling  of  commiseration 
that  he  should  remove  to  Waterbury,  at  nearly  seventy  years  of  age, 
to  begin  a  new  life  in  the  wilderness;  but  he  came  into  the  vicinity  of 
his  kindred,  and  nearer  to  his  old  home  in  Connecticut.  His  aged 
father  was  living  in  New  Haven.  He  also  had  a  daughter,  Ruth 
Atwater,  and  five  grandchildren  living  there.  Still  nearer,  at  Wal- 
lingford,  were  his  brother  John  and  his  sister,  Elizabeth  Andrews, 
and  nineteen  nephews  and  nieces. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Peck  was  born  in  London,  England,  or  its 
vicinity,  in  1623;  that  he  came  to  America  in  the  ship  Hector  in 
1637,  with  his  father,  Deacon  William  Peck,  who  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  New  Haven.  From  the  time  of  his  arrival  until  he 
reached  his  thirtieth  year,  the  only  mention  that  has  been  found  of 
him  appears  in  the  account  books  of  the  steward  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  are  found  credits  of  Jeremiah  Peck  from  1653  to  1656. 
November  12,  1656,  he  married  Johannah,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Kitchell,  of  Guilford.  He  spent  four  years  in  Guilford,  "preaching 
or  teaching."  In  1660  he  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  Colony 
School  at  New  Haven.  When,  two  years  later,  New  Haven  colony 
came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  Mr.  Peck  joined  the 
band  of  devoted  men  who  desired  to  found  a  new  town  and  colony, 
in  whose  government  no  man  might  have  part  or  lot,  until  he  had 
acknowledged  the  government  of  his  God  by  visible  membership 
in  church  union.  He  thus  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  New- 
ark, New  Jersey.  In  1669  or  1670,  he  was  settled  as  the  first  min- 
ister of  Elizabethtown.  In  1670  and  again  in  1675  he  was  invited 
to  the  church  at  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  but  the  repeated  invitations  of 
the  people  at  Greenwich  at  last  won  him  back  to  Connecticut.  Not- 
withstanding a  "cair*  to  Newtown,  L.  I.,  he  removed  in  1678  to 
Greenwich.  It  was  while  there,  that  he  was  desired  to  settle  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  at  Barnstable,  Mass.,  and,  as  we  know,  at 
Waterbury. 

We  are  no  longer  surprised  at  the  escort  provided  by  the  town 
for  the  safe  conduct  of  Mr.  Peck  and  his  family  on  their  journey 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  WATERBURT.  227 

from  Greenwich  to  Waterbury,  when  we  remember  the  warlike 
condition  of  the  country.  It  seems  strangely  out  of  place  to  write 
that  a  war  between  France  and  England  delayed  for  two  years  the 
most  important  act  that  ever  took  place  in  the  Naugatuck  valley — 
the  organization  of  the  First  Church  of  Waterbury.  Minor  causes 
may  have  contributed  to  that  end,  but  we  are  forced  to  believe  that 
the  event  took  place  at  the  earliest  moment  practicable.  War's 
alarms  were  not  soon  allayed;  in  fact,  the  "flankers  "  about  the  Meet- 
ing-House  at  New  Haven  were  not  removed  until  1693.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  know  how  long  the  people  of  Waterbury  resorted 
to  their  fortified  houses  at  night,  and  to  hear  again  the  stories  of 
adventure  told  by  the  scouting  parties  on  their  return  to  the  town, 
but  the  records  of  the  events  of  that  period  perished  long  ago,  as 
they  were  thought  not  essential  to  the  life  of  future  generations. 

In  the  autumn  of  1690,  the  dragoons  in  the  several  counties  were 
disbanded,  to  return  to  their  foot  companies,  and  certain  steps  were 
taken  that  gave  evidence  that  the  dangers  of  the  war,  although  not 
over-passed,  were  greatly  mitigated.  In  the  spring  of  1691,  Mr.  Peck 
prepared  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  in  which  consent  was 
requested  by  "  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Waterbury  *'  to  proceed 
to  the  gathering  of  a  Congregational  church.  Mr.  Peck's  desire  to 
be  strictly  accurate  in  his  statements  is  apparent  in  the  expression 
"we,  at  least  some  of  the  inhabitants,"  which  occurs  in  the  petition, 
thereby  implying  that  the  desire  was  not  entirely  unanimous.  Per- 
haps there  were  certain  cautious  persons  who  felt  that  the  colony 
was  not  yet  in  a  state  of  peace  that  would  warrant  so  important  a 
step,  and  perhaps  the  demands  upon  the  town,  by  reason  of  the  war, 
had  been  such  as  to  make  the  cost  of  the  undertaking  a  question  of 
moment.  There  was  much  entertaining  to  be  provided  for,  as  the 
approbation  of  the  neighboring  churches  was  as  essential  to  the  for- 
mation of  a  church,  as  was  the  consent  of  the  Court.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  petition  which  was  presented  to  the  General  Assembly, 
May  14th,  by  Ensign  Judd: 

To  the  honored  General  Court  our  humble  salutations  presented;  wishing  all 
happiness  may  attend  ye:  we  at  least  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Waterbury  being 
by  the  goodness  of  God,  inclined  and  desirous  to  promoue  [promote]  the  concerns 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  in  this  place  by  coming  into  church  order:  do  find:  which 
we  well  approue  of:  that  it  hath  been  ordered  by  the  honoured  General  Court:  that 
no  persons  within  this  Colony  shall  in  any  wise  imbody:  themselues  into  church 
estate  without  the  consent  of  the  General  Court  and  approbation  of  the  neighbour 
churches,  we  humbly  request  the  consent  of  the  honoured  General  Court  now 
assembling:  that  we  may  as  God  shall  giue  us  Cause  and  assistance  proceed  to  the 
gathering  of  a  Congregational  Church  in  this  place,  and  for  the  approbation  of 
neighbour  Churches  we  desire  it  and  intend  to  seek  it.    So  being  unwilling  too  long 


228  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

to  prevent  your  Honors  from  other  emergent  occasions:  we  in  breuity  subscribe  our- 

selues  in  all  duty  your  humble  Seruants  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  rest  of  our 

Brethren. 

Jeremiah  Peck. 

From  Waterbury.  91.  May.  12.  Isaac  Brounsoon. 

The  request  met  with  instant  favor  in  the  subjoined  response: 

Mr.  Peck  and  Isaac  Brunson,  in  the  behalf  of  the  people  of  Waterbury,  petition 
ing  this  Court  that  they  might  have  the  liberty  and  favour  of  this  Court  to  enter 
into  church  fellowship,  and  to  gather  a  church  in  that  place:  This  Court  do  freely 
grant  them  their  request,  and  shall  freely  encourage  them  in  their  beginnings,  and 
desire  the  Lord  to  give  them  good  success  therein,  they  proceeding  according  to 
rule  therein. 

Therefore,  in  May,  1691,  the  inhabitants  were  legally  entitled  to 
church  organization.  Having  secured  the  franchise,  the  people 
seemed  in  no  haste  to  avail  themselves  of  the  blessing.  They 
waited  three  months  before  taking  action.* 

If  Mr.  Peck  kept  a  record  of  the  church  and  its  subsequent  his- 
tory under  his  pastorate,  it  has  disappeared  from  the  knowledge  of 
man.  What  we  know  in  relation  to  it  has  come  to  us  through  the 
following  agencies: 

In  1729,  the  Reverend  Thomas  Prince,  of  Boston,  received  a  letter 
(evidently  in  response  to  inquiries  made  by  him)  from  the  Reverend 
John  Southmayd,  of  Waterbury,  containing  certain  information 
regarding  the  town  and  church  in  that  place.  In  1772,  extracts 
from  Mr.  Southmayd's  letter  were  made  (I  do  not  know  by  whom), 
and  the  extracts  were  among  the  manuscripts  of  Benjamin  Trum- 
bull, D.  D.,  of  North  Haven,  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1820.  Dr. 
Trumbull  had  planned  in  i8ii,  to  write  "The  History  of  the  Ameri- 
can Churches  of  every  denomination  of  Christians  within  the  United 
States  of  America,"  and  had  gathered  much  material  in  view  of  his 
proposed  work.  His  historical  papers  and  collections  were  be- 
queathed to  Yale  College.  "  All  other  books,  manuscripts,  pamph- 
lets, etc.,  were  equally  divided  among  the  four  children."!  Justus 
Bishop,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Trumbull,  was  one  of  the  executors  of 
his  will,  and  certain  of  the  Trumbull  manuscripts — extracts  from 
Mr.  Southmayd's  letter  being  of  the  number — were  brought  to  Water- 
bury by  the  late  David  T.  Bishop,  who  was  perhaps  of  the  family 
of  Justus  Bishop,  the  executor.     The  paper  in  question  is  now  in  the 


♦Dr.  Bronson  makes  the  following  statement:  "At  what  precise  time  the  church  of  Waterbury  was 
organized  I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain.  Dr.  Trumbull  says,  August  26,  1669,  and  Mr.  Farmer,  in  his 
Genealogical  Register,  gives  this  as  the  date  of  his  ordination.  Probably  Mr.  Farmer  copies  from  Trumbull. 
I  once  supposed  that  *  1669 '  was  a  misprint  for  1689,  and  that  the  last  was  the  true  time  of  Mr.  Peck's 
settlement."  He  then  adds:  "In  all  probability  the  installation  or  ordination,  took  place  soon  after,  pos- 
sibly August  26th,  as  in  Trumbull."   Dr.  Trumbull  gives  Mr.  Peck's  name  as  Joseph,  instead  of  Jeremiah. 

+  North  Haven  Annals.  By  Sheldon  B.  Thorpe,  1892. 


THE  FIRST  CnURGH  OF  WATERBURT.  229 

possession  of  Mr.  James  Terry,  of  New  Haven.*  It  is  not  now 
known  whether  Mr.  Southmayd  gave  the  following  facts  from  the 
then  existing  records,  or  from  information  given  by  participators 
in  the  interesting  event,  for  Abraham  Andrews  and  his  wife,  Ben- 
jamin Barnes,  Mrs.  Daniel  Porter  and  Stephen  Upson  were  still 
living,  and  Mr.  Southmayd  himself  had  been  familiar  with  the  field 
almost  thirty  years,  having  preached  in  Waterbury  within  five 
months  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Peck.  The  following  is  a  transcript 
of  the  extracts  of  1772  made  from  Mr.  Southmayd*s  letter  of  Novem- 
ber 18,  1729,  as  given  by  Mr.  James  Terry,  and  is  the  sole  source  of 
our  information  (as  it  apparently  was  of  Dr.  Trumbuirs)  regarding 
the  age  of  our  church.  The  portion  of  the  transcript  relating  to 
the  settlement,  with  which  we  are  already  familiar,  has  been  omitted. 

WATERBURY. 

EXTRACTS     MADE     FROM     THE     COLLECTIONS     OF     THE     REV'D     MR.     PRINCE,  AT     BOSTON, 

ANNO     1772. 

The  number  of  original  shares  [in  the  plantation]  about  33.  The  first  settlers 
about  28. 

The  first  Church  in  Waterbury  was  formed  August  26,  1691 — the  number  of 
male  communicants  7,  and  in  1729,  46. 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Peck  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church  the  same  day  in  which  it 
was  formed,  viz.  Aug.  26,  1691.  He  was  after  some  years  by  a  Fit  of  the  Appoplex, 
disenabled  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  some  years  after,  June  7,  1699,  left  this 
world  in  y*  77th  year  of  his  age. 

lijay  30th,  1705,  The  Rev*^  John  Southmaid  was  ordained  Pastor  in  his  Room. 
The  number  of  males  then  was  12.  This  town  was  not  at  this  day  divided  into 
precincts  or  societys.  In  February,  1691,  There  was  a  remarkable  Flood  in  this 
town.  The  meadows  were  all  under  water  and  the  ground  so  soft  and  the  stream 
so  rapid  that  it  tore  away  a  great  part  of  the  meadows,  and  almost  ruined  them. 

The  frost  came  out  very  quick  and  the  rain  fell  apace,  which  made  the  ground 
uncommonly  soft. 

The  town  did  not  recover  from  the  damage  it  received  by  this  deluge  for  many 
years.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  were  grately  discouraged,  and  many  drew  off,  and 
the  town  was  almost  ruined. 

There  was  a  dreadful  sickness  in  this  Town,  wh.  began  in  October  about  the  15th 
1 712,  and  did  not  cease  until  Sept'  13,  171 3.  More  than  20  persons  died  in  this  town 
within  this  time.  7  died  in  the  month  of  March,  and  the  sickness  was  so  great  that 
there  were  hardly  enough  well  to  tend  the  sick. 

This  from  M"^  John  Southmayd,  NoV^  i8th,  1729.  In  a  letter  to  the  Rev**  Thos. 
Prince. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  extractor  of  1772  did  not  give  to  us 

the  letter  in  full,  but  the  history  of  Waterbury  meets  with  denials 

like  this  at  every  step  in  its  progress.     Inference  and  speculation 


*The  catalog^ue  of  the  Prince  manuscripts  does  not,  I  think,  contain  this  letter,  but  it  may  have  been 
among  the  papers  that  were  destroyed,  or  carried  away  from  the  library  of  Mr.  Prince  at  the  time  the  British 
troops  were  in  possession  of  the  Old  South  Meeting-House,  in  whose  tower  the  library  was  kept. 


230  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

might  be  indulged  in,  almost  without  limit,  in  regard  to  the  founda- 
tion of  this  church,  without  any  increase  of  knowledge  regarding 
it.  It  is,  or  seems  to  be,  quite  safe  to  make  a  few  statements.  The 
first  is,  that  the  usages  and  ceremonies  of  the  Congregational 
church,  as  established  in  Connecticut  colony,  were  carefully 
adhered  to;  the  second,  that  the  neighboring  churches  of  Hartford, 
Farmington,  Woodbury,  Wallingford,  Derby  and  New  Haven  were, 
or  may  have  been,  represented  by  their  appointed  elders  and  mes- 
sengers; that  the  organization  and  ordination  ceremonies  occupied 
two  days;  that  the  "laying  on  of  hands"  by  duly  ordained  men, 
and  the  "right  hand  of  fellowship"  were  ceremonially  conducted; 
and  lastly,  that  the  "seven  male  communicants"  extracted  in  1772 
from  Mr.  Southmayd's  letter  of  1729,  were,  in  reality,  referred  to  in 
the  letter  itself  as  the  seven  pillars  of  the  Waterbury  church,  for 
that  number  of  members  was  evidently  considered  essential  to 
uphold  the  stately  organization  known  as  a  church.  We  are  not  able 
to  mention  the  "visible  saints "  who  were  considered  "fit  matter," 
or  the  special  form  of  their  confederation  which  established  them 
into  a  •* visible  church;"  neither  do  we  know  the  particular  cov- 
enant by  which  they  became  embodied  into  a  "true,  distinct  and 
entire  church  of  Christ;"  but  we  may  be  and  are  confident  that  Mr. 
Peck  was  the  central  figure  of  the  seven;  that  to  him  belonged  the 
"power  of  guidance  or  leading;"  while  to  the  brethren,  in  full  com- 
munion, was  committed  "the  power  of  judgment,  consent,  or  privi- 
lege," and  that  communion  of  the  churches,  and  counsel  from  them 
in  cases  of  difficulty,  was  to  be  sought  and  submitted  to,  "  according  to 
God.''  The  foundation  was  firmly  laid,  and  the  superstructure  rests 
to-day  upon  substantially  the  same  basis — the  fundamental  question 
still  calling  through  the  centuries :  What  is,  according  to  God? 

It  ought  perhaps  to  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
Waterbury  church,  that  the  example  that  the  mother  church  at 
Farmington  had  set  in  1652,  doubtless  was  a  formative  influence  in 
1 69 1.  That  church  was  organized  by  the  "joining  in  the  cov- 
enant "  of  seven  men,  of  whom  Reverend  Roger  Newton  was  one. 
At  a  later  date  members  were  added.  There  was  a  distinction  in 
the  degree  of  membership,  however,  delineated  by  the  terms 
applied  to  different  holders  of  the  honor.  Certain  members  were 
"joined  to  the  church;"  others  were  "joined  to  the  congregation;" 
while  a  few  were  recorded  as  "joined  in  the  covenant."  Abundant 
instances  might  be  cited  in  proof  that  the  "  seven-pillar  "  form  of 
covenant  was  followed  often,  if  not  universally.  Salem  and 
Scituate  churches  are  mentioned  as  evidence  in  Massachusetts, 
while  the  first  church  organized  in  Connecticut,  that  at  Wethers- 
field,  was  formed  in  the  same  manner. 


THE  FIRST  CIIURCn  OF  WATERBUR7, 


231 


Fifty-three  years  later,  in  1747,  Deacon  Thomas  Judd  died,  and 
the  memorial  stone  placed  above  his  grave  tells  us  that  he  was  "the 
first  Justice,  Deacon  and  Captain  "  in  Waterbury,  and  that  his  age 
was  79  years.  The  hand  that  prepared  the  inscription  was  led  into 
error,  for  the  man  whom  it  delighted  to  honor  was  five  years  older 
than  the  stone-age  assigned  him;  and  it  was  his  uncle,  Lieut. 
Thomas  Judd,  who  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  His  claim  as 
the  first  captain  is  unquestioned,  while  the  statement  that  he  was 
the  first  deacon  is  subject  to  question.  It  may  be  true  that  the 
church  was  without  deacons  for  nearly  five  years,  but  it  is  not  cer- 
tain that  it  was  so.  The  sweet  reasonableness  of  a  thing  does  not 
resolve  itself  into  history;  if  it  could,  we  might  with  every  pro- 
priety suggest  that  the  Waterbury  church,  even  as  other  churches 
had  done,  appointed  two  deacons;  that  they  may  have  been  Corporal 
Isaac  Bronson  and  Lieutenant  John  Stanley;  that  the  records 
retained  the  military  titles  that  had  already  become  familiar,  and 
that  in  1695,  when  Lieutenant  Stanley  returned  to  Farmington, 
Thomas  Judd  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  as  in  169^  we  find 
Deacon  Thomas  Judd  taking  the  place  in  the  records  formerly  occu- 
pied by  Thomas  Judd,  the  smith.  If  we  depend  upon  our  town 
records  for  the  evidence  of  deaconship,  we  shall  find  but  one  deacon 
in  the  church  for  thirty-three  years.  The  alacrity  with  which  even 
Deacon  Judd  permitted  his  military  title  to  conceal  his  ecclesias- 
tical standing,  evidences  the  ease  with  which,  in  the  absence  of 
church  records,  the  first  deacons  have  passed  into  oblivion. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  the  church  was  organized,  preparations 
were  made  for  building  a  house  for  the  worship  of  God.  In  the 
State  Library  we  find  in  Ecclesiastical  Papers,  Vol.  I.  p  89,  the  fol- 
lowing autographic  petition  for  aid  in  the  work,  in  which  Mr.  Peck 
gives  to  us  glimpses  of  the  life  his  people  were  then  and  had  been 
living. 
The  Petition  to  the  General  Court  for  Assistance  in  Building  an  House 

FOR  the  Worship  of  God. 

[May  it]  please  the  honourable  Generall  Assembly  to  take  into  [their]  serious 
consideration  the  Condition  &  Request  of  your  humble  &  [loving]  servants  the 
Inhabitants  of  Waterbury,  as  to  our  Condition.  The  [Providen]ce  of  God  &  that 
in  severall  wayes,  hath  brought  us  low  by  losses  [of  the  frjuits  of  the  earth,  losses 
in  our  living  stock,  but  especially  by  much  [sickness]  amc»ng  us  for  the  space  of 
the  last  four  years:  We  live  remotely  in  a  corner  of  the  wilderness  [wh]ich  in  our 
affairs  costs  us  much  charge  pains  &  hardships.  As  to  our  Petition  &  that  which 
we  desire;  it  is  your  encouraging  &  assisting  of  us  as  we  hope  in  a  good  work;  yet 
too  heavy  for  us;  viz  the  building  of  an  house  convenient  for  us  to  assemble  in  for 
the  worship  of  God;  Such  an  house  we  doe  more  &  more  find  very  great  need  of. 
Wee  return  our  honoured  gentlemen  hearty  thanks  for  the  late  encouragement 
they  gave  us  unto  Church  work:  w^ee  are  embolden  fro.  our  past  experience  of  j^our 
former  candidness  &  favour  toward  us:  yet  once  more  to  present  this  our  humble 


232  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Petition  for  your  help  in  this  great  &  needfull  afiEaier.  Much  we  could  mention  by- 
way of  persuasion:  but  we  are  prevented  of  time  &  we  hope  that  a  few  words  to 
the  wise  will  be  sufficient.  It  may  be  considered  that  we  have  been  often  at 
charges  in  sending  forth  horsemen  for  the  timely  discovery  of  an  approaching 
enemie.  which  hath  been  or  might  have  been  some  safeguard  to  our  neighbours  in 
other  Townes.  For  this  our  Scouting  we  have  had  no  public  recompense.  We 
also  have  had  farr  more  trouble  than  some  other  Townes  in  this  Colonic  by  the 
souldiers  passing  to  &  fro  &  their  often  entertainments  with  us,  which  hath  occa- 
sioned much  expense  of  our  time  etc.  We  also  are  informed  that  we  shall  not  be 
the  first  that  have  had  publique  assistance  in  the  like  work  in  this  Colonic.  We 
hope  right  worthy  Sirs  that  you  that  are  the  Patrons  of  this  Christian  Common- 
wealth; will  be  pleased  to  give  us  further  encouragement  to  build  God's  house  & 
the  encouragement  which  we  doe  particularly  petition  for  is  that  our  Publique 
rates  may  be  given  to  us  for  the  space  of  the  four  next  ensuing  years.  We  find  in 
holy  writ  that  some  whose  spirit  God  hath  Stirred  up  have  been  famous  in  promot- 
ing such  a  work;  as  David  &  Solomon.  We  hope  &  trust  we  shall  have  a  placid 
return  fro.  our  Worthies  upo.  whom  our  eyes  are:  So  we  remain  your  humble  & 
needy  Petitioners  and  Servants. 

From  Waterbury.  Anno  Domini.  91  October.  7. 

In  the  name  &  on  the  behalf  of  the  rest  of  our  inhabitants. 

John  Hopkins,  )  j^„,^,„_ 
Thomas  Judd,  ) 

The  petition  was  answered  the  next  day. 

October,  i6gi. 

Upon  the  petition  of  Waterbury  this  Court  grants  them  their  present  country 
rate  toward  the  erecting  of  a  house  for  the  pub:  worship  of  God  in  that  towne, 
prouided  they  improue  it  for  that  use  and  no  other. 

This  people — our  fathers — "  living  remotely  in  a  corner  of  the 
wilderness,  brought  low  by  many  losses  and  by  much  sickness  dur- 
ing the  space  of  four  years,"  (to  which  had  been  added  two  years 
of  war's  alarms),  had  just  risen  up  to  prepare  a  house  for  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  and  were  taking  hold  on  life  anew,  when  a  sudden  and 
awful  blow  fell  upon  the  little  town.  By  a  mighty  freshet,  their 
precious  meadows,  on  which  they  chiefly  depended  for  the  support 
of  life,  were  torn  up  by  the  roots  and  carried  away.  From  the 
Plum  Trees,  a  meadow  above  Lead  Mine  brook  on  the  north,  to  the 
straits  below  Judd's  meadows  on  the  south,  the  spring  of  1691  gave 
stones  for  bread, — and  yet  the  brave  planters  held  on.  Not  a  man 
left  the  settlement!  Their  meadows  gone,  they  clung  to  the  hills, 
and  began  to  lay  out  mountain  lots.  We,  who  have  so  often  seen 
the  wrath  of  the  Naugatuck,  when  in  a  spring  freshet  its  furrowed 
waters  dashed  over  the  meadows,  islanding  Hop  meadow  hill,  and 
covering  all  the  region  between  the  river  and  Meadow  street,  (thus 
completely  cutting  off  access  to  present  Brooklyn  and  West  Side 
hill),  can  understand  something  of  the  blow  that  then  befell  Water- 
bury. The  smaller  meadows  on  the  Mad  river  and  the  branches  of 
both  rivers  doubtless  suffered  too,  thus  forcing  every  man  to  spend 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  WATERS URY, 


233 


his  days  in  a  struggle  with  forest  trees  and  stones  for  the  posses- 
sion of  the  soil  hidden  under  them  in  the  hills.  Under  these  con- 
ditions, the  work  of  building  the  house  for  the  worship  of  God  was 
retarded.  When  the  floods  came,  Waterbury  had  forty-three  tax- 
payers, and  not  estimating  dwelling  houses,  a  list  of  jCiS^g.  In 
1694,  with  the  same  number  of  taxpayers,  her  list  had  fallen  to 

In  May  of  1693,  Mr.  Peck  received  from  the  colony  "  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  for  a  farme."  Whether  this  was  a  grant  for 
special  services,  or  a  gratuity,  does  not  appear. 

We  learn  nothing  more  of  the  house  for  the  worship  of  God 
until  1694,  when : 

The  Town  agree  to  use  or  improve  the  money  that  now  is,  or  hereafter  shall 
be  due  for  wild  horses  *  that  are  sold  in  the  town.  We  say  to  improve  it  for  help- 
ing to  build  the  meeting-house,  and  to  stand  by  the  officers  that  sell  them,  and 
hereafter  to  allow  those  that  bring  in  such  horses  one-half. 

How  much  aid  the  good  cause  received  in  this  manner  is  not 
known.  In  1694  the  Court  again  granted  Waterbury  its  country 
rate  toward  the  finishing  of  the  meeting-house,  provided  that  the 
town  should  discharge  to  the  country  its  indebtedness  of  the  town. 
From  this  time,  we  find  nothing  regarding  the  church  building 
until  1699.  There  is  no  proof  that  it  was  finished,  or  that  Mr.  Peck 
ever  preached  in  it,  and  there  is  no  proof  to  the  contrary.  It  is  not 
known  at  what  date  Mr.  Peck  became  incapacitated  for  preaching, 
thus  throwing  a  double  burden  upon  the  people,  but  in  1695  there 
was  another  minister  to  be  considered,  who  is  referred  to,  not  by 
name,  but  as  //le  present  minister^  when  the  parsonage  land  was  de- 
voted to  his  use.  In  1696,  and  until  the  ordination  of  Mr.  South- 
mayd,  the  children  of  Waterbury  people  were  taken  to  other  towns 
for  baptism,  Milford  and  Woodbury  being  of  the  number. 

In  1696  Mr.  Peck  executed  a  deed  of  gift  of  all  his  property  in 
Waterbury.  He  mentions  six  children,  Samuel,  Ruth  At  water  (to 
whom  he  gave,  among  other  books,  *'Ye  Articles  of  y^  Church  of 
England"),  Caleb,  Anna  Standly,  Jeremiah,  and  Joshua.  In  this 
deed,  the  lands  that  his  son  Jeremiah  owned  which  had  been  given 
him  by  the  town,  were  to  be  accounted  as  Reverend  Jeremiah's 
lands,  and  to  be  equally  divided  between  Jeremiah  and  Joshua. 
The  house  and  home  lot  and  the  three-acre  lot  were  exempt  from 
this  division,  and  bestowed  upon  Jeremiah.     To  Jeremiah  also  was 


*  It  must  not  be  understood  that  wild  horses  went  roaAing  through  the  country.  If  a  man  neglected 
to  brand  his  horses  properly,  he  could  not  easily  reclaim  them,  and  ia  many  instances  branded  horses  were 
not  reclaimed.  Waterbury,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  a  horse  pasture,  but  the  adjoining  towns  seem  to 
have  beea  without  that  useful  adjunct,  and  the  animals  were  apt  to  stray  abroad,  and  were  taken  up,  prop- 
erly advertised,  and  then  sold. 


234  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY, 

given  the  farm  the  General  Court  had  granted.  With  his  custom- 
ary regard  for  contingencies,  he  made  the  following  conditions : 
"  Y^  Jeremiah  and  Joshua  pay  all  my  lawful  debts,  provide  well  and 
comfortably  for  me  and  my  wife  ♦  ♦  *  as  long  as  we  both  live, 
and  if  they  fail  or  neglect  their  duty,  I  reserve  y*  power  to  sell  the 
land  for  my  relief."  On  behalf  of  his  wife,  in  the  event  of  his  death, 
and  the  failure  of  his  sons  to  provide  well  for  her,  and  in  case  she 
should  leave  them  during  the  time  of  her  widowhood — bearing  his 
name — he  gave  her  power  to  command  the  use  of  one-third  part  of 
all  the  lands  he  had  given  to  Jeremiah  and  Joshua.  To  his  wife  he 
gave,  to  be  hers,  after  his  decease,  two  cows  and  six  sheep,  with  all 
"the  movables  within  doors  excepting  a  silver  tankard,"  which 
went  to  Jeremiah.  This  will,  of  over  three  thousand  words,  proves 
that  Reverend  Jeremiah  Peck  to  the  end  of  his  life  continued  an 
exceedingly  careful  and  provident  man. 

Mr.  Peck  lived  nearly  three  years  after  the  execution  of  this  deed, 
but  as  an  assistant  had  been  required  before  it  was  made,  and  we  know 
that  the  Rev.  John  Jones  officiated  at  a  later  date,  it  is  not  probable 
that  he  was  again  able  to  perform  public  duties.  He  was  placed  in 
a  trying  position,  for  while  he  yet  lived,  his  church  and  people 
were  eagerly,  and  with  great  enthusiasm,  preparing  to  receive  his 
successor.  A  young  man,  fresh  from  Harvard  College,  had  won  the 
heart  of  Waterbury  and  aroused  it  to  a  pitch  of  enthusiasm  that 
makes  itself  felt  through  the  dim  pages  of  the  old  records.  His 
name  was  Reverend  John  Read,  and  he  was  destined  to  become  a 
brilliant  and  successful  man,  but  Mr.  Read  was  not  destined  for 
Waterbury.  In  vain  they  offered  him  their  hearts  and  lands,  and 
promises  to  build  him  an  house  with  three  chimneys,  38  feet  long 
and  19  feet  wide,  with  a  stoned  cellar  and  other  elegancies  of  con- 
struction. To  this,  they  added  an  annual  salary  of  jQ^o  and  jQ2o  in 
labor  for  two  years,  and  after  two  years  of  service  as  an  ordained 
minister,  he  was  to  receive  one  of  the  three  grand  propriety  rights 
in  the  township. 

The  town  made  great  effort  to  secure  John  Carrington's  house  lot 
(Leavenworth  street  now  runs  through  it),  to  put  the  new  house 
upon,  but  his  heirs  declining  to  sell  it,  it  was  decreed  to  take  off 
the  obligation  that  lay  upon  the  lot  "at  the  West  end  "  and  "set  the 
minister  on  it."  The  obligation  was,  that  it  had  been  sequestered, 
as  school  land.  This  lot  at  the  "  West  end "  is  now  Mr.  Robert 
Brown's  corner  at  Willow  street. 

It  was  while  his  people  were  making  ready  for  another  minister, 
that  "  on  the  7th  of  June,  1699,  the  Reverend  Jeremiah  Peck  *  left 
this  world,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age.' "  His  pastorate  in  Waterbury 
was  a  short  and  a  serious  one.     It  began  and  continued  amid  the 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  WATERS URY,  235 

Storms  of  war.  The  "great  sickness  "  and  the  "remarkable  flood," 
together  with  the  "losses  in  live  stock,"  and  in  "the  fruits  of  the 
earth,"  (for  Mr.  Peck  was  a  farmer  as  well  as  a  minister),  when 
combined  with  age  and  growing  infirmities,  must  have  made  the 
active  years  of  his  life  here  full  of  care  and  anxiety.  It  is  but  a 
meagre  record  that  we  have  given  of  this  man.  The  finding  is 
most  unsatisfactory,  but  we  are  compelled  to  leave  it  thus.  In  cer- 
tain towns  settled  at  an  early  date,  it  was  the  custom  to  bury  the 
dead  in  the  garden  of  the  minister.  Mr.  Prudden's  garden,  at  Mil- 
ford,  is  cited  as  an  instance — and  the  first  place  of  burial  in  our 
town  was  likewise  at  the  foot  of  the  minister's  garden,  for  Mr.  Peck's 
house  lot  extended  through  to  Grand  street,  and  the  part  of  the 
late  Grand  street  cemetery  in  use  during  the  first  century,  was  but 
a  continuation  of  that  house  lot.  It  was  probably  within  this  time- 
consecrated  ground  on  "Burying- Yard  Hill,"  that  Reverend  Jere- 
miah Peck,  after  his  long  and  useful  life,  was  laid  to  rest,  but  no 
inscribed  stone  raised  in  memory  of  him  remained  when,  in  1892 
the  city  of  Waterbury  dishonored  itself  by  desecrating  the  graves 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  years;  by  blotting  from  the  face  of 
our  fair  township  the  last  vestige  of  its  founders  !  Neither  church- 
spire  nor  mill-chimney  can  ever  be  raised  high  enough  to  over- 
shadow this  crime,  committed  against  the  generations  gone,  and  the 
generations  to  come.  Two  weeks  after  Mr.  Peck  died  the  town  en- 
gaged to  pay  money,  or  that  which  was  equivalent  at  the  place  where 
Deacon  Thomas  Judd  should  buy  "nayls,"  for  the  clapboarding  and 
shingling  the  minister's  house.  Committee  was  added  to  committee 
in  order  to  hasten  the  work — meanwhile,  as  an  extra  temptation,  the 
coming  minister  was  proffered  ten  acres  of  upland  "where  it  could 
be  found."  A  month  later,  Mr.  Read  was  desired  "  to  go  on  and  accept 
the  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  on  the  terms  propounded  to  him 
on  the  town's  behalf,"  and  an  extra  committee,  composed  of  a  lieu- 
tenant, deacon,  ensign  and  sergeant,  was  desired  to  go  on  and  secure 
Mr.  Read  if  he  was  "obtainable;"  but  he  was,  evidently,  not  obtaina- 
ble, for  sometime  between  July  18  and  August  21,  1699,  Mr.  Read  dis- 
appointed his  devotees,  and  they  turned  away,  much  disheartened,  to 
look  for  another  minister,  appointing  Deacon  Judd  to  make  the 
search  "  by  himself  and  the  best  counsel  he  could  take  to  get  one 
to  help  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  bring  a  man  amongst 
them  upon  probation,  in  order  to  settlement,  if  he  could."  The  next 
month.  Deacon  Judd  not  having  been  successful,  John  Hopkins  was 
appointed  to  give  him  aid  in  getting  a  minister.  Ministers  were 
not  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  in  the  seventeenth  century.  October 
12th  came,  and  a  rate  of  a  half  penny  on  the  pound  was  laid,  to  be 
paid  in  current  silver  money,  or  that  which  was  equivalent,  bearing 


236  niSTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

its  own  charge  to  the  market,  for  to  buy  nails  and  glass  for  the  minister's 
house.  During  all  this  time,  while  the  records  are  eloquent  with 
effort  regarding  a  minister,  not  a  word  appears  in  regard  to  the 
meeting-house,  and  are  we  to  believe  that  the  minister's  house  had 
glass  in  the  windows,  and  the  house  of  God  none  ?  * 

One  of  the  latest  acts  of  the  century  was  the  laying  of  "  a  rate  of 
8d  on  the  pound  for  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  minister's  house, 
to  be  given  in  labor  or  provision  pay,"  and  twenty  days  later,  after 
the  long  silence,  the  following :  "  What  charge  Ensign  (Timothy) 
Standly  and  Sarg.  Bronson,  committee  for  building  the  pulpit  and 
seats  in  the  meeting-house,  are  at,  more  than  the  money  given  in 
the  country  rate,  and  horse  money  according  to  the  town  act,  shall 
be  paid  by  the  town."  We  may  conclude  then,  that  in  1700  the 
meeting-house  had  a  pulpit  and  seats,  or  was  about  to  be  supplied 
with  them. 

At  the  close  of  the  century,  seven  of  the  original  proprietors  had 
died  in  Waterbury,  Robert  Porter  and  Philip  Judd  in  1689,  Edmund 
Scott  and  John  Carrington  in  1690,  Abraham  Andrews,  cooper,  in 
1693,  Samuel  Hikcox  in  1694,  and  John  Bronson  in  1696.  Two — Ben- 
jamin Jones  and  Joseph  Hikcox — had  died  elsewhere.  Five — Will- 
iam Judd,  Thomas  Hancox,  Thomas  and  John  Newell  and  Lieut. 
John  Stanley — had  returned  to  Farmington,  and  John  Scovill  had 
removed  to  Haddam — fifteen  in  all.  If  we  add  to  this  list  those  who 
died  or  left  the  town  before  1681,  we  shall  find  that  in  1700  less  than 
one-half  of  the  Grand  Proprietors  of  the  township  remained. 
Before  1700  thirty  young  men,  sons  of  the  planters,  had  been  added 
to  the  list  of  land  owners.  The  whole  number  of  tax-payers  in 
October,  1699,  was  forty-seven.  We  close  the  century  with  the  list 
of  the  planters*  sons  who  had  become  land  owners  and  had  settled 
in  the  town;  they  being  called  Bachelor  Proprietors  in  distinction 
from  the  Grand  Proprietors,  or  sharers  in  the  thirty-four  divisions 
of  the  little  republic  of  Waterbury.  Nine  sons  of  planters  either 
died  or  failed  to  gain  residence  here  between  1681  and  1700. 

THE    BACHELOR    PROPRIETORS    BEFORE    1700. 

Isaac  and  John  Bronson,  Clark  Carrington,  Joseph  and  John 
Gaylord,  Samuel,  William,  Thomas  and  Joseph  Hikcox,  Thomas 
and  John  Judd,  Deacon  Thomas  Judd,  John  Richards,  John,  Thomas 
and  Israel  Richardson,  Edmund,  Samuel,  Jonathan,  George,  David 
and  Robert  Scott,  John  Scovill,  Samuel  Standly,  John,  Ephraim  and 
Benjamin  Warner,  John,  Stephen  and  Richard  Welton. 

*  Twenty  years  after  this  church  edifice  was  built,  changes  were  made  in  it,  and  its  doors  and  windows 
were  repaired.  At  that  time,  the  vote  taken  relating  to  the  purchase  of  glass  has  led  to  the  erroneous  belief 
that  the  windows  were  without  glass  until  1715. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

YOUNG    MR.    SOUTHMAYD — HIS    ACCEPTANCE    BY     THE    TOWN — ENSIGN   TIM- 
OTHY   Stanley's    house    to    be    fortified — "yards" — a    new 

INHABITANT — THE     MEADOWS    ALONG    THE    GREAT    RIVER — WATER- 
BURY    ISLANDS — WATERBURY    HILLS. 

JOHN  READ,  while  at  Harvard  College,  had  a  classmate  named 
John  Southmayd.  We  are  not  able  to  assert  that  young  Mr. 
Southmayd  listened  to  the  story  told  by  his  friend  Read,  of 
the  generosity  and  needs  of  a  poor  and  feeble  little  town  in  the 
wilderness,  and  was  moved  by  compassion  and  other  considerations 
to  preach  for  its  people — or  that  Mr.  Read  softened  his  refusal  by 
sounding  the  praises  of  his  friend,  but  both  statements  are  made 
tenable  by  ensuing  events.  Dr.  Bronson  gives  the  following 
anecdote  relating  to  the  young  men,  which  was  told  by  Professor 
Hedge,  of  Harvard.  Southmayd,  while  a  student,  prepared  a  chair 
which  was  so  constructed  that  when  a  person  sat  down  in  it,  it  sud- 
denly gave  way.  When  the  Freshmen  class  was  entered,  its  mem- 
bers one  by  one  were  invited  to  Southmayd's  room  and  offered  the 
treacherous  chair.  In  the  same  class  with  Southmayd  there  was 
one  by  the  name  of  Read,  who  was  mischievous,  and  one  Collins, 
who  was  dissolute.  A  wag,  to  hit  off  the  three,  composed  some 
lines  .which  ran  thus: 

"  Bless'd  is  the  man  who  hath  not  lent 

To  wicked  Read  his  ear, 
Nor  spent  his  life  as  Collins  hath, 

Nor  sat  in  Southmayd's  chair." 

We  have  seen  how  Waterbury  lent  its  ear  to  this  young  and 
"wicked"  Read — a  man  who  became  the  most  distinguished  lawyer 
of  his  time  in  New  England,  and  we  are  soon  to  see  young  South- 
mayd become  one  of  the  most  wise,  sagacious,  and  beneficent  sail- 
ing-masters that  ever  directed  the  three-decked  ship  of  church,  plan- 
tation, and  town,  safely  over  the  shoals  that  beset  its  course. 

Before  November  2,  1699,  Mr.  Southmayd  had  preached  here. 
The  two-acre  house  lot  and  other  lands  for  the  new  minister  were 
already  cleared  and  fenced,  and  Samuel  Hikcox  and  his  brother 
William  were  appointed  to  go  about  and  gather  a  work-rate  of  ;^2o, 
out  of  which  they  were  to  dig  and  stone  a  well. 

In  June  of  1700,  it  was  announced  in  town  meeting,  that  "having 
had  some  taste  of  Mr.  ^ovX\imeats  ministry  the  people  were  satisfied, 


238  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

and  were  willing  to  accept  him  as  their  minister  to  dispense  the 
word  of  God  amongst  them,  and  desired  that  the  church  in  due  sea- 
son should  settle  him  in  Gospel  order  amongst  them."  But  Mr. 
Southmayd  delayed  to  accept  the  duties  of  an  ordained  minister. 
We  shall  find  the  reason  perhaps,  in  the  following  entry,  under  date 
of  April  9,  1700.  "The  town  agreed  considering  our  present  cir- 
cumstances, to  fortify  Ensign  Standly's  house  for  the  safety  of  the 
town,  and  if  it  should  prove  troublesome  times  and  the  town  see 
they  have  need  and  are  able  afterward,  to  fortify  two  more."  At 
the  same  meeting  "it  was  agreed  to  go  about  it  forthwith."  All 
men  and  boys  and  teams  that  were  able  to  work,  were  to  begin  the 
next  day,  and  the  man  who  did  not  help  with  his  own  hands  was  to 
pay  2S  6d.  or  with  his  team  3s.  a  day,  until  the  work  was  done. 

Until  1700,  Waterbury  was  a  compact  village.  The  planters  all 
had  their  houses  at  the  town  spot.  "Yards"  are  referred  to  as 
existing  in  localities  quite  remote  from  the  centre.  Abraham 
Andrews,  Senior,  had  land  "at  Judd's  meadows,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  brook  that  runs  into  Benjamin  Barnes'  yard."  Isaac  Bronson 
had  an  acre  for  a  yard  very  early  at  Buck's  meadow.  There  was  an 
"old"  yard  at  Hancox  meadow  brook  in  1715.  Mention  is  made  of 
the  spring  and  the  place  where  they  used  to  stack  their  hay  west  of 
the  Long  Boggy  meadow  in  south-western  Watertown.  These  are 
sufficient  to  indicate  the  custom  of  making  yards  for  cattle,  and 
stacking  hay  where  it  was  made. 

To  the  present  date,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  prison  the 
chief  events  as  they  transpired,  reflecting  what  light  might  sift 
•  through  a  score  of  decades  upon  them  while  the  town  was  held  as 
a  single  family — but  from  this  point  we  must  diverge  with  the 
diverging  inhabitants,  pausing  only  here  and  there  to  chronicle  a 
passing  event,  as  we  follow  our  friends  to  Breackneck,  Judd's 
Meadows,  Buck's  hill,  and  whithersoever  they  go  to  build,  and 
abide,  and  subdue  the  wilderness.  While  we  wait  for  the  finishing 
of  the  meeting-house,  and  for  young  Mr.  Southmayd  to  say  "  yes  " 
to  the  town's  wooing,  and  for  the  town  to  build  that  fort  about 
Ensign  Timothy  Stanley's  house,  over  whose  site  stands  our  City 
hall,  it  seems  a  fitting  time  to  visit  the  meadows  along  the  Naug- 
atuck,  and  give  the  names  by  which  they  were  known  by  their 
owners,  and  by  which  certain  of  them  are  known  to  this  day.  On 
the  way  do^'n  the  river  we  stop  to  mention  an  important  event — 
the  arrival  of  a  new  inhabitant,  with  a  new  name  to  add  to  the 
twenty-two,  hitherto  known  in  the  town.  He  came,  or  he  appears, 
in  1700  on  the  list  of  town-officers,  as  a  fence  viewer.  His  name  is 
Joseph  Lewis. 


MEADOWS,  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS.  239 

THE    MEADOWS    ALONG    THE    NAUGATUCK     RIVER. 

Judd's  Meadows  included  all  the  meadows  reaching  from  the 
Straits  at  Beacon  Hill  brook,  to  Fulling  Mill  brook  at  Union  City. 
In  the  sub-division  of  these  meadows,  the  division  northward  from 
the  Straits  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  extending  from  the  brook 
to  the  hills  northward  and  eastward,  seems  not  to  have  been  hon- 
ored with  any  name,  except  that  the  upper  portion  is  known  as  Ben 
Jones's  lot,  and  is  often  referred  to  as  a  starting  point.  One  of  the 
Newells  had  an  allotment  at  the  south  end,  bordering  on  the  river 
and  Beacon  Hill  brook  at  its  mouth.  This,  later,  was  Jeremiah  and 
Joshua  Peck's,  and  they  sold  it  to  the  new  inhabitant,  Joseph  Lewis. 
Later,  the  Hopkinses  bought  it  and  the  Jones  allotment  and  all  the 
surrounding  region.  On  the  west  side  the  river,  the  first  allotment 
was  John  Lankton's,  bordered  on  the  south  by  the  great  rocks,  on 
the  north  by  a  little  brook.  This  allotment  became  John  Hopkins's. 
The  Hopkins  family  retained  these  meadows  until  they  became,  by 
inter-marriage  and  deed  of  gift.  Culver  property,  which  they  con- 
tinue to  be.  North  of  the  little  brook,  Thomas  Richardson's  allot- 
ment began.  It  ran  up  into  a  neck  between  the  hill  and  the  river, 
and  included  an  island.  Richardson  gave  it  to  his  son  Thomas,  and 
he  sold  it  to  Samuel  Hikcox  2d,  in  the  distribution  of  whose  estate 
it  was  "set"  to  his  daughter  Sarah,  who  married  John  Piatt,  of 
Norwalk.  The  Platts  bestowed  it  upon  a  relative,  Joseph  Betts, 
about  1750.  The  land  lay  neglected  until  it  "went  to  pieces"  in 
Colony,  Church  and  State  taxes.  The  Culvers  gathered  in  the 
pieces  and  added  them  to  their  farm. 

The  next  division  west,  became  known  as  Scott's  meadow  from 
an  allotment  in  it  to  Edmund  Scott.  Scott's  meadow  gave  the  name 
to  that  region,  which  it  retains  to  this  day.  The  Naugatuck  Rail- 
road runs  through  this,  as  well  as  through  Richardson's  allotment. 
On  Joseph  Gaylord's  meadow,  the  mill  of  L.  &  W.  Ward  stands. 
East  of  the  river,  Sargeant  Hikcox  had  the  southern-most  allotment, 
of  five  acres,  including  an  island.  The  old  Waterbury  and  Derby 
highway  crossed  this  island,  long  known  as  Hikcox  island,  now 
Ward's  island.  In  the  meadow  which  ran  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  up  to  the  old  Burying  Yard  hill,  John  and  Daniel  Warner, 
Benjamin  and  Philip  Judd,  and  Timothy  Standly  had  part  and  lot. 
About  against  it  on  the  west,  began  another  section  of  meadow  in 
which  was  Scott's  plain.  This  meadow  section  extended  from  the 
hill  south  of  Butler's  brook,  known  as  Toantic — as  Scott's,  and  as 
Long  Meadow  brook — to  near  the  present  Naugatuck  bridge,  where 
it  was  to  meet  the  "Deacon's  Meadow"  which  is  on  the  same  side 
of  the  river.     It  was  allotted  to  William  Judd,  father  of  Deacon 


240  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

Thomas,  whose  properly  it  became  by  virtue  of  the  bestowment  of 
the  Plantation's  committee.  It  is  recorded  in  1688  as  eight  acres, 
and  extended  from  just  below  Maple  street  to  the  place  where  the 
hill  meets  the  river,  so  that  the  Rubber  mills  on  Maple  street  and 
the  old  passenger  station  of  the  Naugatuck  railroad  were  built  on 
the  Deacon's  meadow.  The  section  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  from 
burying  yard  hill  to  Fulling  Mill  brook  was  know  as  Warner's 
meadow.  The  owners  in  this  area  were  Dr.  Daniel  Porter  (who  had 
a  meadow  and  also  a  ten-acre  grant  from  the  town  here),  and  Benja- 
min Judd. 

On  the  west  side,  at  Union  City,  at  the  mouth  of  Hop  brook,  the 
land  became  known  as  Andrew's  meadow,  Abraham,  Senior,  having 
an  allotment  there.  He  bought  of  Mr.  Southmayd  a  great  lot  allot- 
ment, and  of  John  Welton,his  division.  It  was  here  that  he  had  his 
cattle  yard.  He  also  bought  ten  acres  of  Timothy  Stanley.  And- 
rew's island  was  a  part  of  the  great  lot.  This  point  brings  us  to  the 
northern  terminus  of  the  Judd's  meadows  region.  It  is  thought 
that  Lieutenant  Judd  had  a  two-acre  lot  assigned  him  as  early  as  1677, 
and  which  he  chose  at  Judd's  meadows.  In  this  allotment  at  this 
very  early  date,  each  man  seems  to  have  selected  a  warm,  secluded 
spot  with  a  stream  running  through  it — perhaps  with  reference  to 
its  suitability  for  cattle  yards.  In  1679,  when  the  region  was  pre- 
pared for  allotments,  this  two-acre  meadow  of  William  Judd's  was 
ignored  or  forgotten,  and  Abraham  Andrew's  portion  encroached 
upon  it.  The  difficulty  was  amicably  adjusted,  however,  by  Judd's 
getting  Andrew's  lot  at  Hancox's  meadow.  This  would  seem  to 
account  for  the  name  of  Judd's  meadows  in  1677  or  '78. 

The  Slip,  or  the  Long  land,  is  the  region  now  known  as  Platts' 
mills.  The  meadows  at  the  point  above  Pine  island  were  described 
as  "  at  Dragon's  point."  Above  Dragon's  point,  lies  Long  meadow, 
which  name  in  modern  days  has  crossed  the  river  and  is  applied 
likewise  to  the  line  of  narrow  meadow  lands  along  the  river  at  Hope- 
ville.  The  Long  meadow  region  extended  northward  to  the  sand 
hills  lately  used  by  the  Meriden  railroad  for  the  extension  to  meet 
the  New  England  road.  At  and  about  the  mouth  of  the  Mad  river 
lay  Mad  meadow.  On  the  west  side  of  the  Great  river,  in  present 
Brooklyn,  was  the  Little  meadow.  In  this  Little  meadow  of  the 
Past  (owned  in  the  present  century  by  Ansel  Porter,  son  of  Colonel 
Phineas,  and  in  our  day  by  the  late  Charles  Porter),  lies  all  that  part 
of  the  city  bordering  the  river  between  Washington  avenue  and 
Riverside  cemetery. 

On  the  east  side,  lay  the  Beaver  meadows,  or  meadow.  Its  east- 
ern limit  was  Pine   hill,  removed   about    1880.      Great  brook  ran 


.VEADOWS.  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS.  241 

through  it,  also  the  passage  to  the  fording  place,  now  Bank  street. 
Its  northwestern  bound  was  the  line  of  coves  that  separated  it  from 
the  Manhan  meadows,  while  near  the  river  it  ended  at  the  base  of 
the  eastern  terminus  of  Hop  Meadow  hill.  This  hill  extended  to 
Bank  street.  The  accompanying  illustration  presents  the  sections 
of  the  hill  remaining  in  1891.  The  meadow  has  been  filled  to  the 
depth  of  six  or  seven  feet. 


Hop  meadow  is  southward  and  westward  of  the  hill,  between  it 
and  the  river.  The  Manhan  meadows  began  with  the  western 
border  of  the  coves,  and  they  extend  to  the  point  where  the  Nauga- 
tuck  river,  after  receiving  Steel's  brook,  bends  to  the  eastward. 
This  bend  in  the  river  forms  the  dividing  line  between  Manhan 
meadows  and  Steel's  meadow  and  plain. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  river  above  the  mouth  of  Hancox  brook 
lie  the  fine  meadows  bearing  the  name  of  Thomas  Hancox.  They 
extend  northward  to  Mount  Taylor.  Above  Mount  Taylor  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  lies  Buck's  meadow.  Frost's  bridge  crosses 
the  river  against  it.  On  our  way  to  Buck's  meadow  we  have  passed 
a  long,  narrow,  crooked  strip  of  land  that  in  1679  was  set  aside  for 
a  new  inhabitant.    It  was  estimated  "  as  twelve  acres,  if  it  was  there 


242  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

to  be  found."  Stephen  Upson  was  the  new  inhabitant,  and  he  "  took 
it  up."  For  many  years  it  was  known  as  Upson's  island.  The 
rocky  hills  near  by  were  called  Upson's  Island  rocks.  Next,  on 
the  same  side  of  the  river  lies  Walnut-Tree  meadow.  Against  it, 
where  Daniel  Carver  now  lives,  a  brook  comes  to  the  river,  known 
in  1699  as  George's  brook.  Following  the  river  to  Jericho  rock, 
which  is  a  hill  on  its  east  side,  we  pass  on  the  same  side,  Standly's 


Jericho  (which  it  will  be  remembered  was  given  to  him  because  of 
the  "meanness  of  his  allotments.")  It  is  the  first  meadow  above 
the  Jericho  bridge.  West,  on  the  river,  a  little  above  Standly's 
Jericho,  lies  Pine  meadow  proper. 

Next  we  come  to  the  Reynolds  Bridge  station  of  the  Naugatuck 
railroad,  which  lies  in   Judd's  Jericho.     The  view  of  Lower  Pine 


MEADOWS.  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS. 


243 


meadow  is  taken  in  the  Reynolds  Bridge  region,  looking  south- 
ward. The  hill  to  the  left  is  Jericho  rock.  Stand  ly's  Jericho 
lies  between  the  rock  and  Lower  Pine  meadow.  Higher  still, 
against  the  station,  west  of  the  river  and  of  the  West  branch,  lies 
what  came  to  be  known  as  Upper  Pine  meadow.  Above  the  bridge 
is  the  Acre  plain  and  Judd's  slip.  As  you  go  up  to  the  falls — the 
only  fall  in  the  river  about  Waterbury  worthy  of  the  name — on 
the  east  side  is  Popple  meadow,  which  still  holds  its  old  name. 
"  The  plain  against  the  Popple  meadow  "  lies  across  the  river. 


Above,  on  the  west  side,  at  the  base  of  the  Pine  mountain, 
extending  up  toward  the  mouth  of  Pootatuck  brook,  is  an  extensive 
level  meadow  which  appears  to  have  had  no  distinctive  name  at  the 
first  and  probably  became  consolidated  with  Twitch  Grass  meadow, 
which  originally  was  a  small  meadow  at  the  mouth  of  Twitch  Grass 
brook,  which  formed  one  side  of  the  ancient  burying-yard  at 
Thomaston, 

The  meadow  lands  above,  on  either  side  of  the  river,  appear  to 
have  been  nameless,  until  the  station  and  bridge  at  Thomaston  are 
reached.  On  the  west  side,  the  meadow  extending  up  to  the  dam,  is 
Andrew's  meadow  of  1688.  The  land  by  the  station  is  spoken  of  as 
the  plain  against  Andrew's  meadow.  Above  the  dam,  on  the  west 
of  the  river,  is  a  piece  of  land  known  as  Welton's  meadow.    A  plain 


344 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7. 


against  that,  where  the  railroad  runs,  is  referred  to  as  the  plain 
against  Welton's  meadow.  Above,  on  the  east  side  at  the  mouth  of 
the  East  branch,  or  Lead  Mine  brook,  lies  English  Grass  meadow. 
Above  and  against  it,  were  "  the  mines."  Still  northward  lies  the 
meadow  spoken  of  as  the  Plum  Trees. 

Just  above  the  Two-and-a-half-mile  bridge,  about  half  way 
between  Campville  and  Thomaston,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  bridge,  is  a  house  which  is  near 
the  old  town  line  of  Hartford  and  Waterbury,  before  Harwinton 
was.  In  passing  up  the  river  road  on  the  west  side  this  house  can 
be  seen  in  the  distance. 


n  JoMph  Scoii 


We  have  thus  followed  the  meadows  bordering  on  the  Naugatuck 
from  "The  Straits"  to  "The  Plum  Trees" — a  distance  of  about 
eighteen  miles. 

WATERBURV    ISLANDS. 

There  were  twelve  islands  in  the  ancient  township.  They  all 
lay  along  the  Great  river.  The  most  southern  one  was  Richard- 
son's, at  Judd's  meadows.  Hikcox  island  is  now  Ward's  island. 
Andrew's  island,  now  waste  land,  lies  against  the  mouth  of  Hop 
brook.  Pine  island  is  in  the  bend  of  the  river,  where  it  is  well 
wooded,  just  above  the  mill  dam  of  the  Piatt's  mill.  At  an  early 
date,  the  river  rapids  at  this  point  were  known  as  the  Pine  Island 
falls,  and  the  elevated  land  west  of  the  river  was  Pine  Island  plain, 


MEADOWS,  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS.  245 

early  owned  by  the  Porters.  In  the  same  vicinity  Isaac  Bron- 
son  and  John  Carrington  had  their  eight-acre  lots,  and  on  the  old 
road  west  of  the  river  Samuel  Barnes  settled  in  1730;  on  the  east 
side  was  Pine  Island  spring  (later  the  Widow's  spring,  from  its 
ownership  by  the  widow  of  Sergeant  Samuel  Hikcox).  South- 
mayd's  island  was  originally  his  Beaver  meadow  allotment  of  three 
acres,  probably  islanded  by  the  old  long  cove  and  the  small  run  of 
water  that  came  down  Willow  street  and  ran  through  the  line  of 
coves  to  the  river.  In  1810  Southmayd's  island  had  grown  to  eight- 
een acres ;  bounding  east  on  heirs  of  Stephen  Bronson,  south  on 
Hop  Meadow  hill,  westward  on  the  Cove  and  a  pent  highway, 
north  on  the  burying  ground  and  highway.  The  small  island  near 
Sled  Hall  brook  seems  to  have  been  nameless.  The  island  lying 
at  the  north  end  of  the  Manhan  meadows,  at  the  point  where  the 
water  is  diverted  from  the  river  to  enter  the  Manhan  canal,  was 
known  as  Gaylord's  island.  Lake  Hubbard,  which  is  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  river  at  this  place  encloses  the  island.  This,  at  a  later 
date,  became  known  as  Upson's  island.  The  turn  in  the  river  at 
this  point  has  been  attributed  to  the  work  of  the  beavers,  causing 
the  river  to  cross  the  valley  to  its  opposite  side.  The  old  river 
channel  is  still  to  be  seen.  Gaylord's  upper  island  is  between 
Joseph  Welton's  house  and  Waterville.  It  was  described,  in  1687, 
as  "2^  acres'  lying  in  a  cind  of  a  half  mone  at  the  lower  end  of 
Hancox  Meadows." 

Bronson's  island  has  been  omitted  from  its  proper  place.  It  lies 
between  the  river  and  the  Watertown  road  just  above  the  present 
West  Main  street  bridge.  In  time  of  a  freshet  this  is  still  an  island. 
It  was  a  permanent  island  as  late  as  1752. 

Opposite  the  Waterville  station  of  the  Naugatuck  road  is  a  pro- 
jection of  land  that  formerly  was  an  island  ;  it  has  borne  the  name 
of  its  owners  —  Bronsons,  and  it  is  believed  to  have  been  early 
Scovill's  island.  Just  above,  is  "  The  Little  Island "  of  the  Bron- 
sons. Above  Mount  Taylor  on  the  east  shore  of  the  river  is  the 
long,  slender  strip  of  an  island,  dedicated  in  1679  to  the  settler  who 
should  come  and  make  a  good  inhabitant.  This  is  Upson's  island. 
He  was  to  have  twelve  acres  of  meadow  here,  if  it  contained  so 
much.  Thomas  Hancox  owned  two  islands.  The  first  one  lay  next 
his  eight-acre  lot  at  the  mouth  of  Steel's  brook.  The  second  is 
enclosed  by  the  two  junctions  of  the  West  Branch  river  with  the 
Naugatuck  at  Reynolds  Bridge;  and  is  now  estimated  at  about 
fourteen  acres.  These  islands  acquired  their  names  from  the  occu- 
pation of  their  owner,  Thomas  Hancox  being  a  butcher.  This  is 
made  evident  by  a  deed  of  John  Standly,  wherein  it  is  called  "  The 


246  HISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Butcher's  Island."  After  Hancox  went  to  Hartford  and  became 
keeper  of  |the  prison  there,  the  upper  island  belonging  to  him  was 
long  a  landmark  as  Ensign  Judd's  island.  At  a  later  date  it  bore 
the  Welton  name.  Mr.  Henry  Reynolds  is,  I  think,  the  present 
owner. 

THE    HILLS   OF    WATERBURY. 

While  we  have  not  room  to  tell  of  the  meadows  that  lie  along  the 
branches  of  the  Great  river,  we  may  invite  the  possible  reader  to 
accompany  us  to  that  fair  and  beautiful  hill-top  lying  beyond  Town 
Plot — called  Malmalick  before  it  was  seen  of  white  men,*  and  from 
whence  the  planters  beheld  their  township  of  nameless  hills,  in  the 
summer  of  1674.  Here,  we  may  clothe  a  few  of  the  same  hills  on 
which  these  steadfast,  earnest  men  fought  the  strife  of  life,  with 
the  names  their  lips  and  deeds  framed  the  picture  in. 

Looking  northward,  we  trace  the  valley  where  the  Naugatuck 
river  penetrates  the  great  circle  and  unites  with  Hancock  brook. 
To  the  eastward,  clearly  cut  against  the  blue,  we  see  the  "  Blew  Hill  " 
of  early  days;  now  the  Hanging  hill  of  Meriden.  To  the  south- 
ward, the  dark  pines  and  the  crowding  heights  reveal  the  place 
where  the  Great  river  enters  the  narrow  and  solemn  pathway  that 
leads  it  out  of  the  township.  To  the  westward,  the  white  church 
of  Middlebury  is  seen.  Truly  it  is  a  hill-country  that  we  look 
upon,  simple,  and  solid,  and  sober  in  its  every  line  !  As  seen  from 
this  point,  few  are  the  marks  that  man  has  placed  upon  the 
circle. 

Beginning  at  the  Strait  between  Beacon  hill  and  the  "  Straights  " 
mountain,  and  moving  westward,  we  pass  Naugatuck,  Great  hill,  or 
Gunn  hill — where  Isaiah  Gunn  lived — Twelve-Mile  or  Andrew's  hill. 
Gunn  Town,  Millville,  Toantick  hill,  in  Derby.  Woodruff's  hill, 
Lewis's,  Clark's,  Joe's,  and  **  King  "  Beebe's  hills.  Osborne  Town. 
Sandy,  Bedlam,  Meshaddock  and  Camp's  hills.  Bradleyville.  The 
hill  west  of  Hop  swamp.  Middlebury,  The  Great  hill  east  of  Quass- 
apaug  (so  named  in  the  earliest  boundary  of  the  town),  Bissell's  hill. 
The  White  Deer  Rocks,  Break  Neck,  Three-and-a-half-mile,  Oronoke, 
and  Two-and-a-half-mile  hills,  Garnsey  Town  lands,  Jeremiah's 
mountain,  Edmund's  new  mountain,  Gaylord's  hill,  Warner's  moun- 
tain, World's  End  rocks,  Scott's  mountain — now  called  Nova  Scotia 
(and  probably  dating  from  the  departure  of  certain  inhabitants 
after  the  war  of  the  Revolution  to  that  place),  Welton *s  moun- 
tain, Arnold's  hill,  Buck's  meadow  mountain,  Hikcox  mountain, 
Bryant's  hill,  Richard's  hill,  Edmund's  Old  mountain.  Mount  Tobe, 
or  Mountobe. 


*See  pages  198  and  199. 


MEADOWS,  ISLANDS  AND  HILLS.  247 

Where  the  Naugatuck  river  enters,  we  find  Mount  Taylor,  and 
Taylor's  Meditation,  Wool  rocks,  Drum  hill,  Manhan  Meadow  hill, 
World's  End,  or  Lewis'  hill.  Buck's,  Burnt,  Grassy,  Clinton  and 
Spindle  hills — while  near  by  are  West  Side  hill  and  Town  Plot — 
Patucko's  Ring  hill,  Mantoe's  House  rocks,  Chestnut,  Long  and 
Round  hills.  Tame  Buck  hill,  Benson's  hill  (now  Wolcott),  Meriden 
hill,  East  mountain,  Abrigador,  Prospect,  and  the  Great  hill.  South- 
eastward lie  unknown  hills,  with  the  West  Rock  range  in  the  dis- 
tance, while  nearer  lie  Hopkins'  Pond,  and  Mulberry  hills,  with 
Bethany,  the  Reare  hill;  and  the  Beacon  Cap  on  Beacon  hill  to  close 
the  door  of  the  township  on  its  Derby  side,  and  complete  the  great 
circle  of  hills. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

TOWN    OFFICERS    IN    17OO SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOL    LANDS — CANDLE  WOOD 

POUNDS — THE     MEETING     HOUSE — MR.    SOUTHMAYD's     HOUSE     LOT — 

THE    DEATH    OF     LIEUTENANT    JUDD    AND    OF    OBADIAH    RICHARDS 

FIRST  HOUSE  IN  WATERTOWN — AT  BUCK's  HILL — IN  MIDDLEBURV — 
AT  JUDD's  meadows — MR.  SOUTHMAYD's  ORDINATION — FORTIFICA- 
TIONS   AND    EVENTS   DURING    QUEEN    ANNE'S    WAR    PRIOR    TO    I709. 

THE  year  1700  was  ushered  in  with  the  following  men  in  power: 
Timothy  Standly  was  the  constable;  John  Scovill,  Dea.  Judd 
and  Benjamin  Barnes  were  townsmen;  Edmund  Scott  and  John 
Warner  viewed  the  fences,  and  Robert  Scott  the  chimneys;  Stephen 
Upson  and  Richard  Porter  were  the  hay  wards;  Dr.  Porter  surveyed 
when  there  was  occasion;  Joseph  Gaylord,  Jr.,  collected  the  minis- 
ter's rates;  Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  was  town  treasurer  and  town  clerk; 
and  Benjamin  Barnes  made  the  graves.  These  men  were  elected 
for  the  year  on  the  i8th  of  December,  1699,  at  the  same  meeting  in 
which  we  meet  for  the  second  time  a  reference  to  a  school  in  Water- 
bury,  and  at  which  the  recorder  was  directed  "to  record  those  grants 
of  lands  that  were  in  the  old  town  book  that  stood  fair  to  be  taken 
out,  even  thougli  the  date  was  torn  off."  The  old  town  book  here 
referred  to  was  doubtless  the  one  of  which  we  have  a  portion.  Its 
successor  seems  to  have  been  the  present  first  volume  of  town  meet- 
ings, and  as  that  begins  with  page  98,  and  at  this  date,  it  indicates 
that  the  book  called  the  Proprietors'  book  numbered  97  pages. 

The  first  allusion  to  a  school  in  Waterbury  is  met  in  1698,  when 
the  town  granted  thirty  shillings  in  addition  to  the  last  year's  rent 
of  the  school  lands  for  the  encouragement  of  a  school  for  four 
months,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "  procure  one  to  keep  school 
to  teach  in  writing  as  well  as  reading."  It  is  surprising  that  no 
school  is  mentioned  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years,  for  pupils  abounded 
from  the  beginning  of  the  town.  Some  radical  change  in  the  schools 
must  have  taken  place  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Peck's  death.  It  is 
probable  that  his  son,  Jeremiah,  taught  the  school  from  1689  to  1698. 
After  the  latter  date,  the  school  is  mentioned  every  year  in  the 
town  meetings. 

"The  rent  of  the  school  lands,"  referred  to  lots  in  Hancox,  Mun- 
han,  and  Buck's  meadows,  and  one  in  the  Neck.  These  were  leased 
in  1 701  and  the  four  succeeding  years,  as  follows:  The  Hancox 
meadow  lot  in  1701  to  John  Welton  for  ;;^i. 15.00;  in  1702  to  Dea. 


DURING  QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR.  249 

Judd  for  j^i.oQ.oo;  in  1703  to  John  Richason  for  making  ten  rods  of 
new  fence  and  4  shillings;  in  1704  to  Thomas  Richason  for  ^1.19.00. 
The  Munhan  lot  was  leased  at  sums  varying  from  5  to  8  shillings — 
the  Neck  lot  for  about  the  same  sums,  while  the  Buck's  meadow  lot 
brought  prices  varying  from  ;^t.o4.oo  to  ;^i.i3.oo.  The  total  income 
derived  from  the  four  lots  in  five  years  was  ^15.08.00.  In  no  instance 
do  we  find  the  same  man  in  possession  of  the  same  lot  two  years  in 
succession.     Fourteen  men  leased  the  lots  during  the  period  named. 

In  1701  "For  men's  trial  to  make  candle  wood"  the  town  gave 
**  liberty  to  each  inhabitant  to  try  one  tree  apiece  and  that  man  who 
should  pull  a  pine  tree  and  set  the  two  first  letters  of  his  name  on 
it,  fairly  to  be  seen,  it  should  give  him  the  title  to  it  as  his  own 
estate."  If  a  man  "  felled  boards,  logs,  timber,  or  wood  and  let  it 
lie  at  the  stub  for  a  twelve  month  "  it  was  "  to  be  free  for  any  that 
would  fetch  it." 

This  was  the  period  when  pounds  were  established,  and  horses 
or  cattle  tied  in  the  corn  fields  except  when  kept  by  a  keeper  on  his 
own  land  or  with  leave  from  the  land  owners,  were  to  be  impounded 
by  the  hay  wards.  The  first  pound  was  "  set  up  "  where  the  Water- 
bury  Bank  building  now  stands.  It  was  then  a  portion  of  the  South 
highway,  and  the  pound  was  placed  in  it  because  the  South  Meadow 
gate  opening  into  the  Common  field  was  in  the  Common  fence  at  the 
south  side  of  Grand  street.  The  second  pound  was  in  Willow  street 
at  West  Main  for  a  similar  reason — the  West  Meadow  gate  into  the 
field  was  there. 

In  1702-,  ten  years  after  its  foundations  were  laid,  the  first  meet- 
ing-house was  finished.  This  we  learn  from  the  orders  given  to 
the  townsmen  to  make  up  their  accounts  concerning  the  work,  and 
the  appointment  of  a  committee  in  July  1702  "to  place  the  people 
where  they  should  sit  in  the  meeting-house."  In  order  to  under- 
stand this  long  delay  we  must  keep  in  mind  the  condition  of  the 
people  during  the  ten  years.  The  same  conditions  existing  to-day 
would  defer  the  completion  of  the  church  edifice  now  newly  begun 
in  our  town  for  a  much  longer  period.  Destroy  our  manufactories 
or  render  them  absolutely  useless  for  two  or  three  years;  add  a  war 
in  a  neighboring  State  that  threatened  our  town  with  destruction; 
fill  the  woods  on  all  the  hills  with  signs  and  shadows  of  lurking 
Indians;  send  forth  our  military  companies  to  keep  the  peace  in 
New  York  State;  then  add  typhoid  fever  until  it  entered  nearly 
every  house  in  the  city  and  attacked  the  larger  part  of  its  inmates 
— and  church-building  would  languish  in  our  midst — and  yet, 
from  a  like  condition,  the  early  men  and  women  of  Waterbury 
came  forth  to  take  the  places  assigned  to  them  in  the  finished 


250 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


meeting-house  of  1702.  It  stood  about  in  the  centre  of  the  present 
Green,  with  its  main  entrance  on  the  south  side.  The  reason  for 
placing  it  so  far  to  the  westward  is  found  in  the  knowledge  that 
the  second  meeting-house,  begun  in  1727,  was  placed  east  of  the 
first  one,  and  the  third,  built  in  1795,  ^^st  of  the  second  one.  Its 
floor  space  must  have  been  sufficient  to  seat  about  300  persons. 
It  had  doors  on  its  east,  west,  and  south  sides;  a  pulpit  and  seats, 
but  no  pews.  There  is  no  reason  for  thinking  that  its  windows 
were  without  glass.  The  first  "  seating  "  of  the  first  meeting-house 
is  not  known;  the  only  item  that  is  left  to  us  regarding  it  is — that 
Mr.  Southmayd's  seat  was  at  the  west  end  of  the  pulpit.  This 
church  edifice,  unchanged,  sufficed  the  people  for  six  years  only. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  just  what  was  expected  of  the  pastor  of 
this,  and  other  churches  in  1702,  and  what  was  meant  by  "an  able 
and  orthodox  minister  of  the  gospell,"  for  we  may  thus  obtain  a 
glimpse  of  Mr.  Southmayd's  acquirements  at  the  age  of  twenty-six 
years.  Fortunately  for  us,  the  General  Assembly  defined  "an  able 
and  orthodox  minister"  that  very  year,  enabling  us  to  assert  that 
John  Southmayd  was  a  person  well  skilled  in  arts  and  languages; 
well  studied  and  well  principled  in  divinity;  that  he  approved  him- 
self, by  his  exercises  in  preaching  the  gospel,  capable  of  dividing 
the  word  of  truth  aright,  and  of  convincing  "gainsayers";  and  that 
his  conversation  was  such  that  he  was  a  person  called  and  qualified 
to  be  pastor  of  a  church  according  to  gospel  rule— for  such  were 
the  qualifications  demanded  of  him  by  The  Assembly,  and  by  pas- 
tors and  teachers  of  neighboring  churches.  To  this  young  man 
the  legal  voters  of  Waterbury,  numbering  fifty-two  persons,  and 
whose  combined  estates  were  estimated  at  ;;^205o,  promised  to  give 
^50  in  provision  pay  and  jQio  in  wood  annually,  with  ";^4o  in  labor 
for  fencing  and  clearing  his  house  lot  and  other  lands."  Not  yet 
content  with  its  own  liberality,  the  town  added  jQ<^  to  his  salary, 
and  the  promise  to  bestow  upon  him  the  house  that  had  been  begun 
for  Mr.  Read,  with  lands  and  the  propriety  in  lands — in  fact,  a  great 
lot  with  all  its  belongings,  "when  he  should  become  an  ordained 
officer  in  the  church";  the  only  condition  being  that  the  propriety 
should  revert  to  the  town  in  case  "he  should  go  away  before  two 
years  were  out  after  his  ordination." 

From  the  beginning,  the  people  had  not  been  satisfied  with  the 
house  lot  for  their  minister,  and  now  they  were  anxious  to  secure 
the  lot  lying  to  the  eastward.  John  Scovill  was  the  person  selected 
to  achieve  the  desired  result,  and  his  endeavors  attest  his  ability 
as  a  diplomat.  The  original  Southmayd  lot,  together  with  the 
Abraham  Andrews  and  the  John  Welton  lots  occupied  the   land 


DURING  QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR,  251 

lying  between  present  State  and  Willow  streets.  The  town  owned 
land  in  Steel's  meadow  that  had  been  sequestered  for  the  ministry. 
Thomas  Judd  owned  the  Andrews  lot,  represented  by  the  home- 
stead of  the  late  George  Prichard.  John  and  William  Bronson 
owned  an  interest  in  the  homestead  of  their  father,  John  Bronson^ 
lying  across  the  highway.  The  town  conveyed  the  ministry  land 
in  Steel's  meadow  to  John  Bronson;  John  Bronson  promised  to  buy 
of  the  heirs  their  interest  in  his  father's  homestead*  and  give  it  to 
William.  On  this  promise,  William  conveyed  the  house  and  lot  to 
Thomas  Judd,  Jr.  Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  conveyed  the  Andrews  home- 
stead to  the  town,  and  the  town  added  it  to  Mr.  Southmayd's  two 
acres. 

There  is  no  mention  of  any  other  minister  at  Waterbury  during 
the  time  between  Mr.  Southmayd's  first  arrival  and  the  time  of  his 
ordination  five  years  later.  It  is  not  easy  to  account  for  this  long 
delay.  During  its  first  year  Mr.  Southmayd  married  Susanna,  the 
daughter  of  William  Ward,  deputy  to  the  General  Assembly  from 
Middletown.  The  next  year,  in  1702,  his  father,  William  South- 
mayd, mariner,  died,  and  Waterbury  lost  two  more  of  her  Grand 
proprietors — Lieutenant  Thomas  Judd,f  the  first  resident  Commis- 
sioner  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  the  first  lieutenant  in  the 
township;  and  his  next  door  neighbor,  Obadiah  Richards,  who  was 
the  first  man,  so  far  as  has  been  found,  to  build  a  house  and  barn 
away  from  the  town  spot.  The  death  of  these  men  must  have  been 
a  serious  blow  to  the  town,  for  the  one  held  important  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  and  the  other  was  an  earnest,  a  brave,  and  a 
practical  planter.  In  the  midst  of  war  and  danger  from  savage 
foes,  Obadiah  Richards  built  the  first  house  in  present  Watertown 
before  Dec.  23,  1700,  for  on  that  day  he  was  granted  one  acre,  "where 
his  house  stands  at  his  mountain^''  and  on  the  same  day  his  son  Oba- 
diah was  received  as  an  inhabitant. 

It  is  highly  probable  and  entirely  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
Obadiah  Richards,  Jr.,  who  was  the  first  known  inhabitant  of 
Watertown,  was  living  there  in  1701. 

Richards'  mountain,  or  Obadiah's  hill,  is  the  eminence  southwest 
of  the  centre.  The  Middlebury  and  Woodbury  roads  pass  over  it.  In 
1 701,  Richards  gave  to  his  sons  John  and  Obadiah,  each  one-half  of 
his  lands  on  the  mountain  (above  sixteen  acres),  and  to  Obadiah, 
his  share  of  the  house  and  barn.    John,  apparently,  having  assisted 


•  That  he  kept  his  promise  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  eight  years  later  the  homestead  was  set  to  Will- 
iam Bronson  as  his  whole  portion  in  his  father's  estate. 

+  A  little  paper  lying  unheeded  for  188  years  tells  us  that  Dr.  Hull  came  from  Wallingford  to  attend  Lieu- 
tenant Judd  in  his  illness,  and  that  before  1705  his  son  Thomas  paid  Dr.  Hull  at  his  house  five  shillings  in 
cash  on  his  "  father's  account." 


252 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


in  the  building  of  this  house  and  barn,  was  the  owner  of  the  other 
half.  The  house  is  mentioned  in  1704,  and  again  in  1709,  but  in  17 15 
some  disaster  had  befallen  both  house  and  barn,  for  we  find  in  a 
land  grant  the  words  "  where  the  house  and  barn  stood."  Houses 
and  bams  did  not  wear  out  in  fifteen  years.  It  is  not  to  be  thought 
that  Obadiah  Richards  continued  to  live  in  this  isolated  habitation 
when  the  peril  was  so  great  that  only  the  edict  of  the  General 
Court,  commanding  towns  to  stand  and  fortify,  prevented  wholesale 
flight  to  points  of  greater  safety,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  the 
house  and  barn  were  burned  in  the  Indian  raid  of  17 10,  which  vis- 
ited Waterbury  with  a  calamity  that  was  long  felt. 

Bucks  Hill  is  probably  the  scene  of  the  second  attempt  to  build 
homes  at  a  distance  from  the  village.  The  brothers  John  and 
Ephraim  Warner  (probably  twins)  were,  it  is  believed,  dwelling 
there  at  the  close  of  1701  in  houses  separated  by  the  highway; 
John's  house  was  on  the  west  side  and  is  now  fairly  well  repre- 
sented by  William  Tyler's  residence;  Ephraim's,  on  the  east  side,  a 
little  southerly  from  the  Tyler  house.  The  depression  supposed  to 
indicate  the  cellar  of  the  latter  house  was  obliterated  in  1891.  The 
two  houses  supposed  to  have  been  built  in  1701  are  not  specifically 
mentioned  until  1703. 

Before  April  of  1702  Isaac  Bronson  had  built  the  first  known 
residence  in  present  Middlebury. 

Before  December  of  that  year  Samuel  Hikcox  had  "set  his 
house  "  in  Naugatuck. 

The  initial  steps  had  thus  been  taken  for  the  establishment  of 
three  towns  in  1702,  and  the  events  narrated  had  taken  place  before 
the  first  meeting-house  was  finished,  or  Mr.  Southmayd  was  ordained. 

October  7,  1703,  Isaac  Bronson,  Thomas  Judd,  and  Edmund  Scott 
were  chosen  **  to  provide  what  was  needful  for  the  entertaining  the 
elders  and  messengers  for  the  ordaining  Mr.  Southmayd."  If  the 
feast  was  made  ready  and  the  guests  arrived,  the  ordination  did  not 
take  place  that  year,  nor  even  the  next  year.  Peaceful  avocations 
were  rudely  interrupted.  The  fort  about  Timothy  Standly's  house 
was  rebuilt;  Timothy  was  elected  lieutenant  of  the  Waterbury  train 
band,  and  Deacon  Judd  was  made  its  ensign;  the  town  stock  of 
ammunition  was  received  from  Hartford  and  kept  in  the  Standly 
fort;  a  garrison  of  ten  men  was  stationed  here  by  order  of  the 
General  Assembly;  the  town  agreed  to  fortify  Mr.  Southmayd 's 
house,  "every  man's  proportion  to  be  staked  out  according  to  his 
Grand  levy;"  every  sixth  man  in  the  train  band  was  provided  with 
a  knapsack,  hatchets  and  a  strong  belt,  and  no  man  (of  sixteen 
years  or  older)  was  permitted  to  leave  Waterbury  unless  he  con- 


DURING  QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR.  253 

tributed  ;^io  for  the  defence  of  the  place,  and  every  man  of  sixteen 
years  was  a  member  of  the  train  band. 

In  1704,  Mr.  Southmayd  declined  to  accept  the  jQ^  addition  to  his 
salary,  which  was  to  be  in  the  same  **  speci  " — that  was,  in  provision 
pay.  Not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity  the  town  decreed  to  give 
him  ;^io  in  labor — thus  making  his  salary  at  his  ordination  jQto, 
beside  a  free  gift  of  his  house  and  sl  jQi<,o  interest  in  what  was  orig- 
inally about  one  twenty-second  part  of  a  township  of  more  than  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  square  miles — a  fair  salary  and  settlement 
for  the  most  distinguished  clergyman  of  the  present  time!  May  30th, 
1705,  Mr.  Southmayd  was  ordained  over  a  church  of  twelve  male 
members.  It  was  a  solemn,  a  serious,  and  an  awful  height  to  which 
a  man  was  raised,  when  he  became  "  a  visible  member  of  the  Church 
of  Christ"  at  any  time  from  1630  to  1740,  in  New  England.  The 
marvel  is,  that  so  many  as  twelve  men  were  found  in  Waterbury  to 
assume  the  enduring  ordeal  to  life  and  character.  The  relation  of 
pastor  and  people  became  annealed  in  the  fires  of  danger  through 
which  together  they  passed.  There  is  not  from  first  to  last  the 
slightest  indication  in  the  public  records  that  the  town  and  Mr. 
Southmayd  were  ever  at  variance.  He  was  the  standard-bearer  of 
public  opinion  on  all  vital  points;  a  certain  mellow  ripeness  of  per- 
fect manhood  seems  to  emanate  from  his  departed  life;  whatever 
he  did  in  the  church  or  in  the  town — for  the  two  were  but  one — still 
bears  the  blush  of  perfect  fruit.  One,  now  and  then,  can  get  a 
glimpse  of  a  side  of  his  character  that  recalls  the  fact  that  his  father 
let  a  negro  boy  escape  out  of  his  barque  at  Middletown — and  sug- 
gests the  possibility  that  the  same  spirit  descended  to  the  son;  in 
fact,  the  breath  of  spiritual  and  material  emancipation  was  vital  in 
him.  That  house  on  the  corner,  in  1700  with  "one  end  of  it  fit  to 
live  in,"  was  rich  in  historical  interest  before,  during,  and  after  the 
days  when  it  was  fortified. 

It  was  declared  that  it  "  would  greatly  prejudice  the  interests  of 
Queen  Anne  and  encourage  the  enemy  if  any  of  the  outposts  in 
Hartford  county  should  be  quitted  or  exposed  by  lessening  the 
strength  thereof.*'  Waterbury  was  accounted  one  of  the  eight 
frontier  towns,  and  it  was  forbidden  that  it  should  be  broken  up. 
That  it  might  be  enabled  to  stand,  a  garrison  of  ten  men  was 
ordered  to  be  stationed  here,  and  a  scout  of  two  men  was  to  be  on 
duty  every  day. 

Before  1706  there  was  a  call  for  400  soldiers  from  Hartford 
county  alone,  to  go  forth  to  war  with  the  English  forces.  Already 
Queen  Anne's  war  had  been  waged  for  four  years,  and  the  burden 
and  horrors  of  it  fell  upon  New  England.    Waterbury  had  received 


254 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS  an  r. 


one  poor  afflicted  refugee  in  the  person  of  Sergt.  John  Hawks,  who 
sought  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Jonathan  Scott,  after  having 
survived  the  massacre  at  Deerfield,in  which  Frenchmen  and  Indians 
killed  his  wife,  his  only  son  and  his  wife  with  their  three  children, 
and  carried  captive  and  killed  his  daughter  Elizabeth.  Sergt.  Hawks' 
cattle  were  taken  out  of  the  Waterbury  list  in  1706,  and  Dr.  Bron- 
son  tells  us  that  he  spent  his  latter  days  here. 

In  1706,  the  fort  about  Standly's  house  was  repaired  by  Doctor 
Porter  and  Thomas  Judd.  A  period  of  the  wildest  alarm  and  most 
agonizing  suspense  followed.  It  was  incited  by  a  messenger  from 
Colonel  Schuyler  at  Albany  with  the  information  that  the  "  French 
and  enemy  Indians  were  preparing  to  make  a  descent  upon  the 
frontier  towns."  This  was  in  January,  1706-7.  Waterbury  was  one 
of  the  four  most  exposed  towns.  At  the  same  time  Captain  Minor 
sent  a  messenger  from  Woodbury  to  the  Council  conveying  his 
suspicions  that  the  Indians  thereabout  had  been  invited  to  join  the 
enemy.  An  examination  of  the  Indians,  who  were  summoned  be- 
fore the  Council,  confirmed  Captain  Minor's  suspicions  into  belief. 
It  was  resolved  to  remove  the  Indians  of  Woodbury  and  New  Mil- 
ford  to  Stratford  and  Fairfield;  but  later,  as  there  was  "much  sick- 
ness among  them,"  two  of  their  chief  personages  were  taken  to 
Fairfield  and  held  as  hostages.  Waterbury  was  warned  to  provide 
with  all  possible  speed  a  sufficient  number  of  well  fortified  houses 
for  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants.  The  Council  "  resolved  "  that  this 
exposed  town  must  have  three  houses  fortified,  and  promised  10  use 
its  influence  with  the  General  Assembly  that  the  charges  for  the 
same  should  be  borne  by  the  country.  Fifteen  pounds  was  later 
allowed  Waterbury  out  of  the  country  rates  for  that  year,  in  consid- 
eration of  the  extraordinary  floods  that  had  occurred. 

The  immediate  response  to  this  warning  appears  in  our  records 
under  date  of  January  31,  1706-7,  when  "the  town  agreed  to  build 
the  fort  that  is  at  Lieut.  Standly's,  strong."  An  act  was  also  passed 
"  to  build  a  new  fort  at  the  east  end  of  the  town  at  the  place  where 
they  could  agree."  They  did  not  seem  to  agree  about  the  place  for 
the  new  fort,  for  the  following  June,  probably  as  the  result  of  a 
local  alarm,  "  the  town  by  vote  considering  our  troubles  and  fear  of 
an  enemy  do  agree  to  lay  aside  cutting  bushes  which  was  warned 
for  this  day  (June  23d)  till  after  Michaelmus,  and  this  day  forth- 
with to  go  about  finishing  and  repairing  the  forts  and  to  finish 
them  by  Wednesday  next  at  night."  If  there  was  a  third  fort  at 
this  time,  we  have  no  intimation  of  its  location.  This  was  soon 
after  the  expedition  of  one  thousand  men,  in  twenty-three  trans- 
ports, had  set  sail  from  Nantucket  for  Port  Royal.      During  the 


DURING  QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR,  255 

time  of  that  expedition  the  frontier  towns  were  kept  in  alarm.  In 
October  of  1708  an  expedition  was  fitting  out  against  Canada,  and 
the  Council  of  War  was  directed  to  erect  and  sustain  with  men  and 
provisions  as  many  garrisons  at  Waterbury  as  it  deemed  necessary 
(but  not  more  than  two)  at  the  colony's  charge.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  ";^5o  was  allowed  for  bringing  up  and  maintaining  Dogs  in 
the  northern  frontier  towns  in  the  colony  to  hunt  after  the  Indian 
enemy."  A  black  dog,  at  about  this  time,  is  a  factor  in  a  deed  in 
exchange  for  land  in  Waterbury  which  may  have  figured  in  the 
Indian  hunts.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  the  midst  of  all  this 
dread  excitement  and  danger  the  Reverend  Ministers  in  the  gov- 
ernment met  at  Saybrook  to  utter  their  confession  of  faith  on  the 
platform  of  Church  Discipline  there  erected. 

Our  own  records  afford  no  intimation  that  a  garrison  was  ever 
stationed  here,  but  in  November  1708  we  find  the  following  act: 
"  The  town  agree  to  have  three  forts  in  the  town,  one  built  at  the 
west  end  of  the  town  on  the  country  account — one  at  Lieut.  Stand- 
ly's  on  the  country  account — one  at  John  Hopkins's  house  on  the 
town  account."*  In  December,  it  was  announced  that  the  fort  at 
the  west  end  of  the  town  should  be  built  about  Mr.  Southmayd's 
house. 

In  view  of  the  above  records,  it  is  not  possible  to  give  a  definite 
and  clear  statement  of  the  fortifications  of  Waterbury,  for  Mr. 
Southmayd's  house  had  been  fortified  four  years  at  the  last  men- 
tioned date,  and  the  Stanley  fort  ante-dated  that.  Three  months 
later  "the  town  agree  that  the  Fort  to  be  built  at  the  West  end  of 
the  town  shall  be  built  about  Mr.  Southmayd's  house." 

In  1708  fifty  names  appear  on  the  Waterbury  list  of  tax-payers. 
In  1709  we  find  but  forty-three — a  loss  of  seven  names  in  one  year. 

In  May  of  1709,  in  the  list  of  troops  to  be  raised  for  the  expedi- 
tion to  Canada,  it  is  found  that  Waterbury's  quota  was  four.  In 
October,  Queen  Anne  ordered  the  expedition  to  be  "laid  aside." 
Col.  William  Whiting  commanded  the  Connecticut  men.  "  Sorrow- 
ful circumstances  "  attended  the  expedition,  and  a  post  was  sent  to 
Col.  Whiting  directing  him  to  take  the  best  care  that  he  could  of 
the  sick  soldiers  remaining  at  Albany;  to  provide  for  their  return 
by  water;  and  then  to  march  home  with  such  of  his  men  as  were  fit 
for  the  journey.     His  men  were  to  be  disbanded  at  the  towns  from 

*  The  large  red  house  of  John  Hopkins,  standing  on  the  south  side  of  East  Main  street,  between  Great 
and  Little  brooks,  with  a  well  in  the  middle  of  its  **  enormous "  kitchen,  is  remembered  by  persons  still 
living,  and  is  thought  to  be  the  house  fortified  in  170S. 

Some  of  the  palisades  of  the  Stanley  fort  were  used  in  the  construction  of  a  fence  about  the  house  of 
Lemuel  Harrison,  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  Stanley-Clark  homestead,  and  are  still  remembered  by  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Clark,  a  great-granddaughter  of  Thomas  Clark. 


256  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

which  they  had  gone  forth.  Certain  of  the  soldiers  were'  not 
returned  to  the  places  of  their  enlistment,  and  the  dates  of  their 
discharge  remained  for  some  time  unknown.  Of  this  number  was 
Nathaniel  Richardson  of  Waterbury,  a  young  man  of  about  twenty- 
four  years. 

He  was  **  detached  for  the  expedition  to  Canada,  and  he  was  dis- 
missed from  service,  being  sick,  at  New  Haven."  Four  years  later, 
his  heirs  were  awarded  for  his  services  to  the  country  one  pound 
and  sixteen  shillings. 

That  Nathaniel  Richardson  returned  to  Waterbury  is  made  evi- 
dent by  the  following  entry  in  the  Proprietor's  book,  under  date  of 
March  13,  17 10.  By  a  major  vote  he  was  given  four-score  acres  on 
a  branch  of  Hop  Brook  east  from  Break  Neck  hill.  For  this,  he 
was  to  live  in  the  town  in  a  settled  way  ten  years  and  build  a  house 
in  five  years.  To  this  gift,  remonstrance  was  made  by  certain  of 
the  proprietors. 

The  names  of  the  three  other  soldiers  who  served  on  the  expe- 
dition are  unknown. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  WILL  OF  THOMAS  SCOTT  OF  HARTFORD  —  THE  GIFT-DEED  OF 
EDMUND  OF  WATERBURY — JOSEPH  SCOTT  "  KILLED "  BY  INDIANS 
AT  THE  WEST  BRANCH  ROCKS — HIS  GRAVE — HIS  SON  JOHN  ADMIT- 
TED AN  INHABITANT  OF  WATERBURY — JONATHAN  SCOTT  CAP- 
TURED BY  THE  INDIAN  ENEMY  AND  TAKEN  TO  CANADA — JOHN 
SCOTT  IN  CAPTIVITY  AMONG  THE  INDIANS  AT  CANADA — HANNAH 
SCOTT,  THE  MOST  AFFLICTED  WOMAN  IN  NEW  ENGLAND — THE 
FRONTIER    ROAD    THROUGH    WATERBURY, 

THE  only  Waterbury  family  known  to  have  received  personal 
injuries  at  the  hands  of  Indians  during  all  the  long  and  bit- 
ter years  of  warfare  is  that  of  Edmund  Scott. 

The  Scott  family  seems  to  have  been  somewhat  noted  for  mis- 
adventure from  the  days  when  Thomas  Scott,  the  ancestor  of  the 
family,  was  chosen  in  the  midwinter  of  1639  to  go  and  examine  the 
country — or,  in  the  words  of  the  record,  "to  view  those  parts  by 
Unxus  Sepus,"  because  Hartford  desired  more  ample  accommoda- 
tions, and  Wethersfield  also  desired  a  plantation  at  Farmington. 
This  Thomas  Scott  was,  I  think,  the  grandfather  of  Edmund  of 
Waterbury.  He  died  in  1643,  while  making  his  will  in  the  presence 
of  two  friends  who  had  been  'summoned  in  haste  to  receive  his  last 
words.  "John  Ewe,  by  misadventure,  was  the  cause  of  his  death" 
and  paid  a  fine  of  five  pounds,  in  consequence  of  his  act  what- 
ever it  was,  to  the  Court,  and  the  same  amount  to  Thomas  Scott's 
widow. 

In  present  Watertown  there  are  two  Waterbury  graves  that 
should  be  suitably  inscribed  and  kept  in  perpetual  remembrance 
because  of  the  suflEerings  endured  by  their  tenants  at  the  hands  of 
Indians;  and  also  because  they  were  the  first  permanent  residents 
of  Wooster-Westbury-Watertown.  The  graves  are  those  of  Jona- 
than and  Hannah  (Hawks)  Scott.  He  was  a  survivor  of  Indian 
torture;  and  she  was,  probably,  the  most  afflicted  woman  in  all  New 
England,  for  in  1704,  her  mother  and  her  brother  with  his  wife  and 
their  three  children  were  slain  at  Deerfield,  while  her  only  sister 
was  made  a  captive  and  perished  on  the  way  to  Canada.  In  1707  or 
1708,  within  a  few  miles  of  her  home  in  Waterbury,  her  husband's 
brother  was  tortured  to  death.  In  17 10,  her  husband  was  seized  in 
the  Waterbury  meadows,  the  thumb  of  his  right  hand  was  cut  ojff, 
and  thus  mutilated,  he  was  taken  on  the  long  and  weary  march  to 

17 


258  HI8T0RT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

Canada,  being  bound  at  night  to  the  earth  by  poles  laid  across  his 
body,  on  the  ends  of  which  his  savage  captors  slept.  He  was  sub- 
ject to  all  the  pains  and  penalties  of  two  full  years  of  captivity 
before  his  wife  saw  him  again.  Her  son  John,  a  lad  of  eleven  years, 
was  taken  from  her  sight  forever — it  is  said,  on  the  same  day,  by 
the  same  cruel  foe;  and,  if  the  tradition  be  true,  her  eldest  son 
Jonathan,  then  thirteen  years  of  age,  was  taken  also;  leaving  Mrs. 
Scott — with  her  daughter  Martha,  a  child  of  nine  years,  and  three 
little  boys,  Gershom,  seven;  Eleazer,  five;  and  Daniel,  three — to 
brave  life  in  Waterbury  in  17 10.  Poor  Hannah  Scott !  Her  sorrows 
should  keep  her  in  remembrance. 

Let  us  examine  the  evidence  that  has  been  collected  regarding 
Waterbury's  one  Indian  tragedy.  Edmund  Scott  of  Waterbury 
gave  to  his  children  nearly  all  of  his  property,  by  a  deed  of  gift, 
executed  June  11,  1690.  This  deed  has  been  called  his  a//7/ — hence 
the  error  that  has  arisen  in  regard  to  the  date  of  his  death.  In  the 
distribution  of  his  lands,  he  gave  to  Joseph,  whom  he  calls  his  eld- 
est son,  his  twenty  acres  in  the  Great  Swamp  of  Farmington,  with 
its  upland,  and  a  four  acre  lot;  to  Edmund,  beside  what  was  for- 
merly given  to  him,  a  lot  in  the  Neck,  and  a  fourth  part  of  his 
undivided  land  in  Waterbury;  to  Samuel  and  Jonathan,  his  "whole 
right  and  title  in  Farmington,  of  houseing,  home  lots,  orchards, 
meadows,  and  upland."  After  gifts  to  his  daughters — there  was  no 
incentive  to  a  man  to  leave  lands  to  his  married  daughters,  for  they 
could  not  hold  them — he  left  to  Geot-ge,  David  and  Robert,  his 
whole  property  in  Waterbury,  including  all  his  "movable  estate, 
both  quick  and  dead."  This  deed  tells  us  why  Samuel  Scott  left 
Waterbury,  giving  up  his  newly  built  house  on  Bank  street,  and  his 
other  lands,  to  his  brother  Jonathan. 

Three  years  later,  Farmington  gave  to  Joseph  Scott,  the  eldest 
son,  "a  swamp  of  14  or  16  acres,  as  a  soldier's  lot,  and  the  same 
year  the  town  measurer  laid  out  for  him  two  parcels  of  land  "  in 
the  place  called  Poland  (Bristol).  One  piece  of  nineteen  and  a  half 
acres  is  described  as  "abutting  southerly  6n  the  west  branch  of  the 
Poland  river,  and  running  westerly  up  the  river  to  a  marked  white 
oak  tree  near  the  northwest  branch  of  the  Poland  river,  and  from 
the  tree  a  straight  line  eastwardly  to  a  tree  marked  on  three  sides 
and  standing  a  little  east  of  WattEberry  path."  The  lands  thus  Uid 
out  to  Joseph  Scott  had  formerly  been  granted  to  John  Langdon. 
Joseph  Scott  probably  went  to  Bristol  to  live  in  the  wilderness  at 
this  time,  for  we  find  the  town  of  Farmington  giving  to  him  "a  lib- 
erty to  dwell  alone,  provided  that  he  faithfully  improve  his  time 
and  behave  himself  peaceably  and  honestly  towards  his  [Indian  ?] 


THE  SCOTT  FAMILY. 


»S9 


neighbors  and  their  creatures."  He  was  constantly  to  attend  the 
public  worship  of  God,  and,  when  required,  to  give  mi  account  to  the 
townsmen  of  the  manner  in  which  he  spent  his  time.  In  1695  we 
find  mention  made  o£  "  his  cellar  at  Judd's  meadow  "  in  Farmington. 

Tradition*  gives  the  following  in  relation  to  Joseph  Scott. 
"Early  in  the  history  of  the  town  [Bristol]  a  Mr,  Scott  who  had 
begun  to  clear  a  piece  of  land  on  Fall  Mountain,  intending  to 
remove  hither  from  Farmington,  was  seized  by  a  party  of  Indians 
and  horribly  tortured.  His  screams  were  heard  a  long  way;  but 
the  Indians  were  so  many  that  no  one  dared  to  go  to  the  rescue,  and 
a  considerable  number  of  the  settlers,  fearing  an  attack,  from  the 
infuriated  Indians,  hid  themselves  all  day  in  the  bushes  near  the 
river." 

The  Mr.  Scott  of  the  tradition  is,  without  doubt,  Joseph  Scott. 
He  was  "killed"  twenty  years  before  there  were  any  known  set- 
tlers in  Bristol  to  hear  him  scream,  or  to  hide  by  the  river  bank, 
and  he  lost  his  life  in  Waterbury,  according  to  the  following  evi- 
dence. In  1758,  Richard  Seymour  (Seamor)  laid  out  about  two 
acres  of  land  at  Reynolds  Bridge,  described  as  "  at  the  West 
Branch  rocks,"  and  also  as  "near  where  Joseph  Scott  was  killed." 
Stephen  Seymour  had  land  adjoining  laid  out  at  a  still  earlier 
date  with  the  same  description. 

In  Joash  Seymour's  re-survey  of  a  very  large  tract  of  land  at  the 
same  place,  it  is  described  as  "  beginning  at  the  foot  of  a  ledge  or  large 
rock,  which  lies  to  the  right 
of  the  path  leading  to  the  f 
ancient  Rock  House,  and  IS  t 
running  from  thence  to  the  [ 
West  Branch,  and  down  the  \ 
Branch  to  the  Naugatnck 
down  the  river  to  Deep  S 
River  brook  to  a  branch  [ 
of  the  brook  and  up  the  I 
branch  to  a  highway,  and  I 
through  the  wilderness  to  I 
Scotl's  grave,  and  thence 
through  the  wilderness  to  I 
the  point  of  beginning.' 

There   are   three   rotks 
in  this  immediate  vicinity, 

any  one  of  which  might  be  taken  for  the  Rock  hotise  of  the  early 
days.     In  a  meadow  boundary,  made  before  1700,  the  Rock  house 


■  McmoTul  HLtloT 


26o  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7, 

was  a  bound,  and  the  line  was  run  from  it,  forty-seven  rods  to  the 
river.  The  one  selected  for  the  illustration  is  capable  of  giving 
shelter  to  forty  or  fifty  persons,  and  has  been  known  in  the  Rey- 
nolds family  for  a  century  as  the  Rock  house.  Another  and  still 
larger  ledge  of  the  same  description  lies  higher  on  the  hill-side  to 
the  southwest. 

Joseph  Scott  was  "killed"  before  Feb.  7,  1708-9,  at  which  date 
administration  on  his  estate  was  granted  to  his  brother  Samuel,  and 
his  grave  is  to  this  day  a  recognized  bound  of  three  farms;  those 
of  Henry  Reynolds,  Charles  Bidwell  and  George  Osborne.  He 
seems  to  Jiave  had  an  only  child,  John,  who,  like  poor  John  Hawks, 
fled  to  his  kindred  in  Waterbury,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  for 
"Dec.  28,  1709,  John  Scott,  son  of  Joseph  Scott,  deceased,  was  ad- 
mitted an  inhabitant  in  said  town "  (Waterbury).  According  to 
this  admission,  he  must  have  joined  the  expedition  against  Canada 
from  Waterbury,  for  he  was  in  Col.  Whiting's  regiment,  and  was  of 
Waterbury  at  the  date,  although,  having  recently  left  Farmington, 
he  was  accredited  to  that  place  when  five  pounds  was  paid  to  him, 
in  17 10,  for  his  services  to  the  country. 

Dec.  28,  1709,  Jonathan  Scott  was  appointed  one  of  four  fence 
viewers.  At  some  time  between  that  date  and  July  26,  1710,  he  was 
"captured  by  the  Indian  enemy,  and  taken  to  Canada."  In  October, 
1710,  and  again  in  171 1,  the  country  rates  on  his  estate  were  remit- 
ted to  his  wife.  In  October,  17 12,  he  was  "but  lately  returned  from 
his  captivity."  He  requested  relief  from  the  Court,  and  received 
"  a  release  from  his  country  rate,  and  ten  pounds  out  of  the  treas- 
ury, for  the  loss  of  one  of  his  thumbs  by  the  enemy."  While  we 
can  give  no  evidence  that  he  was  again  captured,  subsequent  peti- 
tions point  decidedly  to  that  view  of  the  case,  for,  after  an  interval 
of  nine  years,  in  172 1,  we  find  him  again  before  the  court,  setting 
forth  that  "  while  he  was  a  captive  and  prisoner  at  Canada,  he  was 
under  distressing  circumstances,  and  necessitated  to  take  up  money 
upon  credit  for  his  subsistence  and  relief,  and  had  taken  up  ten 
pounds  and  prudently  spent  the  same."  The  constable  of  Danbury 
was  directed  to  pay  ten  pounds  of  the  Colony's  money  into  his 
hands.  It  seems  probable  that  his  son  John  was  made  prisoner 
about  this  time,  for  four  years  later,  or  fifteen  years  after  the  first 
capture,  we  find  "  the  prayer  of  Jonathan  Scott,  setting  forth  that 
his  son  John  is  now  in  captivity  among  the  Indians  at  Canada,  and, 
that  he  is  so  reduced,  that  he  cannot  get  him  home."  His  prayer 
was  answered  by  a  gift  of  five  pounds,  and  the  promise,  that  if  he 
recovered  his  son,  the  matter  would  be  further  considered,  and  the 
Assembly  would  do  therein  as  it  thought  fit.     That  was  Jonathan's 


THE  SCOTT  FAMILY.  261 

last  prayer  to  the  court,  although  he  lived  twenty  years  after  that 
date.  We  find  no  proof  that  he  recovered  his  son  John,  or  that  John 
ever  returned  from  captivity.  Notwithstanding  the  traditional 
statement  as  given  by  Dr.  Bronson,  it  seems  quite  probable  that  the 
stories  of  Joseph,  of  Jonathan,  and  of  John,  became  intermingled 
by  the  lapse  of  years,  and  that  John's  capture  occurred  during  the 
period  between  1722  and  1725,  for  at  that  time  the  very  air  was 
ringing  with  the  alarms  that  shot  along  the  frontier  road — this  road 
ran  from  Hartford  through  Farmington  to  Waterbury,  and  from 
Waterbury  to  Woodbury  and  New  Milford.  What  more  natural, 
when  Major  Talcott  came  "  riding  this  frontier,"  impressing  men 
and  arms — on  the  news  that  three  hundred  "  French  Indians  were 
come  over  the  lake  towards  Connecticut " — than  that  a  Scott  should 
join  the  fray  ? 

Life  was  far  from  being  dull  and  weary  for  want  of  in- 
citement, to  our  fathers.  There  was  scarcely  time  to  get  the 
seeds  in  the  ground,  so  incessant  was  the  demand  for  scouts  to  be 
established.  Military  watches  and  constable  watches  were  con- 
stantly in  operation.  The  friendly  Indians  were  all  called  in  from 
their  hunting  grounds;  not  one  being  allowed  to  enter  the  territory 
lying  north  of  the  road  that  ran  from  Hartford  through  Waterbury 
to  New  Milford,  and  between  the  rivers  Connecticut  and  Housa- 
tonic.  Even  an  Englishman  might  not  fire  a  gun  within  that  ter- 
ritory to  kill  any  animal.  If  a  gun  was  heard  to  the  northward  of 
that  road,  the  sound  struck  terror  into  every  man,  woman  and  child. 

Certain  of  the  Litchfield  settlers  deserted  that  then  new  and 
defenceless  plantation,  until  "the  men  of  the  coast"  from  Branford 
and  Guilford;  from  Fairfield  and  Stratford  and  Milford,  were  sent 
to  their  aid.  Even  the  few  trusted  Indians — the  six  who  accom- 
panied a  scout  of  three  Englishmen — were  obliged  to  wear  some- 
thing white  upon  their  heads  to  secure  their  lives  from  the  wrath 
of  white  men.  And  these  were  the  times  in  which  the  men  of 
Waterbury  made  their  town  ! — the  same  men,  whose  graves  the  men 
of  1 89 1  had  not  the  courage  to  face,  and  so  despoiled  them  and  hid 
them  from  sight  forever. 

The  following  is  the  traditional  story  of  Jonathan  Scott's  capture 
as  related  by  Dr.  Bronson.  "About  the  same  time  (17 10)  some  In- 
dians came  down  from  Canada  and  ascended  a  hill,  or  mountain,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  opposite  Mount  Tayler  [the  lower  end  of 
Buck's  Meadow  mountain],  to  reconnoitre.  They  saw  Jonathan 
Scott  seated  under  a  large  oak  tree  in  Hancock's  meadow,  eating 
his  dinner,  with  his  two  sons,  aged  fourteen  and  eleven,  at  a  little 
distance.     The  Indians  approached  stealthily,   keeping  in   a   line 


262  HiaTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

with  the  tree  and  Mr.  Scott.  In  this  way  they  reached  him  unper- 
ceived  and  made  him  prisoner.  The  boys  took  to  their  heels;  but 
the  father,  in  order  to  save  his  own  life,  which  he  was  given  to  un- 
derstand would  be  taken  if  he  refused,  recalled  his  sons  Thus  the 
three  were  captured.  The  Indians  then  retraced  their  steps  rapidly 
with  their  prizes,  having  taken  the  precaution  to  cut  off  Scott's 
right  thumb,  in  order  to  cripple  him  if  he  should  make  resistance." 
Dr.  Bronson  had  met  another  tradition,  for  he  adds,  elsewhere,  in 
relation  to  Jonathan  Scott :  "  The  tradition  is  that  he  was  buried 
on  Scott's  mountain,  and  his  supposed  grave  is  still  pointed  out." 
It  is  evident  that  Joseph  Scott's  grave  has  been  mistaken  for  that 
of  his  brother,  for  although  Joseph  was  killed  far  from  the  early 
Scott's  mountain,  there  is  an  eminence  in  the  vicinity,  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  grave,  to  which  the  name  has  been  erroneously  given. 
Bronson  adds,  "  that  part  of  the  tradition,  however,  which  relates 
to  the  circumstances  and  time  of  his  death,  as  that  he  died  by  vio- 
lence on  his  way  to  the  north,  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  after 
having  had  his  tongue  cut  out,  is  without  foundation  in  fact."  This 
tradition  is  probably  entirely  true  of  Joseph  Scott,  of  whom  Dr.  Bron- 
son failed  to  find  trace.  The  entire  facts  may  be  and  probably  are, 
that  Joseph  was  taken  on  Fall  mountain,  in  Poland,  and  killed  amid 
the  West  Branch  rocks  at  Reynolds  Bridge,  in  order  to  stay  his 
screams,  while  on  the  retreat;  that  Jonathan  Scott  was  captured  in 
17  lo,  and  again  at  a  later  date,  perhaps  at  the  same  time  with  his 
son  John;  but  I  have  been  able  to  find  no  evidence  that  John  pre- 
ferred the  life  of  the  French  Indians  to  a  return  to  Waterbury — or 
that  Jonathan  Scott,  Junior,  was  ever  in  captivity.  Granting  for 
one  moment  that  the  traditional  story  of  the  capture  is  entirely 
true,  one  finds  it  difficult  to  resist  the  temptation  to  draw  a  picture 
of  Waterbury  on  that  summer's  night,  as  its  residents  fled  to  their 
fortified  houses  to  pass  the  hours  of  darkness — but  we  must  confine 
ourselves  to  historical  facts,  and  relate  only  that  the  Court  in  Au- 
gust, 1710,  in  response  to  an  appeal  from  Mr.  Southmayd  and  others, 
appointed  a  Special  Committee  of  War  for  Waterbury,  with  full 
power  to  raise  and  send  men  thither  from  the  county  of  New 
Haven  for  its  relief  by  scouting  or  lying  in  garrison  there,  as 
occasion  should  require.  From  the  date  of  Waterbury's  cry  for 
aid,  we  may  place  the  capture  of  Jonathan  Scott  as  probably  July 
25,  1710. 

The  following  April,  Waterbury  was  again  suffering  from  appre- 
hension. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  Waterbury,  April  9th,  171 1,  the  town  made  choice  of  Mr. 
John   Southmayd,   Lieut.   Timothy  Staudly,  Thomas  Judd,  John  Hopkins.  Serg. 


THE  SCOTT  FAMILY.  263 

Isaac  Bronson,  Serg.  Stephen  Upson,  George  Scott  as  a  committee  to  write  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  at  New  Haven  and  to  represent  our  case  to  said  committee 
concerning  our  present  fears  of  the  common  enemy  to  take  their  advice  and  counsel 
in  said  affair. 

It  was  comparatively  easy  to  call  a  tow^  meeting  at  that  date, 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  living  within  sound  of  the  beat  of 
the  drum — and  "  a  writing  on  the  meeting-house  door  with  the  hour 
and  day  asserted  in  said  writing,  4  days  exclusive  before  the  day  " 
was  "the  legal  warning  for  a  town  meeting  for  Judd's  Meadows, 
Break  Neck,  and  Buck's  Hill  farmers"  in  1709.  A  meeting  must 
have  been  called  in  haste  after  the  capture  of  Scott,  for  on  the  next 
day  (July  26th),  the  town  made  choice  of  a  committee,  at  whose  head 
was  Mr.  Southmayd,  and  the  poor  recorder  was  so  frightened  that  he 
wrote  the  name  "Soth  mad,"  "to  draw  up  in  writing  the  circum- 
stances of  the  town  "  in  that  time  of  war,  and  present  it  through 
their  deputies  to  the  General  Court,  which  was  to  assemble  at  New 
Haven  within  nine  days.  This  document  is  not  known  to  be  extant. 
At  the  same  town-meeting,  the  town  "  gave  Jonathan  Scott  his  town 
rate  for  1709,  for  getting  out  of  town  William  *  Stanard's '  wife,  and 
in  consideration  of  his  present  circumstances,  he  being  in  captivity." 

In  response  to  the  appeal  made  by  the  town,  the  Court  appointed 
a  Special  Committee  of  War.  for  Waterbury,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
respond  to  the  call  of  Waterbury  men  in  case  of  danger  on  the 
approach  of  an  enemy,  by  sending  "men  for  their  relief"  by  scout- 
ing or  lying  in  garrison  "  as  occasion  should  require." 

The  following  April,  Waterbury  applied  to  the  above  committee 
of  war  for  "advice  and  counsel  in  said  affair."  We  get  no  hint  of 
the  occasion  of  the  above  appeal  except  that  it  was  because  of 
"present  fear  of  the  cpmmon  enemy." 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE    FENCE    ON     THE    EAST    SIDE     OF    THE    GREAT    RIVER — FIRST     DIVISION 

NORTHWARD FIRST      DIVISION      SOUTHWARD SECOND       DIVISON 

NORTHWARD — SECOND  DIVISION   SOUTHWARD — THREE  ROD  DIVISION 
THE    FENCE    ON    THE    WEST    SIDE    OF    THE    GREAT    RIVER. 

THE  early  settlers  of  New  England  came  to  America  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  law  and  order.  Every  possible 
condition  of  community-living  was  anticipated  and  prepared 
for  in  England  before  a  ship  sailed  for  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  but 
four  years  had  elapsed  after  the  landing  at  Plymouth,  before  cattle 
were  brought  to  the  new  country — accordingly,  when  the  pilgrims 
sallied  forth  for  the  Connecticut  wilderness  we  find  them  driving 
cattle  before  them. 

We  have  also  found  that  "  the  settlers  of  Mattatuck  were  not  a 
mere  band  of  adventurers  bound  together  by  a  common  purpose  and 
a  common  sympathy,  nor  yet  a  confederacy  of  independent  individ- 
uals, at  liberty  at  any  time  to  withdraw  from  the  general  govern- 
ment voluntarily  submitted  to,  but  that  they  were  pre-eminently  a 
unit  in  regard  to  social,  political,  and  religious  matters.  It  was  not 
each  man's  privilege  to  select  for  himself  a  portion  of  land  on 
which  to  found  a  home  and  raise  sustenance  for  his  family,  but  the 
major  vote  of  those  men  who  were  qualified  to  act  determined 
where  each  one  should  pitch  his  tent,  as  it  were,  and  where  he 
should  be  privileged  to  expend  his  efforts  to  produce  corn  and 
wine,  or  the  other  good  things  of  this  life.  When  each  man's  van- 
tage ground  had  been  duly  carved  out  for  him,  he  could  not  build 
upon  it  such  a  domicile  as  he  liked,  and  reside  upon  it  when  it 
suited  him  to  do  so,  but  in  all  things  he  was  subject  to  the  rule  of 
others,  whether  he  would  or  would  not.  In  like  manner,  he  must 
not  choose  for  himself  what  form  of  religious  worship  he  would  sus- 
tain, or  whether  he  would  support  any  form,  but  must  submit  to  the 
governing  voice  of  others  in  this,  as  in  minor  matters."* 

In  view  of  the  above  orderly  and  dignified  arrangement,  it  is 
interesting  to  witness  the  extreme  caution  and  care  with  which  the 
colonists  approached  a  condition  incident  to  the  new  life,  and  for 
which  they  had  no  precedent  in  English  living.  When  the  neces- 
sity lay  before  them  "in  their  beginnings"  to  improve  their  land  in 


♦  B.  F.  Howland. 


THE  COMMON  FENCE.  265 

a  common  way  that  should  best  advance  the  public  good,  it  was 
ordered  that  each  town  "should  choose  seven  able  and  discreet 
men,  who  were  to  take  the  common  lands  belonging  to  each  of  the 
towns  into  sad  and  serious  consideration,  and  after  a  thorough 
digesting  of  their  own  thoughts,  they  were  to  set  down  under  their 
hands  in  what  way  the  lands  might  in  their  judgment  be  best 
improved  for  the  common  good."  If  five  men  in  any  one  town 
agreed  on  the  way  of  improvement  suggested,  that  agreement 
decided  the  law  for  that  town.  The  same  committee  was  also  to  set 
down  what  fences  should  be  made.  When  a  fence  was  made,  and 
viewed  and  approved  by  five  out  of  the  seven  men,  it  was  deemed  a 
sufficient  protection  to  the  fields,  and  if  any  cattle  thereafter  sur- 
mounted that  fence  and  damaged  crops,  the  owner  of  the  cattle  was 
compelled  to  make  good  the  loss,  "without  any  gaynesaying  or 
releife  by  Repleivy  or  otherwise." 

As  time  went  on,  the  inhabitants  had  liberty  to  choose  each  year 
three  new  men  as  fence  viewers,  and  the  former  committee  was 
reduced  to  five  members — penalties  and  forfeitures  being  under  its 
control. 

In  1662  the  orders  concerning  the  viewing  of  common  fences 
had  fallen  into  neglect.  To  remedy  this  neglect,  the  Court  then 
ordered  that  every  town — the  number  of  towns  had  increased  to 
twelve  (this  was  before  the  union  with  New  Haven  Colony) — 
should  choose  two  men,  each  year,  who  should  be  sworn  to  a  due 
performance  of  the  work  of  fence  viewing;  refusal  or  neglect  being 
punishable  with  a  twenty-shilling  fine.  It  was  at  about  this  time 
that  the  order  was  given  concerning  the  setting  down  of  fences  in 
meadow,  and  upland,  and  home  lots,  that  gave  liberty  for  either 
party  of  twelve  inches  from  the  dividing  line,  for  breaking  ground 
to  set  the  posts,  or  "  for  the  laying  on  the  hedge,"  while  the  stakes 
and  posts  were  to  be  placed  in  the  dividing  line.  In  the  uplands,  a 
liberty  of  four  feet  from  the  dividing  line  was  granted  for  a  ditch. 

To  the  committee  for  Mattatuck  was  consigned  the  duty  of 
establishing  the  common-field,  and  the  common-fence.  To  protect 
the  treasures  of  grass  and  grain  from  wandering  or  unruly  cattle,  a 
portion  of  this  fence  was  built  at  a  very  early  date.  This  must  have 
been  made  to  enclose  the  acre-gardens  clustered  about  the  Neck 
hill,  and  as  every  man  must  have  had  an  equal  length  of  fence, 
there  seems  to  have  been  no  record  of  it — at  least,  none  has  been 
found.  The  first  recorded  division  of  fence  was  ordered  in  1677 
It  began  at  the  Mad  river,  near,  if  not  at  the  point  where  the  Bald- 
win street  bridge  crosses  it;  from  thence  it  ran  westwardly  and 
northwardly,  bounding  the  town  plot  of  1677  on  two  sides  (Union, 


266 


HiarOBT  OF  WATBBBVRT. 


Grand  and  Willow  streets  imperfectly  representing  its  course).  It 
followed  the  general  course  of  Willow  street  as  far  north  as  that 
street  now  extends.  It  there  bent  to  the  westward,  crossed  David's 
brook  {named  for  David  Carpenter),  went  along  the  western  base 

of  Drum  bill,  and  from 

thence  to  the  river, 
reaching  it  above  the 
Michael  Bronson  house 
place,  a  portion  of  the 
cellar  of  which  can  still 
be  seen  between  the 
New  England  railroad 
track  and  the  "Water- 
bury  River  Turnpike 
Road  "  (which  extended 
from  Salem  Bridge  to 
the  Massachusetts  line). 
This  division  of  fence 
reached  "  towards  the 
upper  end  of  Steel's 
meadow."  This  meadow 
lies  along  the  west  bank 
of  the  river  from  the  mouth  of  Steel's  brook  up  to  Prindle's 
island,  passing  the  mouth  of  Hancox  brook  and  terminating 
where  Edmund's-mountain  joins  the  river.  Joseph  Welton's  house 
indicates  the  locality. 

In  January,  1677,  this  fence  was  ordered  "to  be  made  sufficiently 
by  the  last  of  May,  1678."  The  entire  division  was  in  length  one 
mile,  two  hundred  and  twenty  rods,  eight  feet,  and  two  inches.  It 
was  made  by  twenty-three  men.  Thomas  Richardson  began  the 
fence  at  the  Mad  river,  making  only  one  hundred  and  eighty-six 
feet — his  interest  in  the  meadow  lands  being  less  than  that  of  any 
other  man.  Timothy  Standly  then  took  up  the  work,  carrying  it  on 
for  three  hundred  and  fifty-three  feet,  and  was  followed  by  Joseph 
Hickox  with  two  hundred  and  twenty- three —John  Newell  with 
three  hundred  and  sixty-seven — Daniel  Porter  with  three  hundred 
and  thirty,  leaving  a  Great  lot  interest  of  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  feet,  across  Great  brook  and  up  the  steep  Grand  street  hill  to 
Bank  street,  to  be  made  by  the  planters  in  a  general  way.  An  air 
line  drawn  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Grand  Street  cem- 
etery to  the  Mad  River  bridge  is  about  three  thousand  feet,  and  will 
very  nearly,  if  not  accurately  represent  the  south  line  of  the  town 
plot  and  the  course  of  the  common  fence  of  1678. 


THE  COMMON  FENCE,  267 

The  two  thousand  feet  of  fence  reaching  to  Bank  street,  having 
been  accounted  for,  the  adjoining  thousand,  extending  to  the  west- 
ern limit  of  the  burying-yard,  was  made  by  John  Warner,  Edmund 
Scott,  and  Samuel  Judd.  Eight  men  of  the  proposed  planters  hav- 
ing not  arrived,  and  having  no  substitutes  at  the  time  when  this 
division  of  fence  was  necessary,  compelled  the  twenty-three  men 
who  were  here  to  combine  and  make  the  upper  section  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  fenced  for  the  great  lots.  This  portion,  when  the 
next  division  northward  was  made,  was  called  "a  piece  of  town 
fence." 

The  second  division  of  fence,  was  the  first  division  southward 
from  the  town.  It  began  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Mad  river,  where 
it  met  the  south  end  of  the  first  division.  After  crossing  the  river 
it  followed  the  high  lands  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  then 
turning  westward  reached  the  Naugatuck  river  just  below  Mad 
meadow,  following  the  hill  that  meets  the  river  at  that  point.  This 
division  was  three  hundred  and  ten  rods,  eight  feet  and  two  inches 
in  length,  or  nearly  one  mile,  and  was  made  by  thirty  men.  The 
third  division  of  fence,  was  the  second  division  northward.  It 
began  towards  the  upper  end  of  Steel's  meadow  and  continued  that 
line  of  fence  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  rods,  eight  feet,  and  three 
inches,  or  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  mile.  This  section  was 
made  by  twenty-seven  men. 

Feb.  8,  1680,  an  addition  to  the  fence  that  ran  southward  was 
ordered.  It  began  at  Mad  meadow  and  ended  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Great  hill  which  begins  at  Hopeville  near  the  red  house 
built  by  Joseph  Nichols  (about  1800),  and  extends  to  Fulling  Mill 
brook  at  Union  City.  This  division  numbered  two  hundred  and 
twelve  rods,  thirteen  feet  and  seven  inches,  or  more  than  five- 
eighths  of  a  mile.  It  was  made  by  one  woman  and  thirty-three 
men,  including  "  the  miller." 

Thus  we  find  that  within  four  years  an  average  of  twenty-eight 
planters,  in  addition  to  all  their  other  industries,  constructed  four 
miles,  forty-two  rods,  one  foot  and  seven  inches  of  common  fence, 
every  foot  of  which  had  to  be  cleared  of  its  primeval  forest,  or 
other  growth,  before  a  rod  of  it  could  be  built.  This  surely  was  a 
public  work  of  no  mean  sort,  for  every  detail  of  the  fence  was  sub- 
ject to  law,  whether  built  of  stone  or  wood;  whether  "hedged  or 
ditched." 

A  discovery  of  special  interest  is  made  at  this  point.  It  is  that 
in  this  fourth  division,  the  position  of  the  fence  makers  in  the  line 
of  improvement  was  not  established  by  the  drawing  of  "lots,"  but 
was  determined  by  the  position  of  the  house  lots  in  the  village  plot. 


268 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


Could  this  have  been  learned  at  an  earlier  date,  it  would  have  saved 
much  hard  work  in  determining  the  exact  town  plot  of  1681.  How- 
ever, we  are  delightfully  assured  by  this  discovery  that  the  house 
lots  were  correctly  given,  and  that  the  planters  whom  we  placed 
here  in  1681  were  here — for  this  fence  was  built  in  that  year.  We 
transcribe  the  list.  The  reader  can  begin  at  the  lot  of  John  Bron- 
son  on  the  north  side  of  West  Main  street  and  compare  the  names 
with  the  map  of  the  town  plot  on  page  160,  omitting  the  lots  of 
Samuel  Scott  and  Richard  Porter.  We  learn  by  this  list  that  the  lot 
at  the  corner  of  East  and  South  Main  streets  that  was  "  reserved," 
was  a  great  lot  in  1681.  This  discovery  is  a  genuine  surprise,  for 
no  hint  of  it  has  anywhere  been  given,  except  that  in  one  convey- 
ance at  an  early  date  John  Hopkins'  house  lot  was  bounded  "west 
on  common,"  but  that  has  been  held  to  be  an  error  of  the  recorder, 
while  this  finding  verifies  it.     We  transcribe  the  list. 


1 

■ 

M 

c 

1-^ 

• 
93 

0 

• 

1 

C 

first       John  Bronson, 

.     4 

15 

6 

Edmund  Scoot  Sen^ 

6 

03 

0 

second  Thomas  Judd, 

.     6 

03 

0 

Thomas  Richardson, 

3 

01 

6 

widow  Warner,     . 

■     3 

II 

7 

grate  lote,    .... 

9 

04 

6 

Obadiah  Richards, 

4 

15 

6 

Edman  Scoot,       .     . 

4 

05 

4 

Samuel  Judd,  .     .     . 

4 

15 

6 

benjamin  Judd,    .     . 

5 

09 

2 

Joseph  Hickox,     . 

.     3 

II 

6 

John  Wilton,    .     .     . 

4 

15 

6 

Samuel  Hickox,    . 

5 

04 

0 

Abraham  Andeus,    . 

4 

15 

6 

benjamin  Bams    .     . 

6 

03 

great lote,    .... 

9 

04 

6 

John  newill,     .     .     . 

6 

03 

0 

John  Langton,      .     . 

6 

13 

Isaac  Bronson,      .     . 

5 

09 

2 

benjamin  Joans,  .     . 

6 

3 

John  Standly,       ,     . 

6 

03 

0 

John  Scovill,    .     .     . 

4 

15 

6 

Joseph  Gaylor, 

4 

15 

6 

William  Judd,       .     . 

6 

3 

grate  lote,    .     .     . 

•     9 

04 

6 

John  Warner,  .     .     . 

5 

9 

2 

Thomas  Warner, 

.     6 

03 

David  Carpenter, 

4 

15 

6 

Steven  Upson, 

■     3 

I 

6 

Tho  Hankox,    .     .     . 

6 

3 

Abraham  andeus, 

.     6 

03 

0 

ThoNewiU,      .     ,     . 

5 

9 

2 

Danill  Porter,*     . 

.   10 

09 

2 

The    fowT    acrs    for 

Timothy  Standly, 

■     5 

14 

3 

the  miler  which  is 

John  Camngton, 

■     3 

II 

7 

the  last,    .... 

7 

The  first  section  of  fence  was  made  during  the  spring  of  1677, 
before  the  crops  were  planted,  or  a  house  was  built.  Twenty  only 
of  the  proprietors  came — and  with  them  went  to  work  David  Car- 
penter, who  made  John  Porter's  fence;  Thomas  Warner,  who  made 
his  father's  section,  and  Joseph  Gaylord,  who  fenced  for  Thomas 
Gridley.  The  second  section  was  made  early  in  1678 — twenty-one 
of   the   former   builders  being  present,  John   Root  making  John 


♦  "Danill  Porter  had  five  rode  layd  to  his  3  acore  lote  which  was  granted  him  by  the  towne." 


THE  COMMON  FENCE,  269 

Langdon's  part,  and  Joseph  Andrews  appearing  in  place  of  his 
father.  The  third  division  was  built  early  in  1679 — eighteen  only  of 
the  builders  of  the  first  section  appearing.  The  fourth  division  was 
made,  in  haste,  in  May  and  June  of  1680.  Twenty  of  the  men  who 
made  the  first  section  were  present.  But  sixteen  men  held  fast  from 
first  to  last  in  the  four  divisions.  The  great  lots  were  as  yet 
ungiven  and  undivided,  and  appear  in  each  division  under  that 
name. 

Before  1686,  there  was  a  three  rod,  or  fifth  division  made.  This 
consisted  of  the  removal  of  forty  rods  of  fence  at  the  northern  end 
of  the  line,  to  the  east  side  of  Hancox  brook — from  thence  it  was 
continued  northward  one  hundred  and  one  rods,  fifteen  feet  and  six 
inches.  It  would  seem  that  no  record  of  the  three-rod  division  was 
made  until  1700,  or,  about  the  time  when  it  was  found  necessary  to 
fence  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

In  1691,  the  town  caused  to  be  placed  on  record  the  following 
formula  for  fence  making  : 

What  shall  be  counted  sufficient  fence  for  our  meadows,  ist.  Rail  fence  to  be 
four  feet  high,  not  exceeding  6  inches  between  the  rails  two  feet  from  the  ground 
upward.  2d.  Hedge  fence,  4  feet  and  a  half  high,  5  stakes  to  each  rod  and  well 
wrought.  3d.  Stone  fence,  3  feet  and  nine  inches  in  height.  4th.  Log,  or  pole 
fence,  4  feet  in  height  and  well  wrought.  5th.  Ditch,  two  feet  wide,  and  rails  or 
hedge  4  feet  in  height  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  to  the  top  of  the  fence,  and  well 
wrought.  And  if  there  be  any  advantage  by  reason  of  the  land  or  place  where  the 
fence  is,  it  is  to  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  fence  viewers  what  shall  be  suffi- 
cient. 

At  the  great  town  meeting  in  December  1698,  Thomas  Hikcox 
and  Joseph  Gaylord  were  appointed  fence  viewers.  In  order  to  pre- 
serve the  fences  from  burning,  by  reason  of  forest  fires,  it  early 
became  the  custom  to  clear  a  space  on  both  sides  of  the  fence  by 
burning  the  bushes  or  whatever  stood  in  the  way.  In  March  1692, 
'•the  town  agreed  to  burn  about  the  common  fence."  The  drums 
being  beat  in  the  morning  of  the  appointed  day,  and  that  day  not 
proving  suitable,  the  townsmen  were  to  appoint  a  day— "causing 
the  drum  to  be  beat  at  night,  and  to  fire  about  the  fence  the  next 
day." 

In  1700,  when  men  began  to  live  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
the  common  field  was  in  danger  from  the  incursions  of  their  cattle 
— and  pounds  being  established — men  had  liberty  to  "pound  their 
neighbor's  creatures  in  all  the  field  north  and  south  to  the  extent  of 
the  20  acre  division  of  meadow  to  a  lot."  Annual  appointments 
were  made  of  the  date,  when,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  meadows 
should  be  cleared  of  crops  and  made  ready  for  the  cattle  to  be 
turned  in.     In  1699,  on  the  12th  of  September,  it  was  voted  that 


270  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

"the  meadows  should  be  cleared  to  turn  in  cattle  on  the  29th  of  this 
month,  at  night."  The  next  year,  it  was  the  first  of  October;  in 
1 70 1,  the  fourth  of  October,  and  then  the  time  began  to  turn  back- 
ward into  September  again.  The  extremes  were  September  26th 
and  October  4th. 

In  the  spring  of  each  year,  the  time  was  announced  for  every 
man  to  have  his  section  of  the  common  fence  put  in  perfect  order, 
and  ready  for  inspection.  In  1704,  the  fence  about  the  fields  was  to 
be  done  up  by  the  fifth  of  March,  and  the  fence  viewers  sent  out 
the  sixth,  and  the  haywards  the  eighth.  This  year,  for  the  first 
time,  it  was  ordered  that  two  days  should  be  taken  to  burn  about 
the  fence— the  first  day,  northward;  the  second  day,  southward,  and 
"  the  town  ordered  that  if  the  neighbors  at  the  east  end  of  the  town 
don't  keep  their  cattle  out  of  the  meadow,  then  the  townsmen  by 
themselves  or  some  other  on  the  town  charge,  to  endeavor  the 
securing  the  fields  for  the  present  the  cheapest  and  best  way  they 
can."  The  two  items,  taken  in  connection,  indicate  that  a  portion 
of  the  fence  had  been  burned  by  trying  to  do  too  much  in  one  day, 
or  possibly  a  freshet  had  had  its  own  sweet  will  along  the  valley. 

The  first  pound  was  **  set  up  on  the  South  highway,  somewhere 
near  the  south  gate,"  in  1702.  In  1704,  one  was  "set  up  in  the  lane 
at  the  west  end  of  the  town — Deacon  Judd  to  be  pound-keeper." 
The  same  year,  the  proprietors  "gave  Judd's  Meadow  men  leave  to 
set  up  a  pound  for  themselves  on  their  own  charge  for  impounding 
their  own  cattle  and  such  as  are  left  out  in  the  field  when  men  are 
at  work  with  them  there." 

In  1705,  the  town  "by  reason  of  one  of  its  fence  viewers  being 
removed,  ordered  the  other  three,  under  oath,  to  view  the  whole 
range  of  fence  on  the  east  side,  and  in  case  one  of  them  be  sick  or  out 
of  town,  the  others  to  do  the  work."  An  intimation  of  a  fence  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  at  the  above  date  is  here  given.  The 
office  of  fence  viewer  was  held  by  nearly  every  proprietor — perhaps 
by  every  one — that  of  pound-keeper,  by  the  residents  living  near 
the  pounds.  John  Scovill  was  pound-keeper  in  1706 — and  seems  to 
have  filled  his  duties  so  well,  that  in  less  than  two  months  the  town 
promoted  him  to  its  highest  civil  office — that  of  constable. 

As  time  went  on,  the  need  of  a  fence  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  became  imperative.  The  town  had  tried,  by  all  the  legisla- 
tion in  its  power,  to  put  off  the  great  work.  In  order  to  accomplish 
this,  it  had  required  men  who  wished  to  live  on  the  west  side  to 
enter  into  an  agreement  to  keep  their  creatures  out  of  the  common- 
field  with  as  much  care  as  though  it  were  fenced  around,  and 
allowed  no  man  to  cross  the  river  unless  he  promised  "to  submit  to 


THE  COMMON  FENCE. 


271 


the  order  of  the  proprietors  in  regard  to  fencing  and  the  meadows." 
In  1704,  at  the  great  town  meeting  in  December,  the  question  was 
before  the  meeting :  "  Whether  the  town  should  fence  southward 
from  the  end  fence  to  Beacon  brook  on  the  east  side  the  river  and 
that  to  be  counted  sufficient  for  securing  the  fields."  Eighteen 
voters  were  present.  Five  of  the  number — ^John  Hopkins,  Left. 
Timothy  Stanley,  Jeremiah  Peck,  Dr.  Porter,  and  Edmund  Scott 
voted  to  extend  the  fence  to  Beacon  brook.  Thirteen  proprietors 
voted  against  the  extension.  The  land  had  been  duly  measured 
between  the  Long  Meadow  falls  and  Beacon  Hill  brook,  and  also 
from  Buck's  Meadow  mountain  to  Long  Meadow  falls  on  the  west 
side.  Before  the  meeting  ended,  it  was  decided  to  build  the  fence 
on  the  west  side,  and  to  extend  it  on  the  east  side  "  to  the  falls  in 
the  river  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Long  meadow."  All  the  land  that 
was  fit  for  plowing  or  mowing  was  to  be  encircled  by  this  fence, 
and  it  was  to  be  made  good  and  substantial  against  all  orderly 
horses  and  cattle,  and  "sufficient  against  two  year  olds."  Men 
were  given  permission  to  enclose  lands  within  the  fence  "for  wheat 
or  other  corn,"  and  the  proprietors  agreed  that  "he  who  should 
leave  open  the  common  gates  or  bars  in  the  field,  should  pay  all  the 
damage  that  was  done  thereby,  and  that  horses  should  not  be  staked 
nor  cattle  baited  (unless  men  were  at  work  by  them),  from  the  first 
of  April  until  commoning  time." 

It  was  ultimately  decided  to  proportion  the  rods  of  fence  each 
owner  of  lands  was  to  make,  according  to  the  number  of  his  acres, 
whatever  the  land  might  be — good,  bad,  or  indifferent.  Dr.  Porter 
"protested,"  and  he  had  occasion  to  protest — for  he  had  made  more 
fence  on  the  east  side  than  any  other  man.  The  new  public  work 
did  not  progress  satisfactorily.  Certain  men  built  the  fence  that 
had  been  allotted  to  them,  and  other  men  held  aloof.  Two  years 
passed  by,  when  a  proprietors'  meeting  was  held  to  discuss  the 
building  of  this  fence— and  a  spirited  meeting  it  must  have  been, 
for  the  former  vote  was  annulled,  and  a  new  allotment  declared,  in 
which  "only  the  land  that  was  fit  for  plowing  or  moing"  was  to  be 
accounted  in  each  man's  propriety.  Much  land  had  been  spoiled  by 
the  flood,  and  the  owners  of  such  land  "  were  to  be  considered  and 
abated."  In  the  new  allotment,  each  man's  burden  was  to  be  meas- 
ured by  the  benefit  received.  The  records  recognize  "  the  difficulty 
in  reference  to  the  fence  on  the  west  side  the  river,"  and  tell  us  that 
the  proprietors,  "for  to  obtain  a  peaceable  proceeding,"  agreed  to 
the  new  allotment  and  declared  that  if,  by  reason  of  it,  any  man 
who  had  already  fenced  should  be  removed  from  that  portion  of  the 
field,  the  man  to  whom  his  former  lot  fell  should  be  responsible  for 


272  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 

the  fence  already  made.  In  the  new  lot,  the  fence  was  to  extend  no 
further  than  it  was  already  laid — and  to  be  "  there  or  thereabout." 
The  fence  was  to  be  kept  up  all  the  year,  and  men  could  turn  their 
cattle  into  the  field  for  the  month  of  October  only.  The  number  of 
cattle  any  man  was  permitted  to  turn  in,  was  to  be  according  to  his 
interest  in  the  field;  neither  could  any  man  bait  or  stake  cattle 
there,  except  upon  his  own  land.  The  owners  of  the  east-side  fence 
at  the  south  end  were  allowed  by  the  proprietors  ten  pence  a  rod,  in 
"good  pay"  to  their  satisfaction,  for  removing  the  fence  to  this 
Falls.  Every  man  was  ordered  to  give  the  appointed  committee  an 
account  of  his  land  in  the  field,  that  it  might  be  properly  measured, 
and  the  fence  apportioned.  For  that  year,  it  was  to  be  made  against 
cattle,  but  not  against  hogs.  At  the  same  meeting — May  1707 — "the 
proprietors  gave  to  Mr.  John  Southmayd  four  score  acres  of  land  on 
the  south  side  of  the  rock  called  Mount  Taylor  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  where  we  get  rails  as  part  of  his  propriety  on  the  commons  and 
to  take  off  the  entailment  of  fencing  in  the  common  line  for  said 
land  —  the  town  keeping  liberty  to  fetch  timber  and  stones — they 
shutting  up  bars  as  there  shall  be  need." 

All  the  legislation  the  men  of  Waterbury  were  capable  of — and 
they  were  tireless  in  their  efforts — fell  powerless  for  a  number  of 
years,  before  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking.  When  combined 
with  the  sense  of  injustice  which  prevailed  in  regard  to  it,  the  work 
seemed  hopeless.  The  project  was  attempted  of  "giving"  away 
lands  to  a  number  of  persons — the  recipients  to  make  fence,  in  pay- 
ment. Committee  after  committee  was  appointed  to  measure  and 
"  modelize  "  and  proportion  the  lands  within  the  fields,  but  the  fence 
was  not  completed.  Finally,  each  man  who  had  made  his  fence  was 
permitted  to  remain  in  position  in  the  line,  but  "  mistakes  were  to 
be  regulated."  In  March  of  1709,  the  condition  of  the  fences  may 
be  estimated  by  the  following  vote.  "  It  was  agreed  on  by  vote  to 
bum  about  the  fences  on  the  west  side  on  the  21  March  and  22  day 
on  the  east  side  if  it  be  a  good  day  to  be  warned  by  the  beat  of  the 
drum  over  night  and  the  fence  on  the  east  side — the  gaps  stopped 
and  gates  shut  forthwith — and  the  west  side  quickly  after  it  is 
burned  about."  A  three  rail  fence,  four  foot  high,  was  established 
as  sufficient  in  1709,  on  the  west  side — but  peace  could  not  be  estab- 
lished, and  each  man's  private  holdings  in  the  field  had  to  be  meas- 
ured, "  each  piece  by  itself,"  the  proprietors  agreeing  to  remove 
Thomas  Richason's  fence  from  the  west  side  to  the  east  side  of 
his  land  at  the  lower  end  of  Hancox  meadow  so  as  to  take  in  the 
land  at  Hickox  Holes  (present  Water ville).  When  the  lands  were 
duly  measured — the  east-side  fence  came  up  for  re-measurement, 


TUE  COMMON  FENCE.  273 

and  the  grand  result  of  the  surveyors  was  written  down  in  the  Pro- 
prietor's Book,  pictured  on  page  216.  On  its  open  page,  as  seen  in 
the  illustration,  appears  "y®  lot  for  jr®  fenc  on  y®  West  sd  y®  River 
as  it  f[ell]  deem'  24th=i7o6=to  begin  at  y®  falls  at  y®  long- 
m[eadow]." 

There  were  fifty  drawings  for  this  lot — Mr.  Southmayd  had  the 
first  chance,  and  drew  number  twelve — while  poor  widow  Jones 
drew  number  one,  and  consequently  had  to  build  the  fence  at  its 
most  difficult  point — for  her  lot  fell  at  the  Falls,  where  the  promon- 
tory, called  Dragon's  Point,  comes  nearly  to  the  river.  A  slightly 
detached,  rocky,  and  pine-covered  little  hill  fills  up  the  intervening 
space  at  the  southeast  comer,  except  that  a  narrow  ravine  lies 
between  the  promontory  and  the  diminutive  hill.  At  the  eastern 
base  of  this  hill  the  Naugatuck  railroad  runs,  and  through  the 
ravine,  just  wide  enough  for  the  purpose,  the  old  highway  west  of 
the  river  to  Judd's  Meadows,  passed.  At  or  in  this  ravine  or 
natural  passway,  were  located  the  Long  Meadow  bars,  where  in 
going  from  Waterbury  to  Judd's  Meadow,  one  passed  through  the 
common-fence  into  the  open  land. 

This  drawing  is  followed  by  the  grand  result  of  all  the  measure- 
ments of  land  and  fence,  and  we  learn  that  in  1709  there  had  been 
erected  on  the  east  side  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty-four  rods — and 
on  the  west  side  fifteen  hundred  and  thirty-six  rods  of  fence.  The 
measurements  do  not  include  the  portion  that  was  discontinued 
below  the  Long  Meadow  falls— and  the  northern  terminus  remains 
ungiven — ^the  page  on  which  it  was  recorded  having  been  mutilated. 
A  little  more  than  ten  miles  of  fence  had  been  constructed  in  1709. 
Every  rod  of  it  was  put  into  serviceable  repair  each  year— while 
the  continual  danger  attending  it,  by  reason  of  forest  fires,  and 
unruly  cattle,  and  floods  (at  the  points  where  it  crossed  the  val- 
leys), must  have  caused  the  planters  much  care  and  labor — but  it 
was  a  practical  and  ever-present  lesson  to  them  in  self-government. 
Men  were  not  taught  to  live  unto  themselves,  but  to  act  for  the 
common  weal.  Even  protesting  Dr.  Porter  yielded,  and  manfully 
made  over  three  furlongs  of  fence  for  his  twenty-six  acres.  Deacon 
Judd  had  the  longest  line  of  fence — it  being  only  thirty-six  feet 
short  of  a  mile.  He  held  forty-seven  acres  within  the  field,  and  it 
is  satisfactory  to  find  that  Widow  Jones  made  but  forty-one  feet  of 
fence,  she  owning,  in  17 10,  but  half-an-acre  in  the  Waterbury 
meadows — whereas  her  husband,  at  the  time  of  his  decease  in  1689, 
held  a  notable  list  of  acres.  Much  of  the  delay  and  annoyance 
attending  this  work  arose  from  the  mistaken  generosity  of  the 
planters  in  ** throwing  into  the  measure"  waste  lands,  and  "vacant 
18 


274  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 

lands,"  and  unproductive  uplands,  which  the  owners  declined  to 
fence  for — and  the  mistake  was  atoned  for  by  giving  away  many 
additional  acres— the  sole  condition  being  that  the  recipients  should 
fence  for  the  land.  As  quite  a  number  of  the  grants  were  made 
after  the  fence  reached  the  narrows  at  Mount  Taylor  and  Buck's 
Meadow  mountain — notably  one  requiring  its  owner  to  make  fifty 
rods  of  fence  at  the  north  end — it  is  quite  fair  to  suppose  that  it 
continued  above  that  point,  and  there  are  intimations  that  it 
reached  as  far  up  the  river  as  Reynolds  Bridge,  as  mention  is  made 
of  Standly's  Jericho  gate.  Near  the  village,  there  were  South,  East, 
and  West  gates.  The  West  gate  was  near  Deacon  Judd's  and  John 
Scovill's  home  lots,  and  they  were  the  pound-keepers,  the  pound 
being  in  the  highway.  The  South  gate  was  on  Bank  street,  at 
Grand — and  the  pound  near  by  has  been  mentioned  as  being  in  the 
highway,  where  the  Waterbury  Bank  building  now  stands.  James 
Prichard  was  the  key  keeper  in  1734,  he  living  close  by.  This  gate 
was  removed  three  times  to  a  point,  each  time  farther  south, 
between  1820  and  1840,  and  disappeared  from  view  when  Bank 
street  was  opened,  soon  after  1840.  The  first  removal  was  to  give 
free  entrance  to  David  Prichard's  barn,  which  stood  where  the  L. 
C.  White  building  stands — the  second  for  the  accommodation  of 
Timothy  Ball — who  built  the  first  house  that  ever  stood  on  Bank 
street  between  Brooklyn  and  the  corner  of  Grand  street.  The 
Griggs  building  occupies  its  site.  The  East  gate  was  sometimes 
called  the  Mill  Plain  bars;  it  stood  on  the  south  side  of  Union,  near 
Elm  street.  There  was  a  North  gate  at  the  upper  end  of  Manhan 
meadow,  but  at  a  later  day  this  was  not  in  the  common  fence. 

The  West  side  fence  crossed  Sled  Hall  brook  near  where  at  the 
present  time  stands  a  line  of  primeval  trees,  and  crossed  the  Mid- 
dlebury  road  near  its  junction  with  the  Town  Plot  road.  It 
crossed  Hikcox  brook,  went  through  Westwood  and  Loren  Car- 
ter's land,  and  through  the  lot  owned  by  Willard  Woodruff,  crossed 
the  road  and  ran  the  west  side  of  Woodruff's  house,  kept  along 
the  base  of  the  hill  west  of  the  present  Bunker  Hill  road,  and 
skirted  the  hills  west  of  the  Driving  park ;  crossed  the  valley  of 
Steel's  brook,  the  southwest  corner  of  Edmund's  mountain,  the 
valley  of  Turkey  brook,  and  then  ran  "skewingwise  and  partly 
lengthwise"  over  and  across  Edmund's  mountain  to  its  northeast 
extremity.  When  the  common  fence  was  made,  highways  were  not 
laid  out,  and,  as  the  necessity  for  them  grew  imminent,  we  find  them 
laid  out  through  the  field  itself — a  little  later,  following  the  fence 
lines  outside  the  field — and  then,  as  the  inhabitants  scattered  and  the 
uplands  and  mountain  lots  were  laid  out,  crossing  the  field  at  more 


THE  COMMON  FENCE,  275 

and  more  frequent  intervals,  until  common  fence  bars  and  gates 
dotted  the  line  and  the  highways  were  frequently  fenced  in.  We 
give  a  single  instance:  'Liberty  to  James  Balding'  "was  given  to 
fence  in  the  highway  from  the  common  fence  bars  at  the  lower  end 
of  long  meadow  to  Carrington's  brook,  Baldwin  to  maintain  two 
horse  gates,  one  gate  at  the  common  fence  bars,  the  other  at  the 
[place]  where  he  fences  across  the  highway  and  one  pair  of  bars.** 
In  1 7 10,  the  year  that  Jonathan  Scott  was  captured — there  was  no 
record  made  of  the  closing  or  opening  of  the  field.  Perhaps  it  was 
not  considered  safe  for  cattle  or  men  to  wander  in  the  enclosure. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  about  ten  square  miles  of  land  eastward 
of  the  town  was  sequestered  for  commons,  in  which  each  and  every 
man  might  freely  take  wood  and  stone.  The  annual  burnings 
about  the  fence  had  probably  consumed  much  valuable  timber  and 
firewood,  for,  in  17 14,  "the  town  voted  that  the  East  woods  should 
not  be  fired  for  seven  years,  that  is  to  say,  the  east  side  of  the  fence 
from  a  great  brook  called  Smugse*  brook,  that  runs  into  the  river 
about  two  miles  south  from  the  town  to  the  top  of  the  East  moun- 
tain to  a  little  brook,  and  all  the  woods  the  west  side  the  Mill  river. 
The  penalty  for  firing  was  twenty  shillings. 

In  1 7 16  four  fence  viewers,  Richard  Porter,  David  Scott,  Thomas 
Bronson  and  William  Judd  were  appointed,  but  the  following  week 
"we  find  that  Benjamin  Barnes  was  accepted  a  fence  viewer  upon 
the  proposition  that  Mr.  Southmayd  made,  that  is,  to  have  8  shil- 
lings for  performing  the  work  of  a  fence  viewer  for  this  year." 
This  agreement  is  the  first  intimation  that  any  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  received  money  for  performing  duties  that  concerned 
all  alike. 

In  1721,  "for  securing  the  fence  the  east  side  of  the  river  from 
the  North  meadow  gate  to  Wigwam  Swamp  brook  (David's  brook) 
was  to  be  by  firing  the  east  side  the  Little  brook  till  they 
came  to  the  head  of  it,  and  then  to  the  lower  end  of  the  Wigwam 
swamp,  and  then  down  the  brook  to  the  fence."  From  the  Mad 
river  to  the  lower  end  of  the  fence,  they  were  to  fire  the  east  side 
of  the  path  to  Judd's  meadows.  The  Reverend  John  Southmayd's 
advent  into  the  Waterbury  records  as  town  clerk  is  evidenced  by 
his  taking  up  the  work  at  the  appointment  of  fence  viewers  for  the 
year  1721.  In  1722,  eight  men  were  required  to  do  the  work — 
two  were  to  view  the  fence  "  from  the  common  gate  by  Deacon  Judd's 
to  the  north  end  " — two  from  the  Woodbury  road  to  the  north  end 
— two  from  the  same  point  southward,  and  two  "  from  the  common 


•Smugse  brook  supplies  the  water  power  for  Hopeville.     It  may  have  been  named  from  aa Indian.    The 
name  of  Smugse  does  not  appear  as  an  English  name  in  Waterbury. 


276  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

gate  by  Deacon  Judd's  to  the  south  end."  At  this  time,  the  gates 
and  bars  on  the  Country  road  to  Woodbury,  and  at  the  South  gate, 
were  to  be  maintained  by  the  town.  Our  records  are  replete  with 
laws  and  regulations  relating  to  swine.  In  1723,  they  were  per- 
mitted to  run  at  large  during  the  year.  Liberty  did  not  agree  with 
the  planters,  or  the  swine,  for  the  next  year  it  was  decreed  that  a 
"  Yoak  8  inches  long  above  the  hog's  neck  and  6  inches  on  each  side  a 
grown  hog,  and  proportionately  on  lesser  swine,  well  put  on,  should 
be  deemed  sufficiently  yoaked."  Occasionally  we  meet  permission 
like  the  following:  "Swine  may  Run  on  the  Commons  without  rings 
or  Yokes  and  be  free  from  being  pounded." 

The  next  town  meeting  was  to  be  held  in  January,  1724,  "at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning  at  Stephen  Hopkins'  house,"  but  there  is 
no  record  of  the  meeting. 

In  1729,  "it  was  voted  to  have  a  flock  of  sheep  in  the  Town  of 
Waterbury,"  and  Stephen  Hopkins,  Joseph  Smith,  and  Thomas 
Barnes  were  appointed  a  sheep  committee.  There  was  a  colonial 
law  relating  to  sheep,  in  which  it  was  declared  that  no  sheep  should 
be  kept  on  the  commons  but  in  flocks,  to  prevent  the  sheep  either 
doing  or  receiving  damage,  except  in  plantations  where  there  were 
not  a  hundred  sheep  that  might  be  kept  together.  If  men  neglected 
to  put  their  sheep  to  the  herd,  they  were  to  be  pounded,  the  pounder 
to  be  paid  two  pence  per  head. 

In  1739  and  1740  we  find  no  record  of  fence  viewers,  neither  is 
there  any  from  December,  1743,  to  December,  1753.  From  that'time 
onward,  the  appointments  were  made  with  little  regularity,  six  men 
being  able  to  perform  the  service  at  all  times,  and  four  oftentimes 
being  deemed  sufficient,  while  in  1770,  Ezra  Bronson  and  Ashbel 
Porter  were  the  only  fence  viewers.  The  common  fence  remained 
as  a  bound  line  until  after  1800,  and  many  portions  of  it  could  be 
identified  without  doubt  in  1893. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

waterbury  manufactures  for  export  in  1707 — her  men  among 
the  founders  of  durham — proprietors  vote  to  take  their 
lands  —  current  events  — the  meeting  house  enlarged — 
school  house  built — first  death  in  naugatuck  —  burying 
yard  sequestered  on  pine  hill — remonstrance  from  joseph 
gaylord  of  durham  —  land  divisions  —  zachariah  baldwin 
arrives — book  of  records  established  —  thomas  clark 
admitted — the  south  bound  of  the  township  surveyed — 
the  great  sickness  of  1712-13 — a  new  era — lieut.  john 
Stanley's  remonstrance — more  land  troubles  and  lay-outs 
— meeting  house  seated — MR.  southmayd's  salary. 

WATERBURY  began  to  manufacture  staves  for  export  at  a 
very  early  date — the  white  and  red  oaks  that  abounded  on 
every  side  making  excellent  staves  and  headings  for  casks, 
barrels  and  hogsheads.  The  extent  of  the  manufacture  of  these 
staves — which  were  largely  exported  to  the  "  Wine  islands  of  the 
West  Indies'* — was  such,  that  as  early  as  17 14,  restrictions  were 
placed  upon  the  trade  on  account  of  the  rapid  destruction  of  Con- 
necticut's forests.  We  are  able  to  give  but  a  single  item  in  proof 
that  Waterbury  engaged  in  this  manufacture — and  that  is  afforded 
by  the  chance  preservation  of  an  agreement  between  John  Bronson 
and  Joseph  Hikcox.  In  1707,  John  Bronson  made  two  thousand 
staves  in  Waterbury,  which  were  sent  to  Joseph  Hikcox,  at  Durham, 
who  paid  for  them  by  an  acre  of  land  "^5/  Sled  Hall." 

This  trade  was  doubtless  carried  on  vigorously  for  many  years, 
and  possibly  the  numerous  saw-mills  that  sprang  into  being  along 
our  streams  were  utilized  in  preparing  timber  for  the  hands  of  the 
workmen  who  made  the  staves,  for  three  saw-mills  seem  to  have 
been  required  before  1700;  the  first  one  on  Saw  Mill  Plain  before 
1686,  the  second  in  1699  at  the  north  end  of  the  Long  hill — or  at 
least  permission  was  given  for  one  at  that  point,  with  "  the  liberty 
of  the  stream  and  conveniency  of  ponding  and  the  improvement  of 
what  land  was  needed  to  set  the  mill  on  and  to  lay  logs  and  the 
like  as  is  needed  for  use."  The  third  grant  was  at  the  corn-mill  in 
1699,  to  Serg.  Bronson,  Deacon  Judd,  John  Hopkins,  Samuel  Hikcox, 
and  John  Richason — the  conditions  being  that  they  should  not 
prejudice  the  corn-mill,  and  that  they  should  maintain  two  rods  of 
the  dam  from  the  corn-mill  eastward.     The  order  forbidding  to  fire 


278  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

• 

the  East  woods^fpr'seven  years  may  have  originated  in  the  desire 
to  preserve  and  grow  timber  for  pipe  staves;  for  all  the  early  saw- 
mills were  in  the  East  woods,  on  Mill  river,  or  Great  brook. 

There  was  an  exodus  in  1706  that  stirred  the  town.  One  Grand 
proprietor  and  four  Bachelor  proprietors  left  Watcrbury  together. 
Of  the  number  were  Joseph  Hikcox,  who  bought  the  staves;  his 
brother,  Stephen  Hikcox;  Joseph  Gaylord,  the  Grand  proprietor, 
and  his  sons  John  and  Joseph.  This  was,  it  would  seem,  the  first 
attempt  of  Young  Waterbury  to  found  another  town;  for  the  five 
men  mentioned  were  original  proprietors  or  "patentees"  of  Dur- 
ham, in  December,  of  1708.  Joseph  Gaylord  was  the  first  selectman, 
and  Joseph  Hikcox  the  first  surveyor  of  that  town.  Thus  Water- 
bury  had,  after  thirty  years,  to  sip  of  the  same  bitter  cup  that  Farm- 
ington  drank  when  bereft  of  thirty  of  her  sons  by  Mattatuck. 

Hitherto,  nearly  every  person  who  had  left  Waterbury  had 
returned  to  the  old  home-town  of  Farmington,  but  this  going  forth 
was  deliberate  and  intentional,  and  it  was  deeply  felt,  especially  so, 
as  it  lessened  the  protective  force  at  a  time  when  every  man  was 
needed  in  his  own  place.  If  the  inhabitants  -were  disheartened 
there  is  no  sign  of  it  in  their  acts,  for  they  went  on  laying  out  new 
highways;  measuring  their  town  bounds;  strengthening  their  for- 
tifications; altering  and  improving  their  meeting-house  by  putting 
up^a  beam  for  a  gallery  at  the  west  end  of  it;  consenting  to  Mr. 
Southmayd's  request  that  he  might  alter  and  enlarge  his  seat  at  the 
west  end  of  the  pulpit;  repairing  the  doors  and  windows  of  the 
meeting-house,  and  building  a  gallery  at  one  end  of  it;  constructing 
a  school -house,  sixteen  feet  long  and  fourteen  feet  wide;  hiring  a 
school-master  and  dame  (if  need  be)  to  teach  in  it,  and  paying  them 
with  the  remainder  of  a  rate  of  two  pence  half-penny  on  the  pound; 
and  living  the  while  in  perpetual  fear.  It  was  during  these  days 
of  fear  that  the  second  place  of  burial  within  the  township  was 
established.  It  is  the  southern  portion  of  that  now  known  as  Pine 
Hill  cemetery;  the  same  ground  so  valiantly  and  reverently  saved 
from  encroachment  and  destruction  by  the  efforts  of  Mr.  William 
Ward.  In  the  home  of  Daniel  Warner  in  present  Naugatuck,  died, 
on  April  loth,  1709,  his  wife,  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Abraham  An- 
drews, Senior.  We  do  not  know  that  she  was  the  first  English  per- 
son to  die  at  Judd's  Meadows,  but  her  death  evidently  made  the 
need  apparent  of  a  place  of  burial  nearer  than  that  of  our  late  cem- 
etery on  Grand  street.  The  record  tells  us  that  the  selectmen  of 
Waterbury  on  the  next  day,  April  nth,  with  the  presence  and  con- 
sent of  Samuel  Hikcox,  laid  out  and  sequestered  half  an  acre  of 
land  of  said  Hikcox  on  the  southward  end  of  a  hill  at  Judd's  Meadow 


TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PBOPBIETOBS*  REION. 


279 


called  the  "pin[e]"  hill  for  a  burying  place  for  that  part  of  said 
town  or  any  other  who  should  see  cause  to  make  use  of  it  for  said 
use:  The  record  adds,  that  the  land  was  laid  out  with  the  consent 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  that  on  the  same  day  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Warner  was  buried  there.  It  is  difficult  to  resist  the  impulse  to  pic- 
ture in  words  that  first  burial  in  Naugatuck,  to  gather  by  name  the 
funeral  band  that  went  out  of  the  house  on  Fulling  Mill  brook  bear- 
ing its  silent  burden  over  the  rough  highway  down  to  the  lonely 
height  that  overlooked  the  river  valley,  there  to  lay  it  down  for  its 
long  rest,  while  three  motherless  children  look  down  into  that  grave 
the  unutterable  thoughts  that  children  think,  but  never  speak,  in 
the  presence  of  death. 

Brief,  terse  and  incisive  are  the  words  in  which  the  proprietors 
of  Waterbury  express  their  mingled  feelings  regarding  the  bolt  of 
the  Durham  men. 

They  disdain  to  even  mention  them  byname,  but  vote  in  January 
of  1707,  "to  take  the  forfeiture  of  all  the  lands  given  on  condition 
to  those  men  gone  out  of  town  that  can  not  hold  them  by  record  in  not 
fulfilling  the  conditions."  Stephen  Hikcox  had  been  accepted  a  pro- 
prietor inhabitant  in  May  of  the  year  in  which  he  left;  while  Joseph 
and  John  Gaylord,  and  Joseph  Hikcox  had  been  proprietor  inhab- 
itants seven  years.  Joseph  Gaylord  answers  back  from  Durham  in 
1 7 13,  in  the  following  style: 

To  the  moderators  of  Waterbury.  I  do  for  my  propriety — and  my  father  being 
proprietor  in  said  township— demand  my  right  in  said  township  by  devision  accord- 
ing to  propriety,  and  do  by  this,  according  to  Right,  deny  and  bar  any  grants  of 
lands  in  said  township  to  any,  so  far  as  the  law  justify  me,  in  any  other  way  but 
according  to  propriety,  and  as  for  what  has  been  given  away  since  we  came  away 
and  have  not  been  warned  to  said  proprietor's  meeting,  demand  our  right  according 
to  our  propriety,  and  I  desire  this  may  be  recorded.  Joseph  Gayl 

Joseph  Gaylord  having  been  a  Grand  proprietor  for  thirty  years 
could  not  legally  suffer  loss  by  removal,  but  with  the  young  men  it 
was  different.  Stephen  Hikcox  forfeited  everything  that  stood  in 
his  name,  and  the  others,  all  their  grants  whose  conditions  were 
not  fulfilled.  Generosity  was  perilous  to  our  fathers.  They 
tempted  with  gifts,  to  their  own  hurt.  We  have  found  evidence  of 
that  in  the  matter  of  the  common-fence.  Near  the  close  of  the  cen- 
tury, at  the  advent  into  legal  manhood  of  certain  of  their  sons,  they 
announced  that  to  every  one  who  would  settle  in  the  town,  there 
should  be  given  "  thirty  acres  of  upland,  swamp,  and  boggy  meadow, 
as  an  allotment,  with  a  propriety  in  the  commons  according  to  the 
allotment,  beside  a  house  lot  and  four  acres  for  a  pasture."  The  con- 
ditions were,  the  building  of  a  tenantable  house,  at  least  sixteen  feet 


28o  maTOBT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

square,  within  four  years,  and  the  inclusion  in  the  thirty-acre  grant 
of  all  the  lands  formerly  given  to  the  young  men.  This  act  was 
declared  to  be  in  force  for  all  such  as  lived  among  them  as  they 
became  of  age  and  desired  the  privilege  and  were  accepted  by  the 
proprietors.  This  allotment  was  to  be  deemed  a  forty  pound  owner- 
ship in  all  divisions  of  land,  and  a  right  in  the  commons,  but  carried 
with  it  no  right  to  join  the  Grand  proprietors  in  the  giving  away  of 
lands.  For  two  years  the  new  proprietor  was  not  to  be  taxed;  but 
after  that  time  his  allotment  was  to  be  deemed  as  a  two  pound  estate 
in  bearing  town  charges  for  four  years,  and,  after  that  time,  to  be 
appraised  as  other  lands  were.  During  the  four  years,  the  new  pro- 
prietor might  not  sell  any  of  the  land  of  his  allotment  that  he  had 
not  improved  or  subdued — but  the  record  saith  :  "  If  any  dye  here 
his  heirs  to  poses  his  lands." 

The  above  decision  seems  to  have  opened  the  door  of  the  town- 
ship to  admit  any  outsider  who  should  choose  to  come  and  live  in  it, 
provided  that  the  new  comer  gain  the  good  will  of  the  Grand  pro- 
prietors. Joseph  Lewis  was  the  only  one  to  enter  and  meet 
approval  before  1700,  and  we  have  no  record  of  his  arrival  or  admis- 
sion into  proprietorship;  he  simply  appears  on  the  scene  invested 
with  the  rights  of  a  forty-pound  proprietor,  and  is  called  to  duty  at 
a  town  meeting  in  December,  1700,  as  fence  viewer.  He  was  the 
seventeenth  proprietor  received  under  the  new  rule.  It  was 
extremely  natural  that  opposition  should  speedily  arise  under  the 
new  order  of  things.  Grants  of  ten  acres  each  to  the  Grand  propri- 
etors, and  four  acrc?s  to  the  young  men,  flew  thick  and  fast  over  the 
uplands  and  hills.  The  young  men  could  take  their  thirty  acres  in 
three  places,  and  the  man  who  got  first  a  written  description  of  the 
land  he  had  selected  to  the  measurer,  gained  title  by  the  act.  The 
grants  made  at  this  time  afford  us  many  place-names  and  are  full  of 
interest.  Thomas  Warner  selected  his  ten  acres  "  at  his  three  acres 
at  his  boggy  meadow  over  thre  mile  brook;*'  Stephen  Upson,  "at  his 
hog  field  at  the  north  side  of  Philip's  meadow;"  Joseph  Gaylord  Sen. 
and  Edmund  Scott,  **  at  Judd's  Meadow  above  where  Butler's  house 
was;"  Abraham  Andrus  Sen.,  "on  the  hill  against  George's  horse 
brook"  (this  was  Beaver  Pond  hill);  Benjamin  Barnes,  "at  Brake 
neck  hil;"  Stephen  Upson,  "where  the  grinlet  runs  into  the  great 
boggy  meadow,  we  say  that  grinlet  that  comes  from  the  east  corner 
of  the  Long  hill."  Five  or  six  of  the  young  men  chose  their  lands 
"  on  the  hill  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  against  Buck's  meadow," 
where  young  Obadiah  Richards  had  already  broken  up  land. 

In  1702,  it  was  declared  that  the  only  men  who  were  qualified  to 
act  in  giving  away  lands  were  the  proprietors  for  the  first  purchas- 


TO   THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN.  281 

ing  of  the  place,  together  with  Stephen  Upson,  Richard  Porter,  and 
Jonathan  Scott.  In  1705,  the  question  came  up  in  Proprietors'  meet- 
ing, whether  they  would  divide  the  commons  of  the  township 
according  to  purchase.  By  a  full  vote  the  question  was  decided  in 
the  negative,  and  the  announcement  was  made  that  the  proprietors 
would  give  away  their  lands  to  particular  men  as  they  should  see 
cause,  or  judge  that  men  had  need  of  them. 

In  1707,  came  the  sequestration  of  ten  square  miles,  for  commons, 
and  this  was  followed  at  the  same  meeting  by  a  division  of  upland 
and  meadow  which  gave  every  ;^ioo  proprietor  fifty  acres,  and 
every  other  Grand  proprietor  forty-five,  while  the  new  ;^4o  men 
received  thirty  acres  each — and  lots  were  to  be  drawn  for  the  divis- 
ion. By  this  distribution,  more  than  twelve  hundred  acres  passed 
at  once  out  of  the  keeping  of  the  original  proprietors,  and  a  disturb- 
ing force  entered  the  little  republic.  Had  proprietory  rights  been 
restricted  to  heirs,  and  every  one  of  the  Grand  proprietors  been  the 
father  of  an  equal  number  of  sons  to  receive  this  largess,  all  might 
have  been  well.  In  the  case  of  Joseph  Gaylord,  whose  sons  had  left 
Waterbury  at  this  date,  it  was  aggravating — hence,  the  remon- 
strance of  his  son  Joseph,  which  has  been  given.  The  case  of  Cap- 
tain John  Standly  (who  had  returned  to  Farmington),  was  little 
better,  he  having  but  one  son,  Samuel,  in  Waterbury,  and  we  shall 
hear  from  Captain  Standly  in  due  time.  The  most  trying  case  of 
all,  was  that  of  his  brother  Timothy,  who  was  childless,  but  who 
soon  found  a  way  out  of  his  difficulty.  This  division  was  not 
allotted  or  drawn  for  until  two  years  later.  John  Hopkins  and 
Samuel  "  Stanly"  were  chosen  March  6,  1709,  "to  fit  [prepare]  a  lot, 
and  on  Monday  next  17 10  to  meet  at  twelve  o'clock,  there  to  draw 
the  lot."  That  first  Monday  in  1710,  must  have  been  a  day  of  deep 
interest  and  much  excitement  in  Waterbury.  A  week  later  it  was, 
that  to  the  young  soldier,  Nathaniel  Richardson  (who  had  returned 
"sick"  from  the  war),  the  town  voted  four-score  acres  on  the  main 
branch  of  Hop  brook,  east  from  Break  Neck  hill — but  the  vote  met 
with  vigorous  opposition  from  Jeremiah  Peck,  Lieut.  Timothy 
Standly,  and  Edmund  Scott — nevertheless  the  town  went  on  giving 
away  its  lands  even  at  the  same  meeting.  March  5,  17 11,  the  second 
man  from  the  outside  world  was  admitted  into  the  corporation,  in 
the  person  of  Zachariah  Baldwin,  of  Milford,  whose  name  appears 
as  "Zacery  balding  J""."  That  inhabitant  did  not  find  Waterbury 
altogether  attractive.  For  some  reason,  unknown  to  us,  he  sold  in 
17 13,  his  "land,  building  and  other  timbej,  and  all  the  labor  that  he 
had  done  to  it,"  together  with  his  right  in  the  township,  to  George 
Scott  Sen.,  who  established  his  son  Obadiah  at  the  place,  and  the  town 


282  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

accepted  him  on  Baldwin's  propriety.  It  was  at  Judd's  Meadows,  on 
the  New  Haven  road,  near  Thomas  Richard's  house.  I  think,  but 
do  not  know,  that  Zachariah  Baldwin  was  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  England. 

In  171 1,  a  "book  of  Records"  was  established,  in  which  it  was 
directed  that  the  meadow  divisions  should  be  recorded,  and  Mr. 
John  Southmayd  and  Deacon  Judd  were  chosen  "  to  view  some  writ- 
ing of  the  Grand  committee  and  such  as  of  value  to  be  recorded  the 
remainder  to  be  obliterated."  It  is  well  for  this  history,  that  in  this 
instance  Mr.  Southmayd  and  Deacon  Judd  did  not  do  the  oblitera- 
tion-duty assigned  to  them.  In  December,  17 11,  Thomas  Clark,  a 
nephew  of  Mrs.  Timothy  Standly,  was  the  third  person  admitted  to 
the  township  from  the  outside  world.  The  only  record  that  we  have 
oi  proprietor' s  meetings  in  171 3,  relates  to  Joseph  Gaylord's  remon- 
strance, and  of  1714,  we  have  nothing  until  January,  when  the  south- 
ern bounds  of  the  township  were  ordered  to  be  measured,  Mr.  South- 
mayd being  at  the  head  of  the  committee  to  make  the  measurements. 
The  Wallingford  bounds  were  also  to  be  looked  after  and  settled, 
and  if  an  agreement  could  not  be  had  with  that  town,  the  matter 
**  about  the  bounds  was  to  be  carried  to  court  till  it  had  a  final  issue." 

When  we  consider  where  the  southern  bound  of  our  ancient  town- 
ship lies,  we  are  not  surprised  that  the  men  of  Waterbury,  although 
led  by  Mr.  Southmayd,  could  not  satisfactorily  define  the  line,  and 
that  the  town  called  Mr.  Kimberly,  the  County  surveyor,  to  under- 
take the  task.  "  In  company  with  Mr.  John  Hopkins,  Dr.  Porter, 
and  other  men  of  the  town  of  Waterbury  on  the  6th  day  of  May, 
17 15,"  Mr.  Kimberly  informs  us  that  he  set  forth  to  measure  the 
southern  breadth  of  the  township.  The  following  is  the  document, 
which  obliging  Mr.  Southmayd  failed  to  "obliterate :" 

These  may  certifie  all  whome  it  doth  or  may  Concern  That  I  Thomas  Kimberly 
Surveyor  of  land  in  the  County  of  Hartford  on  the  6th  day  of  May  Anno  Dom.  1715. 
At  the  Desire  &  in  Company  with  Mr.  John  Hopkins  Dan^  Porter,  and  othermen  of 
the  Town  of  Waterbury  in  Order  to  Survey  and  find  the  breadth  from  East  to  West 
of  the  Southern  bounds  of  the  Said  Township  of  Waterbury.  And  I  begann  at 
two  Chestnut  trees  markt,  standing  on  the  Westerly  side  of  a  Run  of  Water,  at 
some  distance  Northerly  of  a  boggy  Meadow,  which  trees  stand  at  the  South 
West  Corner  of  the  bounds  of  said  Township,  and  at  South  Easterly  comer  of  the 
bounds  of  Woodberry,  from  Thence  I  ran  East  by  the  needle  of  the  Instrument.  3. 
miles  and  36.  rods,  to  the  River  Called  Naugatuck,  viz — the  Westerly  bank  thereof, 
and  from  thence  We  ran  (South  by  the  needle)  one  Mile  &  20.  rods  (Crossing  the 
Said  River)  to  a  brook  running  W.  falling  into  the  Sd  River  in  the  Southern  bounds 
of  the  Said  Township  of  Waterbury  next  Derby — from  thence  I  proceeded  on  my 
former  Course.  E.  one  mile,  then  made  another  offsett  of.  80.  rods — Then  again  Con- 
tinued our  Course.  E.  i  miles,  and.  120.  rods  falling.  10.  rods  N.  of  3  Chestnut  trees 
Standing  at  the  N.  E.  Corner  of  the  bounds  of  Milford.  and,  N.  W.  corner  of  the 


TO   THE    CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPBIETOBS'  BEIQN, 


283 


bounds  of  New  Haven    *    *    *    Commonly  called  the.   3.  brothers,  alias,  three 

Sisters  (as  these  Gent'°  informed  me.)    Then  Course  continued — I  ran.  E.  one  Mile, 

and  fell.  80  rods.  N.  of  a  White  Oak  tree  Markt  anciently,  and  a  large  [heap]  of 

stones  about,  and  diverse  Letters  &  figures  on  "d  tree  standing  on  the  Southerly 

side  of  Wet  land.     From  that  tree.  E.  ran.  13  Changes*  wanting.  16.  rods  to  a  heap 

of  Stones  (on  the  top  of  a  bare  Mountain)  by  us  now  Erected  for  the  E  bounds  of 

the    Said  Township  of  Waterbury— A  Map  of  this    survey  is  hereunto  Annext, 

Here  Note  that  a  Line  drawn.  E.  from  the  first  mentioned  Chestnut  trees  till  it 

Intersect  a  line  drawn.   N.  from  the  mentioned  White  Oak  tree  in  length,  is,   6 

miles.  &.  156.  rods  and  that  in  this.  6  mile.  &.  156  rods  no  allowance  was  made  for 

the  roughnesse  and  unevennesse  of  the  Land,  whereas  according  to  my  best  skill 

there  ought  to  be  allowed,  at  least.  118.  rods. 

THO.  KIMBERLY— Surveyor— 

The  above  figures  gives  us  seven  miles  and  twenty  rods  as  the 
length  of  the  south  bound  of  Waterbury  in  17 15.  The  following  is 
a  transcription  of  the  map  of  the  survey,  f     The  chestnut  trees  at 


}piMhoy 


..%- 


]Mlu/^' 


3  JhUa  <J  d(/UvU 


ZmUii,/Zor^t. 


ue^^ 


^^^£4^^^^- 

S- 


the  southwest  line  had  become  "two  stumps"  in  1753.  They  were 
"near  Samuel  Wheeler's  house  "  which  was  in  Derby,  and  southwest 
of  the  "  two  stumps."  The  present  aspect  of  the  "  Three  Brothers  " 
is  given  on  page  193. 

So  thoroughly  did  the  men  of  Waterbury,  Derby,  and  Woodbury 
establish  their  relative  bounds  in  1680,  that  they  seem  not  to  have 
been  in  serious  question  at  any  subsequent  time.     There  was  a  con- 


*  In  measuring  lands  the  forward  chain  bearer  puts  down  one  of  ten  pins  which  he  carries,  placing  one  at 
the  end  of  every  chain.  The  rear  chain  bearer  gathers  the  pins,  and  when  the  ten  have  been  used,  a  furlong 
has  been  measured,  and  a  change  of  pins  is  made — therefore  a  change  meant  a  furlong. 

+  The  last  line  run  should  be  "  1  ^  mile  &  24  rods." 


284  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

test  with  Wallingford  in  the  settlement  of  which  Waterbury  seems 
to  have  yielded  a  little  more  than  one  mile  and  one-half  of  her  ter- 
ritory, at  the  southeast  corner.  In  1765,  Waterbury  and  Milford 
settled  their  line  by  this  survey — "starting  from  the  Three  Sisters 
and  running  due  west  one  mile  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  rods 
to  a  white  oak  staddle."  From  the  oak  "southward  it  was  forty- 
eight  rods  to  Derby's  northeast  corner  the  southwest  side  of  Beacon 
Hill  river." 


The  above  survey  was  made  in  order  to  a  settlement  of  the 
bound  line  with  Wallingford.  The  Assembly  afterward  appointed 
a  committee  "to  go  upon  the  spot  and  measure  the  controverted 
lines,"  for  which  service  the  proprietors  of  Waterbury  were  ordered 
to  pay  Wallingford  four  pounds,  three  shillings  and  six  pence. 
They  were  also  to  resign  their  claim  to  the  land  lying  to  the 
eastward  of  the  "  Three  Sisters."  Waterbury  borrowed  the  above 
money   of   Joseph    Lewis   and   paid    it   in    eighty   acres    of   land 


rO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN.  285 

In  1715,  the  limit  of  the  attainments  of  Waterbury  under  its 
Grand  proprietors  was  reached.  We  have  been  dimly  recording,  in 
faintest  outline,  the  achievements  of  a  few  men  and  their  sons  in 
their  endeavor  to  build  an  ideal  English  town,  on  foreign  soil,  in 
which  the  Law  of  God  should  be  the  supreme  rule  of  man,  and  His 
public  worship  the  visible  sign  of  that  rule.  Waterbury  was 
severely  disciplined  and  sorely  afflicted  during  the  thirty-eight 
years  in  which  it  remained  under  the  government  of  its  founders. 
In  1715  it  had  but  just  emerged  from  the  scenes  of  illness  and  death, 
that  befell  it  from  October  17 12,  to  September  17 13,  in  which  time 
more  than  twenty  persons  died.  Mr.  Southmayd  gives  us  no  hint  of 
the  origin  of  this  "  great  sickness,"  but  it  perhaps  was  the  same 
"camp  distemper"  that  caused  the  troops  to  turn  back  so  fre- 
quently. It  began  in  Waterbury,  in  so  far  as  we  may  tell,  by  the 
illness  and  death  of  John  Richardson  in  October  of  17 12,  in  the 
third  house  (east  from  Willow)  on  the  north  side  of  West  Main 
street — to  be  followed  in  seventeen  days  by  the  death  of  his  soldier 
brother,  Nathaniel,  in  the  house  next  eastward;  and  that  death  in 
eleven  days  more,  by  that  of  Thomas  Richardson,  the  Grand  propri- 
etor, in  the  same  house;  while  but  a  week  later,  from  the  same 
home  was  borne  forth  the  weary-hearted  wife  and  mother,  Mary 
Richardson — she,  who,  when  living  in  a  cellar,  became  the  mother 
of  the  first-born  child  of  Mattatuck.  In  less  than  a  month,  on  the 
i8th  of  December,  Israel  Richardson,  another  son  of  the  same  fam- 
ily, was  taken — to  be  followed  in  a  brief  while  by  his  wife  and  their 
daughter.  In  the  next  house  eastward,  died  Mary,  the  widow  of 
the  Grand  proprietor,  John  Bronson — while  in  the  following  March 
a  most  unusual  event  took  place  in  the  Burying  yard  on  Grand 
street — it  was  the  burial  of  two  young  girls  who  died  on  the  same 
day^  and  who  bore  the  same  name — Hannah  Judd — the  one  was  the 
sixteen-year  old  daughter  of  John  Judd;  the  other  the  fourteen- 
year  old  daughter  of  Deacon  Judd.  Of  the  Hikcox  family,  five 
members  died.  Samuel,  the  first  settler  of  Naugatuck,  and  his  son 
Samuel;  and  three  young  sons  of  William  Hikcox,  who  occupied  his 
father's  homestead — now  crossed  by  Prospect  street.  In  the  next 
house,  on  the  corner  of  North  Main  street,  before  the  year  closed 
there  died  the  wife,  and  son  Ebenezer,  aged  twenty,  of  Benjamin 
Barnes.  Every  death  that  occurred  in  the  village,  of  which  we 
have  record,  took  place  in  the  row  of  houses  on  the  north  side  of 
West  Main  street,  between  Willow  and  North  Main  streets,  supple- 
mented by  the  two  houses,  close  by,  of  Samuel  Standly  and  Stephen 
Welton  on  the  east  side  of  the  Green,  and  that  of  Deacon  Judd  at 
the  west  end.   To  these  must  be  added  the  death  of  Daniel  Warner, 


286  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

at  Judd's  Meadows.  We  have  no  means  of  estimating  the  number 
of  those  who  were  ill,  but  Dr.  Porter's  ability  must  have  been  tested 
to  the  utmost,  and  the  need  of  another  practitioner  was  felt,  for  we 
find  the  proprietors  urging  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner  to  "live  among 
them  "  and  coaxing  him  with  the  use  of  all  the  school  lands  for 
three  years,  and  ten  acres  in  the  sequester,  and  other  alluring  mor- 
sels of  meadow,  or  "swamp  that  would  make  meadow."  Dr.  War- 
ner was  coaxed  and  came,  and  proved  professional  enough,  on 
occasion,  to  assist  Dr.  Porter  in  his  "protesting"  cases. 

A  new  era  was  dawning.  The  proprietors  prepared  to  meet  it 
by  trying  to  place  their  lands  on  a  basis  that  would  please  every- 
body concerned.  This  they  sought  to  do  by  making  amends  for 
wrongs  formerly  done;  by  ratifying  the  acts  of  the  town,  it  having 
illegally  granted  lands;  and  by  agreeing  that  every  Grand  pro- 
prietor should  have  two  bachelor  allotments  of  forty  pounds  each, 
to  each  lot— a  few  of  the  "  old  "  proprietors  being  owners  of  more 
than  one  Grand  propriety.  In  the  extra  allotments  here  granted, 
all  lands  that  had  formerly  been  given  to  individuals  out  of  the 
undivided  lands  were  to  be  counted,  and  if  the  sons  of  planters  had 
been  given  lands,  such  gifts  were  also  to  be  included  in  making  up 
the  old  planters'  bachelor  lots.  This  was  intended  to  give  equality 
among  those  men  who  had  sons  who  were  bachelor  proprietors,  and 
those  who  had  not.  Having  thus  restored  the  old  planters  to  their 
former  standing, it  was  next  agreed  to  make  "a  division  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  apiece  to  each  original  proprietor  and  bachelor's  accom- 
modation to  each  of  them  alike  and  the  remainder  of  the  undivided 
land  to  be  divided  to  the  original  proprietors  according  to  meadow 
allotments."  To  prevent  any  possible  misunderstanding,  Thomas 
Clark's  bachelor-right  was  to  be  accounted  on  his  uncle  Timothy 
Standly's  bachelor  rights.  After  the  above  votes  had  been  passed,  it 
was  formally  announced  that  "the  40  pound  propriety  formerly 
granted  was  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect." 

The  above  votes  were,  without  doubt,  the  effect  of  Lieut.  John 
Stanley's  remonstrance,  for  it  was  at  this  meeting  that  that  gentle- 
man protested  vigorously  and  in  forcible  language,  against  the  act  of 
1697 — promulgated  "in  order  to  bring  in  inhabitants" — as  contrary 
to  equity  and  justice;  declaring  that  the  first  purchasers  of  the  land 
acquired  a  right  in  the  lands  according  to  the  proportion  of  the  pay- 
ments they  made  by  order  of  the  committee  for  the  settling  of  the 
place,  and  in  virtue  of  the  articles  of  agreement  which  they  had 
fuliilled,  and  that  they  were  entitled  to  the  subdivisions  as  accorded 
by  the  town  patent  to  the  then  proprietor  inhabitants  and  their 
heirs.      He  informed   them    that  he   had   nowhere  seen  that  the 


TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  TEE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN.  287 

ancient  proprietors  impowered  the  major  part  by  vote  to  give  the 
land  at  their  pleasure,  and  announced  that  the  received  principle 
seemed  to  be,  that  the  major  part  of  the  proprietors  in  common, 
might,  by  vote  when  opposed  by  the  minor,  give  away  from  the 
minor  when  and  as  they  pleased.  He  tersely  told  them  that  that 
which  was  consequent  upon  it,  was,  that  the  major  part  might  com- 
bine and  give  it  all  to  and  amongst  themselves,  so  that  the  minor 
part  should  have  neither  land  nor  commoning.  Mr.  John  Stanley 
had  been  away  from  Waterbury  for  twenty  years  at  this  time,  but 
his  landed  interests  and  his  family  ties  in  Waterbury  had  kept  him 
in  intercourse  with  its  people.  He  was,  from  time  to  time,  called 
upon  to  perform  some  service  for  the  town.  At  this  very  meeting,  he 
was  "desired  by  the  proprietors  to  record  the  Indians'  deed  of 
the  town." 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  it  was  voted  that  the  original 
proprietors  should  take  up  the  acres  of  their  bachelor  lots  in  the 
sequestered  land.  By  the  next  vote  they  had  liberty  to  take  them 
by  their  own  land,  and  if  not  taken  there,  they  were  to  be  laid  out 
with  the  hundred-acre  division.  By  the  next  vote  an  entirely  new 
layout  was  determined  upon.  It  was  that  the  allotment  of  one 
hundred  acres  apiece,  to  each  man  alike,  and  the  bachelor  rights 
belonging  to  the  Grand  proprietors,  and  the  bachelor  accommoda- 
tions, should  begin  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  bounds  next  to 
Woodbury  bounds,  and  the  length  of  the  tier  of  lots  should  be  a 
mile  in  length  east  and  west,  and  to  run  north  on  the  Woodbury 
line  until  they  had  half  the  number  of  acres,  and  then  on  the  east 
of  said  tier,  a  highway  twenty  rods  wide,  and  then  another  tier  of 
lots  south  to  Derby  bounds;  which  lots  were  to  be  a  mile  in  length 
as  the  first  tier  was.  The  east  and  west  highways  were  to  be  four 
rods  wide. 

There  was  evidently  a  desire  at  this  time,  or  an  influence  at 
work  in  the  direction  of  repairing  wrongs.  Five-sixths  of  the  three 
Great  lots,  set  apart  by  the*  committee  for  special  uses,  had  been 
diverted  from  such  uses,  in  order  to  give  munificently  to  the  Rever- 
end Jeremiah  Peck,  and  his  son  Jeremiah,  and  to  the  Reverend 
John  Southmayd — only  one  half-lot  remaining  for  the  schools.  At 
the  same  proprietors'  meeting  we  find  "a  hundred  and  fifty  pound 
propriety  in  the  undivided  land  set  apart  to  be  kept  for  the  ministry 
that  is  for  the  town  to  dispose  on  for  the  use  of  the  ministry."  Thus, 
we  have  the  appearance  of  the  fourth  Great  lot.  The  next  thing 
in  order  was  to  enter  in  the  "  book  of  records "  the  names  of  the 
Grand  proprietors.  Accordingly,  Dea.  John  Standly  and  Abraham 
Andrews,  who  were  here  from  the  beginning,  and  John  Hopkins 


288  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

with  John  Judd — whose  boy-memory  might  serve  him  somewhat — 
were  appointed  "for  finding  out  who  were  the  proper  original 
proprietors,"  and  to  record  their  names  in  the  book  of  records. 

Before  the  year  17 15  closed  the  town  was  divided  into  four  quar- 
ters and  four  measurers  appointed  for  the  four  quarters.  The 
northwest  quarter  was  west  of  the  river  and  north  of  the  Woodbury 
road;  the  southwest,  south  of  the  Woodbury  road.  The  northeast 
quarter  was  east  of  the  river  and  north  of  the  Farmington  road ; 
the  southeast,  east  of  the  river  and  south  of  the  Farmington  road. 
To  each  division  of  the  township,  a  measurer  was  appointed. 

A  glance  at  the  land  records  at  this  time  will  convince  us  that 
certain  of  the  young  proprietors  made  haste  to  part  with  their 
lands.  On  Dec.  14,  17 16,  Obadiah  Scott  sold  to  Daniel  Shelton  of 
Stratford,  eight  acres  in  the  Sequester.  Three  days  later,  Thomas 
Richards  sold  the  same  number  of  acres  to  Mr.  Shelton,  and  the 
next  month  Jonathan  Scott  sold  to  him,  "for  a  young  mare,  four  and 
one-half  acres  in  the  Sequester,  not  yet  laid  out;"  while  Thomas 
Richards,  "  for  a  horse,"  sold  land  to  the  same  party.  These,  and 
other  immediate  sales  made  by  the  young  proprietors  of  their  new 
possessions  were  disappointing. 

Under  the  progress  of  expected  events,  and  the  natural  growth 
of  the  second  generation,  the  little  meeting-house  was  too  small. 
Waterbury  must  have  had  at  this  time  a  population  of  over  three 
hundred  souls.  A  gallery  was  built,  extending  around  three  sides 
of  the  audience  room.  The  "fore  seats"  in  the  gallery  were 
finished;  the  interior  of  the  roof  was  ceiled;  four  windows  were 
"put  up,"  and  apparently  everything  was  made  ready  in  17 18  for 
the  arduous  work  of  "seating  the  meeting-house."  The  repairs  had 
been  going  on  for  four  years  under  the  guiding  hand  of  Jeremiah 
Peck,  the  educated  carpenter  and  school-master  of  1689.  One  pay- 
ment was  made  to  him  in  17 18  of  £1$.  We  may  not  readily  obtain 
a  mental  picture  of  the  interior  from  the  records.  Captain  Judd, 
Lieutenant  Hopkins,  and  Dr.  Porter  were  the  committee  for  seating 
the  people  when  the  repairs  were  completed.  Age  and  estate  were 
the  only  factors  to  be  considered  in  dealing  out  the  stations  of 
honor  in  Waterbury;  one  year  in  age  was  counted  as  the  equivalent 
of  four  pounds  in  estate  at  the  first  recorded  seating  of  the  meeting- 
house. It  was  voted  that  "  the  fore  short  seat  in  the  gallery  should 
be  deemed  equal  with  the  pillar  or  second  seat  below;  that  is  to  say 
the  second  long  seat  from  the  upper  end."  This  vote  was  annulled, 
and  it  was  voted  "that  the  short  seat  in  the  gallery  should  be 
equal,  or  next  to,  the  short  seat  below."  Ensign  Hikcox,  Joseph 
Lewis,  Stephen  Upson,  Jr.,  and  William  Judd  were  to  sit  in  this  fore 


TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN,  289 

short  seat  in  the  gallery  and  "  were  to  take  their  turns  yearly  out  of 
the  four  first  seats."  The  only  other  item  granted  to  us  is  the  follow- 
ing: "Those  that  were  formerly  seated  in  the  pew — the  seat  which 
Mr.  Southmayd  had  enlarged  in  1709 — should  sit  there  without 
any  disturbance  notwithstanding  our  other  votes  to  seat  the  meet- 
ing-house." The  meeting-house  having  been  duly  enlarged,  it  was 
in  order  to  enlarge  Mr.  Southmayd's  salary.  In  17 10,  it  was  ;^5o  in 
provision  pay,  of  which  not  more  than  one-third  was  to  be  in  Indian 
com.  Any  man  by  paying  money  could  save  one-third  of  his  rate. 
Mr.  Southmayd  released  the  town  from  paying  him  jQio  in  labor, 
and  it  was  agreed  to  pay  the  same  amount  in  wood,  at  eight  shil- 
lings per  cord.  There  had  been  no  material  change  in  his  salary 
for  nine  years,  when,  in  1719 :  "It  was  agreed  by  vote  with  Marster 
John  Southmayd  to  give  him  sixty  pound  in  money  and  the  per- 
ticuUers  as  followeth  that  is  to  say  wheet  at  five  shillings  per 
bushill  ry  at  three  and  six  pence  pr  bushill  ingun  at  too  and  six 
pence  pr  bushill  porcke  at  three  pence  pr  pound  flax  nine  pence  pr 
pound  and  also  we  agree  to  give  him  ten  pound  in  wood  half  a 
crown  a  lod  for  ock  and  three  shillings  a  lod  for  wamut  wood." 
This  rate  was  to  be  paid  before  the  first  of  the  ensuing  March. 

It  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  upon  our  minds  that  to  this 
period  in  the  history  of  the  town,  we  find  only  its  landed  owners 
forming  any  visible  portion  of  its  dwellers.  In  every  instance  we 
have  not  been  able  to  identify  the  person  owning  land,  or  giving 
name  to  locality. 

The  student  of  the  early  history  of  New  England  towns  will  soon 
discover  that  in  their  building  no  room  was  prepared  for  non-pro- 
ducers of  the  necessary  things  of  life.  Every  dweller  within  the 
town  edifice  was  expected  to  do  his  part  in  every  department  to 
which  the  votes  of  the  householders  called  him,  and  we  find — taking 
at  random  the  period  of  ten  years  from  1708  to  17 18 — ^no  less  than  fifty- 
four  men  holding  ofiice,  and  six  proprietors  representing  it  at  the 
General  Court.  In  1708  the  town  officers  were  a  constable,  three 
townsmen,  a  town  clerk,  a  surveyor,  four  fence-viewers,  two  hay- 
wards,  three  listees,  three  rate-makers,  a  collector  of  ministers'  rates, 
a  collector  of  town  rates — a  school  committee,  consisting  of  two  mem- 
bers, and  a  man  "  for  to  dig  the  graves."  The  last  office  was  held  by 
five  different  men  in  the  ten  years.  Poor  Richard  Porter  must  have 
made  many  a  weary  journey  up  Grand  street  in  the  year  1712  and 
1 713  (his  house  was  at  the  corner  of  Bank  street),  to  prepare  the 
graves  for  the  dead  of  that  time.  The  new  offices  created  in  the 
interval,  seem  to  have  been  those  of  town  treasurer,  chimney-viewer, 
ordinary  or  tavern-keeper,  grand  juror,  inspector,  and  leather-sealer, 

19 


290  mSTORT  OF  WATERBUBT, 

During  this  period  the  town  was  served  by  a  captain,  two  lieuten- 
ants, an  ensign,  four  sergeants  and  two  doctors.  Benjamin  Barnes, 
Jr.,  was  the  only  proprietor  who  declined  office.  On  one  occasion 
when  he  was  appointed  fence-viewer,  his  father,  in  town  meeting, 
promised  that  if  his  son  did  not  do  the  work  he  would  do  it  for  him. 
If  there  was  any  one  thing  that  the  colony  and  the  towns  dis- 
liked, it  was  making  provision  for  the  poor;  it  must  be  remembered 
that  their  aim  was  in  many  respects  an  ideal  one ;  that  they  tried  to  bar 
out  penury  and  all  forms  of  unwholesomeness.  In  the  beginning,  the 
Court  of  Magistrates  held  power  over  poor  persons,  and  disposed 
them  in  such  towns  as  it  deemed  best  able  to  care  for  them.  Pov- 
erty was  considered  a  crime,  consequent  upon  the  sin  of  idleness. 
Men  were  forced  to  bring  up  their  children  to  some  useful  employ- 
ment. A  householder  even,  could  not,  under  the  town's  watchful 
eye,  indulge  in  wasting  his  time.  The  natural  seats  of  stone  on  the 
Waterbury  Green,  it  is  safe  to  say  held  no  loungers,  and  even  the 
holidays  were  improved  by  the  earnest  workers  to  remove  them  in — 
nevertheless  the  poor  were  here,  even  in  1709,  when — Deacon  Judd 
being  the  town  clerk — made  the  following  record  of  his  own  act. 
**  Oct.  8,  1709,  William  Stanard  and  his  wife  came  to  Waterbury,  and 
Dacon  Judd  out  of  pity  gave  them  leave  to  be  in  his  house  a  few 
days  and  to  work  in  his  shop.  Said  Stanard  staid  till  the  thirtieth 
day  of  said  month  and  then  by  the  said  Judd,  as  a  townsman,  was 
warned  to  depart  the  town  and  his  house."  A  second  townsman, 
Stephen  Upson,  also  warned  him  to  depart;  but  he  "not  going 
away  "  was  warned  again  in  November  by  Upson  "  to  quit  the  town 
and  be  gone."  The  sixth  of  December  "  he  was  warned  by  the  said 
Upson  to  depart  or  he  would  carry  him  away  or  take  care  it  should 
be  done."  It  is  evident  that  the  kind-hearted  Deacon  Judd  "  out  of 
pity"  declined  to  again  warn,  "as  townsman,"  William  Stanard 
and  his  wife  to  depart;  but  the  law's  rigors  were  enacted,  and  curi- 
ously enough  we  know  by  whom  the  deed  was  done,  for  when  Jona- 
than Scott  had  been  gotten  out  of  town  by  the  Indians,  we  learn 
that  it  was  Jonathan  himself  who  did  the  deed — for  the  town  gave 
him  his  town  rate  for  1709  for  getting  out  of  town  William  Stanard 's 
wife."  There  are  no  sweeter  words  in  all  our  records  than  the  three 
words,  "  out  of  pity,"  with  which  Deacon  Judd  tries  to  justify  his 
transgression  of  law,  in  taking  the  homeless  and  the  wandering  into 
his  house  and  shop — the  little  "smith"  shop  that  was  "set  six  feet 
into  the  highway,"  at  the  southwest  comer  of  West  Main  and  Willow 
streets.  Did  William  Stanard  die  here,  one  cannot  help  asking, 
that  only  his  wife  was  gotten  out  of  town.  The  above  is  the  first  of 
a  long  and  numerous  list  of  "warnings  out  of  town,"  that  soon 


TO  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS'  REIGN.  291 

became  only  a  form  of  compliance  with  law.  This  act  relieved  the 
town  of  liability  to  support  persons  (being  so  warned)  if,  for  any 
cause,  they  become  dependent  upon  the  public.  In  this  list  are 
names  of  men  who  later  became  prominent  and  prosperous  citizens; 
therefore  if  any  resident  of  Waterbury  should  find  that  his  ances- 
tor's name  is  mentioned  in  the  list,  it  need  not  cause  a  moment's 
confusion. 

It  was  not  until  17 15  that  the  colonial  law  was  passed  compelling 
a  man  to  support  his  children  and  grandchildren,  and  children  to 
support  their  parents  and  grandparents.  The  first  provision  for  the 
unfortunate  in  Waterbury  was  made  January  6,  17 18.  "A  rate  of 
five  pounds  as  money  was  granted  as  town  stock  for  the  necessity 
of  the  poor  or  distracted  persons  to  be  disposed  of  at  the  discretion 
of  the  present  townsmen  according  to  law." 

There  was  a  colonial  custom  of  granting  a  license  to  certain  per- 
sons who  had  endured  unusual  hardships  through  misfortune,  acci- 
dent, or  affliction,  to  solicit  alms  in  certain  named  towns  for  speci- 
fied periods,  but  it  is  not  known  that  any  of  Waterbury's  inhabitants 
ever  sought  the  privilege. 

Under  date  of  April  28,  1719,  we  find  the  following  entry: 
"  Thomas  peate  was  admitted  an  inhabitant  in  the  town  by  vote." 
This  is  a  mysterious  entry,  and  contains  in  itself,  all  that  we  are 
permitted  to  know  concerning  a  man  who  got  within  the  charmed 
circle,  apparently  without  condition  or  obligation. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

REMARKABLE  INCREASE  IN  POPULATION — THE  TOWN  DECIDES  TO  BUILD  A 
NEW  MEETING  HOUSE — MR.  SOUTHMAYD's  LITTLE  MEETING  HOUSE 
BOOK — SEATING  THE  MEETING  HOUSE — LAYOUT  OF  THE  VILLAGE — 
THE  TAX-LIST  OF  THE  YEAR  173O— THE    NEW  INHABITANTS  OF  I73I. 

THE  period  from  172 1  to  and  including  the  year  1731  was  the 
most  important  decade  in  the  early  history  of  the  town;  it 
witnessed  changes  greater  in  proportion  to  existing  condi- 
tions than  any  subsequent  ten  years  has  seen.  The  year  1720  found 
but  seven  of  the  signers  of  the  plantation  agreement  of  1674  living 
in  Waterbury — these  were  John  Welton,  Timothy  Standly,  Daniel 
Porter,  Abraham  Andrews,  Benjamin  Barnes,  Stephen  Upson  and 
Richard  Porter — the  names  of  John  Hopkins,  Captain  Thomas  Judd, 
Edmund  Scott,  Jr.,  and  John  Richards  complete  the  list  of  those  who 
represented  original  proprietors.  The  same  year  found  Waterbury 
with  a  village  center  of  perhaps  forty-five  families,  while  twelve 
or  possibly  fifteen  more  may  have  been  living  in  the  neighboring 
regions  of  Bucks  Hill,  Break  Neck,  and  Judds  Meadow.  There  is 
no  list  extant  of  the  voting  population  of  1720 — it  must  however 
have  been  less  than  sixty-five  persons, — while  ten  years  later  we 
find  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  men  living  here;  an  increase  in  ten 
years  of  over  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  per  cent.  Before  this 
migration  to  Waterbury  began,  the  proprietors  had,  after  many 
attempts  to  deal  satisfactorily  with  each  other  and  with  their  sons 
the  bachelor  or  first  degree  proprietors,  reached  a  final  adjustment 
of  their  landed  rights.  There  are  no  proprietor's  records  from 
March  4,  17 17,  to  October  9,  172 1.  Therefore  we  are  unable  to  give 
an  account  of  the  steps  that  led  to  the  following  adjustment — which 
took  place  at  a  meeting  held  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  at  the 
house  of  Serg'  Scovill,  on  February  28,  1721.  Before  this  meeting 
was  held,  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  search  the 
records  and  find  out  what  men  were  entitled  to  land  divisions  was 
received,  accompanied  by  a  list  of  their  names.  At  this  meeting  it 
was  agreed  that  every  original  proprietor  should  have  two  £40  or 
bachelor  lots  if  he  owned  £100  interest  in  the  township — thus  giving 
him  £180  interest.  A  like  proportion  accrued  to  every  lesser  owner- 
ship. The  £40  interest  was  considered  at  that  date,  equal  to  sixty- 
eight  acres  of  land.  Thereafter  all  divisions  were  to  be  made  to  the 
original  proprietors  according  to  their  propriety,  with  the  additions 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS.  293 

named.  All  conditions  of  building  and  living  in  the  town  a  speci- 
fied time  were  removed  from  the  bachelor  lots  of  the  old  proprie- 
tors. The  younger  men  who  were  bachelor  proprietors  were  to 
receive  lands  according  to  their  £40  interest,  and  divisions  of  lands 
were  to  be  restricted  to  the  two  parties.  Each  man  might  take  up 
his  division  "  by  his  own  land  and  in  one  place  more  and  in  a  hand 
some  form."  The  recorder,  Mr.  John  Southmayd,  was  to  issue  notes 
to  the  proprietors  for  the  lands.  These  notes,  upon  presentation, 
authorized  the  measurer  to  lay  out  lands,  and  the  number  of  acres 
laid  out  was  to  be  endorsed  upon  the  note.  Mr.  Southmayd  was  to 
make  a  record  of  every  note  that  went  out  from  his  office.  Three 
of  these  little  notes  are  in  the  writer's  possession;  they  are  about 
four  inches  long  by  three  broad.  One  of  them  has  the  following: 
"  To  the  Measurers  in  Waterbury  these  may  Certify  that  tlfere  may 
be  Laid  out  in  the  Common  and  undivided  Sequestered  Land  in  said 
Town.  To  David  Prichard  one  acre  and  Twenty  Rods  on  Jonathan 
Scotts  Sen'  Right  on  the  Division  granted  Dec"",  ijthy  1793. 

Certified  per  me 

Ezra  Bronson,  Clerk,'' 

On  the  other  side  is  the  following;  "  forty  four  Rods  laid  out  to 
D.  Pritchard  June  3***  1818.  three  quarters  of  an  acre  and  twenty-six 
rods  laid  out  to  David  Prichard*  Oct'  23"*  1837."  The  lay  outs  are 
signed  by  Dan^  Porter,  measurer.  One  note  calling  for  201  rods 
is  still  unsatisfied,  but  forty  rods  having  been  laid  out  upon  it. 

Deacon  John  Stanley  was  called  upon  to  assist  in  making  the 
lists  of  Grand  and  Bachelor  proprietors.  The  combined  lists  com- 
prise the  names  of  ninety-six  men.  All  these,  having  fulfilled  con- 
ditions, were  owners  of  the  lands  purchased  in  1674.  Seventy-three 
young  men,  sons  of  twenty-four  Grand  proprietors  had  settled,  for 
a  time  if  not  permanently,  in  Waterbury.  Every  one  of  the  seven- 
teen family  names  on  this  list  is  represented  in  the  Waterbury 
Directory  of  1892. 

The  meeting  house  was  the  pulse  of  the  living  people — hence 
the  first  intimation  that  we  get  of  the  ingress  of  population  is  in 
1721,  when  the  town  voted  "to  apply  to  the  General  Court  to  get  a 
tax  on  all  the  land  laid  out  within  the  town  bounds,  the  money  to 
be  disposed  of  to  the  building  of  a  meeting  house.'*  It  will  be 
remembered  that  non-residents  owned  lands  laid  out  and  to  be  laid 
out — and  Waterbury  proprietors  exacted  tribute  from  all,  for  the 
meeting  house.  The  little  old  church  building  had  but  just  been 
made  ready,  by  repairs   and  additions,  for  the  then  inhabitants. 


*  This  is  perhaps  the  oaly  instance  in  which  a  man  of  over  a  hundred  years  bad  land  laid  out. 


294  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

when  in  1722  the  town  empowered  a  committee  to  take  up  a  part  of 
the  stairs  into  the  gallery  and  make  seats  there;  to  stop  up  the  east 
and  west  doors  and  make  what  seats  the  place  would  allow;  to 
raise  the  pulpit,  and  mend  the  outside  of  the  building. 

Other  preparations  were  made — "a  rate  of  twelve"  was  laid 
"for  raising  up  the  school  house  (built  in  1709)  and  other  charges 
in  the  town,  as  far  as  it  would  go;"  twenty-four  acres  in  the 
sequester  were  laid  out  and  ordered  to  be  recorded  for  the  use  of 
the  ministry;  six  men  were  chosen  for  a  committee  to  lay  out  high- 
ways and  make  return  to  the  recorder — three  were  to  go  together 
and  two  agreeing  empowered  the  recorder  to  make  a  record  of  the 
highway  so  returned,  while  a  general  order  to  the  committee  in 
regard  to  the  width  of  the  highways  was,  that  they  were  not  to 
exceed  twenty  rods,  but  they  should  be  as  wide  as  could  be  had 
where  they  did  not  take  off  any  man's  land,  and  "  where  men  had 
fenced  in  the  highway  it  was  to  be  accounted  to  the  highway,"  and 
the  road  through  Waterbury  bounds  to  Farmington*  was  to  go 
where  it  then  went,  and  be  ten  rods  wide  where  it  would  allow; 
and  no  surveyor  was  to  make  boundaries  within  that  stating  of  the 
road;  the  ministry  land  near  the  center  (now  occupied  by  many 
buildings)  was  to  be  leased  (time  not  stated)  to  Samuel  Porter  and 
Thomas  Upson,  and  the  school  lands  in  the  various  meadows  were 
leased  for  six  years;  the  school  committee  was  bidden  to  demand 
the  country  money  yearly,  also  the  money  that  the  school  land  was 
let  for, — and  pay  the  school  and  give  an  account  of  its  receivings 
and  " dispensements "  at  "the  great  town  meeting,"  which  at  this 
time  met  every  year  on  the  second  Monday  in  December,  at  10 
o'clock  in  the  morning;  f  bills  against  the  town  were  first  to  be 
brought  in,  and  then  a  rate  to  be  laid  sufficient  to  pay  the  charge. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  during  these  years  Waterbury  was 
ever  acting  on  the  defensive;  she  was  harassed  by  fears  and  con- 
fronted by  actual  warfare;  her  citizens  carried  on  their  avocations 
under  terrible  restraint;  they  went  forth  to  their  fields  by  com- 
mand of  authority  in  companies,  every  man  bearing  arms.  If  this 
were  a  romance  instead  of  veritable  history,  our  Drum  hill  com- 
manding the  meadows  up  the  valley  would  receive  its  name  from 
the  fact  that  the  sentinel  was  posted  there  with  his  drum  to  warn 
the  planters  at  work  in  the  meadows  of  approaching  danger,  and 
romance  would  probably  coincide  with  fact. 


♦  This  was  the  road  that  ran  from  Hartford  to  New  Milford  through  Farmington,  Waterbury,  and 
Woodbury,  in  distinction  from  other  roads  from  Waterbury  to  Farmington. 

tin  1723,  the  "receivings"  and  the  disbursements  of  the  committee  were  je6.9.o,  "with  twenty-five 
shillings  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Warner." 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS,  295 

The  only  inhabitant  who  appeared  in  172 1  was  Gershom  Fulford, 
a  blacksmith,  who  moved  over  from  Woodbury  and  entered  into  a 
covenant  to  live  in  the  town  and  practice  his  trade  seven  years,  and 
perform  articles  as  the  Bachelor  proprietors  had  done.  As  a  con- 
sideration, he  was  given  eight  acres  of  land  by  subscription  and  by 
vote.  It  does  not  appear  that  Captain  Thomas  Judd,  the  deacon 
and  the  blacksmith,  left  Waterbury  at  this  time,  but  circumstantial 
evidence  points  three  fingers  of  fact  in  that  direction.  He  sold  his 
house;  his  position  as  captain  of  the  Waterbury  train  band  was 
filled  by  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner  in  May  of  1722,  and  his  name  disap- 
pears for  a  time  from  the  list  of  oflSce  holders.  I  do  not  know 
whether  James  Brown  of  New  Haven,  or  Samuel  "  Chidester,"  who 
had  married  a  half-sister  of  Joseph  Lewis,  was  the  next  arrival; 
both  came  in  1722  and  settled  at  Judds  Meadow.  James  Brown  was 
licensed  to  keep  an  ordinary  in  that  year.  One  can  rejoice  with  the 
inhabitants  of  1723  in  the  prospect  of  even  one  new  inhabitant,  and 
imagine  that  a  tremor  of  satisfaction  is  found  in  the  hand  of  Mr. 
Southmayd  where  he  records  that  Dec.  10,  1723,  Nathaniel  Arnold 
[of  Hartford]  signed  an  agreement  to  live  in  Waterbury  four  years, 
for  which  the  town  gave  him  ten  acres  on  David's  brook,  north  of 
the  town,  near  the  common  fence.  Nathaniel  Arnold's  coming  was 
an  event  of  importance.  The  town  did  not  oblige  him  to  build  a 
house,  because  there  was  one  awaiting  him.  He  bought*  the  next 
year  the  original  house  lots  of  John  Bronson,  Lieut.  Judd,  and  Daniel 
Warner,  comprising  six  acres.  The  next  day  William  Ludinton 
subscribed  to  an  agreement  to  live  here  four  years  and  build  a 
house,  and  the  same  day  the  town  agreed  to  give  John  Williams,  a 
clothier,  ten  acres  if  he  would  come  and  sign  the  conditions  and 
build  a  fulling  mill  and  follow  the  clothiers'  trade.  John  Williams' 
name  is  not  subscribed  to  the  agreement  on  the  town  book,  and  it 
is  not  known  that  he  came. 

Judd's  Meadow  had  already  welcomed  a  substantial  inhabitant 
in  the  person  of  James  Brown  of  New  Haven,  with  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Kirby,  and  their  eight  children.  As  early  as  17 17,  he, 
with  Hezekiah  Rew  of  Milford,  bought  of  John  Hikcox  a  house  and 
land  on  the  hill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  south  of  the  site  of 
Naugatuck's  first  meeting  house.  There  he  had  been  keeping  an 
ordinary,  and  cherishing  the  Church  of  England  in  his  heart, 
(although  he  paid  tithes  for  the  meeting  house),  while  his  neigh- 
bors at  the  Town  spot  were  undecided  whether  to  repair  the  old 
school  house,  or  to  build  a  new  one;  whether,  with  the  help  of  Derby 
to  build  a  cart  road  to  that  place,  or  "  a  country  road  to  be  settled 
by  the   Court."    There  was,  however,  no  indecision  in   regard  to 


296  HISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 

building  the  new  meeting  house.  Waterbury  had  from  her  begin- 
ning a  way  of  deciding  matters  for  herself.  Again  and  again  we 
have  witnessed  the  manner  in  which  she,  quite  courteously,  avoided 
the  aid  of  foreign  committees,  even  when  offered  by  the  court.  Her 
establishment  of  bounds  with  Derby  and  Woodbury  is  in  evidence. 
Waterbury  witnessed  the  discord  in  the  towns  around  about  her  in 
relation  to  the  location  of  their  meeting  houses,  and  four  years 
before  a  step  was  taken  in  regard  to  the  building  of  a  new  one,  we 
find  her  people  saying:  "  When  we  shall  build  another  meeting 
house  we  will  build  it  upon  the  Green  upon  which  the  present  meet- 
ing house  stands."  In  December  of  1726,  they  laconically  declare: 
"We  will  build  a  meeting  house  forty  feet  wide  and  fifty  feet  long." 
From  the  public  records,  and  the  autograph  accounts  kept  by  Mr. 
Southmayd  (now  in  the  writer's  possession),  the  following  story  of 
the  building  of  the  second  meeting  house  is  gleaned:  After  decid- 
ing upon  the  place  for  it  in  1722,  and  its  size  in  1726,  plans  were  laid 
for  meeting  its  cost.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  adjustment 
of  proprieties,  about  17 15,  six  new  ones  were  created  of  £40  each. 
Two  of  these  had  been  sold;  the  four  remaining,  were  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  committee  for  sale,  the  proceeds  to  be  expended  on  the 
meeting  house.  For  money  to  be  used  in  its  beginning,  a  rate  was 
laid  of  three  pence  on  the  pound,  to  be  paid  in  May,  1727.  The 
building  committee  was  composed  of  five  of  the  town's  best  citizens, 
Lieut.  John  Hopkins,  Sergt.  John  Scovill,  Isaac  Bronson  Sen'',  Dea. 
Thomas  Hikcox,  and  Thomas  Clark. 

In  the  midwinter  of  1726-7,  the  timber  and  other  building 
materials  were  brought  by  the  people  to  the  Green,  and  "overdid" 
the  rate  of  three  pence  on  the  pound,  whereupon  a  second  rate  was 
laid  of  three  pence  on  the  pound,  which  was  also  intended  to  cover 
the  town  charges  for  the  year. 

The  first  cloud  that  shadowed  the  enterprise  was  the  death  of  a 
member  of  the  committee,  Sergt.  John  Scovill,  who  died  Feb.  26, 
1726-7,  and  in  his  place  were  appointed  "Steven"  Hopkins  and 
Lieut.  Wm.  Hikcox.  Two  stakes  were  set  down  at  the  east  end  of 
the  old  meeting  house,  to  "  regulate  the  seting  of  the  new  one."  The 
northwest  corner  was  to  be  at  the  one  stake  and  the  southeast  cor- 
ner at  the  other;  the  "  sills  were  laid  two  feet  from  the  ground  on  the 
highest  ground  (the  Green  not  having  been  graded)  and  the  stone 
work  or  underpinning  was  done  accordingly."  It  was  evidently  far 
easier  to  lay  rates  than  it  was  to  collect  them,  for  in  December  of 
1727  the  first  rate  was  still  ungathered;  and  the  second  one  was  not 
yet  in  when  the  town  announced  its  expectation  that  if  the  collector 
did  not  gather  the  money  without  delay  "that  the  townsmen  strain 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS.  297 

on  the  collector,"  and  then,  it,  at  the  same  meeting,  proceeded  to 
lay  the  third  tax  of  three  pence  on  the  pound,  which  was  to  be 
paid  in  money,  and  was  to  be  gathered  in  July  of  1727.  The  town 
meeting  here  referred  to  was  evidently  not  altogether  peaceful, 
for  Mr.  Southmayd  records  that  "Capt.  Hikcox  and  Stephen 
Hopkins  were  put  out  from  being  meeting  house  committee,"  and 
"Lieut.  Hopkins  was  discharged  from  being  a  committee  for  the 
meeting  house."  Their  successors  were  Capt.  Thomas  Judd,  Isaac 
Bronson,  and  Deacon  Thomas  Hikcox. 

In  March  of  1728,  Nathaniel  Arnold  and  Stephen  Hopkins, 
assisted  by  James  "Balding"  [Baldwin], — a  young  carpenter  from 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  who  had  recently  married  one  of  Dr.  Daniel 
Porter's  daughters — "culled  the  shingles  that  had  been  brought  by 
particular  persons  to  be  laid  on  the  meeting  house,"  and  in  the 
same  year  the  fourth  tax  was  laid,  making  the  entire  tax  eleven 
pence  on  the  pound.  By  Mr.  Southmayd 's  account  book  we  learn 
that  two  hundred  and  one  pounds  were  paid  to  twenty-one  men  for 
boards  and  work;  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  carpenter  and  for 
glass  and  nails.  Of  the  first  sum  mentioned  Mr.  Merriam,  the  car- 
penter, was  paid  more  than  one -fourth,  James  Blakslee  about 
forty  pounds,  Joseph  Lathrop  thirty-two,  and  Israel  or  Isaac  Moss 
twenty-five.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building,  exclusive  of  the  gal- 
leries which  were  not  finished,  seems  to  have  been  four  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  pounds,  twelve  shillings  and  sixpence. 

It  was  paid  for  by  the  sale  of  the  four  proprieties  of  £40  each, 
which  were  sold  for  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  pounds — of  this 
amount,  Mr.  Southmayd  tells  us  that  Thompson's  bond  was  fifty- 
four  pounds,  Judson's,  the  same  amount,  and  Welles's  seven  pounds, 
ten  shillings  (on  the  land  records,  we  find  that  Jan.  11,  1726-7,  the 
three  men  named — all  of  Stratford — had  measured  and  laid  out  for 
them,  sixty-two  acres  of  land  "  on  the  Northward  End  of  the  hill 
commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Shum's  orchard  Hill 
in  the  North  East  corner  of  Waterbury  Bounds");  by  a  gift  from 
Lieut.  Timothy  Standly  of  one  of  his  Bachelor  proprieties,  which 
sold  for  sixty  pounds;  by  "Z/>»/.  Balding's  gift,"  of  three  pounds, 
and  by  rates  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  pounds,  ten 
shillings  and  eleven  pence. 

Whatever  other  debts  Waterbury  assumed  early  and  late,  there 
was  apparently  no  indebtedness  left  on  its  meeting  house  of  1729. 
Mr.  Southmayd's  name  does  not  appear  on  the  town  or  proprietor's 
records  as  indicating  his  activity  in  the  enterprise,  but  the  little 
meeting-house  book  in  which  he  kept  all  the  accounts  is  eloquent 
in  his  praise.     He  recorded  the  following  item:  "To  get  Rum,"  but 


298  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

his  pen  crossed  the  charge — which  was  but  four  shillings  and  six 
pence — a  fact,  notably  to  the  credit  of  this  town  in  that  day  and 
generation. 

Just  one  year  before  the  meeting  house  was  finished,  Deacon 
Thomas  Hikcox,  the  second  member  of  the  original  committee,  died 
and  Thomas  Clarke  was  appointed  to  the  ofi&ce  of  deacon. 

On  the  last  day  of  June  in  1729  all  things  were  in  readiness  for 
that  most  delicate  and  troublesome  of  all  ceremonial  observances 
of  early  New  England  life — "  seating  the  meeting  house."  As  far 
as  my  knowledge  enables  me  to  state,  each  town  established  its 
own  rules  and  grades  of  dignity.  But  two  factors  were  recognized 
here— age  and  estate.  In  17 19,  one  year  was  accounted  as  four 
pounds  of  estate — in  1729,  as  two  pounds — in  1826  as  ten  dollars.  I 
am  not  certain  whether  it  was  because  age  had  decreased  in  value 
or  the  pound  had  increased.  Every  man's  estate  was  increased  by 
eighteen  pounds,  on  which  he  paid,  for  his  poll  tax.  He  also  paid  on 
the  same  amount  for  members  of  his  family  or  household  who  were 
subject  to  the  tax.  It  was  now  decreed  that  only  one  head  should 
be  counted  in  a  man's  list  in  the  seating  of  the  meeting  house. 

On  the  last  day  of  June  in  1729,  Mr.  Southmayd  made  the  fol- 
lowing record:  "At  a  town  meeting  they  by  vote  gave  me  John 
Southmayd  the  liberty  of  chusing  a  seat  in  the  new  Meeting  House 
and  I  made  choise  of  the  pew  next  the  pulpit  at  the  East  end  of  the 
pulpit  for  my  Family  to  sit  in,"  and  he  adds  to  the  record  the 
words:  "It  was  voated  that  we  would  Endeavor  to  seat  the  Meet- 
ing House."  We  pause  an  instant  here,  to  state  that  during  the 
erection  of  this  building  death  had  called  away  not  only  John 
Scovill  and  Dea.  Timothy  Hikcox  of  the  committee,  but  two  of  the 
original  planters  who  lived  almost  under  its  walls,  Lieut.  Timothy 
Stanley,  and  his  next-door .  neighbor.  Dr.  Daniel  Porter,  leaving 
Abraham  Andrews  as  the  sole  survivor  of  the  signers  of  1674. 

The  next  morning  ushered  in  a  day  of  supreme  interest  to  every 
inhabitant.  After  deciding  that  all  the  men  of  sixteen  years  and 
over  should  be  seated,  the  town  made  choice  for  a  committee  to  do 
the  work,  Dea.  Thomas  Clark,  Samuel  Hikcox,  and  Stephen  Kelcy 
(a  young  man  from  Wethersfield.)  This  committee  was  chosen 
wisely.  The  first  member  was,  according  to  our  estimate,  one  of 
the  rich  men  in  the  town;  the  second  represented  fairly  the  pros- 
perous, well-to-do  element,  although  himself  a  young  man,  while 
the  third  owned  at  that  time  but  an  ox,  a  horse,  and  five  acres 
of  upland. 

Over  against  the  pew  of  the  minister's  choice,  with  the  pulpit 
between,  was  the  pew  next  in  dignity  to  that  one.    To  the  ever- 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS. 


299 


lasting  credit  of  that  committee,  or  the  town,  there  was  voted  into 
that  pew  "  Goodman  "  Andrews  *  and  his  wife — Lieutenant  Hop- 
kins and  his  wife,  Goodman  Barnes — Sergt.  Upson,  and  the  widow 
Porter.  We  seek  in  vain  for  increased  knowledge  of  that  day's 
proceedings,  for  Mr.  Southmayd  adds  the  words  "  And  Doc  Warner 
into  the  second  pew,"  then  closes  the  record  for  three  months. 

If  the  inhabitants  were  seated  according  to  estate  and  age,  we 
might  readily  make  a  list  of  the  order  of  the  seating.  Joseph 
Lewis  had  in  1729  the  largest  estate,  closely  followed  by  Isaac 
Bronson,  Timothy  Hopkins,  Lieut.  John  and  Thomas  Bronson,  John 
Richards,  Stephen  Hopkins,  Richard  Welton,  Captain  William  and 
Thomas  Hikcox,  Nathaniel  Arnold,  and  others. 

In  a  community  like  that  of  Waterbury,  there  was  a  manifest  in- 
congruity in  the  seating  qualifications,  and  doubtless  there  was  an 
uproar  and  much  confusion,  which  wise  Mr.  Southmayd  concealed 
from  our  view  as  he  closed  the  door  of  the  records  upon  future  in- 
quiries. We  need  go  no  further  in  illustration  than  the  case  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Judd.  He  had,  even  as  others — for  it  was  a  custom, 
and  with  few  exceptions  almost  universally  observed — given  his 
property  to  his  children,  leaving  in  his  own  name  but  a  small  frac- 
tion of  a  large  estate,  and  by  the  above  ruling,  Dr.  Warner,  a 
younger  man,  was  placed  above  him  in  the  second  pew. 

The  same  rules  applied  to  the  same  practice  in  the  same  church 
down  to  the  latest  seating,  in  1836,  with  few  variations.  In  1829 
persons  were  seated  according  to  list  and  age,  ten  dollars  being 
allowed  in  the  list  to  one  year  of  age.  But  one  complete  record  of 
a  seating  has  been  met.  It  is  for  the  year  1792,  and  was  among  the 
papers  of  David  Prichard,  who  died  in  1838.  From  it,  we  learn  that 
the  meeting  house  of  1729  was  divided  into  thirteen  dignities,  each 
dignity  consisting  of  two  pews.  In  the  first  one,  at  the  head  of  the 
aisle  or  "alley,"  eight  persons  were  seated,  six  men,  and  two  women; 
in  the  corresponding  dignity  on  the  west  side,  six  persons.  These 
were  followed  by  two  great  pews,  and  these,  in  turn,  by  the  fourth 
dignity,  consisting  of  "  northeast  and  northwest  pews  in  the  square 
body."  The  fifth  dignity  was  the  second  pew  in  the  "alley  "  and  its 
west  side  counterpart — the  sixth,  two  corner  pews — the  seventh, 
the  pew  before  the  east  and  west  doors — the  eighth,  north  of  the 
east  and  west  doors — the  ninth,  the  third  pew  joining  the  alley,  and 
the  corresponding  pew  on  the  west  side — the  tenth,  the  pews  east 
and  west  of  the  front  door — the  eleventh,  the  middle  pew  on  the 

*  This  is  the  only  instance,  I  think,  in  which  Mr.  Southmayd  used  the  word  "  Goodman,"  and  it 
•ijfnifies  simply  their  venerable  age,  and  was  used  in  the  absence  of  any  other  title.  Both  men  having 
been  chosen  to  represent  the  town  at  the  General  Court,  they  could  not,  in  that  day,  have  been  men  of 
inferiority. 


300 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBUR7, 


front  side  the  house,  and  the  west  side — the  twelfth,  the  southeast 
pew  in  the  square  body,  and  the  southwest  one — the  thirteenth, 
south  of  the  east  door,  and  the  "west  side."  This  arrangement  of 
pews  in  1792  may  have  been  very  unlike  the  original  interior  of  1729. 

Tithing-men  were  first  appointed  in  1726.     In  the  new  building, 
three  were  required  to  keep  all  things  in  order. 

In  December  of  1729  it  was  voted  to  go  on  and  finish  the  galleries 
within  six  months,  and  verily  there  was  need  of  haste,  for  we  find 
new  inhabitants  at  more  than  the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass, 
and  all  points  led  to  this  central  edifice,  on  Sabbath  days,  Lecture 
days,  fasts  and  thanksgivings,  and  on  Town  Meeting  days.  Among 
the  new  inhabitants  we  find  Nathaniel  Arnold,  of  Hartford,  accom- 
panied by  his  mother  and  his  five  children — the  youngest  a  lad  of 
eleven;  Jacob  Benson,  who  must  have  had  a  family,  for  he  paid  a 
tax  for  three  persons,  and  may  have  been  the  first  settler  on  Wol- 
cott  hill,  as  that  was  early  known  as  Benson's  hill;  Henry  Cook, 
from  Branford,  with  his  wife  and  five  children;  Samuel  Brown, 
"from  Boston,  Hartford  County,"  with  his  wife  and  five  children; 
Joseph  Nichols  from  Derby,  with  his  wife  and  six  children;  John 
Sutliff,  a  wanderer  from  Deerfield,  Durham,  Branford  and  Haddam, 
with  his  wife,  eight  daughters  and  two  sons;  Abraham  Utter,  with 
his  wife  and  six  children;  William  Luddington,  with  four  children, 
and  perhaps  a  wife — if  he  came  according  to  agreement  in  1723; 
Caleb  Clark,  with  his  wife  and  four  daughters;  Abraham  Hodges, 
from  New  Haven,  with  his  wife  and  two  children;  Jonathan  Guern- 
sey, from  Milford,  with  his  wife  and  two  children;  Joseph  Harris, 
who  probably  had  a  family,  for  he  owned  a  home  lot;  Joseph  Judd 
from  West  Hartford,  with  his  wife  and  son  Isaac;  Robert  Johnson, 
a  shoemaker  and  tanner,  with  his  wife  and  one  child;  Thomas 
Blakeslee  from  New  Haven,  with  his  wife  and  four  children ; 
Daniel  How  and  his  son;  Jonathan  Forbes,  who  paid  taxes  for  "his 
faculty,"  whatever  it  may  have  been;  James  Johnson  and  his  wife 
Eunice,  who  lived  for  a  time  on  Bank  street  near  the  corner  of  East 
Main  street,  he  having  bought  Thomas  Warner's  house  in  1730; 
Joseph  Smith  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  he  buying  in  1726, 
while  he  was  yet  of  Derby,  the  house  and  land  now  the  site  of  St. 
Margaret's  school;  John  Johnson,  with  his  son  Silence  and  his  daugh- 
ter Jane;  John  "  Allcok  "  with  one  child,  from  New  Haven;  Ephraim 
Bissell  from  Tolland  with  at  least  one  child;  Ebenezer  Blakeslee, 
and  his  bride  from  North  Haven  (whose  father  provided  abund- 
antly for  him);  Elnathan  Taylor  from  the  same  place,  with  two 
children — while  Daniel  Porter,  son  of  Richard,  and  a  few  other  wan- 
derers returned  to  the  fold.  To  these  were  added  the  young  men 
who  came  to  the  town  and  found  here  a  charm  in  young  woman- 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS. 


301 


hood  unknown  to  them  elsewhere,  for  they  all  married  daughters  of 
proprietors  of  Waterbury;  James  Blakeslee,  "joiner"  of  West 
Haven,  who  was  taxed  on  £6  for  "his  chest;"  Isaac  Castle  and 
Joseph  Hurlburt  from  Woodbury;  James  Baldwin  from  Newark, 
New  Jersey;  Nathan  and  Jonathan  Prindle  from  Newtown;  the 
three  brothers — Stephen,  Isaac,  and  Ebenezer  Hopkins,  with  their 
mother,  from  Hartford,  Stephen  paying  in  1732  a  tax  on  £8  for  "his 
cordwinding  trade,"  and  Isaac  on  £7  for  his  "  turning  trade " — 
Ebenezer  not  marrying  here;  Jonathan  Kelsey  and  Stephen  Kelsey, 
a  carpenter,  who  had  built  a  house  west  of  Break  Neck  in  1727 — 
they  coming  here  from  Wethersfield;  Daniel  and  James  Williams 
(brothers)  from  Wallingford — Daniel  building  a  house  on  Pattaroon 
hill  in  1731,  and  paying  a  tax  for  his  faculty,  on  £10;  Samuel 
Thomas  from  Woodbury,  who  bought  land  "  southwestward  of  the 
lower  end  of  Woster  Swamp  westward  of  the  path  that  goes  to 
Woster  Swamp,"  in  1727;  James  Hull  from  New  Haven;  Nathaniel 
Merrill  from  Hartford;  John  Guernsey,  who  married  Deacon  Jere- 
miah Peck's  daughter  Anne,  and  was  the  first  known  resident  of  The 
Village,  now  called  Guernsey  Town;  Caleb  Thompson,  the  site  and 
cellar  place  of  whose  house  down  the  western  slope  of  Town-Plot 
hill  was  marked  in  1891  by  lilacs  and  a  peach  tree;  all  these,  beside 
Daniel  Rose  who  laid  out  many  acres  on  Twitch  Grass  brook  at 
Thomaston;  Daniel  Blakeslee,  Ebenezer  Kelsey,  Jesse  Blakeslee,  and 
Joseph  "Gillet"  were  here  before  the  close  of  1731. 

The  foregoing  list  of  new  inhabitants  does  not,  in  all  proba- 
bility, include  every  person  who  came,  and  it  may  not  be  strictly 
accurate  in  every  instance  in  relation  to  family.  Among  the 
causes  of  this  movement  to  Waterbury  may  be  found,  first  of  all, 
the  opening  of  the  township  to  outsiders  by  its  proprietors,  and 
the  lay  out  of  The  Village.  It  will  be  remembered  that  when  it  was 
decided  to  make  a  hundred  acre  division  to  each  proprietor,  to 
every  man  alike,  the  long  lots  were  to  be  laid  out  next  Woodbury, 
beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  bounds.  Owing  to  the 
loss  of  the  proprietors' records  between  1717  and  1722  we  are  not 
able  to  give  facts,  but  it  seems  entirely  probable  that  the  vote  was 
revoked,  and  that  that  division  was  ultimately  laid  out  in  present 
Watertown — at  that  part  of  it  now  known  as  Guernsey  Town,  and 
whose  present  name  was  given,  because  of  its  first  settler,  John 
Guernsey.  The  natural  features  of  this  section  were  such  as  to 
render  it  capable  of  being  laid  out  with  uniformity,  in  pleasing 
contrast  to  the  ordinary  manner  of  selecting  a  "  piece  of  land " 
here  and  there  to  suit  the  emergency  of  the  hour. 

As  laid  out.  The  Village  was  an  encroachment  upon  Woodbury's 
east  line  at  its  northern  point,  for  the  towns  adjusted  the  matter 


302 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 


and  changed  the  line — accordingly,  the  main  Village  lines  were 
made  to  run  with  it,  and  the  change  upset  the  highways,  but  the 
proprietors  fixed  them  up  as  well  as  they  could  and  went  on. 

The  Village,  as  laid  out,  consisted  of  a  two-rod  highway  next 
Woodbury,  and  then  a  half  mile  wide  of  land  laid  out  in  lots,  and 
then  a  highway  running  north  and  south  eight  rods  wide,  and  then 
another  tier  of  lots  half  a  mile  wide — an  eight-rod  highway — a  third 
tier  of  lots,  and  then  on  the  east  side  another  highway  of  eight  rods. 
The  first  lot  began  at  the  south  end  of  the  west  tier,  following  it  to 
its  north  end,  and  then  beginning  across  the  highway,  followed  the 
second  tier  down,  and  finished  at  the  north  end  of  the  east  tier. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  sell  150  acres  to  cover  the  charge  of  the 
lay  out,  should  any  "Chapmen"  appear.  The  land  was  offered  "at 
a  vandue,"  and  no  other  chapman  appearing.  Dr.  Daniel  Porter 
became  the  buyer;  but  for  some  reason  he  declined  to  perfect  the 
purchase,  and  the  proprietors  received  the  land  again.  In  1722,  it 
was  agreed  that  Cap.  Judd,  Cap.  Warner  and  Lieut.  Hopkins  should 
have  the  management  of  the  lay  out  of  The  Village;  they  were  "to 
call  to  the  lot;"  to  "see  what  lot  was  drawn"  and  to  give  an  order 
for  it  to  be  entered  by  the  clerk  by  number  as  the  lot  fell,  and  each 
man's  propriety  was  added  to  his  name.  The  list  is  entitled,  "A 
list  of  the  Lott  as  It  was  Drawn  for  A  Division  of  the  Sequestered 
Land  Att  the  North  west  quarter  of  the  bounds.  Nov.  28  1722  "  and 
may  be  found  on  page  62,  vol.  i.  "Town  Meetings,  Highways,  and 
Grants."  It  is  a  complete  list  of  the  proprietors  of  Waterbury  in 
1722;  for  John  Stanley  Junior's  name  is  at  last  added  to  the  pro- 
prietors, making  one  hundred  and  one  owners.  The  grade  of  owner- 
ship varies  from  £270  to  £40.  There  are  three  £270  lots  (Mr.  Peck's, 
Mr.  Southmayd's — and  the  "School  Lott");  fifteen,  of  £180;  one, 
(belonging  to  Daniel  Porter)  of  £171;  two  of  £162;  the  £150  pro- 
priety created  in  1715;  eight  of  £144;  one  of  £126;  three  of  £108; 
four  of  £90;  and  sixty-three  of  £40,  or  an  ownership  amounting  to 
£8,637.  The  number  of  heirs,  among  whom  the  various  proprieties 
were  divided,  is  unknown.  To  meet  the  charge  of  the  laying  out 
of  The  Village,  whose  lots  were  drawn  for  in  1722,  it  was  in  1723 
decided  to  sell  public  lands,  or  to  grant  them  to  the  creditors  at 
five  shillings  an  acre  if  the  charges  did  not  exceed  the  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  at  that  valuation. 

One  school  house,  fourteen  feet  wide  and  sixteen  feet  long,  built 
about  1709,  seems  to  have  been  the  only  school  house  in  Waterbury 
until  after  1731.  In  1730,  men  living  at  Judds  Meadow,  at  Woster 
Swamp,  and  at  Bucks  Hill,  desiring  to  receive  their  proportion  of 
moneys  derived  from  school  lands,  a  division  was  made  for  their 
benefit.     We  thus  learn  that   on   Dec.    14,  1730,  "  Samuel   Barnes, 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS. 


303 


John  Andrews,  John  Barnes,  James  Brown,  Ebenezer  Hikcox,  James 
Johnson,  Isaac  Bronson,  Sergt.  Joseph  Lewis,  Joseph  Lewis,  Jr., 
Samuel  Warner,  Sen.,  Samuel  Warner,  Jr.,  Edmund  Scott,  Jr.,  and 
Samuel  Scott,"  were  living  at  Judds  Meadow.  At  "  Woster  "  Swamp 
— which  at  that  date  included  not  only  Watertown,  but  the  "  Up 
River"  country  of  present  Plymouth — were  Henry  Cook,  Isaac 
Castle,  Jonathan  Kelcy,  Joseph  Hurlburt,  Joseph  Nichols,  Jonathan 
Scott,  Sen.,  Jonathan  Scott,  Jun.,  David  Scott,  Gershom  Scott,  John 
Sutliff,  Samuel  Tommus,  Dr.  John  Warner,  Ebenezer  Warner, 
George  Welton,  James  Williams,  Abraham  Utter,  and  Ebenezer 
Richason.  At  "  Bucks  Hill,"  Sergt.  Richard  Welton,  John  Warner, 
Obadiah  Warner,  Benjamin  Warner,  Richard  Welton,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Judd  and  William  Scott,"  or  thirty-seven  families,  among  whom  are 
found  twelve  names  that  were  unknown  in  the  old  plantation  of 
Mattatuck,  This  division  of  school  money  was  the  first  step  and 
430und  indicative  of  the  disintegration  of  the  ancient  township. 

The  number  of  families  living  outside  of  the  **  town  spot "  and 
not  in  the  localities  named,  we  have  not  enumerated.  The  Isaac 
Bronson  named  in  the  Judds  Meadow  region  was  not  the  Break 
Neck  resident  of  that  name,  but  an  Isaac  Bronson  living  there  in 
1730  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  who  may  have  been  the  son  of 
Isaac  of  Break  Neck. 

The  earliest  itemized  tax  list  known  to  be  extant  is  of  the  year 
1730.  That,  together  with  some  fifty  lists  of  the  period  from  1730 
to  the  close  of  the  century,  is  in  the  writer's  possession,  having 
been  found  in  1891  in  the  Kingsbury  house  so  often  referred  to. 
The  list  of  1730  is  the  joint  product  of  the  third  John  Scovill, 
James  Porter,  and  Samuel  Hickcox,  the  "  listers  "  for  that  year.  It 
is  largely  written  by  James  Porter,  but  Mr.  Southmayd's  hand 
appears  in  it,  as  it  does  for  many  years  in  most  of  the  public  docu- 
ments of  the  town. 

A  copy  of  the  above  list  is  here  given. 


John  andriss  one  pe  . 

18  00 

2  oxson  3  cows  2  one  y   . 

19  00 

3  hors  thee  swine    . 

12  00 

horn  lot  and  land     . 

04  16 

53  16 

Thomas  andar  one  p' 

18  00 

2  hors  2  oxson  2  cows 

20  00 

one  yr  one  swine     . 

2  00 

horn  lot  and  land     . 

05  00 

TAX    LIST    FOR    THE    YEAR    I730. 

nathael  amold  3  p   -  . 

2  oxs  one  hors  7  cows 

3  2  yr  one  yr  3  swine 
horn  lot  and  land     . 


Nathaniel  amold  Jun' 
one  person  one  hors 
2  swine    . 


54 

00 

32 

00 

10 

00 

II 

10 

107 

10 

21 

00 

02 

00 

45  00 


23  00 


304 


HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 


James  baldwine  one  p 
one  ox  4  cows  one  hors  . 
one  2  yr  2  swine 
medow  land     . 


i8  oo 
19  00 
04  00 
00  06 


41  06 

John  bams  one  prcon 
5  horses  2  oxsen  3  cows 

18  00 
32  00 

4  2  ye  3  one  ye  3  swine 
horn  lot  and  land    . 

14  00 
07  16 

71  16 

Samuel  Bams  one  pr 

18  00 

one  ox  3  cows  2  2  jrrs 

17  00 

one  yr  one  hors  3  swine 
horn  lot  and  land     . 

07  00 
05  10 

47  10 

Thomas  Bams  one  person 
2  oxson  3  horses  7  cows  . 

iS  00 
38  00 

I  2  yr  3  I  yr  2  swin 
hom  lot  and  land    . 

07  00 
II  08 

74  08 

Jacob  Benson  3  . 
one  cow  one  2  yr     . 
4  oxen  and  land 

.  54  00 
05  00 
01  12 

60  12 

Ephrem  bisel  one  pr  . 

18  00 

James  blackle  one  pr 

18  00 

one  hors  2  cows  4  2  yr 

17  00 

2  one  yr  4  swine 

his  chest .        .        .        . 

06  00 
06  00 

47  00 

Ebenezer  Bronson  one  person  .  18  00 
6  oxen  2  cows  2  two  yr  old  .  34  00 
4   horses  two   i    year   old  two 

sw^ine 16  00 

hom  lot  and .        .        .        05  12 


12  acor  of  pasture 
Isaac  Brunson  2  per  . 
4  oxen  16  6  cows  18  3  horse 
9  2  y«  3  3  yr  8  swine 
one  yeir  old     . 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


73 

12 

.       36 

00 

.       43 

00 

35 

00 

01 

00 

.       17  04 

lef  John  brunson  3  pr 
2  oxson  6  cows  6  2  yr 
6  one  yr  old  5  horses 
6  swine     . 
hom  lot  and  land 


John  Bronson  one  pr 
2  oxson  4  cows  one  ye 
4  swine    . 
land  meadow  . 


moses  bronson  one  pr 
2  oxsen  2  cows  2  swin 
2  horses   . 
meadow  land  . 


Thomas  bronson  2  per 
2  oxsen  5  cows  4  2  yr 
5  one  yr  3  hors  4  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


James  Brown  two  person  . 
two  oxen  two  cows  2  hors 
three  swine 
one  year  old    . 
land  .... 


Isaac  Casel  one  person 
3  cows  one  hor  2  one  yr  . 


De  Thoms  Clark  one  pr     . 
4  oxen  5  hrs  4  cows  5  3  yr 
one  2  yr  3  one  yr  6  swine 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


Henry  Kook  2  persons 
6  oxen  4  cows  3  hors 
one  2  yr  one  yr 
meedow  land  . 


gershom  fulford  on  p 
one  cow  3  swine 
his  f  acculty 


54 

00 

3S 

00 

21 

00 

06 

00 

18 

04 

137  04 

iS 

00 

21 

00 

04 

00 

03 

12 

46 

12 

iS 

00 

16 

00 

06 

00 

03 

16 

43 

16 

36 

00 

31 

00 

18 

00 

17 

10 

102 

10 

36 

00 

20 

00 

03 

00 

01 

00 

03 

12 

63 

12 

18 

00 

14 

00 

32 

00 

18 

00 

58 

00 

II 

00 

13  04 

100 

04 

36 

00 

45 

00 

03 

00 

01 

10 

85 

10 

18 

00 

06 

00 

18 

00 

132  04 


42  00 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS, 


Jonathan  gamcey  one  p 
3  hors  2  oxen  2  cows 
2  3  yr  2  one  yr  4  swine 
horn  lot  and  land    . 


Joseph  Haries  one  pr 
one  hors  horn  lot     . 


Ebenezer  Hickcox  one  p 
one  hors  one  ox 
land 


gidon  Hickcox  one  pr 
2  oxsen  one  cow  2  hors 
one  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


Samuel  Hickcox  one  person 
3  hors  2  cows  2  oxsen 
one  2  yr  5  one  yr  2  swine 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


Thomas  Hickox  one  p 
4  hors  2  oxsen  9  cows 
6  2  yr  3  one  yr  3  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


Cap  William  Hickcox  one  pr      . 
5  horses  2  oxsen  6  cows  2  3  yr 
4  2  yr  2  one  yr  2  swine   . 
hom  lot  and  land    . 
for  tavern  keeping  . 


99  10 

Ebenezer  Hopkins  one  pr  .        .       18  00 
2  oxsen  3  cows  one  hors  i  swine  21  00 


John  Hopkins  one  pr 

2  hors  5  cows  2  2  yr 

3  one  yr  old  4  swine 
mill  .... 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


18 

00 

23 

00 

12 

00 

04  04 

57  04 

18 

00 

04 

00 

22 

00 

18 

00 

07 

00 

01 

00 

26 

00 

18 

00 

17 

00 

01 

00 

5 

00 

41 

00 

18 

00 

23 

00 

09 

00 

10 

00 

60 

00 

18 

00 

47 

00 

18 

00 

16 

00 

99 

00 

18 

00 

47 

00 

12 

00 

12 

10 

10 

00 

39 

00 

18 

00 

25 

00 

07 

00 

12 

00 

10 

00 

Stephen  hopkins  2  persons 
5  hrs  5  oxsen  5  cows  5  2  jrr 
2  one  year  2  swine  . 
and  land 


305 

36  00 
60  00 

04  00 

05  06 

105  06 


Stephen  Hopkins,  Jr.  one  person  18  00 

two  oxen  i  hors  one  cow         .  14  00 

one  I  year  old  one  swine  03  00 

land 00  16 


Timothy  Hopkins  2  prs  . 
4  oxsen  5  cows  4  2  yrs  . 
4  one  yr  8  horses  9  swine 
land  .... 


Joseph  Holebut  one  pr 
2  oxsen  2  cows  one  2  vr  . 
one  swine  2  horses  2  yr  old 
meadow  land  . 


James  Jonson  one  pr 
one  hors  hom  lot 


John  Jonson  2  persons 
3  horses  2  oxen  one  cow  i  yr 
3  acres  of  land 


Beniaman  Judd  one  person 
one  ox  two  cows 
two  I  yr  old  one  swine   . 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


John  Judd  one  person 
two  hors  3  oxen 
3  cows  one  yr  old    . 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


Joseph  Judd  one  person    . 
one  hors  one  cow  one  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


20 


72  00 


35  16 

36  00 
39  00 

37  00 
06  10 

118  10 

18  00 
16  00 
oc;  00 
00  12 

43  12 

18  00 
06  00 

24  00 

36  00 
21  00 

18 

57  18 

iS  00 
10  00 
03  00 
03  19 

34  19 

18  00 
18  00 
10  00 
05  18 

51   18 

iS  00 
07  CX) 
05  14 

30  14 


3o6 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Samuel  Judd  one  person 
2  hors  one  ox  one  cow 
horn  lot  and  land     . 


Cap  Thomas  Judd  one  pr 
2  cows  2  hors  2  2  yr 


one  yr 

horn  lot  and  land 


Thomas  Judd  one  person 
two  horses 


William  Judd  2  per.   . 
two  oxsen  5  cows  2  2  >t 
3  one  yr  5  horses  4  swine 
horn  lot  and  land    . 


Jonathan  Chelcy  (Kelsey)  one  pr. 
one  ox  one  hors  two  cows 
land 


Joseph  Lewis  sn'  2  prs 
5  oxen  8  cows  6  horse 
4  2  yr  2  one  yr  8  swine 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


Joseph  lewis  Jun'  one  p 
one  hors  2  cows  3  2  >t 
2  swine  and  land     . 


Joseph  Nickkols  two  persons 
4  oxen  3  cows  two  hors  . 
one  two  year  old  2  swine 


iS 

00 

13 

00 

2 

15 

33 

15 

18 

00 

16 

00 

01 

00 

04 

00 

39 

00 

18 

00 

06 

00 

24 

00 

36 

00 

27 

00 

22 

00 

10 

16 

95 

16 

18 

00 

13 

00 

16 

31  16 


Stephen  Celey  (Kelsey)  one  per.  18  00 
one  ox  one  hors  .  .  .  07  00 
upland  5  acres         .        .        .      02  00 


27 

00 

36 

00 

62 

00 

18 

00 

16 

10 

132 

10 

18 

00 

15 

00 

05 

10 

3S 

10 

36 

00 

31 

00 

04 

00 

Jeremeah  Peck 
one  person  4  cows   . 
two  oxen  ten  two  yr 
4  hors  one  yr  on  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


30  00 
28  00 
14  00 
12  00 


84  00 

Daniel  Porter  one  person  . 

18  00 

one  hors  three  cows 

12  00 

one  two  year  old 

02  00 

land 

02  00 

34  00 

Wid  [Deborah]  Porter  one  hors 

03  00 

one  ox  2  cows  one  ye 

II  00 

3  swine 

03  00 

hom  lot  and  land    . 

06  00 

23  00 

Ebnzer  Porter  one  person 

18  00 

one  hors 

03 

21  00 

James  Porter  one  person  . 

18  00 

two  hors  two  oxen  . 

14  00 

Land 

04  00 

36  00 

Thomas  porter  one  person 

18  00 

3  oxen  12        2  cows  6 

18  00 

I  two  year  and  2  yearlings     . 

04  00 

3  swine  3      3  Acres  Hom  lot  3 

06  00 

Land  meadow  and  upland 

3  16 

49  16 

Jonathan  prindel  one  p 

18  00 

2  oxen  one  hors  2  2  yr    . 

15  00 

7  acres  upland 

02  16 

35  16 

Nathan  Prindel  one  person 

18  00 

one  hors  one  cowe  1  ye  . 

07  00 

25  00 

John  Richards  3  prs  . 

54  «> 

6  oxen  5  cows  4  hors 

51  00 

2  one  yr  5  swine 

07  00 

15  acres  meadow  land     . 

05  00 

71  00 


117  00 


THE  NEW  INUABITANTS, 


307 


Thomas  Richards  one  pr 
3  hors  3  oxson  5  cows 
2  one  yr  5  swine 
horn  lot  and  land     . 


Ebenezer  Richson  two  persons 
4  horses  two  oxen   . 
3  cows  two  2  year  old 
one  I  yr  old  two  swine   . 
home  lot  and   ... 


Daniel  rose  one  per 
one  hors  one  cow 


david  Scoott  one  pr.   . 
3  hors  one  ox  one  cow 
one  2  yr  3  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


Edmon  Scott  Snr  2  pr 
3  hors  4  oxsen  3  cows  2  2  yr 
3  one  yr  4  swine 
liom  lot  and  land     . 


Edmon  Scott  Jnr  one  pr 
2  hors  one  ox  one  2  yr 

land 


18 

00 

36 

00 

07 

00 

06 

02 

57 

02 

36 

00 

20 

00 

13 

00 

03 

00 

05 

12 

77 

12 

iS 

00 

06 

00 

24 

00 

18 

00 

16 

00 

05 

00 

07 

00 

46 

00 

36 

00 

38 

00 

07 

00 

10 

14 

91 

14 

18 

00 

12 

00 

02 

18 

32 

iS 

18 

00 

17 

00 

4 

00 

Edmon  Scoott  min'  one  p 
2  oxsen  2  cows  one  hors 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


39  00 
geshom    scott  one  person    iS  two 

oxen  8 26  00 

two  cows  6        one  Horse  3     .      09  00 
one  swine  20  sh  3  Acres  Hom 

Lott 04  00 

4  Acres  plowland     .        .  01  12 

4  Acres  meadow  2  Acres  pasture  01  08 

42  00 


Jonathan  Sot  Sen""  2  persons 
three  oxen  3  Cows  . 
2  three  years  old  one  2  year 
one  I  year  one  swine  4  hors 
land  .... 


.    36 

00 

21 

00 

.    08 

00 

.    14 

00 

10 

14 

90  14 


Jonathan  Scoot  Jun'  one  person  18  00 
two  oxen  one  Cow  3  hors  .  20  00 
land  .        .      05  10 


43  10 


obadiah  scott  one  person  one  ox      22  00 

three  cows  three  horses  .        .       18  00 

one  year  old  .        .        .      01  00 

three  acres  Hom  Lott  4  acres 

upland  .        .        .        .      04  12 


Samuel  Scott  Sn'  i  per. 
2  oxen  3  hors  3  cows 
one  2  yr  one  yr 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


Samuel  Scot  Jun  one  p. 
2  oxsen  2  cows  2  horses 
one  swine 
hom  lot  and  land 


Widow  Sarah  Scott  (David)  2  p. 
one  ox  3  cows  one  hors  . 
one  2  yr  one  yr  2  swine  . 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


William  Scoott  one  per 
one  ox  one  hors  one  cow 
one  swine  hom  lot  &  land 


John  Scovel  2  persons 
2  hors  2  oxsen  3  cows 
2  2  yr  3  one  yr  2  swine 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


45 

12 

18 

00 

26 

00 

03 

00 

08 

02 

55 

02 

18 

00 

20 

00 

01 

00 

07 

00 

46 

00 

36 

00 

16 

00 

05 

00 

II 

00 

68 

00 

18 

00 

10 

00 

03 

00 

31 

00 

36 

00 

23 

rx) 

09 

00 

06 

18 

74  18 


3o8 


HISTORY  OF  WATBRBUBT. 


William  Scovel  one  person 
2  horss  3  oxson  4  cows    . 
2  2  yr  one  yr  3  swine 
horn  lot  and  land    . 


Joseph  Smith  one  person  . 
4  horses  4  swine  hom  lot  and 
land 


John  Sutliff  2  pr 

3  hors  2  cows  3  2  yr  one  yr 
meedow  land  . 


Samuel  Thomes  one  person 
two  oxen  one  cow  one  hors 


32  00 

Caleb  Thomes  (Thompson)  one  per- 
son         18  00 


18 

00 

30 

00 

08 

00 

07 

00 

63 

00 

18 

A 

00 

a 

18  06 

36  06 

36 

00 

22 

00 

01 

16 

59 

16 

18 

00 

14 

00 

John  Ubson  one  per  . 
one  hors  one  ox  4  as  cows 
one  yr  old  3  swine  . 
hom  lot  and  land 


18  00 

19  00 
04  00 
03  12 


44  12 
Stephen  Upson  Sen  one  hors  one 

ox  2  cows     .        .        .        .       13  00 
one  I  year  hom  lot  and  land  .        5  02 


Stphen  Upson  Jun  one  per 
3  hors  4  oxson  5  cows  2  on  yr 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


67  00 

Thomes  Upson  one  person  .  18  00 
two  horses  two  oxen  one  swine  15  00 
three  cows  one  2  ye  i  one  year 

old 12  00 

hom  lot  and  land    .  .      06  00 


18 

02 

18 

00 

42 

00 

07 

00 

51  00 


Abraham  auter  (Utter)  one  person  18  00 

2  cows  2  one  yr        .        .        .       10  00 

3  horses  3  one  yr     .        .        .      12  00 
5  swine  hom  lot  and  land  08  00 

48  00 


abraham  wamer  one  p 
one  hors  one  3  ye  one  2  ye 
one  half  a  hors 


Beniamen  Womer  one  person 
two  oxen  two  cows  3  hors 
five  Swine 
hom  lot  and  land 


18 

00 

8 

00 

01 

10 

27 

10 

18 

00 

23 

00 

05 

00 

05 

00 

51  00 


Ebenezeer  Wamer  Sen  one  per- 
son         18  00 

one  hors  one  cow  three  swin  .      09  00 


27  00 


Ebnezeer  Warner  jr  Son  of  Daniel 
one  person       .  .         .       iS  00 

three  horse  and  half  .       10  10 

one  cow  &  two  yr  old      .        .      05  00 


33  10 

do  ephrem  wamer  one  pr  . 

iS  00 

one  cow  2  hors  5  2  yr 

19  00 

one  swine 

01  00 

hom  lot  and  land  . 

3  06 

41  06 

Doc  John  Womer  one  person  .  18  00 
two  hors  one  ox  2  yr  old  2  swine  14  00 
hom  lot  and  land    .        .        .      04  12 


John  Wamer  Jun  two  person 
two  oxen  two  cows  4  swine 
two  hors  two  2  ye    . 
hom  lot  and  land     . 


36 

12 

36 

00 

18 

00 

10 

00 

02 

16 

66  16 


Obadiah  Warner  one  person     .       18  00 
two   oxen    2  cows  one   hors  3 

swine 20  00 

hom  lot  and  land     .        .        .      03  00 


Samuel  Worner  Sr.     Land 
one  hors  2  cows  i  two  yr 


41 

00 

01 

00 

II 

00 

12   00 


THE  NEW  INHABITANTS, 


309 


Samuel  wamer  Jun  one  p 
2  hors  one  ox  2  cows 
one  2  yr  4  swine 
hom  lot    . 


gorg  welton  2  per 

2  oxson   2  cows  3  hors  2   2  yr 

21  yr 

5  swine  meadow  land 


John  Welton  one  person    . 
two  oxen  two  cows 
one  year  old  one  Horse  . 
Hom  Lott  Meadow  Land 


18 

00 

16 

00 

06 

00 

01 

10 

41 

10 

36 

00 

29 

00 

05 

18 

70 

18 

18 

00 

14 

00 

04 

00 

04 

00 

Richard  Welton  Sen  3  person   .  54  00 

two  oxen  7  hors  3  cows  .        .  38  00 

4  two  yr  old  2  one  year  5  swine  1 5  00 

hom  lot  and  Land  .        .        .  19  00 


richard  welton  jun  one  per 
2  hors  2  oxson  3  cows     . 
one  yr  2  swine 
hom  lot  and  land    . 


Daniel  Williams  one  person 
one  hors  .... 


40  00 
The  sum  total  of  this  list  is  ;f  5024  15s. 

[In  May  of  1731,  was  added  to  this  list 
the  sum  of  ;f  214.] 


James  Williams 
2  hors  one  cow  l|ind 


126  00 

18  00 
23  00 
03  00 
03  16 

47  16 

18  00 
03  00 

21  00 
09  16 


John  Scovill, 
James  Porter, 
Samuel  Hickcox, 


\ 


Listers. 


It  contains  the  names  of  one  hundred  taxpayers  who  paid  taxes 
for  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons,  while  one  hundred  men 
held  dominion  over  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  horses,  two 
hundred  and  forty-two  cows,  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  young 
cattle,  one  hundred  and  sixty -six  oxen,  and  one  hundred  and 
ninety-three  swine — a  very  respectable  exhibit  for  Waterbury  in 
1 73 1 — that  town  ranking  as  number  forty-one  of  the  forty-four 
towns  of  the  colony  in  the  amount  of  its  tax-list — but  three,  Derby, 
New  Milford,  and  Ashford,  sending  up  to  the  General  Assembly 
tax  lists  of  less  amounts. 

Dwelling  houses  were  not  taxed,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  estimate 
the  number  of  them  at  this  period.  The  custom  existed  of  building 
houses  on  land  not  owned  by  the  builder.  We  meet  with  instances 
of  that  practice  continually  during  the  early  part  of  the  eight- 
eenth century,  and  there  is  at  least  one  mill  and  mill  trench  that 
was  built  before  the  land  was  made  secure  by  deed.  The  pro- 
prietors forbade  no  man  to  build  his  house  on  the  sequestered 
lands — accordingly,  there  has  been  found,  even  in  the  present  cen- 
tury what  may  perhaps  be  called  a  survival  of  the  ancient  order  of 
things ;  in  any  event  it  is  noticeable  that  to  the  northward,  on 
Burnt  Hill,  and  in  the  East  Woods  a  notable  number  of  humble 
habitations  have  been   constructed,  whose  owners   have  held  no 


3IO  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT, 

title  to  the  lands  on  which  they  lived,  but  whose  presence  has  been 
tolerated  by  the  land's  owner,  out  of  kindliness  of  heart. 

In  1 73 1,  twenty-three  new  names  appear  on  the  tax-list,  but  this 
is  not  conclusive  evidence  that  the  men  indicated  were  not  '*  of 
Waterbury  "  at  an  earlier  date.  Upon  it  are  the  names  of  Daniel, 
Ebenezer,  and  "  Jese  "  Blakeslec  or  "  Blakslee,"  John  AUcock,  Caleb 
Clark,  Jonathan  Forbes,  who  was  taxed  for  a  faculty;  John  Guern- 
sey, Abraham  **  Hoges,"  Isaac  Hopkins,  Daniel  How,  James  Hull, 
Robert  Johnson,  Ebenezer  Kelsey,  Nathaniel  Merrill,  Elnathan 
Taylor,  Samuel  Towner,  and  others  of  Waterbury;  while  Samuel 
Brown  becomes  in  this  year.  Deacon  Samuel  Brown.  These  were, 
with  few  if  any  exceptions,  young  men  and  most  of  them  married 
in  Waterbury. 

At  the  great  town  meeting  in  December  of  1731  "it  was  voted  to 
build  a  school  house  of  twenty  foot  square  on  the  Meeting  House 
Green;"  and  to  "give  the  Rev**  Mr.  John  Southmayd  for  his  Sallery 
one  Hundred  pound"  in  money  or  provision  pay  at  the  market 
price — giving  any  man  permission  to  make  such  agreement  for  his 
rate  as  would  please  Mr.  Southmayd  and  himself.  On  Dec.  20,  1731, 
Mr.  Southmayd  "  acquitted  and  discharged  "  the  town  from  all  rates 
for  his  labor  among  the  people  from  the  year  1699,  to  the  year  1723. 
His  pastoral  relation  to  the  people  began  in  the  former  year,  and 
his  duties  as  town  clerk  a  little  earlier  than  the  latter  year,  and  no 
satisfactory  explanation  of  the  occasion  for  the  above  acquittance 
has  been  found.  The  "twenty-feet-square "  school  house  may  seem 
small,  painfully  small,  for  the  children  of  Waterbury  in  1731,  but 
it  must  be  remembered  that  it  was  not  encumbered  with  desks  or 
other  modern  appliances,  and  that  it  was  occupied  by  the  children 
living  at  the  town  center  alone,  while  the  meeting  house,  whose 
area  was  five  times  that  of  the  school  house  was  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  entire  township. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

THE  NORTHWEST  INHABITANTS  PETITION  FOR  "WINTER  PRIVILEGES" — 
WOOSTER  —  UP  RIVER  —  HENRY  COOK,  THE  FIRST  INHABITANT  OF 
PLYMOUTH  —  HIS  GRANDSON,  THE  LAST  SURVIVOR  OF  THE  WAR 
OF  THE  REVOLUTION — THE  ATTITUDE  OF  THE  TOWN  TOWARD 
THE  PEOPLE  AT  WOOSTER  SWAMP  —  TOWARD  THE  PEOPLE  AT 
TWITCH  GRASS  MEADOW. 

IN  May  of  1732  the  Second  company  or  train  band  of  Waterbury 
was  formed,  with  Mr.  Timothy  Hopkins  confirmed  as  its  cap- 
tain, Mr.  Thomas  Bronson  as  its  lieutenant,  and  Mr.  vStephen 
Upson  as  its  ensign.  In  May  of  1728  Waterbury  had,  at  her  own 
intercession  (because  of  the  distance),  been  transferred  from  the 
County  of  Hartford  to  that  of  New  Haven,  and  for  twelve  years 
the  estates  of  persons  deceased  had  been  settled  at  the  Probate 
Court  in  Woodbury.  In  1732  twenty  new  names  had  been  added  to 
the  list  of  inhabitants;  Mr.  Southmayd's  salary  had  been  raised  to 
;^ioo  money;  the  tax  had  been  laid  for  finishing  the  galleries  of  the 
new  meeting  house;  a  new  school  house  had  been  ordered  and  the 
timber  for  it  gathered,  and  all  things  were  moving  along  with 
seeming  prosperity,  when,  in  the  autumn  of  the  year,  a  darkness 
deep  and  portentous  fell. 

For  the  first  time  in  all  its  history  it  is  recorded  that  the  town 
meeting  was  opened  by  prayer,  and  verily  prayer  was  become  more 
than  ever  a  vital  need,  for  thirty-two  inhabitants  to  the  northward 
of  the  Town  Spot  had  sent  a  petition*  to  the  General  Assembly 
in  which  they  told  a  thrilling  story  of  the  perils  that  attended 
the  journey  from  their  homes  to  the  meeting  house  in  wintry 
weather — not  from  savage  foe,  not  from  beast  of  the  forest — but 
by  reason  of  that  "great  river"  which  they  called  "Waterbury 
river."  They  declared  that  the  way  was  "  exceeding  bad  "  and 
that  the  river  was  not  passable  during  a  great  part  of  the  winter 
and  spring,  and,  in  a  subsequent  petition,  it  was  declared  that  the 
highway  from  present  Plymouth  and  Thomaston  to  the  meeting 
house  crossed  the  river  nine  times,  and  the  petitioners  besought 
the  Court  that  they  might  have  liberty  to  hire  a  minister  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  them  during  the  months  of  December,  January,  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  and  that  their  dues  to  Mr.  Southmayd  might 


♦This  petition  may  be  found  in  Dr.  Bronson's  History  of  Waterbury,  p  254. 


312  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

cease  during  those  months.  Eleven  men,  living  within  the  de- 
scribed bounds,  did  not  sign  the  petition.  The  answer  was  accord- 
ing to  their  wishes  —  for  thirty -two  men  petitioned,  and  thirty 
families  had  long  been  deemed  a  sufficient  number  to  support  a 
minister.  The  liberty  was  granted  for  four  years — from  1732  to 
1736.  The  petition  to  the  Court  states  that  the  town  had  refused 
the  request  for  the  above  privilege,  but  our  town  records  give 
no  evidence  that  the  request  was  ever  made  to  the  town.  The 
only  recognition  of  it  was  a  special  town  meeting  appointing  the 
deputies  for  the  town  "  to  answer  a  memorial  brought  to  the  court 
by  our  northwest  inhabitants." 

It  is  impossible  for  us  to  realize  what  this  blow  was  to  the  Town 
Spot.  The  men  of  1732  knew  perfectly  well  what  lay  before  them — 
the  little  children  of  the  distant  villages  could  not  be  sent  to  the 
town  school  at  the  centre  every  day,  and  they  had  freely  consented 
to  a  division  of  the  school  moneys — but,  the  minister's  rates!  Mr. 
Southmayd's  dues  !  How  were  they  to  be  met  1  How  we  wish  we 
could  hear  the  words  of  the  prayer  at  that  town  meeting  in  Decem- 
^^^)  1732  !  Already  there  loomed  up  in  vision  ecclesiastical  socie- 
ties to  the  north,  south,  east  and  west.  All  that  was  needed  to  gain 
the  victory  over  the  old  town  by  her  children  up  the  river  or  down, 
was  thirty  families  in  any  one  direction  who  could  support  a  min- 
ister. It  became  almost  a  matter  of  self-preservation,  to  prevent 
the  repetition  of  a  like  catastrophe  elsewhere. 

The  town  meeting  was  a  serious  affair,  and  often  a  severe  test  of 
the  manliness  of  its  attendants.  Certain  laws  for  the  guidance  of  town 
officers  in  the  suppression  of  crime  and  all  manner  of  evil  doing 
were  ordered  to  be  read  in  every  town  at  the  annual  meeting  in  De- 
cember. Men  were  not  permitted  to  speak,  except  to  ask  permission 
of  the  moderator  to  address  the  meeting,  and  no  business  not  ex- 
pressly stated  in  the  warning  could  be  brought  before  it  for  action. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  Deacon  Judd's  dial  post  was  to  be  the  sign 
post  in  1709,  and  in  the  same  year  a  notice  on  the  meetinghouse 
door  was  to  be  sufficient  warning  for  men  living  at  a  distance — 
but  later  all  notices  were  to  be  torn  down  from  the  meeting  house 
door  on  the  Lord's  day,  unless  such  notices  related  to  marriage. 
The  deep  feeling  of  the  people  was  expressed  in  the  fact  that  but 
one  man  who  had  signed  that  petition  was  elected  to  office  for  the 
year  1733. 

The  earliest  name  applied  to  the   region   now  occupied  by   Ply 
mouth  and  Thomaston  was  Up  River,  so  named  in  1688,  because  that 
here  lay  the  up   river  division  of  meadow   lands.     Twitch  Grass 
meadow  was,  for  some  reason,  selected  at  a  later  day  as  a  name  for 
the  same  region,  to  distinguish  the  little  hamlet  there  from  their 


EARLY  NOBTHBURT,  313 

distant  neighbors  at  "  Woster"  or  **  Woster  Swamp."  Taken  collect- 
ively present  Oakville,  Watertown  and  Plymouth  were  in  1730  some- 
times called  Woster,  and  sometimes  "Our  Northwest  Inhabitants.*' 

Thirty  acres  of  the  elevated  ground  or  plain  on  which  the  vil- 
lage of  Thomaston  stands  was  the  up  river  division  of  five  men, 
each  one  of  whom  bore  the  name  of  John — John  Stanley,  John 
Warner,  John  Newell,  John  Scovill,  and  John  Carrington.  Samuel 
Stanley,  a  son  of  the  above  John,  also  had  twelve  acres  laid  out  on 
the  above  plain.  Twitch  Grass  meadow  is  the  extensive  meadow 
west  of  the  river  just  below  the  village.  The  natural  expanse 
of  meadow  just  above  Thomaston  bridge  is  Abraham  Andrew's 
meadow  of  1688;  a  portion  of  it  was  Philip  Judd's,  but  it  was  long 
known  as  Andrew's  meadow.  Just  above  Andrew's  meadow,  and 
near  the  central  street  to  the  bridge  is  a  rocky  ridge  on  which 
there  is-  a  "  picnic  grove."  This  ridge  divides  Andrew's  meadow 
from  Welton's  up-river  division.  It  was  in  Welton's  meadow  that 
the  supposed  first  house  in  Plymouth  was  built. 

Henry  Cook  is  accredited  as  the  first  settler  of  Plymouth,  Conn, 
He  was  the  grandson  of  Henry  Cook  and  Judith  Birdsale  who 
were  married  at  Salem,  Mass.,  in  June  of  1639,  ^^^  ^^  was  the  son  of 
their  eighth  child,  Henry,  who  was  born  in  1652.  He  was  born  at 
W^allingford  in  1683,  and  is  said  to  have  lived  at  Branford,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  Litchfield  before  1727.  We  risk  little  in 
suggesting  that  he  may  have  been  one  of  the  seven  men  of  Bran- 
ford  who  were  sent  up  from  the  Coast,  under  the  command  of  a 
sergeant,  for  the  protection  of  Litchfield  in  1725,  and  that  the  new 
town  proved  so  attractive  to  him  that  he  removed  thither.  Pos- 
sibly Daniel  Rose,  from  the  same  place,  was  also  one  of  the  seven, 
for  we  find  Henry  Cook  of  Litchfield  and  Daniel  Rose  of  Branford, 
buying  land  as  partners  in  Waterbury  less  than  two  years  after  the 
twenty-one  men  from  Branford,  Guilford  and  Wallingford  marched 
(probably  through  Waterbury),  on  their  way  to  the  new  town  in 
the  wilderness.  That  march  doubtless  inured  to  the  benefit  of 
both  towns  in  more  ways  than  were  then  dreamed  of. 

In  Welton's  meadow  on  Feb.  2,  1727-8  Henry  Cook  of  Litchfield 
and  Daniel  Rose  of  Branford  bought  of  Gershom  and  Abigail 
Fulford,  Thomas  and  Mary  Porter — heirs  of  Stephen  Welton — two 
thirds  of  a  lot  of  land  "supposed  to  be  ten  acres  more  or  fewer 
lying  towards  the  upper  end  of  the  bounds  that  was  our  grand- 
fathers, John  Welton's  deceased."  Feb.  i,  1727-8,  or  the  day  before, 
Cook  and  Rose  had  bought  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Porter  twenty 
acres  to  be  taken  up  in  the  undivided  lands,  and  the  next  day  they 
had  it  laid  out  on  the  west  side  of  Welton's  meadow.  Jan.  14,  1728, 
nineteen  and  a  half  acres  were  laid  out  to  the  same  parties  "at 


3M 


HI8T0RT  OF  WA1ERBUB7, 


a  place  called  Welton's  meadow,"  and  the  same  day  still  another 
"triangle"  piece  of  thirteen  acres,  both  pieces  having  been  bought 
of  Jonathan  Scott,  Jun.  April  lo,  1730,  Henry  Cook  had  laid  out,  "a 
little  southwest  of  Twich  Grass  brook,"  on  John  Stanley,  Junior's, 
bachelor  lot  (which  poor  John  had  so  much  difficulty  in  securing)  a 
diamond  shaped  piece  of  land  that  contained  one  hundred  acres, — 
this  he  sold  the  same  year  to  Jeremiah  Hull.  Before  Jan.  10,  1731, 
Cook  had  built  a  house  in  Welton's  meadow,  for  he  sold  at  that 
date  to  Elnathan  Beach  of  New  Cheshire  fortv  acres  from  the 
south  end  of  his  farm  on  the  west  side  the  river,  joining  to  the 
river,  and  in  1733  he  owned  a  house  lot  of  seventy  acres  with  the 
river  running  through  it,  about  fourteen  acres  of  which  were  east 
of  the  river.  This  farm,  with  a  house  and  other  buildings,  fruit 
trees,  and  fences — all  upon  the  west-side  portion  of  it — he  sold  in 
1733  to  Ebenezer  Elwell  of  Branford,and  Gideon  AUyn  of  Guilford. 
In  1730  he  gave  John  Standly,  Jr.  of  Kensington  ^^70  in  bills  of 
public  credit  for  his  j£^o  interest  in  the  township.  He  laid  out  one 
hundred  acres,  with  Rose,  at  the  West  Branch,  in  1730;  over  a  hun- 
dred with  Mr.  Thomas  Brooks,  merchant,  of  Boston,  at  Poland 
(then,  in  Waterbury)  in  1731;  while  numerous  other  purchases  and 
lay  outs  filled  the  time  until  1735,  when  Mr.  Southmayd  conveyed 
to  him  fifty-three  acres.  After  the  sale  of  his  first  house  to  Eben- 
ezer Elwell,  he  built  another  house,  or  at  least  he  sold  land  in  1737 
to  John  Humaston  of  New  Haven,  described  as  "sixty-nine  acres 
with  a  house  upon  it,  with  the  buildings,  fencing,  fruit  trees,  timber, 
stones,  watering  and  appurtenances."  This  deed,  his  wife,  Sarah, 
(who  must  have  been  his  third  wife)  signed  with  him.  The  land 
was  "  by  Litchfield  line  " — bounded  north  "  on  land  left  for  a  high- 
way by  Litchfield  bounds."  In  1739,  he  had  a  house  at  Poland,  with 
"a  brook  running  on  t^ie  east  side  of  it."  In  1748  Henry  Cook  and 
his  son  Henry  Cook  quit-claimed  to  Samuel  and  Enoch  Curtice 
"lands  at  Poland,  originally  called  Lewis  and  Judd  lots,  excepting 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres."  Upon  this  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  that  he  reserved  his  house  stood.  We  have  found 
Henry  Cook,  of  Litchfield  in  1727 — of  Waterbury  in  1729,  at  which 
time  he  went  to  Branford  and  sold  to  Josiah  Rogers  of  that  town 
twelve  acres  of  land  in  Waterbury;  and  the  next  year  we  find 
him  selling  to  Joseph  Chittenden  of  Wallingford  fifty-three  acres 
(Chittenden  calling  him,  "my  father,  Henry  Cook);"  to  Dr.  Jeremiah 
Hull  of  Wallingford  one  hundred  acres;  to  Samuel  Towner  (Cook 
calling  him  "brother  Towner")  land  "  seven  score  rods  north  from 
his  house,"  and  to  Elnathan  Beach,  of  New  Cheshire,  forty  acres 
off  the  south  end  of  his  farm — and  all,  before  the  close  of  1731. 
The  first  settler  of  any  town  holds,  as  such,  an  unique  position. 


EARLY  NORTHBURY. 


3'5 


and  we  have  given  space  to  information  that  may  serve  to  identity 
the  site  of  Henry  Cook's  first,  and  subsequent  habitations.  We 
have  found  him  to  be  a  man  of  courage,  enterprise,  and  a  spirit 
that  withstood  injustice.  While  he  was,  apparently,  one  of  the 
foremost  promoters  of  the  established  church,  he  seems  to  have 
been  so  incensed  one  year  at  having  his  property  four-folded,  or 
put  into  the  list  at  four  times  its  value — when  perhaps  the  river 
was  so  high  that  he  could  not  get  to  the  Town  Spot  with  his  tax- 
list — that  the  next  year  he  went  over  to  the  Church  of  England. 

While  we  are  not  able  to  present  to  view  the  face  of  Henry 
Cook,  the  soldier  of  the  wilderness,  we  are  able  to  give  as  his  repre- 
sentative that  of  his  soldier  grandson,  Lemuel  Cook.  He  was,  it  is 
believed,  the  last  survivor  of  the  men  who  made  possible  the  United 
States  of  North  America.  He  was  bom  in  Waterbury  (Northbury 
Society),  it  is  believed  in  1764,  and  was  the  second  Lemuel  born  to 
Henry  Cook  and  Hannah  Benham — the  first  Lemuel  having  died  in 
1760.  The  Court  of  Probate  at  Woodbury,  named  a  Lemuel  among 
the  living  children  of  Henry  Cook,  deceased,  in  1772.  The  History 
of  Kirkland,  New  York,  states 
that  he  died  May  21, 1869,  aged 
one  hundred  and  four  years — 
but  a  letter  from  his  youngest 
grandchild,  Louis  P.  Cook,  of 
Clarendon,  N.  Y.,  informs  us 
that  he  died  May  20th,  1866, 

Early  in  1730  Ebenezer 
Blakeslee  of  New  Haven  be- 
came the  owner  of  sixty  acres, 
in  two  pieces,  lying  "in  att 
and  about  the  place  common- 
ly called  and   known  by  the 
name    of    twich   Grass    Mea- 
dow;"   Joseph    Hurlburt,    of 
seventeen   acres,  in  two 
pieces,  one  of  them  on  a  plain 
north   of   the   meadow ;    and 
Joseph   Chittenden   built   a 
house   that    he    sold   to   Bar- 
nabas Ford,     It  was  a  small  »t  tub  ai.i  w  onk  HiNn-m.  .h»i^; 
house,  and  it  or  its  successor    ^"^  ""  -^ukvivuR  o,  ink  wak  m  ™e  RBvoLnioN. 
became  the  center  of  the  society  that  was  later  formed.    As  will 
be  seen,  the  name  of  the  region  from  173010  1733  was  "Twich"  Grass 
Meadow.    Before  the  close  of  the  year  173?,  so  great  was  the  activity 
of  Henry  Cook  and  his  friends  that  when  it  became  necessary  to 


3i6  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

group  together,  for  taxation,  the  fifty-two  men  who  represented 
the  inhabitants  living  at  Woster  (Watertown),  Pine  Meadow  (Rey- 
nolds Bridge),  and  Twitch  Grass  Meadow  (Thomaston),  or  all  that 
region  lying  between  Oakville  and  the  north  bound  of  the  town- 
ship— Samuel  Hikcox  and  David  Scott,  the  listers,  inscribed  on  the 
title  page  of  the  small  tax-book  the  following:  "  The  List  of  North 
Burey  in  Waterbury,"  ignoring  Wooster  Swamp  completely,  and 
giving  to  Twitch  Grass  Meadow  and  all  the  region  thereabout  the 
name  of  Northbury  seven  years  before  it  was  conferred  upon  the 
ecclesiastical  society  incorporated  by  legal  authority. 

The  near  presence  of  the  hill,  from  whence  the  men  of  Farming- 
ton  took  specimens  of  ore  in  1657,  may  have  been  an  inciting  cause 
in  gathering  inhabitants,  and  could  the  inner  history  of  the  period 
from  1730  to  1735  t)e  revealed,  we  should  doubtless  find  that  for- 
tunes wej-e  dreamed  of  in  the  upper  valley  of  the  Great  river  by 
more  men  than  poor  John  Sutliff  (the  grandson  or  great-grandson 
of  the  settler),  who  lived,  and  toiled,  and  died,  in  later  years,  in  the 
full  belief  that  the  earth  of  Northbury  stood  ready  to  give  forth 
treasures  in  metals  to  the  faithful  seeker.  It  is  said  that  he  made 
reservations  relating  to  mines  and  minerals  in  all  deeds  that  he 
gave,  and  the  place  is  still  pointed  out  where  he,  single  handed, 
carried  on  his  mining  operations.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
staid  planters  living  at  the  Town  Spot  (including  Deacon  Judd) 
owned,  against  English  Grass  meadow,  "a  place  called  the  mines" 
i^  1735-  Who  can  tell  how  many  "specimens"  Henry  Cook  carried 
with  him  when  he  went  forth  to  induce  Elnathan  Beach,  Dr.  Jere- 
miah Hull,  Josiah  Rogers,  Joseph  Chittenden,  Samuel  and  Phineas 
Towner,  Samuel  and  Enoch  Curtiss,  and  Samuel  Cook,  merchant,  to 
become  purchasers  of  Northbury  lands,  or  what  inducements  he 
held  forth  to  Mr.  Thomas  Brooks  of  Boston,  to  invest  with  him  in 
lands  at  Poland  !  Seven  years  later  we  find  Mr.  Brooks  buying 
half  an  acre  '*  on  the  plain  a  little  north  of  the  turn  of  Poland 
river,  north  of  his  own  and  Cook's  land."  In  this  connection  it 
should  be  mentioned  that  the  name  of  a  branch  of  the  Naugatuck 
river  was  changed  at  about  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  North- 
bury— from  the  East  Branch  to  Lead  Mine  brook ;  also,  that  the 
brook  enters  the  river  at  a  point  quite  near  the  place  opposite 
English  Grass  meadow,  where  marks  still  remain  which  may  be 
attributed  to  attempts  at  mining  in  view  of  the  recorded  evidence 
of  such  an  attempt  having  been  there  made.  Not  far  below  this 
lead  mine  section  begins  the  tract  of  country  once  known  as  Henry 
Cook's  (first)  farm  whose  southerly  end  lay  in  Welton's  meadow, 
which  in  turn  extended  to  Andrew's  meadow  on  which  the  upper 
portion  of  the  village  of  Thomaston  is  built — its  center  standing  on 


EABLT  NORTHS URT. 


317 


"  Twich  Grass   Meadow  plain,"  the   meadow  of  that  name  lying 
below  the  village. 

In  so  far  as  our  researches  extend,  it  appears  that  Isaac  Castle 
(a  son  of  the  soil,  his  mother  being  the  daughter  of  John  Richard- 
son) was  probably  at  Northbury  soon  after  the  arrival  of  Cook  and 
Rose,  for,  as  early  as  February,  1728,  he  sold  his  house  and  ten 
acres  of  land  "by  the  highway  that  goes  to  Scott's  mountain,"  to 
Capt.  Thomas  Judd,  and  removed  to  the  northward.  The  present 
railroad  bridge  at  Thomaston  is  in  Isaac  Castle's  meadow  of  1744, 
through  which  a  highway  was  laid  at  that  date. 

We  will  not  follow  in  detail  the  various  petitions  that  were 
sent  to  the  Town  and  to  the  General  Assembly  that  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  Society  of  Northbury,  but  refer  the  reader  to  Dr. 
Bronson's  "History  of  Waterbury"  and  to  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Hillard's 
article  on  "The  Church  in  Plymouth,"  in  "The  Churches  of  Matta- 
tuck:  1892.  Edited  by  Joseph  Anderson,  S.  T.  D.,"  where  may  be 
found  extended  statements.  Neither  of  the  above  writers  however 
seems  to  have  taken  notice  that  the  town  discriminated  in  favor  of 
the  Society  at  Westbury,  and  against  that  at  Northbury. 

The  first  intimation  of  the  desire  of  the  northwest  inhabitants 
to  absent  themselves  from  the  new  meeting  house  during  the  winter 
months  appears,  in  our  Town  Records,  in  the  appointment  of  the 
town  deputies  to  "  answer  a  memorial  brought  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  October,  1732."  Not  a  word  is  said  of  opposing  it,  and 
the  court  granted  the  petition  by  giving  liberty  to  the  inhabitants 
to  hire  a  minister  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  them  during  the  months 
asked  for,  for  the  space  of  four  years — from  1732  to  1736.  Dr.  Bron- 
son  tells  us  that  in  the  spring  of  1733  (only  five  months  after  the 
first  petition  was  granted)  the  same  inhabitants  asked  the  General 
Assembly  to  set  them  off  as  a  distinct  society.  Before  the  May  ses- 
sion at  which  the  above  prayer  was  offered,  on  April  3,  1733,  the 
town  convened  for  the  one  purpose  of  considering  the  condition  of 
the  Northern  inhabitants,  and  "  agreed  by  vote  that  there  might  be 
a  Society  in  the  Northwest  Quarter  of  the  bounds  of  sd.  Waterbury 
in  a  convenient  time,"  and  chose  "Capt.  William  Judd,  Lieut.  Sam- 
uel Hikcox,  Mr.  Joseph  Lewis,  Mr.  John  Sutliff,  Mr.  Isaac  Bronson 
and  Capt.  William  Hikcox  as  a  committee  to  agree  upon  and  settle 
the  bounds  between  the  Society  called  the  North  Society  and  the 
old  Town."  Three  weeks  before  the  above  meeting,  thQ  proprietors 
held  a  meeting,  at  which  they  sequestered  three  miles  square  of 
land — making  the  center  of  the  sequestered  land  "  the  center  "  of 
the  Society  that  shall  there  be  allowed."  This  sequestration  pre- 
vented the  layout  of  any  additional  land  within  that  territory,  and 
has  been  considered  as  an  act  inimical  to  the  best  interests  of  the 


3i8  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

proposed  society — but  there  is  another  view  of  it  that  ought,  at  least, 
to  be  considered.  In  1736  the  proprietors  had  found  it  necessary 
to  look  after  their  timber  in  the  undivided  lands  "  that  there  might 
be  no  trespass  upon  it  from  out  of  town  men,"  and  in  all  settlements, 
commons  were  a  vital  need.  The  proprietors  of  Waterbury  had 
abundant  commons  for  the  Town  Spot,  in  which  were  common  past- 
ures, one  for  horses,  and  one  for  cattle,  and  in  which  the  wood, 
timber  and  stone  were  the  common  property  of  all  the  inhabitants, 
and  it  is  abundantly  proven  that  anywhere  in  the  commons  men 
built  houses  both  early  and  late — a  right  to  do  so  being  generally 
respected.  Why  may  we  not  then  consider  this  sequestration  evi- 
dence of  paternal  regard  for  the  future  welfare  of  the  village  of 
Wooster  ?  Many  acres  had  already  been  laid  out  within  the  bounds 
whose  title  remained  to  the  owners  thereof,  and  it  will  be  remem- 
bered that  this  sequestration  was  made,  not  by  the  town,  but  by  the 
owners  of  the  soil.  If  enacted  simply  to  wait  for  the  time  of 
increased  values,  we  must  consider  it  a  little  worldly  and  advanced 
perhaps,  but  natural,  in  view  of  the  sudden  and  increased  demand 
for  lands  that  had  arisen. 

March  14,  1734,  a  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which  **  it  was  voted 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  northwest  corner  of  Waterbury  shall 
have  a  liberty  without  being  interrupted  by  sd  town  to  make  their 
application  to  the  General  Assembly  in  May  next  for  a  committee 
to  appoint  a  line  between  the  town  and  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town,  sd  Petitioners  being  att  the  charge  of  the  committe."  This 
was  the  only  business  before  the  meeting,  and  Isaac  Bronson  was 
the  moderator.  A  fortnight  later,  March  26,  1734,  another  meeting 
was  held,  at  which  Capt.  Wm.  Hikcox  was  moderator.  At  this 
meeting  "A  rate  of  a  penny  of  money  on  the  pound  was  laid  to  sup- 
ply the  town  with  a  stock  of  powder  and  lead."  After  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  collector  for  the  above  rate,  the  meeting  adjourned  for 
one  hour.  It  met  in  the  afternoon  according  to  adjournment,  when 
"  the  town  voted  that  a  committee  should  be  chosen  by  the  town  to 
consider  the  circumstances  of  the  northwest  part  of  the  town 
and  settle  a  line  in  order  to  make  a  Society  in  the  northwest  part 
of  the  town  and  voted  that  the  worshipfull  Joseph  Whiting  Sqr., 
Cap'.  Roger  Nuton  of  Milford,  Cap'.  John  Russel  of  Branford  be  a 
committee  to  consider  the  circumstances  of  the  town  as  above  sd 
and  to  settle  a  line  as  above  sd."  The  committee  was  to  be  called 
in  sometime  in  the  March  following.  In  all  of  the  above  public 
expressions  by  the  town  I  fail  to  find  a  straw  of  opposition.  That 
nothing  should  be  done  in  a  hurry — seems  to  be  the  general  tone  of 
the  town,  towards  the  dwellers  on  the  margin  of  Wooster  Swamp. 


EARLY  NORTUBURT. 


319 


October  7,  1734,  before  the  above  committee  had  been  "called 
in,"  a  bill  was  laid  before  the  town  meeting  "  desiring  that  a  com- 
mittee be  chosen  among  themselves  to  set  out  the  village  in  the 
northwest  Quarter  of  the  Bounds  and  other  villages  pertaining  to 
the  Town."  By  this,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  town  was  fully  alive 
to  the  fact  that  disintegration  lay  before  it.  The  following  was  the 
bill  which  was  acted  upon: 

Whereas  att  A  Town  Meeting  In  Waterbury  upon  March  Last,  warned  In  par- 
ticular for  to  Grant  A  Rate  for  A  Town  Stock  there  was  some  Other  things 
Irregularly  Done  att  the  same  meeting  which  are  Matters  of  Weight,  and  We  Judge 
beyond  the  Jurisdiction  of  That  meeting  and  also  to  the  Great  Dissatisfaction  of 
many  people  we  would  therefore  urge  that  the  same  Buisness  may  be  re-considered 
and  the  votes  then  past,  which  seem  to  be  repugnant  to  the  Common  Interest  of 
the  town  may  be  nul'd  and  made  voide— and  for  the  Effecting  the  buisness  there 
In  proposed  of  Setling  the  Society  we  chuse  a  Committee  Among  our  selves  to  set 
out  that  and  the  other  villages  pertaining  to  the  Tow^n,  which  we  Judge  will  be 
more  Easie  and  for  the  better  Contentment  of  the  Town  In  General  than  to  Com- 
mit It  to  strangers.     Voted  in  the  affirmative. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Waterbury  still  avoided  foreign  committees 
and  that  this  bill  was  simply  to  correct  the  mistakes  that  had  been 
made,  and  did  not  annul  the  vote  relating  to  the  Society. 

Now,  at  the  same  meeting  in  which  the  above  change  of  com- 
mittee was  made  regarding  the  society  at  Wooster,  the  Twich 
Grass  Meadow  people  "Henry  Cook,  Ebenezer  Elwell,  Samuel 
Towner,  &c.,  laid  before  the  Town  a  memorial — desiring  a  liberty  to 
hire  a  Gospel  minister  for  some  time  the  next  winter,  and  having 
their  minister's  rate  abated  for  the  same  term  of  time.  The  town 
voted  they  would  do  nothing  in  the  case." 

The  special  reason  why  the  town  favored  present  Watertown, 
but  seemed  reluctant  to  grant  the  same  extent  of  privilege  to  pres- 
ent Thomaston  and  Plymouth  may  perhaps  be  found  in  the  friendly 
and  paternal  regard  it  felt  for  its  very  own,  at  Wooster.  The  peo- 
ple at  Twitch  Grass  Meadow  were  strangers  to  the  soil  and  the 
town  very  evidently  wished  to  keep  them  closely  under  its  own 
observation,  or  under  that  of  the  hamlet  at  Wooster.  Wooster  also 
needed  help  in  sustaining  Gospel  preaching,  and  the  Up  River 
people,  then  living  in  present  Thomaston,  could  get  to  Wooster 
without  crossing  the  Great  river. 

The  town  meeting  records  are  missing  at  this  point  for  all  of  the 
year  1735  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  larger  part  of  1736,  and  we  have  no  proprie- 
tor's records  for  1734  after  April — none  for  1735,  ^^^  none  in  1736 
until  the  close  of  the  vear. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

EVENTS  PRECEDING  THE  FORMATION  OF  WESTBURY  SOCIETY — MR.  SOUTH- 
MAYD  RESIGNS  THE  PASTORATE  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH WEST- 
BURY  SOCIETY  INCORPORATED— ITS  INHABITANTS — HOUSES  AT 
OAKVILLE — THE    EARLY  HOUSES  OF  WATERTOWN — THE  SCOTT  MILLS 

SCOTT's    MOUNTAIN PATTAROON     HILL — HIKCOX    HILL WELTON 

HILL — THE    REV.    JOHN    TRUMBULL — OTHER    EVENTS. 

THE  future  historian  of  Watertown  will  find  an  interesting  and 
profitable  field  in  which  to  glean  facts  for  the  rebuilding  of 
that  township;  facts  which  we  may  not  introduce  in  this 
mere  glance  at  the  past  of  that  portion  of  ancient  Waterbury.  The 
old  town  seems  to  have  been  unduly  censured  for  delaying  its 
growth;  whereas,  the  town  was  willing — far  more  so  than  the 
'*  Colonial  Authority,"  that  her  eldest  child,  whose  maiden  name 
was  "Woster"  should  be  introduced  to  winter  privileges,  and  be 
received  into  "  a  separate  and  distinct  '*  society  of  its  own — its  only 
insistepce  being  that  every  thing  be  done  decently  and  in  /ega/  order. 
One  cannot  avoid  admiring  the  persistent  endeavors  made  by  the 
young  thing  to  go  alone,  and  its  very  audacity  in  answering  nega- 
tive answers  with  louder  knocks  of  petition  seems  at  last  to  have 
wearied  the  General  Assembly  into  consent.  The  winter  of  1737 
must  have  seemed  long  to  the  waiting  people,  waiting  for  Capt. 
John  Riggs,  Capt.  Isaac  Dickerman  and  Mr.  John  Fowler  to  appear 
and  view  their  surroundings  and  circumstances,  and  tell  them, 
whether  in  their  judgment,  the  plan  for  an  ecclesiastical  society 
ought  to  be  carried  out,  and  great  must  have  been  the  disappoint- 
ment— the  winter  being  past  and  the  May  session  ended — to  learn 
that  because  two  of  the  men  named  visited  Watertown,  and  the 
third  man  stayed  at  home,  the  Assembly  declined  to  accept  the 
report,  but  appointed  another  committee  to  go  over  the  ground,  and 
set  the  bounds  for  the  new  society  if  it  pleased  them  to  think  there 
should  be  one.  The  same  men  were  at  the  same  time  to  inform  the 
town,  and  if  the  town  chose  to  have  them  do  it,  and  in  case  it  was 
willing  to  pay  them  the  cost  of  the  proceeding,  they  were  to  view 
the  other  parts  of  the  town — present  Thomaston  and  Plymouth — 
and  make  report  of  their  acts  and  thoughts  in  October,  1738.  It 
was  in  September  of  1738  that  Messrs.  John  Fowler  of  Milford,  and 
Samuel  Bassett  and  Gideon  Johnson  of  Derby,  made  the  journey  to 
Waterbury,  where  they  were  met  by  Deacon  Joseph  Lewis,  Capt. 


EARLY  WESTBURT.  X2i 


Samuel  Hikcox,  Capt.  William  Judd,  Capt.  Timothy  Hopkins  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Blackslee,  who  escorted  them  through  Woster.  It  was 
no  mean  journey  performed  by  that  committee,  as  the  report 
evidenced.  Probably  Watertown  has  never  received  more  import- 
ant visitors,  and  it  is  unnecessary  to  suggest  that  it  was  an  interesting 
and  exciting  occasion — for  the  fate  of  every  man,  woman  and  child 
lay  in  the  hands  of  the  three  men.  They  and  they  alone  could  save 
two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  persons  from  journeying  every  Sun- 
day from  the  far-away  hills  and  valleys  of  river  and  stream  to  the 
meeting  house  on  Waterbury  Green. 

It  is  impossible  to  pass  in  review  before  the  events  of  this  period 
without  being  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  Mr.  Southmayd's 
heart  was  burdened  and  sorrowful  beyond  hope  by  the  turning 
away  of  so  many  feet  from  his  ministrations,  and  that  he  was  influ- 
enced in  his  resignation  of  the  pastoral  office  by  passing  events, 
although  no  word  of  lament  appears  in  the  fine  and  manly  docu- 
ment preserved  by  his  own  hand  in  our  records,  in  which  he  tells 
his  people  why  he  must  withdraw  from  the  ministry.  Mr.  South- 
mayd's  words  spoken  in  1737,  were  explained  in  1891,  when  upon  the 
disinterment  of  his  remains,  it  was  found  that  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  unable  to  turn  his  head.  In  view  of  the  above  dis- 
covery, the  following  letter  of  resignation  is  of  peculiar  interest: 

Aprill  1738 

To  the  Deacons  and  Townsmen  in  Waterbury  to  Communicate  to  the  Church  and 
Inhabitants  of  sd  Town. 

Beloved  Breathren  and  Neighbours.  I  the  Subscriber,  being  under  great  Diffi- 
culty and  infirmity  of  Body  and  it  being  such  as  I  fear  will  never  wear  off  but 
increase  and  grow  upon  me  which  makes  my  care  and  concern  very  Burthensome 
and  Distressing,  so  that  the  publick  work  I  am  engaged  in  is  too  much  for  me  and 
having  served  you  under  very  great  Difficulty  now  almost  two  years  and  being 
quite  discouraged  as  to  getting  well  and  finding  that  a  sedentary  life  is  very  Destruc- 
tive to  my  health  and  being  very  far  advanced  in  years  and  w^illing  and  desirous  to 
Retire  from  my  Public  work  in  the  ministry  in  which  I  have  been  with  you  about 
38  years  to  the  best  of  my  ability  and  am  now  Desirous  trj  live  more  privately.  I 
take  this  opportunity  for  these  reasons  and  many  more  which  might  be  mentioned 
to  signify  to  you  that  I  am  willing  and  heartily  Desirous  that  you  would  get  some 
person  whom  you  can  affect  and  pitch  upK)n  to  come  among  you  and  preach  the 
Gospel  here  and  to  be  with  you  in  order  to  a  settlement  as  soon  as  conveniently 
may  be  In  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  I  desire  you  would  be  as  speedy  in  the 
thing  as  may  be  for  I  think  I  cannot  serve  you  any  longer,  which  Request  I  hof)e 
you  will  be  most  Ready  and  forward  U)  comply  with  and  Oblidge  your  friend  and 
I  Distressed  Minister  who  sincerely  desires  your  welfare  and  prosperity  both  Spirit- 

ual and  temporal  and  his  own  Ease  and  freedom.     Desiring  the  continuance  of  your 
prayers  for  me  I  subscribe  myself  your  well  wisher, 

John  Southmayd. 
21 


322  HiaTORT  OF  WATERBUBT. 

It  would  seem  that  a  special  town  meeting  was  called  on  April 
2oth,  1738,  to  receive  the  above  resignation.  The  memorial  was  con- 
sidered and  the  town  voted  to  call  another  minister,  but  requested 
Mr.  Southmayd  to  continue  to  serve  them  as  far  as  he  was  able.  It 
then  adjourned  for  five  days,  and  met  to  appoint  a  committee,  who, 
after  seeking  the  advice  of  Mr.  Southmayd  and  neighboring  elders, 
was  to  "  call "  a  minister.  Under  the  circumstances  it  is  not  surprising 
to  find  that  Mr.  Southmayd  had  not  received  his  full  salary  for  some 
time.  In  settlement  he  offered  to  take  ;^ioo  in  money  and  to  have 
the  use  of  the  Little  Pasture  as  long  as  he  lived.  To  this  proposi- 
tion that  christian  gentleman  added;  "  If  that  can't  be  agreed  to,  I 
am  willing  to  leave  it  to  some  Indifferent  persons  to  say  what  is 
Just  and  Reasonable  to  be  done  and  to  settle  as  to  temporals  between 
me  and  my  People,  with  whom  I  have  spent  the  best  of  my  days, 
and  abide  by  their  judgement  in  the  case." 

It  is  pleasant  to  find  that  there  was  not  one  dissenting  voice 
heard  in  the  town  meeting,  and  that  Mr.  Southmayd's  proposal  was 
at  once  accepted.  It  was  at  this  meeting  that  the  committee  was 
appointed  to  meet  the  Assembly's  committee,  and  guide  them  to 
Watertown  and  Plymouth. 

The  committee  reported  in  October,  whereupon  the  General 
Assembly  **  Resolved: 

That  the  northwest  quarter  of  Waterbury  beginning  at  the  line  dividing 
between  the  towns  of  Waterbury  and  Woodbury,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Capt 
WiUiam  Judd's  g^eat  farm,  and  to  continue  eastward  by  the  southside  of  Judd's 
farm  to  the  southeast  corner  thereof;  and  from  thence  to  extend  to  the  southeast 
comer  of  the  old  farm  of  Joseph  Nickols,  late  deceased  [1733];  and  from  thence 
northeastwardly  unto  the  place  w^here  Williams's  corn-mill  now  stands;  from  thence 
an  eastwardly  course  to  the  southwest  comer  of  Jonathan  Prindle's  farm,  including 
the  said  Prindle's;  and  from  the  southeast  corner  of  said  Prindle's  farm  easterly  to 
the  river,  and  then  to  run  northerly  by  the  river,  the  river  being  the  east  bounds 
thereof,  until  it  comes  where  the  west  Branch  enters  the  main  river  and  then  run- 
ning as  the  West  Branch  runs  to  Litchfield  bounds;  and  then  running  westerly  as 
the  line  runs  between  the  towns  of  Waterbury  and  Litchfield  until  it  comes  to 
Woodbury  town  line,  and  then  running  southerly  by  the  line  between  Waterbury 
and  Woodbury  to  the  forementioned  corner  of  Capt.  William  Judd's  farm,  shall  be, 
and  is  hereby  made,  a  distinct  ecclesiastical  society,  with  the  s^me  rights  and  priv- 
ileges of  such  societies  in  this  government,  and  shall  hereafter  be  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Westberry. 

The  following  list  of  families,  and  the  number  of  persons  in  each  family,  was 
reported  by  the  committee  to  be  living  in  1738  witliin  the  above  bounds. 


John  Smith   .     . 

.     .     8 

George  Wei  ton,  .     . 

10 

Ebenezer  Richards, 

.  9 

Thomas  Foot, 

.     .  9 

Samuel  Judd,     .     .     . 

5 

William  Scovill,     . 

.      6 

Samuel  Thomas, 

.     .     8 

Gershom  Scott,    .     . 

5 

Thomas  Judd,     .     . 

.    4 

Thomas  Hikcox, 

.     •  5 

James  Smith,     .     .     . 

2 

Moses  Bronson,     . 

.     II 

Samuel  Luis,     . 

•     .     9 

Thomas  Richards,     . 

9 

Samuel  Hikcox, 

.   12 

EARLY   WESTBUHr. 


323 


Caleb  Clark,    .     .     . 

9 

Ebenezer  Baldwin, 

.     3 

James  Brown,      .     . 

8 

Daniel  How,      .     .     . 

9 

Jonathan  Prindle,     . 

7 

John  Warner,    .     .     . 

4 

John  Andrews.     .     . 

6 

Stephen  Scott,  .     . 

.     4 

James  Williams, 

7 

William  Andrews, 

3 

Obadiah  Scott,      .     . 

4 

George  Nichols,     .     . 

6 

Jonathan  Scott,    .     . 

3 

David  Scott, .     .     . 

.     5 

James  Belemy,     .     . 

I 

Jonathan  Scott,      .     . 

7 

Nathaniel  Arnold,    . 

10 

Richard  Seymour, 

4 

Eleazer  Scott,       .     . 

3 

Ebenezer  Warner, 

.     5 

Jonathan  Gamsey,    . 

10 

Jonathan  Foot, .    .     . 

5 

In  1730  the  highway  up  the  valley  to  present  Watertown  and  to 
Waterville  ran  over  the  Naugatuck  river,  into  and  across  Steel's 
meadow  and  up  on  Steel's  plain.  On  the  plain  it  divided  and  the 
Waterville,  or  Pine  Hole  branch,  followed  the  valley  of  the  Nauga- 
tuck river  on  the  east  side  of  Edmund's  mountain,  crossing  the 
river  into  Hancock  meadow — while  the  Watertown  branch  went 
to  the  west  of  Edmund's  mountain  and  followed  the  valley  of  Steel's 
brook,  substantially  to  Watertown. 

The  second  house  built  northwestward  of  Waterbury  -  centre, 
was  erected  before  17 15  at  present  Oakville,  by  young  Thomas 
Wei  ton,  who  was  the  son  of  John,  the  planter.  He  married,  in  17 15, 
the  record  tells  us,  Hannah  Allford  and  built  a  house  on  the  north 
side  of  Steel's  brook,  against  the  upper  end  of  Ben's  meadow,  and 
southwest  of  Turkey  brook.  This  was  at  the  fork  of  the  Woster 
and  the  Scott's  mountain  roads,  and  was  a  lonely  habitation,  with 
the  unbridged  river  between  it  and  possible  succor  from  the  town 
in  time  of  trial.  Here,  it  is  thought,  Thomas  Welton  began  house- 
keeping with  his  young  wife,  for,  hereabout,  lay  his  farm  and  the 
land  "on  Turkey  brook  northeast  of  his  house  where  said  Welton 
formerly  ploughed,"  and  here  probably  occurred  the  first  death  in 
Oakville,  for  Thomas  died  in  17 17.  His  house  seems  to  have  been 
left  desolate  until  the  coming  of  Isaac  Castle  in  1724,  who  lived  in 
it  four  years;  sold  it  in  1728  to  Deacon  Judd,  and  moved  up  to 
Twitch  Grass  Meadow.  Deacon  Judd  almost  immediately  conveyed 
it  to  James  Williams,  who,  in  close  connection  with  his  brother 
Daniel,  built  the  first  mill  at  Oakville  before  November  of  1729. 
Even  at  that  date,  there  must  have  been  an  o/d  mill  there,  for  in  a 
deed  given  by  John  Warner  to  James  Williams,  land  is  sold  "lying 
by  the  n^w  mill." 

The  traveler  passing  over  the  "  Road  to  Woster "  at  any  time 
from  1721  to  1735  would  find  Ebenezer  Richardson  living  in  the 
house  next  above  the  one  built  by  Thomas  Welton,  and,  in  so  far  as 
we  have  investigated,  the  same  house  still  stands  and  has  been 
known  for  two  generations  as  the  "  Esquire  John  Buckingham 
place."  What  befell  Ebenezer  in  the  building  his  house  or  other- 
wise we  do  not  know,  but  the  General  Assembly  ordered  the  con- 


324  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUBT, 

stable  not  to  demand  his  tax  rate  for  1720 — because  of  the  great 
distress  to  which  his  lameness  had  reduced  him — ^but  he  got  the 
better  of  it  evidently  for  he  was  a  bom  wanderer  and  Pine  Meadow 
(Reynolds  Bridge)  called  to  him  in  1737  with  clarion  tones  to  come 
up  higher.  He  could  not  resist  either  the  call  or  a  good  chance  to 
sell  out,  for  he  left  his  house  and  barn  and  two  hundred  acre  farm 
to  James  Brown,  the  faithful  lover  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
the  inn-holder  of  Judd's  Meadow,  and  went  up  higher.  If  we  had 
any  evidence  to  support  the  fact,  we  should  write  that  probably 
Brown  built  the  large  house  and  pursued  his  calling  in  it.  He 
ultimately  conveyed  it  to  his  son  Daniel,  who  sold  it  to  Richard 
Nichols.  As  a  token  of  his  adherence  to  the  Church  of  England, 
we  may  note  that  "the  listers"  for  the  year  1737,  gave,  as  the  last 
item  in  James  Brown's  tax  list,  "  2  acrs  meddow  Amen."  Dr.  John 
Warner,  a  son  of  the  soil,  came  back  from  Stratford  and  before  1724 
built  a  house,  which  was  across  the  highway  from  the  Ebenezer 
Richardson  house.  Mrs.  Richardson  and  Mrs.  Warner  were  sisters. 
On  the  summit  of  the  hill  **  south  of  Lower  Wooster,"  and  south  of 
what  was  formerly  the  Candee  place  Samuel  Thomas  lived.  A 
few  years  later  he  died — a  soldier  in  his  country's  service — ^at  Cape 
"  Britton."  His  house  was  on  the  main  Watertown  road  just  below 
the  "  cross  "  road  that  comes  from  Bunker  Hill  (past  Woodruff's)  to 
the  Watertown  road,  and  was  formerly  known  as  the  "  Road  to 
Watertown  by  James  Brown's."  Samuel  Judd  settled  between  the 
forks  of  Turkey  brook  on  the  upland  from  whence  you  can  see  the 
valley  of  the  brook  to  the  point  of  its  union  with  Steel's  brook.  A 
house  place,  supposed  to  be  his,  still  remains  in  the  orchard  back  of 
the  house  once  known  as  the  Eleazer  Woodruff  place,  and  later  as  the 
Sunderland  place.  It  is  on  the  old  "  Road  from  Westbury  to  Bucks 
Hill " — now,  the  road  from  the  East  School  house  to  Watertown. 

Of  the  Scott  family  —  Stephen's  house  occupied  the  present 
site  of  Deacon  Dayton's  or  J.  R.  Hickcox's  house,  which  is  just 
above  Cranberry  brook;  Eleazer  lived  opposite  St.  John's  (Roman 
Catholic)  church;  Gershom,  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  above 
the  present  railroad  station,  between  it  and  the  Methodist  church; 
Jonathan,  Jr.,  above  Gershom's  house  and  on  the  same  side  of  the 
road ;  Jonathan,  Sen.,  it  is  believed,  on  the  site  of  and  possibly  m 
the  house  so  long  known  as  the  Wait  Smith  house,  which  is  now 
standing  and  in  good  repair.  Daniel,  the  youngest  son,  lived  with 
his  father.  Obadiah  Scott  lived  on  the  western  slope  of  Hikcox 
hill,  on  the  road  from  Westbury  to  Buck's  hill  and  near  the  foot  of 
the  hill.     This  he  sold  to  the  Rev.  John  Trumbull,*  who  later  built 


♦  Mr.  Trumbull,  in  his  later  years,  owned  a  number  of  houses.     The  one  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
is  the  one  pictured,  and  which  tradition  points  to,  as  the  one  built  by  him. 


EARLY  WESTBURT.  325 

a  house  below  Stephen  Scott's  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway 
probably  represented  on  the  Waterbury  sheet  of  the  United  States 
Geographical  Survey  by  the  house  mark  just  below  Cranberry 
brook,  and  below  the  Deacon  Dayton  house.  David  Scott  also 
lived  on  Hikcox  hill. 

The  ancient  Scott's  Mountain — not  the  hill  now  called  by  that 
name — is  the  culminating  dome-of  four  upward  steps  to  which  the 
names  of  Welton's  hill,  Pattaroon  hill,  Hikcox  mountain  and  Scott's 
mountain  were  early  applied.  On  Scott's  mountain,  described  as  "  a 
hill  between  Woster  swamp  and  Buck's  meadow,"  Jonathan  and  David 
Scott  had  lands  laid  out  in  1690,  but  the  names  of  Scott's  mountain, 
Hikcox  mountain,  and  Pattaroon  hill,  date  from  1703.  Each  eleva- 
tion is  marked  by  a  depression,  not  visible  when  regarded  from 
certain  points  of  observation.  Standing  on  West  Main  street  and 
looking  up  the  meadows  Scott's  mountain  rises  on  the  view  in  a 
fine  broad  sweep  of  upland  that  attracts  instant  attention.  The 
ponderous  mass  of  hills,  whose  highest  uplift  is  Scott's  mountain, 
rises  to  a  height  of  920  feet  (or  sixty  feet  higher  than  our 
Long  and  Chestnut  hills).  There  are  few  higher  elevations  within 
the  radius  of  its  distance  from  Waterbury  centre.  It  was  so 
named  from  grants  of  land  made  upon  it  in  1690  to  Jonathan  and 
David  Scott;  to  Jonathan  to  induce  him  to  settle  here,  and  to  David 
to  encourage  him  to  remain  here.  Its  present  name.  Nova  Scotia 
hill,  is  not  inappropriate  as  the  Scott's  possession  upon  and  around 
it  became  extensive  and  important,  but  no  evidence  has  been*  found 
that  a  Scott  settled  upon  the  mountain  at  an  early  date.  The  first 
house  mentioned  as  being  on  Scott's  mountain  was  Deacon  Thomas 
Hikcox's,  in  1728.  In  1731  John  Judd  sold  to  his  brother  Thomas 
forty-five  acres,  with  a  house  on  it.  The  first  house  on  Pattaroon 
hill  was  built  by  Daniel  Williams  in  1730.  The  exact  date  when 
Jonathan  Scott  and  his  son  Jonathan  went  to  present  Watertown 
and  built  their  houses  is  unknown.  In  March,  1722,  Jonathan,  Jr. 
had  land  laid  out  northward  of  Scott's  mountain  —  described  as 
**east  of  that  called  Nonnewage  on  a  brook  that  falls  into  Obadiah's 
meadow,"  and  the  same  day  "across  Steel's  brook,  northward  of 
Woster  Swamp  on  the  falls  of  sd  brook."  At  the  latter  place  the 
two  Jonathans,  father  and  son,  built  a  saw  mill,  but  it  is  not  men- 
tioned until  1725.  Jonathan  Sen.  built  another  mill  on  the  eastward 
side  of  Wooster  Swamp.  This  we  learn  when  a  highway  was  laid 
out  from  Oakville,  at  Ebenezer  Richardson's  house,  over  the  top  of 
Hikcox  hill  to  Jonathan  Scott's  mill.  At  about  the  same  date, 
there  was  one  laid  out  to  the  upper  mill. 

One  of  the  earliest  mortgages  of  land  in  Watertown  was  on 
sixty-seven  acres    of    the   farm   of   Nathaniel    Arnold,   Jr.    "The 


326  niSTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

Honourable  the  Governor  and  Company  of  this  His  Majestie's 
English  Colony  of  Connecticnt  In  New  England  In  A  merica"  lent 
to  Arnold  seventy-five  pounds  money,  on  the  20th  of  May  1734,  for 
which  Arnold  was  to  pay  on  the  first  of  May  1742,  "seventy-five 
pounds  in  silver  at  twenty  shillings  per  ounce  Troy  weight,  or  in 
Gold,  or  true  bills  of  publick  credit  on  the  Colony." 

As  early  as  1736  John  Guernsey  left  the  Village,  selling  his  house 
and  lands  to  John  Smith  of  East  Haddam,  who  then  removed  to 
Waterbury.  Other  land  owners  in  the  Village,  whose  names  were 
new,  were  Jonathan  Kelsey,  "Zakeriah**  Tomlinson,  Jonathan 
Guernsey,  Samuel  Umberfield  of  West  Haven,  and  Samuel  Baker  of 
Branford,  who  built  a  house  there  which  he  sold  in  1736  to  Thomas 
Foot  for  three  hundred  and  ten  pounds  current  money. 

The  above  rapid  survey  of  Water  town  and  its  vicinity  at  a  date 
before  the  formation  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Society  of  Westbury, 
imperfect  as  it  is,  affords  us  a  glimpse  of  a  prosperous  community, 
whose  founders  were  already  moving  on  to  new  territory.  Like 
other  first  settlers  Jonathan  Scott,  Jr.,  felt  the  impulse  to  move  on, 
and  in  1742  removed  to  Reynolds  Bridge,  where  he  bought  the 
house  and  farm  of  Ebenezer  Richardson,  who  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  "go  west,"  to  Middlebury.  The  house  was  the  very  site  of 
the  present  red  house  so  long  known  as  the  Reynolds  homestead. 

It  was  in  October  of  1738  that  the  Society  of  Westbury  was 
incorporated.  The  number  of  families  enumerated  at  that  time 
was  thirty-seven,  whose  names  have  been  given.  At  the  close  of 
1739  nine  men  had  been  added  to  the  population.  They  were 
Joseph  Guernsey,  Daniel  Scott,  Nathan  Baldwin,  John  Warner,  Jr., 
Stephen  Welton,  Edmund  Tompkins,  Edward  Scovill,  James 
Nichols,  Samuel  Brown,  and  Abraham  Andrews.  The  inhabitants 
of  Westbury  parish  must  have  numbered  nearly  three  hundred, 
when  in  1739,  Mr.  John  Trumbull*  a  young  man  of  twenty-five 
years — was  invited  by  them  to  take  charge  of  their  church.  Mr. 
Trumbull  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1735.  ^^'  Bronson  tells 
us  that  he  sometimes  fitted  young  men  for  college  after  he  became 
minister  at  Westbury — "  that  his  attainments  as  a  scholar  were 
respectable,  that  he  was  sound,  shrewd  and  humorous,  but,  that  he 
appears  not  to  have  been  distinguished  as  a  preacher — that  the 
great  influence  he  acquired  over  his  people  was  obtained  by  his 
generosity,  his  hospitable  manners  and  friendly  intercourse.  If 
one  of  his  parishioners  had  lost  a  cow  or  had  met  with  a  similar 
calamity  he  would  interest  himself  in  the  matter,  head  a  subscrip- 


*  This  name  is,  in  our  records,  spelled  Trumble — Trumbull  not  appearing  until  1768  when  Mr.  Trumble's 
nephew-cousin,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Trumble,  adopted  that  form  of  the  word. 


EARLY  WESTS URT. 


327 


tion  for  his  relief  and  persuade  others  to  sign  the  same.  It  was 
said  of  him  that  if  one  of  his  people  turned  Episcopalian,  he  would 
buy  his  farm." 

Mr.  Trumbull  is  described  as  a  stout,  athletic  man,  fond  of  horses 
— the  life  of  the  man  who  was  not  fond  of  horses  in  that  day  of  utter 
dependence  on  horses  must  have  been  full  of  bitterness — a  lover  of 
innocent  sports,  and  willing,  if  tradition  be  reliable,  to  add  his  skill 
and  strength  to  help  the  side  of  his  parish  boys  in  games  of  contest 
with  the  "Town  Spotters."  It  is  said  "that  the  contestants  met  at 
some  half-way  place  (doubtless  the  Buckingham  place,  or  James 
Brown's  inn,  for  we  find  that  Brown  did  pay  five  pounds  for  his 
'faculty'  of-  inn-keeper  after  his  removal  to  Oakville),  and  carried 
on  their  doubtless  somewhat  brutal  game  of  wrestling,  during  the 
autumnal  evenings,  around  a  fire."  The  story  is  told  that  on  one 
occasion  when  the  last  of  the  Westbury  champions  had  been  laid 
low,  a  stranger — Mr.  Trumbull  in  disguise — was  dragged  in  to  meet 
the  victor,  and  that  the  stranger  caught  his  antagonist's  foot  and 
threw  him  on  the  fire.  The  victor  immediately  disappeared. 
"  Great,"  adds  Dr.  Bronson,  "  was  the  exploit  and  great  the  mystery 
of  the  affair;  but  the  secret  finally  leaked  out.  The  story  reached 
the  ears  of  Mr.  Leavenworth — the  new  incumbent  of  the  First 
Church  Society — who  the  next  time  he  met  his  brother  'Trumble'. 
(both  men  not  long  past  their  college  days)  rebuked  him,  particu- 
larly, for  throwing  his  rival  upon  the  fire — by  which  his  clothing 
and  flesh  were  scorched.  Trumbull  agreed  that  he  had  been  guilty 
of  levity,  but,  as  for  the  scorching,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  give 
his  (Mr.  Leavenworth's)  parishioners  a  foretaste  of  what  they  might 
expect,  after  sitting  under  his  preaching." 

Rev.  John  Trumbull  was  born  in  Suffield  in  17 15,  and  was  the 
son  of  Jonathan  or  John  (on  our  records  Jon  Trumble),  whose 
ancestor  from  England,  settled  in  Ipswich  in  1645.  He  married 
July  3,  1744,  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Whitman  of  Farm- 
ington.  They  had  seven  children.  John,  the  fourth  child  and  second 
son  was  born  in  April  of  /750,  and  in  September  of  ^757,  if  the 
Connecticut  Gazette  of  that  month  and  year  may  be  relied  upon  for 
the  fact,  had  passed  a  good  examination  for  admittance  to  Yale 
College,  although  but  seven  years  and  five  months  old.  His  mother 
had  given  him  instruction  in  the  Latin  language,  and  his  father 
had  taken  him  through  a  course  of  preparatory  study,  which  cul- 
minated in  a  journey  to  New  Haven  for  the  examination.  The  lad's 
biographer  gravely  notes  that  "during  all  this  time"— his  first 
seven  years — "he  was  a  boy  and  liked  boyish  sports."  The  Gazette 
adds — "but  on  account  of  his  youth  his  father  does  not  intend  he 
shall  at  present  continue  at  college."     It  is  pleasing  to  learn  that 


3»8 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


after  he  was  graduated  at  Yale,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  young 
Trumbull  liked  to  sit  in  the  highway  and  scrape  up  sand-hills  with 
other  children.  We  are  told  •  that  Mr.  Trumbull  was  ordained  at 
the  house  of  Deacon  Hikcox,  about  two  miles  eastward  of  the 
churches.  Samuel  Hikcox,  who  was  Deacon  Hikcox  at  a  later  date, 
was  living  at  the  time  on  Pattaroon  hill,  in  the  house  built  on  the 
hill  in  1731  by  "Daniel  Williams,  miller."  Four  years  before  he 
was  married,  Mr.  Trumbull  bought  of  Obadiah  Scott,  for  ;^3oo, 
"his  home  lott  on  which  he  then  dwelt  and  all  the  buildings  then 
erected  —  west  on  highway  north  on  Obadiah  Scott,  east  on  Dr. 
John  Warner,  south  on  David  Scott."  This  was  April  29,  1740, 
and  Mr.  Southmayd  recorded  the  deed  of  sale  the  same  day.  The 
house  stood  on  the  western  slope  of  Hikcox  hill,  on  the  road 
from  Westbury  to  Buck's 
Hill  near  the  foot  of  the 
hill.  Mr.  Trumbull,  at  a 
subsequent  date,  which  date 
has  not  been  learned,  built  a 
house  just  below  Cranberry 
brook,  or  below  Deacon 
Dayton's  house  of  to-day. 
In  this  house  it  is  supposed 
hischildren  were  born.  The 
illustration  herewith  of  the 
house  is  copied,  by  the  cour- 
tesy of  Edwin  Whitefield 
from  "The  Homes  of  our  Forefathers,  Rhode  Island  and  Con- 
necticut," wherein  the  date  of  the  house  is  given  as  "about  1725," 
which  must  be  some  twenty  years  too  early. 

In  October,  1738,  the  Parish  of  Westbury  was  incorporated.  On 
the  first  Monday  of  December  the  first  parish  meeting  was  held. 
By  a  two-thirds  vole,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  meeting  house,  and, 
perhaps,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  to  seek  permission  of  the  General 
Assembly  to  embody  in  church  estate.  In  May  of  1739  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  repair  to  Westbury  and  decide  for  the  people 
where  the  meeting  house  should  stand.  In  October,  the  committee 
(Wallingford  men)  reported  that  they  had  repaired  to  the  parish, 
and  "had  set  up  a  stake  with  stones  laid  unto  it  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  Eliezer  Scott's  barn  lot,  near  to  the  road  or  intended  high- 
way that  ran  north  and  south."  The  Assembly  established  the 
place  above  described  "  to  be  the  place  where  said  society  should 
build  their  meeting  house  for  the  worship  of  God." 


.    John 


EARLY   WESTS URT. 


329 


In  December  of  the  same  year  the  proprietors  held  a  meeting 
and  gave  to  the  committee  for  laying  out  highways  in  the  north- 
west quarter  full  power  **  to  widen  the  highway  where  Westbury 
meeting  house  was  appointed  to  stand  so  as  to  accommodate  the 
house  with  a  suitable  green,  and  to  award  satisfaction  to  the  owners 
of  the  land  that  the  enlarged  highway  should  take  from."  The 
land  laid  out  in  accordance  with  the  above  permission  was  ten  rods 
on  its  south  side;  ten,  on  its  east  side;  eleven,  on  its  northern  side, 
and  eighteen,  on  its  western  side.  On  this  land,  without  having 
obtained  a  deed  of  it,  the  Westbury  people  proceeded  to  build. 
April  6,  1 741,  they  had  already  set  up  the  frame  for  a  meeting 
house,  for,  at  that  date  Eleazer  Scott  executed  a  deed  of  sale  **  to 
Mr.  John  Trumble,  Capt.  Samuel  Hikcox,  and  Lieut.  Thomas 
Richards,  and  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Presbyterian  order^ 
one  piece  of  land  on  which  they  have  set  up  a  frame  for  a  meeting 
house  for  the  carrying  on  the  publick  [worship]  of  God  in  said 
society  in  the  above  sd  order'*  This  meeting  house  green  was  bounded 
**  north  on  Eleazer  Scott's  land  or  the  land  set  for  a  burying  yard, 
east  on  the  Burying  yard,  south  on  the  highway  or  Stephen  Scott's 
land,  and  west  on  land  left  for  a  highway." 

The  autograph  deed  of  sale  of  the  first  burying  yard  in  Water- 
town  lies  before  me.  Its  date  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  sale  of  the 
meeting  house  place.  In  it,  Eleazer  Scott,  for  six  pounds  in  money 
already  received  of  the  town  of  Waterbury  [the  proprietors],  con- 
veys to  "  the  Second  Society  in  Waterbury  known  by  the  name  of 
Westbury  parish,  a  certain  piece  of  land  for  a  burying  place  lying 
by  the  meeting-house  place  the  east  side  of  sd  place — the  east  side 
17  Rods;  the  north  end  6  Rods;  the  west  side  13  Rods  &  the  south 
end  9  Rods,  with  a  triangle  on  the  north  end  of  the  Meeting- 
house place  of  22  Rods  of  Ground."  The  date  when  this  cemetery 
was  first  used  is  not  certainly  known,  but,  as  its  deed  of  conveyance 
coincides  with  that  of  the  meeting-house  place,  and,  as  our  Town 
records  give  the  date  of  the  death  of  Hannah  Richards,  the  wife  of 
William  Scovill,  as  occurring  on  April  i,  1741,  and  as  that  name  is 
the  first  of  seven  names  given  in  a  record  made  by  Deacon  Timothy 
Judd  of  deaths  in  Westbury  before  July  of  1743,  we  may  believe,  in 
the  absence  of  conflicting  evidence,  that  this  grave  made  in  the 
spring  time  of  1741  for  Mrs.  Scovill  was  the  first  one  in  the  hill-side 
place  of  burial  that  overlooks  Wooster  Swamp.  One  can  almost 
see  that  long  procession,  without  hearse,  without  carriage,  winding 
its  way  down  from  Scott's  Mountain  and  across  the  swamp — the 
low  bier  covered  with  "funeral  cloth  "  or  pall,  reverently  borne  by 
neighbors  and  friends  to  its  resting  place.  It  is  safe  to  write  that 
around  that  grave  clustered  the  entire  community— for  its  members 


330  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 

were  not  so  numerous  that  one  could  drop  away  and  leave  no  sign 
of  departure,  and  the  ties  of  common  toil  and  care  and  joy  still  knit 
together  the  lives  of  the  grandchildren,  even  as  they  had  done  the 
lives  of  their  sires.  Like  unto  that  first  burial  in  Naugatuck  in 
1709 — this  was  that  of  a  young  wife  and  mother.  As  the  bundle  of 
straw,  according  to  custom,  was  dropped  into  the  grave,  and  the 
skeleton  shadow  of  the  meeting-house  frame  fell  over  it,  four  young 
children  clustered  near.  One  of  the  number — a  boy  of  nine  years 
named  James — was  destined  to  fill  an  important  and  high  position, 
for  in  him  lay  dormant  the  Reverend  James  Scovill,  missionary  of 
the  Church  of  England  to  his  native  town,  and  the  Society  of  West- 
bury. 

THE    NORTHBURY    SOCIETY. 

While  we  have  lingered  at  Westbury,  the  Up  River  people  living 
within  two-and-a-half  miles  of  Barnabas  Ford's  house  have  not  been 
idle.  Men  like  the  Blakeslees,  whose  grandmother  we  are  told 
"  would  take  her  child  in  her  arms  on  Sabbath-day  mornings,  travel 
from  North  Haven  to  New  Haven,  hear  Mr.  Pierpont  preach,  and 
return  again  after  meeting  "  were  not  the  men  to  do  less  than  their 
grandmother  had  done,  especially  when,  as  we  have  seen,  horses 
were  plentifully  distributed  throughout  the  township;  whereas  she 
is  supposed  not  to  have  had  one  in  her  Sabbath-day  journeys  to 
the  House  of  God. 

Nevertheless,  with  petition,  prayer  and  promise,  twenty-six  men 
besieged  Town  and  Assembly  until  even  the  Court  wavered  and 
yielded  in  so  far  as  to  grant  the  Up  River  people  permission  to  have 
and  to  pay  their  own  minister  all  the  year  for  two  years,  and  to  pay 
no  tithes  to  the  First  society  during  that  time.  John  Bronson  and 
Obadiah  Warner  were  the  only  petitioners  representing  the  planters. 

Having  received  their  inch  of  privilege  in  October,  1738,  these 
importunate  demanders  asked  an  ell  of  liberty  in  October,  1739. 
They  were  at  court  in  season,  and  for  once  everything  moved  in 
their  favor,  for  a  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the  town,  and,  in 
consultation  with  the  First  society,  to  overlook  the  Up  River  terri- 
tory and  report.  The  report  was  made  at  the  same  session.  The 
committee  said  that  they  had  viewed  and  duly  inquired  into  the 
circumstances  of  the  inhabitants  and  believed  them  to  be  able  and 
sufficient  to  bear  parish  charges  and  become  a  distinct  society.  The 
limits  recommended  began  at  two  white  oak  trees  known  by  the 
name  of  Two  Brothers  at  the  northeasterly  corner  of  Westbury 
society,  followed  the  West  Branch  to  the  river,  the  river  to  the 
mouth  of  Spruce  brook  a  little  below  Upson's  island;  from  that 
point  a  straight  line  to  the  falls  of  Hancox  brook;  from  thence  a 


EARLY  WE8TBURY.  331 

straight  line  to  the  south  side  of  Mr.  Noyes'  farm  lying  on  Grassy 
hill,  thence  a  due  east  line  to  Farmington  line,  then  north  by  that 
line  to  Harwinton  bounds  and  Litchfield  bounds  to  the  first  bounds 
mentioned.  Within  the  above  bounds,  the  society  or  parish  was 
incorporated — to  be  known  and  called  by  the  Parish  of  Northbury. 

The  thoughtful  reader  will  at  once  recognize  that  the  formation 
of  the  above  societies  would  necessarily  involve  the  own  in  cost, 
trouble,  and  well-nigh  hopeless  endeavor  to  determine  the  respect- 
ive bounds  of  the  new  societies  with  Farmington,  Hartford,  Har- 
winton and  Litchfield.  It  had  not  been  the  custom  to  perambulate 
the  bounds  year  by  year,  and  in  process  of  time  old  landmarks 
became  lost,  forgotten  or  obliterated.  So  long  as  the  margins  of  the 
towns  did  not  conflict  in  anyway  and  the  lands  lay  in  commons, 
slight  deviations  made  comparatively  little  difference.  Out  of  this 
difficulty  arising  from  uncertain  and  lost  bounds  atid  mutual  care- 
lessness, town-line  roads  led  the  way. 

In  May  of  1741,  the  indulgent  General  Assembly  had  occasion  to 
repent  having  yielded  to  the  prayers  and  petitions  of  Northbury 
and  to  wish  that  it  had  relied  upon  the  wisdom  of  the  First  society, 
for  a  plaint  went  up  to  it  "of  the  broken  and  confused  circum- 
stances *'  that  the  parish  of  Northbury  was  under  in  all  its  public 
affairs.  It  had  neither  any  regular  society  meeting  nor  officers,  and 
that  it  might  "not  be  further  involved  in  difficulties  and  ruined,"^ 
Col.  Benjamin  Hall,  and  Capt.  John  Riggsof  Derby,  were  appointed 
to  repair  to  said  society  with  full  power  to  govern  the  people  and 
direct  them  into  the  ways  of  propriety  and  peace.  The  society  and 
all  the  inhabitants  thereof  were  required  "  to  conform  themselves 
to  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  committee  in  every  respect,  on 
pain  of  incurring  the  great  displeasure  of  the  Assembly." 

The  temptation  to  linger  along  the  ways  trod  by  the  Northbury 
people  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Todd  is  most 
alluring;  for  place,  pastor  and  people  furnish  abundant  and  unique 
material  for  the  pen  of  the  gleaner,  who  will  surely  not  omit  to 
mention  (unless  it  has  already  been  given),  that  the  first  paragraph 
of  the  Northbury  Church  records  now  extant  (November  27,  1765) 
contains  the  following  vote:  "Any  member  of  Regular  Standing  in 
the  Church  of  England  shall  be  admitted  to  Occasional  Communion 
with  us  in  this  church  for  the  time  to  come."  The  second  announces- 
that  "the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  Society  of  Northbury  was  formed 
about  the  year  1739.  ^^^  R^v.  Samuel  Todd  was  pastor  of  the 
Church  until  1764,  then  was  dismissed  from  his  charge.  After 
which,  he  Refused  giving  the  Church  any  account  of  their  proceed- 
ings under  his  pastoral  charge — their  Remaineth  no  Record." 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

UNION  SQUARE — DEATH  OF  ABRAHAM  ANDREWS — NEW  INHABITANTS — 
FIRST  BRIDGE  OVER  THE  NAUGATUCK  RIVER — LEASE  OF  SCHOOL 
LANDS — SCHOOL  MONEY — MR.  SOUTHMAYD'S  GIFT  TO  NORTHBURY 
— THE  REV.  JONATHAN  ARNOLD  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND 
RECEIVES  MINISTERIAL  TAXES — THE  REV.  MARK  LEAVENWORTH — 
OXFORD    PARISH    ORGANIZED — CHURCH    OF    ENGLAND    MEN    OF   1 748. 

— THE     "GREAT      AWAKENING" — THE     REV.      JAMES     DAVENPORT 

MISSING  RECORDS — THE  MINISTRY  LANDS — EXCHANGED  FOR  LAND 
AT  THE  CLAY  PITS — SCHOOL  FUND — KILLING  DEER — REBUILDING 
THE    BRIDGE — THE   CASE    OF    JOSEPH    GENNINGS. 

WHILE  we  have  lingered  at  the  northward,  events  have 
occurred  at  the  heart  of  the  township  that  are  worthy  of 
mention.  Union  Square  was  at  an  early  date  a  centre  of 
activity,  if  not  the  business  centre  of  the  town.  Here  was  the  corn- 
mill,  the  Mecca  where  the  material  bread  of  life  was  ground  out  for 
all  the  inhabitants;  here  was  a  saw-mill,  and  here,  it  is  thought, 
was  the  tannery  that  the  town  encouraged  Abraham  Andrews  to 
build.  Here  Joseph  Lewis  lived,  weaving  cloth  for  ten  or  twelve 
years  before  he  removed  to  the  Straits  mountain  at  Judd's  meadows, 
to  raise  rye  for  export;  and  here  came,  morning  and  evening,  the 
drifts  of  cattle  to  and  from  their  pasture  lands  over  the  Mill  river, 
passing  on  their  way  between  the  houses  of  Abraham  Andrews, 
Senior,  on  the  south  (on  land  where  Mr.  Edward  Terrell  now  lives), 
and  Abraham  Andrews,  Junior,  on  Union  Square  itself  on  the  left 
(for  his  house  was  surrounded  by  highways).  The  highways  there- 
about were  changed  almost  with  the  seasons;  so  difficult  is  it  to 
thread  their  mazes  that  one  becomes  highway-blind  in  the  attempt. 
Abraham  Andrews*  orchard  was  a  certain  number  of  feet  from  the 
north  bound  of  Grand  street  when  that  street  was  reopened  in  1709 
from  Bank  street  to  the  Mill  river;  and  in  later  years  it  became  the 
property  of  Joshua  Porter  and  afterwards  it  was  long  in  the  owner- 
ship of  his  daughter  Hepsibah. 

In  the  house  that  he  had  built  in  1704,  Abraham  Andrews  died 
in  1 73 1.     He  was  the  last  survivor  of  the  signers  of  1674. 

During  the  period  from  1731  to  1742,  new  inhabitants  came  pour- 
ing their  wealth  of  family  life  and  possession  into  the  township. 
They  came  singly  and  in  family  groups  of  two,  three,  and  occasion- 
ally four  brothers.     In  addition  to  the  names  of  men  already  given 


EVENTS  FROM  17S2  TO  1741.  333 

as  having  arrived  at  Westbury  and  Northbtiry,  we  find  those  of 
Lothrop,  Rew,  Weed,  Merrill,  Punderson,  Baldwin,  Beard,  Camp, 
Atwell,  North,  Curtiss,  Foot,  Hubbard,  Nichols,  Sanford,  Prichard, 
Gunn,  Sherman,  How,  Matthews,  Adams,  Baker,  Frost,  Holbrook, 
Humiston,  Johnson,  Smith,  Coxwell,  Williams,  Moor,  Royse,  Terrill, 
Doolittle,  Gordon,  Prindle,  Thompson,  Truck,  Bellamy,  Earl,  Harri- 
son, Hotchkiss,  Luddington,  Osborne,  Seymour,  Trowbridge,  North, 
Preston,  Tompkins,  Silkrig,  Wakelin,  Hull,  Trowbridge,  and  perhaps 
others. 

Despite  all  this  increase  of  population  the  proprietors  kept  on 
their  unwavering  course,  meeting  the  changed  conditions  with 
unchanged  front.  Now  and  again  the  town  would  welcome  a  new 
man  to  its  list  of  office-holders — to  keep  the  pound  key,  or,  possibly, 
to  view  the  coinmon  fence,  or  to  dig  the  graves — but  seldom  to  its 
higher  offices  until  he  had  been  well  tried. 

It  is  not  possible  to  follow  clearly  the  progress  of  events,  because 
of  the  missing  links  in  the  records.  It  does  not  appear  at  what 
time  the  second  school  house  was  built,  for  we  find  no  account  of 
the  disposition  that  was  made  of  the  timber  drawn  to  the  "  Meeting 
House  Green  "  for  it,  in  1732.  We  have  no  record  from  January,  1734, 
to  December,  1736,  and  it  was  probably  during  the  interim  that  it 
was  built. 

The  first  bridge  across  the  Naugatuck  river  at  West  Main  street 
was  also  built  during  that  interval.  The  intimation  of  it  comes 
through  the  laying  of  a  tax  "to  pay  the  charges  of  the  bridge." 
This  was  in  1736.  Five  years  later  the  freshet  must  have  carried  it 
away,  for  in  March  it  was  voted  to  repair  the  bridge  over  our  river, 
and  three  men  were  appointed  "  to  look  after  and  save  what  timber 
could  be  found." 

Under  date  of  December  10,  1734,  we  find  the  following  return 
of  a  committee  in  relation  to  school  lands: 

We  the  subscribers  being  desired  to  consult  the  best  method  for  the 

school  land  in  Waterbury,  and  our  judgment  is  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 

make  sale  of  all  the  school  land  and  propriety  belonging  to  the  same,  and  that  said 

committee  make  sale  of  all  the  meadow  lots  to  the  highest  bidder  at  some  public 

time  and  be  impowered  to  give  deeds  to  such  persons — which  deeds  shall  be  held 

good  for  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  years  and  that  the  buyer  shall  pay  the 

money  down  or  mortgage  lands  for  the  security  of  the  principle  and  g^ve  bonds 

yearly  for  the  interest  of  such  sums  as  he  shall  give  for  such  particular  lands  as  he 

shall  so  buy        *        ♦        *       *        *        and  that  the  use  of  the  money  which  the 

above  said  land  shall  fetch  shall  be  converted  to  the  use  of  the  school  in  said  Town 

for  the  said  term  of  nine  hundred  ninety-nine  years. 

(  Joseph  Lewis, 
Committee f   <  William  Judd, 
(  Sam"*  Hikcox. 

The  above  Written  Bill  was  passed  into  a  vote. 


334 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


John  Bronson  immediately  secured  the  school  land  in  Buck's 
meadow,  for  forty  shillings  and  one  penny  an  acre — Deacon  Samuel 
Brown  "four  acres  in  Handcox  meadow,  for  fifty- four  pounds  ten 
shillings  good  and  lawful  money,"  and  soon  very  many  acres  of 
school  lands  were  leased  for  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  years, 
on  merely  nominal  terms — for  school  lands  were  abundant  and  had, 
with  the  exception  of  the  meadow  allotments — lain  unimproved 
from  the  time  of  the  various  land  divisions.  By  1734  the  school 
lands  must  have  numbered  well  nigh  a  thousand  acres.  Nearly 
two  years  pass  away  without  record,  and  then  the  following  entry 
is  found: 

Whereas  there  was  considerable  discourse  about  letting  out  the  school  money 
which  the  school  land  was  sold  for  as  often  as  there  should  any  of  the  principle  be 
paid  in,  that  it  might  not  lie  unimproved,  the  town  by  their  vote  agreed  and  im- 
powered  their  school  committee  to  let  out  the  money  to  such  as  want  to  hire  and  to 
take  double  security  by  mortgage  for  the  principle,  which  mortgages  are  to  run  to 
the  school  committee  for  the  time  being,  and  to  take  their  notes  or  bonds  for  the 
interest  to  run  to  the  school  committee  as  above,  so  to  be  disposed  and  improved 
to  the  use  of  the  school  in  Waterbury  for  ever. 

The  bonds  were  to  be  lodged  in  the  "Town  Treasurers  office,"  the 
treasurer  giving  a  receipt  for  them.  Deacon  Thomas  Clark  held  the 
office  in  1736.  In  1738  the  town  appointed  "  the  town  clerk  to  be  with, 
and  to  take  care  with  the  school  committee  in  letting  out  the  school 
money  and  taking  security,  as  there  should  be  occasion."  The  town 
clerk's  was  the  only  permanent  ofiice  in  the  town — Mr.  Southmayd 
having  held  it  since  1721.  The  eleventh  of  December,  1738,  must 
have  been  a  cold  day,  for  after  the  above  vote  (in  the  meeting  house) 
the  meeting  adjourned  for  one  hour — "  to  meet  at  Captain  Timothy 
Hopkins" — where  they  chose  eight  men  as  school  committee,  Lieut. 
Thomas  Bronson  as  town  treasurer,  and  decided  that  the  ^100  that 
had  been  agreed  upon  (on  his  retirement  from  the  ministry),  to  be 
paid  to  Mr.  Southmayd  in  1740,  should  be  laid  upon  the  list  of  1738. 
Prudent,  thoughtful  men !  This  act  included  their  neighbors  at 
Westbury  and  Northbury  as  participants  in  the  indebtedness.  Per- 
haps it  was  in  recognition  of  this,  that  Mr.  Southmayd  gave  the 
men  of  Northbury,  the  same  year  "  one  acre  of  land  for  publick 
use,"  on  which  was  "a  house  which  the  said  inhabitants  had  already 
set  up  under  the  denomination  of  a  school  house,  or  a  house  for  the 
said  inhabitants  to  meet  in  to  carry  on  the  public  worship  of  God 
on  the  Sabbath  when  they  [should]  have  the  means  among  them." 

In  1740  we  learn  for  the  first  time  that  there  are  Professors  of 
the  Church  of  England  in  Waterbury,  and  that  services  according 
to  the  prescribed  forms  of  that  church   have   been   held,  by  the 


EVENTS  FROM  1732  TO  mu 


335 


Reverend  Jonathan  Arnold.      Under  date  of  April   14,   1740,  that 
gentleman  sent  the  following  acknowledgment: 

To  the  Collectors  of  the  Ministerial  Charges  in  Waterbury, 

Then  Received  of  the  Professors  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Waterbury  the 

Areas  of  what  is  Due  of  their  Ministerial  Taxes  to  my  satisfaction  and  Request 

you  will  Give  them  a  Discharge.     I  am 

Your  Humble  Servant, 

Jonathan  Arnold. 

The  same  professors  of  the  Church  of  England  soon  sought,  at 
the  hands  of  the  proprietors  of  the  township,  land  whereon  to  build 
their  church  edifice — the  story  of  which  will  be  told  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  that  church  in  Waterbury.  It  is  with  especial 
gratification  that  we  are  able  to  add  that  no  family  dissension 
appears  to  have  marred  the  peacefulness  of  the  departure  in  the 
fullness  of  time  of  the  children  of  the  meeting-house  for  the  little 
church  on  the  corner  of  North  Willow  and  West  Main  streets. 

The  entrance  of  the  Reverend  Mark  Leavenworth  into  the  work 
laid  down  by  Mr.  Southmayd  seems  to  have  been  so  natural  and 
quiet,  that  a  ripple  of  the  change  of  oarsmen  failed  to  strike  the 
shore  where  we  search  the  sands  for  signs  of  tides  that  rose  and 
fell  so  long  ago.  Truth  compels  us  however  to  admit  that  there  are 
neither  town,  proprietors,  nor  church  records  covering  the  period 
of  his  ordination,  which  Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  was  in  March  of  1740. 
Among  the  papers  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Stiles  of  North  Haven  is  one 
announcing  that  he  gave  the  "  Right  hand  of  fellowship  "  at  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  and  that  he  preached  the  sermon 
at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Todd  at  Northbury,  but  no  dates  are  given. 

In  1740  certain  inhabitants  who  were  "  dwelling  in  the  southwest 
part  of  Waterbury  woods,"  together  with  certain  inhabitants  of 
Derby  and  of  "  the  southeast  part  of  the  township  of  Woodbury 
woods "  petitioned  in  the  usual  formula  that  they  might  become 
one  entire,  distinct,  ecclesiastical  society.  Isaac  Trowbridge,  the 
three  brothers  John,  Jonas,  and  Joseph  Weed,  and  Joseph  Osborne 
were  the  petitioners  living  in  the  Waterbury  woods. 

Within  less  than  three  years  four  parishes  were  formed,  whose 
members  went  out  from  the  old  First  Church — Westbury,  North- 
bury,  Oxford  in  part,  and  St.  James's,  now  St.  John's.  Of  the  latter 
parish,  the  earliest  list  of  members  known  to  be  extant  is  found  in 
a  town  rate-book  of  the  tax-payers  for  the  [year  1748 — and  of  the 
forty -three  men  listed  as  churchmen,  thirty -six  were  in  Water- 
bury at  the  formation  of  the  parish — of  the  thirty-six,  twenty-four 
were  born  here  and  brought  up  in  the  First  Church,  being  lineal 
descendants  of  the  planters — thirty  had  been  in  the  same  church 


J 


336  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

for  nearly  a  score  of  years.  Of  the  remaining  six  members,  Caleb 
Thompson,  Georpe  Nichols  and  Robert  Johnson  must  have  been 
attendants  at  least  ten  years,  and  Nathaniel  Gunn  six  years — while 
John  Brown  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Brown,  deacon  in  the  First 
Church  from  1730  to  about  1735;  leaving  William  "Silkrig"  as  the 
only  new  comer,  and  he  had  been  here  two  years  in  1740.  Surely 
these  churches  ought  to  love  one  another,  for  they  are  bound 
together  by  all  the  ties  of  a  century  of  existence. 

No  town  history  of  Connecticut  can  avoid  the  mention  of  the 
great  excitement  and  its  consequent  train  of  events  that  convulsed 
the  churches  in  1740,  and  later.  Public  opinion  seems  to  have  pre- 
pared the  way  for  a  great  awakening  of  the  people  to  the  religious 
duties  of  the  hour.  In  this  "  Revival "  great  good  was  accomplished, 
and  great  wrong  was  wrought.  The  special  feature  of  it  that  it  is 
necessary  to  introduce  here  is  the  fact  of  the  change  it  effected  in 
the  status  of  the  ancient  churches  of  the  colony.  Hitherto,  the 
teaching  and  the  preaching  had  been  exclusively  in  the  hands  of 
an  educated  and  ordained  ministry,  there  being  only  "  standing 
ministers "  in  the  land.  While  this  "  Great  Awakening "  was  in 
progress,  the  Rev.  James  Davenport,  from  Southold,  L.  I.,  visited 
Connecticut.  He  is  described  by  one  who  witnessed  his  work,  as  "  a 
wonderful,  strange,  good  man,  under  the  influence  of  a  false  spirit. 
He  not  only  gave  an  unrestrained  liberty  to  noise  and  outcry  both 
of  distress  and  joy  in  time  of  divine  service,  but  promoted  both 
with  all  his  might.  Those  persons  that  passed  immediately  from 
great  distress  to  great  joy  and  delight,  after  asking  them  a  few 
questions  were  instantly  proclaimed  converts,  or  said  to  have  come 
to  Christ,  and  upon  it  the  assembly  were  told  that  a  number,  it  may 
be  ten  or  fifteen,  have  come  to  Christ  already,  who  will  come  next  ? 
He  was  a  great  encourager  if  not  the  first  setter  up  of  public 
exhorters,  encouraging  any  lively,  zealous  Christian  to  exhort  with 
all  the  air  and  assurance  of  ministerial  authoritative  exhorting — 
although  altogether  unequal  to  the  solemn  undertaking."  The 
exhorters  came  into  credit  among  multitudes  of  people  who  chose 
to  hear  them  rather  than  their  old  teachers,  whom  Mr.  Davenport 
referred  to  as  "  the  letter-learned  rabbies,  scribes  and  pharisees  and 
unconverted  ministers."  Very  soon  ".the  standing  ministers  began 
to  fall  in  their  credit  and  esteem  among  the  people,  and  thus  the 
seeds  of  discord  and  disunion  were  sown,  and  a  foundation  laid  for 
separations."  Mr.  Davenport  made  a  tour  of  the  churches,  examin- 
ing the  ministers  in  private — such  of  them  as  submitted  to  his 
questions — and  then  publicly  declared  his  judgment  of  their  spirit- 
ual state  as  converted,  or  unconverted.     Multitudes  believed  in  Mr 


EVENTS  FROM  1732  TO  1741.  337 

Davenport  as  a  man  who  had  inquired  at  the  oracle  of  God,  and  "  a 
minister  could  not  gainsay  or  correct  his  wildest  and  most  unscript- 
ural  words  under  the  price  of  his  reputation.*'  People  who  had  great 
regard  for  their  ministers  were  as  much  concerned  lest  they  should 
not  stand  the  trial  of  Mr.  Davenport's  examinations,  "  as  if  they 
were  going  before  the  Judge  of  all  the  Earth." 

In  May  of  1742,  two  men  of  Stratford  made  complaint  to  the 
Assembly  of  disorders  happening  in  that  town  "  by  occasion  of  one 
James  Davenport  convening  great  numbers  of  people  together  in 
several  parts  of  said  town."  Mr.  Davenport  was  brought  to  trial, 
the  King's  attorney  producing  evidence  to  prove  the  complaint,  and 
Mr.  Davenport  appearing  in  his  own  behalf  and  with  witnesses. 
**  The  court  observing  the  behaviour,  conduct,  language  and  deport- 
ment of  Davenport  in  the  time  of  his  tryal  and  what  happened  in 
the  evening  after  the  matter  was  in  hearing  and  not  gone  through 
with,"  made  the  following  announcement:  "This  Assembly  is  of 
opinion  that  the  things  alleged  and  the  behaviour,  conduct,  and 
doctrines  advanced  and  taught  by  the  said  James  Davenport  do 
and  have  a  natural  tendency  to  disturb  and  destroy  the  peace  and 
order  of  this  government.  It  appears  to  this  Assembly  that  the 
said  Davenport  is  under  the  influences  of  enthusiastical  impression 
and  impulses,  and  thereby  disturbed  in  the  rational  faculties  of  his 
mind,  and  therefore  to  be  pitied  and  compassionated,  and  not  to  be 
treated  as  otherwise' he  might  be."  Mr.  Davenport  was,  by  order  of 
the  court,  removed  to  his  home  at  Southold. 

In  the  light  of  the  above  events,  it  will  appear  that  the  rigid 
supremacy  of  the  established  church  of  the  colony  was  gone  for- 
ever. Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Mr.  Davenport  afterward 
returned  to  Connecticut  clothed  in  his  right  mind,  admitted  his 
errors,  and  sought  forgiveness  of  the  ministers  whom  he  had  treated 
amiss,  the  people  declared  that  "  he  was  turned  against  them  and 
was  become  their  enemy — that  he  had  got  away  from  God  and 
joined  in  a  great  measure  with  the  world  of  opposers  and  carnal 
ministers.  They  were  disappointed,  vexed,  disquieted  in  their 
spirits,  and,  on  the  whole,  they  all  rejected  his  message."* 

Into  conditions  that  are  only  hinted  at  in  the  foregoing  allusions, 
Mr.  Leavenworth,  Mr.  Trumbull  and  Mr.  Todd  were  brought  at  the 
beginning  of  their  pastorates.  Each  pastor  and  each  parishioner 
was  under  the  rule  of  his  own  mind  and  the  spell  of  his  own  tem- 
perament while  passing  through  the  scenes  of  the  "  Great  Awaken- 
ing." The  new  order  of  things  had  its  attractions  and  its  repul- 
sions; and  without  doubt  worked  its  way  in  some  degree  into  every 

♦The  Rev.  Joseph  Fish,  Stonington,  1 740-1 763. 
22 


338  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

meeting-house  in  the  colony.  That  it  wrought  to  the  benefit  of  the 
Church  of  England  there  can  be  no  question — many  of  the  staunch- 
est  Congregational  ists  making  the  very  highest  tj'pe  of  Episcopal- 
ians— while  the  most  ardent  followers  of  Davenport  and  the  en- 
thusiasms of  religious  exaltation  seceded  in  the  opposite  direction 
in  order  to  form  new  societies  in  accord  therewith.  The  General 
Assembly  enacted  vigorous  laws  in  the  endeavor  to  restrain  minis- 
ters from  going  into  other  parishes  than  their  own  to  preach,  with- 
out invitation  from  church  or  minister,  and  in  various  ways  sought 
to  quell  the  spirit  of  rebellion  that  had  come  into  action  against  the 
established  order.  All  town,  church,  and  society  records  relating 
to  the  years  in  question  being  lost,  it  is  impossible  to  give  local 
facts,  but  there  are  indications  that  Mr.  Leavenworth  and  Mr. 
Todd,  both  young  and  impulsive  men,  sympathized  with  the  new 
order  of  things.  Dr.  Bronson,  whose  information  was  derived 
from  the  manuscripts  of  the  late  Judge  Bennet  Bronson,  tells  us 
that  "some  of  the  meetings  of  the  New  Lights  were  extremely 
boisterous  and  disorderly,  so  that  on  one  occasion  John  Southmayd 
Jr.,  a  constable  of  the  town,  felt  himself  justified  in  appearing  in 
their  meeting  and  commanding  the  peace  of  the  commonwealth." 
This  must  have  been  as  early  as  1742.  Tracy,  in  his  "Great 
Awakening,"  makes  the  statement  that  in  1744  the  Association  of 
New  Haven  County  suspended  the  Messrs.  Humphreys  of  Derby, 
Leavenworth  of  Waterbury,  and  Todd  of  Northbury  from  the 
ministry,  for  assisting  in  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Lee, 
on  which  occasion  Mr.  Leavenworth  "  preached  the  ordination 
sermon."  Stephen  Hopkins  accompanied  him,  as  "worthy  mes- 
senger "  from  the  Waterbury  Church.  Mr.  Todd  made  the  last 
prayer  with  imposition  of  hands,  and  gave  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship"  —  while  the  worthy  messenger  from  the  Northbury 
Society  was  Moses  Blakeslee.  In  fact,  the  trio  of  ministers  from 
the  Naugatuck  Valley  formed  the  "  Select  Council,"  and  ordained 
Mr.  Lee — who  later  received  from  the  General  Assembly  an  invita- 
tion or  appointment  to  preach  the  Election  Sermon,  which  is 
sufficient  evidence  that  his  ordination  was  ultimately  considered 
according  to  "  Law  and  Order."  The  first  appearance  in  the  public 
records  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's  name  is  when  the  ear-marks  of  his 
cattle  are  given  in  April  of  1741 — they  were  "three  half-pennies  on 
the  foreside  of  the  near  ear;"  Mr.  Todd's  name  first  appears  in  the 
same  manner  before  December,  1740 — his  cattle-marks  being  "  a  slit 
in  the  top  of  each  ear  and  a  half-penny  the  foreside  each  ear."  Mr. 
Trumble's  name  appears  in  1745,  when  Mr.  Southmayd  records: 
"the  [town]  meeting  opened  by  prayer  and  supplication  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Trumble." 


EVENTS  FROM  1182  TO  1741.  339 

Among  the  lost  records  was  one  appointing  a  committee  to 
sell  the  ministry  land;  for  we  find  it,  later,  ordered  to  "recover 
damages  of  persons  who  had  bought  of  it  and  refused  to  stand  by 
their  bargain."  Mr.  Southmayd  was  appointed  "to  keep  the  notes 
and  bonds  of  interest  that  the  ministry  land  was  sold  for,  and 
deliver  the  same  to  the  several  societies'  committees  when  orderly  called 
for''  It  was  also  "  voted  to  sell  the  remainder  of  the  ministry  land 
— if  under  circumstances  that  it  may  be  sold'*  It  may  have  been  because 
the  previous  sales  of  ministry  land  were  held  to  be  invalid,  that 
the  purchasers  had  declined  to  receive  them.  Nevertheless,  in 
1 741  "it  was  agreed  that  the  remainder  of  the  ministry  land 
sequestered  by  the  Grand  Committee  may  be  sold,  and  the  use 
of  the  money  be  to  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  said  Waterbury." 
The  "  remainder  of  the  ministry  land  "  referred  to  the  one-sixth 
part,  or  its  representative,  of  all  that  part  of  our  city  bounded 
to-day  by  Bank  street  on  the  west,  East  Main  street  on  the  north, 
South  Elm  street  on  the  east,  and  Grand  and  Union  streets  on  the 
south.  This,  after  several  changes  within  the  bounds  named,  was 
leased  on  December  17,  1722,  to  Samuel  Porter  and  Thomas  Upson. 
In  1728  the  town  allowed  Thomas  Porter  to  have  this  ministry  land, 
if  he  would  give  in  exchange  for  it  "  two  acres  for  one,  of  his  land 
lying  above  the  Clay  pitts."  *  What  became  of  this  ministry  land, 
and  how  in  1738  Thomas  Porter  had  become  possessed  of  it  has  not 
been  investigated.  Fortunately,  the  Little  Pasture  was  safe  in  the 
life-keeping  of  Mr.  Southmayd  at  this  time. 

When  in  1689  the  General  Court  feared  the  coming  of  Governor 
Andros,  it  will  be  remembered  that  it  made  haste  to  give  to  Wind- 
sor and  Hartford  the  large  tract  of  lands  lying  west  of  their  town- 
ships and  extending  to  the  Housatonic  river.  In  the  subsequent 
complication  of  interests  between  the  colony  and  the  towns,  it  was 
settled  that  the  colony  should  have  returned  to  it  certain  lands, 
which  lands  were  divided  into  seven  townships;  each  township  was 
divided  into  a  certain  number  of  rights,  varying  from  thirty  to  fifty 
pounds  per  right,  and  these  were  sold  at  public  auction  at  the  sev- 
eral court  houses  in  the  several  counties.  The  money  obtained 
from  the  sales  was  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  such  towns  as  had. 


*  As  clearly  as  the  records  permit  us  to  locate  the  **  Clay  Pitts,"  they  were  on  or  near  the  Little  brook, 
north  of  Grove  street,  and  between  Cook  and  North  Main  streets.  In  1687,  Sergeant  Samuel  Hikcox  had 
**  one  piece  at  the  Clay  Pitts,"  bounded  south  and  west  on  highways — which  would  be  at  the  comer  of  Grove 
and  Cook  streets.  In  1738  Nathan  Beard  became  the  owner  of  "  one  piece  at  the  Clay  Pitts,  containing  two 
acres,  bounded  south  and  east  on  highways,  north  on  the  parsonage  land  belonging  to  Thomas  Porter  and 
Southmayd's  land,  west  on  Judd's  land."  South  of  Grove  street,  the  second  Joseph  Hikcox  owned  a  triangle 
of  two  acres,  bounded  by  Grove,  North  Main,  and  Cook  streets  (except  for  a  strip  of  land  on  the  Cook  street 
side,  belonging  to  George  Scott),  and,  in  receiving  the  grant,  the  condition  was  that  Hikcox  was  **  not  to 
hinder  men  coming  to  the  Clay  Pitts." 


340  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERS UR7, 

in  1732,  made  and  computed  the  lists  of  their  polls  and  rateable 
estate.  Each  town  was  to  receive  the  money  according  to  the  pro- 
portion of  its  list  in  that  year,  and  each  parish  in  proportion  to  its 
own  list  given  in  in  that  year — the  money  to  be  let  out,  and  the 
interest  improved  for  the  support  of  the  respective  schools  forever, 
and  to  no  other  use.  If  applied  to  other  use  than  for  the  support 
of  a  school  in  the  town,  then  the  money  was  to  be  returned  into  the 
treasury  of  the  colony,  and  the  town  or  parish  misimproving  it  was 
to  forever  lose  the  benefit  thereof.  Such  was  the  origin  of  the 
present  Connecticut  School  Fund. 

There  had  been  no  parish  formed  in  1732  in  Waterbury,  but 
the  list  of  the  Northern  inhabitants,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
returned  in  that  year  under  the  head  of  Northbury,  and  perhaps  in 
anticipation  of  this  event,  for  the  practice  was  not  continued. 
However  that  may  have  been,  the  subject  of  the  "Western-lands" 
school  money  was  one  that  disquieted  the  First  Society  and  the  two 
parishes  until  1741,  when  the  services  of  Col.  James  Wadsworth  and 
Col.  Benjamin  Hall  were  solicited  and  the  whole  matter  was  to  be 
left  with  them  for  their  decision,  and  so  the  trouble  was  put 
aside  for  ten  years.  The  school-money  had,  undoubtedly,  been 
used  by  Northbury  to  pay  ministerial  charges.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing, Daniel  Scott  (of  Westbury),  Ebenezer  Elwell,  and  Gideon 
Allyn  (of  Northbury) — all  of  whom  had  been  fined  for  killing  deer 
(either  out  of  season  or  within  a  deer-park) — prayed  that  their  fines 
for  so  doing  might  be  abated,  but  the  prayers  were  of  no  avail. 
Laws  were  made  to  be  respected  in  1741. 

In  the  same  year  we  find  this  entry:  "  they  made  choice  of  a 
committee  (Capt.  Wm.  Judd,  Lieut.  Stephen  Upson  and  John  Judd) 
to  go  about  re-building  our  bridge  over  our  river  in  the  Country 
road  to  Woodbury."  Directions  were  given  for  taking  advice  as  to 
the  form  or  manner  in  which  the  bridge  should  be  built,  and  leave 
was  given  the  committee  "  to  hire  it  done  by  the  Grale  or  other- 
wise," as  the  members  should  agree. 

At  this  meeting,  Mr.  Southmayd  and  Capt.  Samuel  Hikcox 
were  appointed  to  represent  the  town  at  the  County  court  in 
"  an  action  there  depending  concerning  Joseph  Gennings  becast 
upon  us  by  Farmington."  Farmington  probably  won  the  case,  for 
the  outcome  of  it  lies  before  me  in  the  form  of  an  indenture 
executed  the  same  month — March,  1742.  It  was  prepared  by  Mr. 
Southmayd — signed  by  Joseph  Jenners  and  Samuel  Hickcox  and 
witnessed  by  John  Warner,  Elnatha  Bronson,  and  William  Hick- 
cox. It  contains  the  usual  formula  wherein:  "  I  Joseph  Gennings 
do  put  and  bind  myself  a  servant  man  unto  Capt.  Samuel  Hickcox 


EVENTS  FROM  1732  TO  1741.  341 

to  live  with  him  the  full  term  of  five  years — all  of  which  term  the 
said  Gennings  his  said  master  shall  faithfully  serve  according  to 
the  best  of  his  Ability,  his  secrets  Keep  Close,  his  Lawful  and 
reasonable  Commands  Everywhere  Gladly  do  and  perform.  Damage 
to  his  Master  he  shall  not  wilfully  do,  his  Master's  Goods  he  shall 
not  waste  Embesel  or  purloine  nor  suffer  the  same  to  be  wasted  or 
Purloined,  but  to  his  power  shall  forthwith  discover  and  make 
known  to  his  said  Master."  After  the  usual  negative  promises  re- 
garding taverns,  games,  etc.,  on  the  part  of  Gennings,  appears  Cap- 
tain Hickcox's  agreement.  He  had  evidently  given  a  bond  to  the 
town  to  save  it  from  charge  regarding  Gennings.  Captain  Hickcox 
promised  according  to  the  usual  formula  regarding  meat,  drink, 
lodging  and  apparel  during  the  five  years,  promising  to  dismiss 
Gennings  "  at  the  end  of  said  term  Except  three  indifferent  persons, 
two  chosen  by  the  Master  and  one  by  the  servant  should  adjudge 
that  the  master  had  not  had  sufficient  Recompence  for  his  charge 
and  trouble — and  then  Jenness,  or  Gennings,  was  not  to  dispose  of 
himself  without  securing  his  master  from  one  bond,  wherein  he  was 
bound  to  secure  the  town  of  Waterbury  from  being  a  charge  to 
them."  Before  the  document  was  signed,  another  hand  than  Mr. 
Southmayd's  added  that  neither  Captain  Hickcox  nor  his  "  hiers  " 
were  to  dispose  of  Gennings  to  any  person  whatsoever  without  the 
servant's  free  consent.  We  will  hope  that  Mary  Hopkins,  the  wife 
of  Capt.  Samuel  Hickcox,  proved  a  gentle  mistress  to  poor  Joseph 
and  that  he  escaped  service,  and  bondage  likewise,  in  due  time. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


ATTACHMENT    OF    THE    INDIAN    OWNERS    TO    THE    LAND BUTLER EARLY 

GRANTS SAMUEL    HIKCOX SITE    OF  HIS   HOUSE AGREEMENT   WITH 

HIS  BROTHER  THOMAS — DANIEL    WARNER's    HOUSE HIKCOX's   FULL- 
ING    MILL NAUGATUCK's     FIRST     TWO     SETTLERS    DIE     IN     1713 

INHABITANTS   BEFORE    I745. 

NO  section  of  our  ancient  township  invites  to  indulgence  in 
speculation  more  enticingly  than  does  that  now  known  by 
the  name  of  Naugatuck.  The  historical  facts  that  we  do 
know,  combined  with  the  seeming  allusions  to  other  possible  facts, 
reveal  the  temptations  which  historians  meet  to  construct  theories 
and  indulge  in  the  belief  of  them  until  they  are  left  to  hand  them 
down  to  their  readers  as  well-founded  truths. 

The  natural  gateway  of  the  hills  leading  into  the  Straits  of  the 
Naugatuck,  and  its  vicinage  on  Beacon  Hill  brook,  called  by  the 
Indians  Wecobemeas,  had  long  been  to  the  aborigines  a  favored 
region,  and  when  the  planters  from  Mattatuck  appeared  on  the 
scene  to  gather  hay  and  build  yards  for  cattle,  its  original  owners 
were  inclined  to  assert  their  ownership.  The  familiarity  of  the 
Indians  with  each  valley  and  hill  was  attested  by  the  names  which 
they  knew  them  by,  and  which  are  repeated  in  the  outcome  of 
the  treaty  made  between  their  owners  and  the  men  of  Mattatuck 
in  1684; 

The  autograph  deed*  with  its  ten  marks  and  its  ten  red  seals 
made  by  eight  dusky  men  and  two  dusky  women,  more  than  two 
centuries  ago,  lies  before  me — the  deed  by  which  they  gave  away, 
by  name,  twenty  parcels  of  land — nine  of  them  lying  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  between  Beacon  Hill  brook,  and  the  Fulling  Mill 
brook  at  Union  City.  There  is  something  of  the  old  Hebrew 
grandeur  of  expression  in  the  wording  of  this  conveyance:  "Weco- 
bemeas, the  land  upon  the  brook  or  small  river  that  comes  through 
the  straits  north  of  Lebanon  and  falls  into  Naugatuck  river  at  the 
south  end  of  Mattatuck  bounds,  called  by  the  English  Beacon  Hill 
brook — and  all  the  lands  lying  between  that  and  the  brook,  called 
by  the  name  Squontuck,  that  comes  from  the  east  and  falls  into  the 
river  at  the  hither  end  of  Judd's  Meadow."     But  alas  !    We  have  no 

*  See  pa^e  192. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  JUDDS  MEADOWS. 


343 


interpreter  to  give  us  the  meaning  of  Wecobemeas,  Wachu, 
Panootan,  or  any  one  of  the  twenty  parcels  "by  their  names  dis- 
tinguished," 

The  following  view  is  given  as  seen  from  the  ledge  on  which 
the  ancient  bound  trees  stand,  called  the  "  Three  Brothers." 


But  we  have  reason  to  think  that  at  least  one  white  man  dwelt 
in  Naugatuck  before  the  planters  received  the  deed  referred  to. 
One  Butler — perhaps  a  lonely  Quaker — had  wandered  hither  and 
built  him  a  house  in  a  sheltered  and  picturesque  nook  by  an  excel- 
lent spring  of  water  within  sound  of  the  brook  which  bore  his  name 
— now  Long  Meadow  brook.  Of  him  we  know  only  that  the  pro- 
prietor's records  mention  "  Butler's  house — Butler's  House  brook — 
Where  Butler's  house  was."  If  we  admit  that  he  was  a  Quaker  who 
had  retired  from  active  persecution  to  the  wilderness,  it  is  a  simple 
matter  to  infer  that  as  soon  as  the  Puritans  up  the  valley  began 
their  descent  upon  the  meadows  near  his  chosen  habitation  that  he, 
being  a  man  not  given  to  contention,  quietly  closed  his  door  and 
retired  to  the  spot  long  known  as  "the  Quaker's  farm,"  or,  in 
modern  rendering,  Quaker's  Farms.  Tradition  has  erroneously 
bestowed  the  naming  of  this  region  to  Dr.  John  Butler  of  Stratford, 


344  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

who  owned  the  tract  at  a  later  date,  and  who  it  is  easily  proven 
could  not  have  been  the  Butler  of  Judd's  Meadows,  or  the  person 
who  gave  the  name  to  the  Quaker's  Farm. 

Judd's  Meadows  extended  from  Derby  line  to  the  upper  limits 
of  the  valleys  of  Hop  brook  and  Fulling  Mill  brook.  In  the  words 
of  the  aboriginal  proprietors,  "from  Saugasset  to  Squontuck  and 
Achetayquopaug  " — inclusive  as  to  the  last  two. 

The  earliest  known  occupation  of  the  meadows  and  uplands  by 
the  planters  was  for  the  use  of  their  cattle.  This  information 
comes  through  grants  that  were  made,  some  of  which  remain  of 
record.  In  1699  Abraham  Andrews  received  one  "on  the  brook  that 
runs  through  Benjamin  Barnes's  yard."  This  was  neither  a  "  door- 
yard  "  nor  a  yard  for  drying  cloth,  but  an  enclosure  for  cattle, 
designed  to  keep  them  in  safety  from  wolves  or  other  wild  animals 
at  night  during  the  season  of  pasturage — a  herdsman  attending 
them  during  the  day.  The  brook  that  ran  through  Benjamin 
Barnes's  yard  is  that  now  insignificant  stream  along  which  the 
highway  winds  from  Union  City  to  the  New  England  Railway 
station. 

This  region  was  subdivided  by  the  English  into  meadows  that 
were  owned  by  certain  of  the  proprietors — as  Andrews's  meadow  at 
Union  City  west  of  the  river — Welton's  lot  up  Hop  brook  tinder  the 
hills  just  above  Andrews's  meadow — ^the  Deacon's  meadow  at  the 
upper  part  of  Naugatuck  village  and  extending  down  to,  if  not 
below  the  bridge — Scott's  meadow  below  the  manufactory  of  L.  &  W. 
Ward.  All  of  the  above  were  the  west  side  of  the  river.  On  the 
east  side,  across  the  highway  from  Grove  cemetery  (which  is  in 
Wecobemeas),  lay  "Ben.  Jones's"  lot.  Hickox  meadow  was  oppo- 
site the  Ward  manufactory,  north  of  the  river  at  the  bend  near  the 
"Old  Canoe  Place."  Above  the  burying-yard  of  1709,  was  Thomas 
Warner's  allotment.  The  miller,  John  Hopkins,  obtained  his  por- 
tion of  meadow  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  valley  in  the  midst  of 
a  section  of  country  naturally  adapted  to  the  raising  of  rye,  an 
industry  which  at  a  later  day  became  a  leading  specialty  in  that 
region— kilns  being  erected  for  drying  the  grain  for  shipment  to 
foreign  countries.  Being  comparatively  near  New  Haven,  the  prin- 
cipal shipping  port,  the  naturally  superior  lands  in  that  vicinity 
were  reckoned  among  the  most  valuable  in  the  township  for  that 
purpose,  and  were  appraised  a  hundred  and  forty  years  ago  for 
more  than  their  market  value  at  the  present  time — ^that  is,  the  river 
lands  and  those  immediately  adjacent,  just  above  the  straits.  From 
the  rapid  and  extensive  spread  of  the  landed  possessions  of  the 
Hopkins  and  the  Lewis  families  in  all  the  region  'round  about, 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  JUDD'8  MEADOWS.  345 

the    raising   of   rye   must   have   proved    a   lucrative   business   in 
those  days. 

Samuel  Hikcox,  the  son  of  Sergt.  Samuel,  deceased,  had  in  1702 
a  house  at  Judd's  Meadows.  The  following  is  the  grant  that  tells  of 
its  having  been  built :  "Dec.  21, 1702.  They  granted  Samuel  Hikcox 
eight  acres  of  land  at  Judd's  Meadows  against  Hikcox  meadow, 
where  he  has  set  his  house,  to  take  it  about  his  house."  He  had 
probably  followed  a  custom  of  that  period  and  built  his  house 
before  obtaining  the  land.  This  house  was  on  the  hill  on  the  east 
side  of  the  New  Haven  road  of  1686,  on  the  north  side  of  the  lower 
brook  of  the  two  that  cross  the  road  and  run  westward  to  the  river, 
and  occupied  the  site  where  Amos  Culver  lives.  Because  the  house 
is  mentioned  in  that  year,  he  is  accounted  as  the  first  permanent 
settler  of  Judd's  Meadows.  From  the  following  ancient  autograph 
agreement  (found  in  1890),  between  Samuel  and  his  brother  Thomas, 
it  would  seem  probable  that  the  house  had  not  been  inhabited  in 
May  of  1704,  for  the  "  chimblys  "  were  only  begun,  and  his  barn  was 
in  building  at  that  time.  Consequently,  Daniel  Warner  may  have 
been  his  neighbor  in  the  removal.  The  following  is  the  bargain, 
which  from  the  outline  of  the  paper,  seems  to  have  been  an  indent- 
ured agreement.     It  was  written  by  Thomas  Judd,  Jr. 

This  writing  made  May  —  i  —  1704  witnesseth;  That  we  Sam"  Hikcox  and 
Thomas  hikcox,  both  of  Waterbury,  by  way  of  exchange  have  bargained  as 
follows.  First,  that  I  sd  Sam"  Hikcox  by  way  of  exchange  have  sold  to  sd  Tho-s 
Hikcox  as  follows,  my  house  and  house  lot  situated  in  said  Waterbury  [with 
bounds];  three  roods  at  the  lower  end  of  Munhan  [bounds];  ten  acres  at  Hikcox 
mountain  [bounds].  2ly,  I  sd  Thomas  Hikcox  have  for  the  fore  sd  bargain  sold  to 
sd  Sam",  eight  acres  lying  at  Judd's  Meadows  in  two  pieces  on  the  hill  north  from  sd 
Sam"'s  house  butting  on  highway  west ;  elsewhere  on  common — the  other  piece 
being  one  acers  and  fourscore  rods  butting  on  the  highway  east ;  elsewhere  on 
common.  More,  my  whole  right  of  that  land  at  Judd's  Meadows  that  was  father 
Hikcox's,  and  said  Thomas  is  to  finish  the  barn  that  he  has  begun  for  said  Samuel, 
and  that  this  is  our  firm  agreement,  and  that  we  do  bind  ourselves,  heirs,  execu- 
tors, administrators,  to  the  faithful  performance  hereof  and  to  give  each  other  a 
confirmation  of  lands  and  house  according  to  law  is  testified  by  our  hands. 

Witness 

Thomas  Judd,  Sam"-  Hikcox,  his  x  mark 

RiCHCHARD   WeLTON,  ThOMAS  HICKKOX. 

Further:  said  Thomas  is  to  finish  the  chimblys  that  he  has  begun  for  said 
Samuel— also  8  acres  that  I,  said  Thomas,  let  said  Samuel  have  by  said  Samuel's 
house,  butting  southwest  on  said  Samuel's  land  which  is  on  the  same  bargain  above 
written,  on  the  same  obligation. 

Thomas  hickcox. 
Witness 

Rtchchard  Welton. 


346  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UET. 

Although  Samuel  Hikcox's  house  is  the  first  one  mentioned  at 
Judd's  Meadows,  it  is  quite  clear  that  in  1696  a  movement  thither 
was  in  contemplation  by  a  number  of  the  young  men.  "Dec.  17, 
1696,  there  was  granted  to  John  Richason,  John  Bronson  and  Joseph 
Gaylord  a  parcel  of  land  at  Judd's  Meadows,  butting  south  on  Dr. 
Porter's  meadow,  west  on  the  river,  and  north  on  the  rocks,  pro- 
vided they  build  and  coinhabit  according  to  articles,"  and  the  same 
day  the  same  young  men,  with  John  Hopkins,  received  "  14  acres  of 
land  lying  eastward  from  Benjamin  Jones's  lot  at  Judd's  Meadows, 
butting  north  on  the  hill,  and  to  run  south."  In  1697  Abraham 
Andrews  received  his  little  acre-and-a-half  lot  the  east  side  of  the 
brook  that  ran  into  Benjamin  Barnes's  yard.  In  1699  Benjamin 
Barnes  was  granted  six  acres  at  the  west  side  of  the  spring,  against 
his  yard;  Edmund  Scott  was  to  have  a  piece  of  land  that  lay 
between  his  eight-acre  lot  and  his  meadow,  and  Edmund  with 
Joseph  Gaylord,  four  acres  above  where  Butler's  house  was,  for  a 
pasture,  the  four  acres  to  be  equally  divided  between  them;  Daniel 
Warner,  ten  acres  on  condition  that  he  would  build  and  remain 
five  years  in  the  town,  which  grant  makes  it  not  improbable 
that  Hikcox  and  Warner  were  building  their  houses  at  the  same 
time. 

There  is  an  entry  in  1704  which  would  make  it  appear  that 
Hikcox  and  Warner  were  not  the  only  inhabitants  south  of  Squon- 
tuck  brook  in  that  year.  This  entry,  together  with  the  constantly 
increasing  grants  after  1700  (although  no  house  is  specifically 
mentioned  in  the  records  left  to  us),  is  certainly  suggestive  of  more 
than  two  resident  families.  The  item  is:  '*The  proprietors  gave 
Judd's  Meadow  men  leave  to  set  up  a  pound  for  themselves  on  their 
own  charge  for  impounding  their  own  cattle,  and  such  as  are  left 
out  in  the  field  when  men  are  at  work  with  them  there."  Had  the 
"  Judd's  Meadow  men  "  been  but  two^  the  permission  would  surely 
have  mentioned  Hikcox  and  Warner  by  name — as  distinguished 
from  the  planters  who  merely  went  there  to  cultivate  their  fields. 
The  same  fate  probably  befell  the  first  attempts  at  settlement 
in  present  Naugatuck,  as  elsewhere  in  the  township.  Daniel 
Warner's  house  is  not  mentioned  until  1706,  when  he  received  "a 
piece  of  land  south  of  his  land  his  house  stands  on — to  but  on 
Samuel  Hikcox's  land  south,"  but,  in  grants  before  that  time,  he 
had  been  given  "  two  or  three  acres  on  the  south  side  the  brook 
where  the  old  path  went  over  the  brook  " — and  "  a  piece  on  the  hill 
at  the  north  end  that  he  had  of  John  Warner  extending  north  to 
the  end  of  the  hill  at  the  hollow  where  his  cart  path  goes  up,"  and 
"seven  acres  between  the  brooks  called  Daniel  Warner's  brooks,' 


THE  8ETTLEMEN1  AT  JUDD' 8  MEADOWS, 


347 


and  six  more  joining  to  his  own  land — all  of  which,  taken  together, 
betoken  a  certain  resident  familiarity,  and  occur  from  two  to  four 
years  before  his  house  is  mentioned. 

For  five  or  six  years,  or  from  1706  to  17 12,  when  Zachariah  Bald- 
win from  Milford  appears,  we  obtain  no  intimations  of  a  new  inhab- 
itant— and  yet — in  1709  when  Mary  Andrews,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Warner  died,  it  will  be  remembered  that  when  the  town  sequestered 
the  land  on  Pine  hill  for  a  burying  yard,  it  was  done  with  the  consent 
of  the  neighborhood.  Two  families,  living  perhaps  a  mile  the  one  from 
the  other,  could  not  have  constituted  a  neighborhood — even  in  1709. 
In  that  year  Samuel  Hikcox  "  was  granted  the  liberty  of  that  stream 
called  Daniel  Warner's  brook  (or  Squontuck)  from  the  east  side  the 
going  over  the  sd  brook,  and  a  place  for  conveniency  of  damming, 
so  long  as  he  shall  maintain  a  fulling  mill,  and  conveniency  of  land 
to  pass  and  dry  cloth."  A  pound — a  burying  yard — a  fulling-mill, 
or  the  prospect  of  one,  within  the  first  seven  years — and  but  two 
men,  two  women,  and  twelve  children  in  Judd's  Meadows  for  ten 
years  !  The  improbability  of  the  statement  is  evident.  It  is  clearly 
a  case  of  insufficient  record.  The  supposition,  based  upon  the 
known  condition  of  the  Samuel  Hikcox  house  in  1704,  is  that  his 
eighth  child,  Gideon,  born  Sept.  6,  1705,  was  the  fi^st  English  child 
born  at  Judd's  Meadows.  The  most  careful  gleaning  of  Waterbury 
records  has  failed  to  give  additional  sign  of  inhabited  occupancy 
during  the  ensuing  eight  years — Zachariah  Baldwin's  venture  in 
171 1  excepted.* 

In  June  of  17 13  Samuel  Hikcox  was  summoned  from  the  scene 
of  his  activities  by  the  dread  disease  that  fell  upon  Waterbury  in 
that  and  the  preceding  year.  His  son  Samuel — nineteen — died  in 
July,  and  Daniel  Warner  in  September,  leaving  two  widows — one 
young  man,  Ebenezer  Hikcox,  not  yet  twenty-one — and  twelve 
children — seven  of  the  number  being  under  seven  years  of  age,  as 
the  inhabitants  of  present  Naugatuck  in  17 13. 

In  the  inventory  of  Samuel  Hikcox's  estate,  his  "  house,  home- 
stead and  land  adjoining"  are  valued  at  ;^4o,  while  his  "fulling- 
mill  "  is  estimated  at  forty  shillings.  Five  parcels  of  meadow  land 
are  mentioned,  one  of  twenty  acres  (the  Deacon's  meadow).  The 
widow  was  given,  in  the  distribution,  the  south  end  of  the  house 
next  the  brook.  The  north  end  was  allotted  to  Ebenezer,  who 
married  the  next  year.  To  baby  Silans  (Silence),  born  after  her 
father's  death,  was  given  "  half  the  Hand,  a  lot  in  Hancock's  medo, 
part  of  a  bogey  medo  north  of  Woodbery  Lower  rod,"  (now  called 
the  Clay  hole),  and,  after  her  mother's  decease,  she  was  to  have  six 

*  See  page  281. 


348  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

plates,  a  brass  mortar,  a  "becor"  and  a  right  in  the  Deacon's 
meadow.  Mrs.  Hikcox  and  her  son  Gideon  continued  to  live  on  the 
place,  and  Gideon  ultimately  became  the  owner  of  the  homestead, 
by  purchasing  the  rights  of  his  brothers  in  it.  It  may  be  mentioned 
here,  that  conflicting  statements,  made  elsewhere,  in  regard  to  this 
house  place  —  as,  that  the  house  sold  by  John  Hikcox  to  James 
Brown  and  used  by  him  as  an  inn,  was  the  Samuel  Hikcox  place, 
arose  through  the  ambiguity  of  one  conveyance  and  the  want  of 
another — also,  that  a  mistake  was  made  by  Bronson  in  supposing 
that  the  brook  which  ran  down  by  Samuel  Hikcox's  house  was 
the  Fulling  Mill  brook,  and,  that  the  New  Haven  road  referred 
to,  was  the  later  and  more  eastern  road,  often  called  "the  Hop- 
kin's  road."  Dr.  Bronson  also  has  placed  several  early  settlers  at 
Judd's  Meadows  that  I  have  been  unable  to  find,  doubtless  through 
oversight. 

The  widow  of  Daniel  Warner  married  Isaac  Castle  and  removed 
to  Woodbury.  Samuel  Warner,  the  eldest  son  living  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  decease — then  fifteen  years  old — made  his  home  in  the 
house  at  a  later  date,  and  his  eldest  son,  Daniel,  seems  to  have  been 
the  first  man  born  in  Naugatuck  who  lost  his  life  as  a  soldier  in  the 
service  of  England.     He  died  at  Cape  Breton  before  1745. 

Benjamin  Richards  was  the  third  young  man  who  tried  to  estab- 
lish himself  at  Judd's  Meadows.  He  purchased  meadow  land  next 
the  "Deacon's  meadow,"  and  laid  out  his  bachelor  land  on  the 
Great  hill  up  Toantic  brook.  He  appears  to  have  selected  a  build- 
ing site  on  the  plateau  at  the  southeast  comer  of  the  Great  hill. 
In  the  description  of  his  lands,  mention  is  made  of  "  Calkedes  lot  '* 
— the  reference  intended  being  to  the  sale  made  by  Conkapatana 
and  Tom  Indian,  his  son,  of  "a  small  piece  of  land"  in  171 1. 
Whatever  progress  young  Richards  may  have  made  towards  build- 
ing remains  undiscovered,  for  his  work  was  arrested  by  death 
in  1714. 

The  fourth  settler  was  Joseph  Lewis,  who  made  his  residence  in 
"  Conkapatana's  lot,"  south  of  Toantic  or  Butler's  House  brook  and 
west  of  the  river,  in  17 14.  His  house  was  west  of  present  Ward 
street,  a  little  below  its  junction  with  the  river  road.  In  17 14  also, 
John  Barnes  settled  in  the  Hop  Brook  valley  near  the  old  stock 
yards  in  present  Union  City.  It  is  said  that  a  part  of  the  frame  of 
his  house  is  still  standing  and  in  use.  In  the  same  year  Obadiah 
Scott  built  a  house  at  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  township 
near  Beacon  Hill  brook  and  on  the  old  New  Haven  road  near  its 
junction  with  the  turnpike.  This  house  was  about  two  miles  below 
Naugatuck  center. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  JUDD'S  MEADOWS. 


349 


In  17 16  Thomas  Richards  was  living  at  the  same  place.  A 
-cartway  "led"  between  the  two  houses.  In  17 16  John  Hikcox 
had  a  house  on  the  New  Haven  road,  south  of  the  Samuel  Hikcox 
house — Ebenezer  Hikcox,  his  brother,  also  had  a  house  north  of 
the  Samuel  Hikcox  house.  Samuel  Warner,  son  of  Thomas,  laid 
out  the  land  on  which  Butler's  house  stood  and  was  living  on  it 
in  17 18.  There  is  a  ledge  near  his  house  site  often  called  Indian 
rock.  He  also  laid  out  the  first  land  in  Millville  center,  where 
Abraham  Warner  and  Daniel  Williams  afterward  lived,  and  where 
Marshall  Whitney  now  resides.  In  17 18  also,  Samuel  Scott — War- 
ner's brother-in-law — had  a  house  by  his  side  on  Butler's  House 
brook. 

In  17 17  Hezekiah  Rew  of  Milford  and  James  Brown  of  New 
Haven  began  the  purchase  of  lands  at  Judd's  Meadows,  and  before 
1722  were  resident  there.  In  1722  came  Samuel  Chidester  (a 
brother-in-law  of  Joseph  Lewis)  from  Wallingford. 

In  1726  John  Andrews  went  down  and  built  a  house  at  present 
Gunntown  near  a  spring,  not  far  from  the  well  known  brick  store 
built  by  Samuel  Gunn.  He  was  the  first  permanent  settler  in  that 
neighborhood. 

In  1728  Joseph  Lewis,  Jr.,  had  a  house  in  the  Towantic  meadow, 
below  the  site  of  the  old  Church  in  Gunntown. 

In  1729  Abraham  Warner  (youngest  son  of  Daniel,  deceased,) 
settled  at  present  Millville. 

In  1730  Edmund  Scott  3d,  was  living  on  Great,  later  Gunn  hill, 
and  Samuel  Barnes  had  a  house  near  his  brother,  John  Barnes,  on 
Hop  brook.  In  the  same  year  John  Johnson  and  Isaac  Bronson 
were  resident  at  the  "  South  Farms "  as  the  region  was  sometimes 
denominated. 

In  1732  John  Weed  was  living  in  Towantic  meadow,  west  of 
Gunntown. 

In  1733  Jonas  Weed  was  on  Twelve  Mile  hill,  and  Joseph  Weed 
was  on  Straits  mountain,  near  the  top  of  the  mountain.  In  the 
same  year  Job  Pierson  was  on  the  same  mountain.  About  1735 
Thomas  Porter  left  his  large  house,  that  stood  until  after  1840  on  Bank 
street — the  Waterbury  National  Bank  building  now  occupying  its 
site — and  built  a  house  on  land  at  Judd's  Meadows  that  had  been 
given  to  his  father  by  the  town  in  1686.  The  house  that  he  built  is, 
according  to  tradition,  still  standing  and  known,  I  believe,  as  the 
Whitney  house.  Tradition  also  claims  that  it  was  removed  from 
its  original  site.  It  was  an  inn  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
and  Thomas  Porter,  a  grandson  of  the  builder,  was  inn-keeper. 
The  old  house  gives  evidence  of  its  age.     James  Baldwin — a  brother- 


350 


HISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBY, 


in-law  of  Thomas  Porter — he  who  culled  the  shingles  for  the  meet- 
ing house,  probably  went  down  at  the  same  time. 

Daniel  Williams  left  present  Oakville,  and  about  1735  ^^  is  found 
on  Straits  mountain. 

Ii^  1739  Joh^  Lewis  had  a  house  southwestwardly  of  Joseph 
Lewis. 

.    In  1740  Thomas  Matthews  was  living  on  or  near  the  Woodbury 
line  and  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township. 

We  have  mentioned  thirty-one  persons  resident  in  Judd's 
Meadow  between  1704  and  1740.  Of  this  number,  during  the  years 
included  between  1704  and  1740,  Joseph  Lewis  was  the  richest  man 
— in  1734  his  taxable  possessions  being  rated  at  ;^2o6,  but  in  1739 
Stephen  Hopkins  won  the  race  by  a  single  pound.  Twenty-three 
years  later,  in  1762,  Nathaniel  Gunn  surpassed  Stephen  Hopkins  by 
three  pounds.  Therefore,  the  men  mentioned  were  the  three 
richest  men  in  present  Naugatuck  down  to  the  close  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  The  other  rich  men  were  Thomas  Porter,  Thomas 
Richards,  Gideon  Hikcox,  Samuel  and  John  Lewis,  Thomas 
Matthews,  and  James  Brown.  The  above  statements  are  based 
only  on  the  taxable  amounts,  as  given  in  the  rate-book  of  the  listers 
from  1730  to  1784. 

THE    FULLING    MILL   SITE. 

The  fulling  mill  of  Samuel  Hikcox  at  Judd's  Meadow  was  prob- 
ably the  outgrowth  of  an  earlier  mill  on  Great  brook  at  Waterbury 
center.  No  positive  evidence  of  the  existence  of  such  an  enter- 
prise has  been  found,  but  a  portion  of  that  brook,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, was  sequestered  very  early  for  that  purpose,  and  it  is  not 
improbable  that  Samuel  Hikcox  himself  carried  on  the  business  at 
the  center  before  his  removal. 

The  outline  history  of  that  mill-site  for  a  century  is  interesting, 
and  may,  perhaps,  be  given  as  an  instance  of  what  may  be  gleaned 
from  old  records.  From  17 13  to  1730  we  find  nothing  in  relation  to 
it.  In  1730,  Ebenezer  Hikcox — the  son  who  remained  at  the  home- 
stead— laid  out  the  land  anew,  which  is  described  as  being  "at  the 
place  where  his  father  set  up  the  Fulling  Mill."  In  1733,  a  mill  of 
some  sort  was  on  this  land;  whether  it  was  the  old  mill  of  Samuel 
or  a  new  creation  of  his  son  does  not  certainly  appear.  In  1733 
Ebenezer  sold  to  Hezekiah  Rew  "  the  mill  and  the  house  over  the 
mill."  In  1735  Rew  sold  the  mill,  and  apparently  the  house  with 
it,  to  James  Baldwin,  who  prospered  in  its  possession  for  fifteen 
years,  owning  a  grist  mill  and  another  mill.  In  1750  or  175 1  Bald- 
win sold  his  possessions,  including  a  200  acre  farm,  to  May  Way 


THE  SETTLEMENT  AT  JUDD'8  MEADOWS,  351 

and  William  Hoadly  of  Branford.  May  Way  soon  sold  his  half 
interest  in  mills  and  land  to  Richard  Smith  of  Woodbury,  who 
immediately  appears  to  have  "  set  up  the  frame  of  a  house "  on 
Thomas  Porter's  land,  and  before  purchasing  it.  The  house  he 
built  was  south  of  Fulling  Mill  brook,  between  the  river  and  the 
New  Haven  road,  while  the  mill  was  north  of  the  brook  and  east 
of  the  New  Haven  road— the  Daniel  Warner  house  being  on  the 
same  side  of  the  road,  but  south  of  the  brook. 

Before  Smith  had  finished  his  house,  Jonathan  Beebe  of  Lyme 
appeared  on  the  scene  and  was  so  attracted  by  the  advantages  of 
Judd's  Meadow  for  business  that  he  made  him  a  tempting  offer 
which  Smith  accepted  and  Beebe  became  a  resident.  During  all 
these  transitory  scenes  William  Hoadly — known  by  his  friends 
(tradition  tells  us)  as  "Black  Bill " —remained  the  apparently  satis- 
fied and  unmoved  owner  of  the  undivided  one-half  of  the  200  acre 
farm,  including  mills  and  dwelling  house.  Mr.  Beebe  doubtless 
brought  Eastern  ideas  and  notions  from  New  London  and  Lyme 
into  the  valley,  and  Mr.  Hoadly  probably  preferring  the  old  ways, 
the  two  men  agreed  to  divide  their  possessions.  Consequently  each 
became  the  owner  of  a  strip  here  and  a  parcel  there  of  good,  bad, 
and  indifferent  lands.  Hoadly  eventually  became  sole  owner  of 
the  grist-mill  and  it  is  thought  of  the  saw-mill  also,  Mr.  Beebe 
retaining  a  right  to  lay  logs  by  the  mill,  and  possibly  a  right  in  the 
mills.  When  the  lands  were  divided,  as  above  shown,  the  old 
Daniel  Warner  homestead  (called  at  the  sale  a  small  house)  was 
also  divided  —  the  dividing  line  passing  through  the  chimney. 
By  the  time  Mr.  Beebe  had  completed  his  new  house  and  fence, 
he  conveyed  all  that  he  owned  east  of  his  new  fence  to  Mr. 
Hoadly. 

In  the  course  of  time — Mr.  Beebe  having  become,  by  the  grace  of 
The  General  Assembly,  a  Lieutenant,  wrote:  "Being  advanced  in 
years,  and  being  called  to  the  Wars,"  and  made  his  will. 

Mr.  Hoadly  seems  to  have  lived  and  died  in  the  occupancy  and 
possession  of  lands,  mills,  and  houses.  He  built  a  new  house  for 
his  own  use,  and  gave  the  old  one  to  his  son  William,  who  became 
successively  the  owner  and  occupier  of  the  premises.  The  long 
holding  of  the  Hoadlys  gave  to  the  locality  a  name  that  became  a 
landmark  for  several  generations. 

William  and  Jude  Hoadly,  being  brothers  and  of  one  mind, 
remained  in  the  ownership  of  the  old  "  fulling  mill  region "  on 
Squantuck  brook — Jude  living  on  the  hill,  south  of  the  brook  in 
a  house  built  by  Zera  Beebe,  and  which  house  is  standing  at  this 
date,   (1891) — William  remaining  in  the  homestead  of  his  father. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Jude  was  noted  for  his  ingenuity  as  a  designer  and  worker  in 
wood.  He  had  a  "shop"  in  that  vicinity,  if  not  on  the  brook, 
where  he  manufactured  spinning  wheels,  and  received  (it  is  said) 
"a  land  grant  about  1770  for  services  in  the  old  French  War." 
In  process  of  time  Jared  Byington  came  upon  the  scene  and  it 
would  seem,  that  having  purchased  lands  from  Hoadly,  he  "  set 
up  "  a  mill  to  manufacture  nails.  Jude  Hoadly  and  Jared  Byington 
agreed  to  make  a  division  of  lands  and  other  interests  and  also 
the  very  water  rushing  down  from  the  hills.  Hoadly  was  to  use 
it  two  weeks  and  Byington  two  weeks — alternating  in  its  use. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

THE  HOP  BROOK  SECTION — EARLY  SETTLERS — ON  THE  ROAD  TO  MIDDLE- 
BURY — LEMUEL  NICHOLS*  TAVERN  —  A  BRIDE's  BROOK  —  DR.  JAMES 
PORTER — EPHRAIM  BISSELL — WATERBURY's  INDIAN  RESERVATION — 
NON-RESIDENT    LAND    OWNERS. 

HOP  brook  rises  east  of  Lake  Quassapaug  at  an  elevation  of 
750  feet  above  the  sea,  runs  through  Cedar  swamp  north- 
ward of  the  lake  and  wavers  through  about  fifteen  miles 
of  territory,  receiving  at  least  fifteen  tributaries  in  its  course  to  the 
Naugatuck  river  at  Union  City. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  section  of  the 
township.  The  level  land  along  the  brook  near  Carrington's 
slaughter  house  was  John  Barnes'  plain.  On  it  Caleb  Thompson 
built  a  house  about  1733.  After  it  was  finished  it  was  found  that 
the  records  were  so  confused  that  all  rights  must  be  ignored  and 
the  land  laid  out  anew.  Poor  Samuel  Barnes  was  all  the  way 
through  life  the  victim  of  mistakes  in  some  form,  notably  in  the 
line  of  his  various  land  records.  He  sold  the  land  to  Thompson, 
but  it  had  been  so  recorded  to  Barnes  that  it  appeared  to  be  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  brook,  so  that  it  became  necessary  to  turn  the 
brook  around  and  the  hill  over,  in  order  to  make  Thompson  the 
owner  of  the  land.  John  Barnes  began  anew  and  laid  out  the  land. 
Samuel  bought  it  from  his  brother  and  re-conveyed  it  to  Thompson, 
as  being  easier  than  to  turn  the  hill  over  and  the  brook  around.  At 
this  time  Samuel  Barnes  was  living  farther  up  the  highway  to 
Judd's  meadows  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  against  Piatt's  mills, 
and  shortly  after  1733,  he  had  to  lay  out  his  own  lands  anew — the 
records  having  been  lost  or  the  deeds  unrecorded.  Silas  Johnson, 
another  unfortunate  individual,  was  living  just  above  Samuel 
Barnes.  John  Johnson  had  been  the  first  settler  in  that  spot  in 
1726,  and  Silas  succeeded  him.  John  had  built  his  house  on  common 
land,  so  that  Silas,  after  his  father's  death,  was  compelled  to  have 
the  spot  where  his  house  stood  laid  out. 

On  Hop  brook,  above  Barnes*  plain  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Brad- 
leyville,  lay  George  Scott's  eight-acre  lot,  under  which  name  the 
locality  was  known  for  a  generation.  Near  this  lot  there  comes  in 
from  the  east  a  branch  called  Welton's  brook,  named  from  John 
Welton's  boggy  meadow,  which  lay  in  the  valley  between  Malmalick 
and  Oronoke  hills.     Farther  up  Welton's  brook  lay  a  noted  point, 

23 


354  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

known  as  ScoviU's  boggy  meadow,  and  sometimes  as  Scoviirs  and 
Gaylord*s  meadow.     It  is  now  called  the  Peat  Swamp. 

In  going  from  Waterbury  to  Middlebury  the  first  ascent  is  upon 
West  Side  hill,  first  so  named  in  a  grant  made  to  Samuel  Barnes 
between  1730  and  1733.     Next,  to  the  right,  is  Bryant's  hill.     Pass 
Tamarack  swamp,  and  Richards'  hill  is  at  your  right  as  you  are  pass- 
ing through  the  swamp.     Pass  the  Boughton  place,  and  Arnold's 
hill  lies  to  your  left.     Cross  the  Peat  swamp,  and  at  your  right  lies 
Gaylord's  hill.     Lemuel  Nichols'  tavern  before  the  "Revolution," — 
now  an  old  house — stands  on  this  hill.     A  quarter  of  a  mile  further 
on,  and  Oronoke  hill  is  on  your  left.     The  Umberfield  place  is  on 
the  north  end  of  this  hill.    The  John  Hine  place  was  in  the  vicinity. 
Cross  Gaylord's  brook,  and  to  your  right   is  Two-and-a-half-Mile 
hill — the  southern  end  of  which  hill  is  the  rock  known  as  Pine  rock 
— a  boundary  point  between  Waterbury  and  Middlebury.    The  west- 
ern slope  of  the  above  hill  is  now  known  as  Mount  Fair.     Between 
the  Two-and-a-half-Mile  hill,  and  the  Three-Mile  hill,  you  pass  Bis- 
sell's  hill  at  the  left,  which  still  bears  that  name.     The  old  Morse 
road  went  over  this  hill,  and  on  it  were  several  houses,  and  later  a 
blacksmith  shop  belonging  to  Joseph  Peck.     Three  Mile  hill  was 
named,  I  know  not  how  early,  but  it  is  mentioned  in  1720.     When 
you  have  reached  Middlebury-Four-corners,  you  have  passed  the 
southern  end  of  this  hill.     The  village  of  Middlebury  is  upon  the 
northern  end  of  the  ridge  to  which  the  name  of  Bedlam  was  applied 
very  early.     Beyond  Middlebury,  and  next  Lake  Quassapaug,  lies 
the  hill  known  in  1686  as  the  Great  Hill  east  of  Quassapaug.    In  the 
first    formal  layout  of  one  of  the  early  roads  to  Woodbury  which 
passed  over  the  summit  of  Three-Mile  hill — at  the  boundary  line 
mention  is  made  of  the  Bride's  brook.     The  langriage  is  "at  the 
going  down  of  Wolf   Pit  hill   to   the   Brid's  brook   in  Woodbury 
bounds."     The  brook  in  question  was  a  branch  of  Hop  brook,  now 
in  Middlebury.      We  find  one  or  more  Bride's  brooks  in   Massa- 
chusetts, as  well  as  in  Connecticut,  with  various  traditions  attached. 
In  our  own  case  we  may  venture  a  suggestion,  not  only  in  relation 
to  Brides'  brooks  in  general,  but  to  the  one  at  the  Waterbury  and 
Woodbury  bound  line.     The  bride  for  whom  this  brook  was  named 
was,  we  will  say.  Miss  Sarah  Gaylord,  whom  Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried in  1688.     The  Reverend  Zachariah  Walker,  of  Woodbury,  was 
the  officiating  clergyman  on  that  occasion,  and  special  mention  of 
the  fact  is  recorded  with  the  notice.     As  he  could  not  legally  per- 
form any  of  the  rites  of  the  church  or  any  civil  functions  outside 
of  his  own  parish,  the  parties  in  question  must  have  presented 
themselves  within  Woodbury  bounds.     To  have  complied  with  the 


WATERBURT  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS, 


355 


law,  the  clergyman  and  the  contracting  parties  must  at  least  have 
met  at  this  brook  for  the  marriage  ceremony.  The  various  tradi- 
tions connected  with  Brides'  brooks  undoubtedly  had  their  origin 
in  this  custom — practiced  at  a  very  early  period  when  passing  from 
place  to  place  was  attended  with  difficulties  and  dangers.  Getting 
married  was  not  easily  accomplished  in  Waterbury  at  that  period — 
in  fact,  it  was  impossible,  for  the  want  of  a  proper  officer.  Young 
Judd's  father  was  two  years  later  appointed  Commissioner  or  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace. 

As  the  Woodbury  road  of  1720  has  been  mentioned  here,  it  may 
be  added  that  the  ancient  road  to  Woodbury  is  referred  to  as  early 
as  1687.  It  ran  over  Richards*  hill  and  north  of  Scovill's  boggy 
meadow.  The  survey  of  1720  abandoned  that  route  and  adopted 
what  had  been  known  for  a  time  as  the  lower  way,  which  ran  over 
Arnold's  hill  and  south  of  Scovill's  meadow.  The  first  mention  of 
Hop  swamp — naturally  a  region  of  hops — is  in  1687,  when  George 
Scott  received  two  grants  of  land  there.  Dr.  Daniel  and  Richard 
Porter  (brothers)  were,  perhaps,  the  first  settlers  to  whom  land  was 
laid  out  at  the  swamp.  Richard  moved  to  New  Haven  and  gave  his 
Hop  swamp  allotments  to  his  sons  about  1726.  The  first  actual 
settler  there  was  either  Ephraim  Bissell,  or  Dr.  James  Porter. 

Dr.  James  Porter  settled  at  Hop  swamp,  probably  about  1725. 
The  first  mention  of  his  house  is  found  in  1730.  It  stood  at  the  foot 
of  the  Bissell  hill  and  west  of  the  present  Hop  Swamp  School-house. 
Tradition  states  that  when  his  house  was  in  building  the  workmen 
went  from  the  center  in  the  morning  and  returned  at  evening, — 
fearing  the  Indians.  In  later  years,  a  new  house  was  so  enclosed 
under  the  same  roof  with  the  old  one  that  the  two  houses  appeared 
as  one  building.  When,  a  few  years  ago,  the  house  was  taken  down, 
the  workmen  were  greatly  surprised  £0  find  that  two  independent 
frames  were  set  together.  So  unique  was  the  work,  that  a  drawing 
of  it  was  made  for  preservation.  A  new  house  built  by  the  Bough- 
ton  brothers  occupies  the  very  site  of  the  house  of  1730. 

Ephraim  Bissell  came  from  Tolland  in  1728.  He  bought  land  at 
Hop  swamp,  and  in  a  little  swamp  north  of  Hop  swamp,  which  gave 
his  name  to  the  swamp,  and  also  on  the  hill  still  known  as  Bissell's 
hill.  The  old  house  site  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  near  the  north- 
eastern edge  of  the  Hop  swamp  basin.  The  cellar  walls  still  stand 
and  the  stones  of  the  big  chimney  lie  fallen  in  a  prominent  mound. 
A  large  butternut  tree  has  grown  out  from  the  cellar  bottom  and 
apple  trees  stand  about — decaying  as  they  stand.  The  old  well- 
place  is  still  to  be  seen,  and  the  large  flowing  spring  where  water 
was  at  hand  before  the  well  was  made.     It  was  here  that  a  hundred 


356  BISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

and  fifty  years  ago  young  Ephraim  Bissell  bade  farewell  to  home 
and  family — never  to  return.  July  i,  1740,  "being  designed  into 
the  war  in  the  Spanish  West  Indies  in  America,"  he  made  his  will, 
leaving  to  his  wife,  Abigail,  all  his  "moveable  or  Personal  Estate 
of  every  kind  Quality  and  species  whatsoever  and  in  all  parts  and 
places  whatsoever  the  same  shall  or  may  be  to  her  use  forever." 
Besides  numerous  possessions  in  Tolland,  Bissell  owned  200  acres 
in  Waterbury.  His  will  was  presented  at  the  Probate  Court  in 
Woodbury  in  1742  by  Mrs.  Bissell,  who  "informed  that  she  had 
credible  information  that  her  husband  died  in  the  West  Indies," 
but  the  estate  was  not  settled  until  seven  years  had  passed.  Bissell 
is  said  to  have  been  at  the  storming  of  Moro  Castle,  and  to  have 
been  among  the  missing.  He  left  two  sons — Ephraim  and  Thomas. 
Ephraim  died  early;  for  some  unknown  reason  he  was  placed  under 
a  master  who  managed  his  affairs  and  cared  for  his  property  and 
family.  Thomas  sold  early  his  part  of  the  land  and  removed  to 
Derby,  where  he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his  last  sale.  His  de- 
scendants are  unknown.  The  last  of  the  Bissells  living  on  the  hill 
was  Eunice  Webb.  She  lived  in  the  old  house  on  the  top  of  the  hill, 
and  removed  with  her  huvsband,  Reuben  Webb,  to  the  "West." 
That  portion  of  the  Moss  or  Morse  road  that  crossed  Bissell  hill, 
became  the  Webb  road.  Deacon  Timothy  Porter,  the  son  of  Richard, 
had  a  house  at  Hop  swamp  very  early,  which  he  is  said  to  have  sold, 
after  which  he  removed  to  New  Haven,  or  Stratford,  or  perhaps  to 
both  places.  Later,  in  1740,  his  house  is  mentioned  in  the  layout 
of  a  road  at  Hop  swamp.  In  the  same  year  he  sold  out  and  went, 
perhaps,  to  Milford,  but  a  few  years  later  he  had  returned.  The 
old  cellar  place  of  Deacon  Timothy's  house  is  still  visible  a  little 
southwest  of  Hop  Swamp  school-house  and  a  few  rods  from  the 
highway,  which  formerly  ran  near  the  old  house,  but  when  changed 
left  it  in  the  field.  His  son,  Mark  Porter,  built  a  house  (or  received 
the  gift  of  one)  quite  near  his  father's  house.  Deacon  Timothy 
Porter's  house  and  that  of  his  cousin,  Dr.  James  Porter,  were  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart. 

In  1729  the  region  about  Bedlam  meadows  had  attracted  the 
favorable  attention  of  men  from  neighboring  towns.  Eliphalet 
Bristol  and  Daniel  Mallery  of  West  Haven  had  laid  out  nearly  a 
hundred  acres  at  Bedlam  meadow  and  on  Bedlam  hill;  Samuel 
Umberfield  of  the  same  place,  Mr.  Samuel  Whittlesey  of  Walling- 
ford  and Briscoe  also  had  lands  on  the  same  hill. 

Other  early  settlers  may  perhaps  be  mentioned  here,  without 
regard  to  date.  John  Porter,  son  of  Timothy,  settled  on  Bissell's 
hill;  Timothy  Porter,  Jr.,  son  of  Deacon  Timothy,  on  the  same  ridge. 


WATERBURT  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS.     357 

to  the  westward,  near  where  Mr.  Elliott  now  lives.  Captain  James 
Porter  built  a  house  west  of  the  swamp — where  Charles  Boughton 
last  lived.  David  Porter  lived  in  the  old  house  James  built. 
Deacon  Gideon  Piatt  built  about  one  mile  from  Deacon  Porter's 
house — Charles  Nichols  now  lives  at  the  place;  his  son  Gideon 
built  the  house  now  standing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road, 
where  L.  C.  Wilmot  lives.  Benjamin  Bement  settled  southwest 
of  Hop  swamp,  between  the  houses  of  John  and  Timothy  Porter, 
Jr. ;  Gamaliel  Fenn  west  or  southwest  of  the  swamp,  toward 
Bedlam  hill. 

It  may  be  a  surprise  to  our  readers  to  learn  that  Waterbury  had 
an  Indian  reservation.  It  was  on  the  southeast  portion  of  East 
mountain  and  consisted  of  fifty  acres,  and  was  bought  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  undivided  lands  of  New  Haven,  May  7, 1731,  for  "the 
use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  Indians  that  now  do  or  hereafter 
shall  be  properly  belonging  to  or  descending  from  that  tribe  of 
Indians  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  New  Haven  or  Quinepiag 
Indians  as  long  as  any  of  that  tribe  or  family  shall  remain  and  no 
longer.*'  The  Quinnipiac  Indians  were  evidently  moved  on,  for  the 
consideration  was  a  quit-claim  by  the  proprietors  of  New  Haven  of 
"fifty  acres  at  the  upper  end  of  the  New  Indian  field,  to  John  Moris 
of  New  Haven."  This  Indian  reservation  was  undoubtedly  occupied, 
for  we  find  it  called  "  the  Indian  farm  "  down  to  the  time  of  the 
Revolution. 

Else  Wooster,  a  daughter,  perhaps,  of  the  first  John  Welton  of 
Waterbury,  as  he  had  a  daughter  Else,  had  land  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  East  mountain;  and  Stephen  Welton,  brother  of  Else 
Welton  (whose  marriage  is  not  recorded  in  Waterbury),  had  land  in 
the  same  vicinity.  Else  Wooster's  land  was  the  western  bound  of 
this  Indian  reservation.  The  above  clue  is  the  only  link  found  con- 
necting Else  Wooster  with  Waterbury.  As  many  indications  of 
relationships  are  hidden  away  in  land  records — in  the  way  of  sug- 
gestion to  future  genealogists,  as  well  as  for  the  interest  of  those 
concerned — certain  land  transactions  connecting  inhabitants  of 
other  towns  with  Waterbury  for  a  single  decade  are  introduced. 
They  are  not  exhaustive  of  the  records,  neither  are  they  chrono- 
logically arranged. 

In  1724  Josiah  Rogers,  a  blacksmith,  of  Branford,  bought  of  Ephraim  Warner 
•*  a  ;^2o  right  in  the  commonage,  and  seven  acres  of  third  Division  land  to  be  pitched 
for  and  laid  out  to  him,"  and  Henry  Toles  of  New  Haven  bought  Samuel  Barnes's 
£^0  right.  In  1728  Richard  Porter  of  New  Haven,  sixty  acres  at  Meshadock 
meadow;  Mr.  Whittlesey  of  Wallingford  obtained  282  acres;  Deacon  John  Stanley 
of  Farmington,  309  acres,  afterward  called  Stanley's  farm;  Phineas  Towner,  2% 
acres  west  of  the  Little  brook;  Joseph  Nichols  of  Derby  buys  of  Thomas  Porter  and 
other  heirs  of  Daniel  Porter  10  acres  on  the  Long  Boggy  meadow  (in  Watertown), 


358  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

and  lands  to  be  taken  up;  Thomas  Hopkins  of  Hartford,  92  acres  on  the  east  branch 
of  Hancox  brook,  the  north  side  of  Taylor's  Meditation;  Bartlett's  swamp  is  first 
mentioned— originally  laid  out  to  George  Scott,  Jr. ;  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  of 
Springfield  had  land  laid  out  in  the  Great  "Hallow"  in  the  Southeast  quarter, 
near  Wallingford;  Daniel  and  Henry  Toles  laid  out  lands  on  Barnes's  right;  Mr. 
Samuel  Hall  of  Wallingford  received  lands;  Isaac  Hotchkiss  of  New  Haven  began 
buying  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township,  and  William  Gillitt  (Gillet)  of  Milford 
sold  to  Freegift  Coggeshall  of  Milford,  35  acres  not  laid  out,  originally  granted  to 
William  Scott. 

In  1729  Jonathan  Gamsey  of  Milford  bought  Stephen  Hopkins's  house  with  a 
highway  on  every  side  on  Union  Square — "four  acres  more  or  less,"  and  nine  on 
the  Farmington  road  for  ;t25o;  Charles  Lane,  of  Ripton,  Fairfield  county,  a  lot  in 
the  village;  James  Blakeslee  sold  the  Irving  Block  comer  to  Abraham  Utter  of 
East  Haven;  Daniel  Holbrook  of  Derby  became  a  landholder;  Abraham  Hodges 
secured  sixty  acres  to  be  laid  out;  Abraham  Utter  bought  of  John  Bronson,  Jr.,  his 
house  and  all  his  lands — 103  acres  at  Scott's  mountain;  Moses  Bronson  sold  to 
Ebenezer  Bronson  a  house  at  Bronson's  meadow^  in  Middlebury;  "Tolles*  Farm" 
became  Joseph  Nichols'  farm,  and  James  Johnson  of  Wallingford  bought  lands  near 
it;  Henry  and  Daniel  Toles  of  New  Haven  sold  to  Joseph  Osborn  of  the  same  place 
"one-half  of  all  their  lands  and  rights  in  land  in  Waterbury,  obtained  from  their 
father,  who  bought  said  lands  of  Samuel  Barnes  and  James  Brown;"  Abraham 
Hodges  had  removed  to  Waterbury  and  bought  lands  up  the  river;  Daniel  Hol- 
brook (blacksmith)  bought  lands,  and  Stephen  Pierson  of  Derby  bought  of  Holbrook 
90  acres,  with  a  house,  on  Strait  mountain  near  the  Derby  line,  and  Pierson's  son 
Thomas,  then  in  Woodbury,  sold  to  his  father  41  acres  in  Cotton  Wool  meadow; 
Robert  Johnson  of  Stratford  bought  20  acres  west  of  Welton's  brook,  by  John  John- 
son's farm;  Caleb  Thompson  built  his  first  house  near  David's  (Scott's)  swamp; 
Deacon  Stephen  Hotchkiss  of  Wallingford  took  50  acres  in  the  undivided  land,  and 
laid  out  about  one  hundred  acres  next  Wallingford;  Nathaniel  Peck  of  Walling- 
ford, farmer,  with  the  consent  of  his  wife  Sarah,  sold  64  acres  at  Tailor's  meadow 
to  Dr.  Jeremiah  Hulls  of  the  same  place;  Thomas  Lee  of  •'  Oosatonuck,"  province 
of  Mass.  Bay,  sold  land  to  Joseph  Hurlburt;  Samuel  Umberfield  of  West  Haven 
laid  out  74  acres  west  of  Cranberry  pond:  Eliphalet  Bristol  and  Daniel  Mallery 
possessed  lands  in  "  Bedlam  "  meadow;  Mr.  Timothy  Johnson  of  Derby  had  30 
acres  in  the  undivided  lands  laid  out  to  him;  and  William  Lamson  of  Stratford 
began  his  ownership  of  lands  by  buying  in  present  Middlebury  20  acres,  which  he 
added  to  from  time  to  time  for  twenty-five  years. 

In  1730  Mr.  Southmayd  and  Samuel  Hikcox  sell  to  James  Johnson  30  acres  in 
"Ouze  Bass  swamp,  east  of  Mad  river  and  north  of  Farmington  road;"  Caleb 
Clark  and  Daniel  How  buy,  for  ;^22o,  220  acres  on  the  western  side  of  Lothrop  hill, 
westward  from  the  Long  Boggy  meadow,  and  northwest  from  the  Round  meadow 
— in  Watertown;  Captain  John  Wells  owns  85  acres  at  "Twich  Grass  Brook;" 
Joseph  Gaylord^  Jr.,  at  Buck*s  Hill,  where  his  dwelling  house  now  stands, 
receives  from  Ephraim  Warner  three  acres  of  land  in  exchange  for  Gaylord's  land 
at  Ash  swamp;  John  Wetmore  of  Middletown  sells  to  Nathan  Hubbart  (Hubbard) 
80  acres  in  Tailor's  meadow;  Joseph  Harris  buys  near  Round  meadow;  James  Hull 
of  New  Haven,  on  the  south  end  of  the  old  Town  Plot;  *•  Samuel  Hikcox  Fulling 
Mill"  is  gone,  for  land  is  bought  "a  little  above  where  it  stood,"  and  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hopkins  of  Springfield  sells  land  to  Joseph  Noyes. 

In  1 73 1  John  Hurd  of  Stratford  gave  to  his  son  Nathan  Hurd  50  acres  on  the 
road  to  Wooster  swamp,  and  a  little  later  50  acres  to  his  son  John;  Joseph  and 


WATERBURY  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS.     359 

Martha  Smith  sold  to  Noah  Tuttle  of  Branford  the  home  place  of  Mr.  Henry  W. 
Scovill;  James  and  Eunice  Johnson  conveyed  to  Mr.  John  Punderson  the  land  and 
house  where  now  stand  the  "Arcade"  building  and  the  buildings  occupied  by 
Miller  &  Peck,  and  by  T.  F.  Judson.  The  Irving  block  corner  had  a  house  and  a 
'•  smith  shop  "  upon  it,  for  Jan.  25,  1731,  Joseph  Harris  sold  it  to  Obadiah  Scott,  and 
March  25th,  Obadiah  sold  it  to  James  Blakeslee,  having  added  the  ••  smith  shop;" 
Mr.  John  Peck  of  Wallingford  bought  of  George  Welton  75  acres  **  about  two  miles 
east  from  Judd's  meadows — this  was  probably  at  the  Quinnipiac  reservation; 
Stephen  Kelsey  bought  the  house  and  numerous  lands  of  Thomas  Andrews,  and 
Andrews  bought  Kelsey's  house  next  Woodbury  line — at  Middlebury,  probably. 

In  1732  "  Dr.  Thomas  Thompson,  Phisstian,"  bought  the  big  farm  of  over  300 
acres  of  Nathaniel  Stanley  of  Farmington.  Samuel  Umber  field  of  West  Haven 
sold  a  lot  in  the  village;  Benajah  Stone  of  Wallingford  secured  land  "up  the 
River";  Noah  Tuttle  conveyed  to  Joseph  Smith  "oneMesuage  and  tenement  of 
House  Barn  and  three  acres  of  home  Lott"  adjoining  thereto — ^the  Henry  Scovill 
homestead;  Timothy  Stanley  of  Farmington  sold  to  Isaac  Curtice,  "living  at  a 
place  called  North  Haven,"  lands  at  and  near  Popple  meadow;  James  Johnson  lost 
thirty  acres  in  Ouze  Bass  swamp  by  reason  of  an  execution  taken  out  against  him 
by  Thomas  Marks  of  Middletown;  Thomas  White  of  Stratford  bought  of  Johnson 
two  tracts  of  land;  John  Hurd,  who  declares  himself  a  yeoman,  sold  to  his  son 
Ebenezer  Hurd,  "who  is  a  Post-rider,"  150  acres— a  part  of  it  south  of  the  head  of 
Roaring  brook  (a  branch  of  Hancox),  and  the  remainder  at  "  Patuckahs "  ring; 
William  and  Mary  Parsons  of  Farmington  resigned  their  rights  in  land  to  Samuel 
Hikcox;  Mr.  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jr.,  of  Milford  became  the  sole  owner  in  "the 
Gristmill  and  Mill  place  and  mill  dam,  lying  east  from  the  town,"  together  with 
the  thirty  acres  belonging  to  the  mill,  consisting  of  "fifteen  acres  on  the  Mill  plain, 
eight  acres  over  the  Mad  river  by  the  common  fence,  two  acres  over  against  the 
mill,  and  one  acre  on  this  side  of  the  river  by  the  mill,"  and  four  acres  up  the  river 
— this  was  obtained  by  virtue  of  ;f35o  money,  and  a  deed  from  Stephen  and  Tim- 
othy Hopkins,  executors  of  the  will  of  John  Hopkins,  the  miller.  Baldwin  bought 
the  next  month  of  Thomas  and  Rachel  Upson  a  house  and  lot  of  three  and  a  half 
acres  on  the  south  side  of  East  Main  street.  It  was  one  of  the  two  house  lots  at 
that  time  on  that  street  between  Exchange  Place  and  the  eastern  street  called 
the  path  to  the  mill — present  Cole  street.  A  portion  of  this  land  is  still  in  the 
Baldwin  family  as  represented  by  Mrs.  Harriet  Peck,  Mrs.  Catharine  Smith  and 
Miss  Mary  Cook.  Stephen  Pierson  of  Derby  gave  the  life- use  of  90  acres  on  Scott's 
hill  to  his  son  Job  Pierson;  Thomas  Wooster  of  Derby  secured  23  acres  toward  the 
southerly  bound;  Joseph  and  Martha  Smith  again  sell  the  Henry  Scovill  place,  this 
time  to  "Samuel  Camp  the  third  of  that  name  of  Milford,"  described  as  lying  in 
the  middle  of  the  town  near  the  meeting  house — beside  "  the  house  and  bam  and 
orchards  and  gardens  and  trees  and  fruit  trees" — Smith  had  added  during  his 
ownership  a  "Syder  mill";  Jonathan  Foot  obtained  an  order  for  30  acres  in  the 
undivided  land;  Ebenezer  Baldwin  of  Woodbury  bought  land  in  Buck's  meadow, 
just  now  prominently  before  the  public,  because  of  the  action  of  the  city  of  Water- 
bury  in  condemning  land  in  it  and  on  Buck's  Meadow  mountain  for  the  laying  of 
water-pipe  lines  from  its  reservoir,  into  which  the  waters  of  the  West  Branch  and 
Moose  Horn  brook  are  to  be  received;  Samuel  Thompson  of  Farmington  bought 
sixty  acres  in  Watertown;  Matthew  Woodruff  of  Farmington  land  east  of  Judd's 
meadows  "about  a  mile  east  from  Samuel  Warner's  house";  Mr.  James  Prichard 
of  Milford  bought  70  acres  with  a  house  "  west  of  the  river,  near  David's  swamp,"  of 
Caleb  and  Rebecca  Thompson. 


36o  RISTOBT  OF  WATERBURT, 

In  1733,  Samuel  Frost  of  Wallingford  bought  of  Mr.  Southmayd  land  to  be  laid 
out;  Mr.  Samuel  Beecher  of  New  Haven,  a  ;^20  right  in  Waterbury  lands;  Thomas 
Robinson  and  Joseph  Tuttle,  Jr.,  of  New  Haven,  60  acres  on  Scott's  mountain  and 
its  vicinity;  Mrs.  Abigail  Wright  of  Wethersfield,  40  acres  against  Judd*s  Jercho; 
Captain  Theophilus  Munson  of  New  Haven,  land  lying  in  and  about  Cotton  Wool 
meadow;  Mr.  James  Prichard  of  Milford,  for  ;£^iio  in  money,  of  Stephen  Upson, 
five  acres  with  a  house  on  it,  "lying  near  the  South  meadow  gate" — this  was 
virtually  the  square  bounded  by  Bank,  Meadow,  Grand  and  Field  streets;  Samuel 
and  Dorothy  Camp  sold  the  Henry  Scovill  homestead — this  time  it  was  sold  to  an 
owner  who  would  retain  it — Lieut.  Thomas  Bronson;  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner  gave  to 
his  son  Ebenezer  20  acres,  half  of  his  own  dwelling  house,  and  his  "smith's  shop, 
and  the  tools  for  smith  work."  all  on  Buck's  Hill;  Thomas  Levensworth  of  Strat- 
ford for  £'js  obtained  75  acres  adjoining  John  Johnson's  farm,  and  on  the  hill  on 
the  east  side  of  Welton's  Meadow  brook;  Thomas  White  of  Stratford  sold  to 
Joseph  Peat  of  Stratford,  two  parcels  of  land — once  James  Johnson's;  "  Alexander 
Woolcot  and  Lydea  Woolcot,  Husband  and  Wife,  which  Lydea  is  the  only  daugh- 
ter and  issue  of  Mr.  Jeremiah  Atwater,  late  of  New  Haven,  deceased,"  conveyed 
to  Abraham  Utter,  for  ;£"25o.  numerous  lands,  including  the  Johnson  house,  and 
the  hill  on  which  Mr.  Hiram  Hayden's  house  stands — in  this  deed  and  other  deeds 
called  Welton  s  hill,  from  Ephraim  Welton  who  built  the  first  house  on  it;  Thomas 
Brooks,  merchant,  of  Boston,  mortgaged  to  John  Wass  of  Boston,  **  Distiller,"  more 
than  1500  acres  of  land  in  Waterbury  and  Farmington;  Abraham  Utter  sold  to 
Nathan  Beard,  the  Johnson  house  and  ten  acres,  and  Welton's  hill  "  of  about  four 
or  five  acres,"  bounded  by  Grove,  Willow  and  Pine  streets,  with  Samuel  Scott's 
land  on  the  east;  Nathaniel  Gunn  of  Derby  bought  of  John  Andrews  157  acres  with 
a  house  on  it,  northwardly  of  Twelve  Mile  hill;  Abraham  Andrews  of  Saybrook 
deeded  to  his  brother  Joseph  Lewis,  lands  and  rights  in  lands  in  the  township; 
John  Scott  had  a  house  at  Meshadock.  mentioned  here,  because  not  recognized 
elsewhere;  and  Ezekiell  Welton,  who  is  said  to  have  gone  to  Nova  Scotia,  was 
living  in  Milford. 

In  1734  Isaac  Bronson  gave  to  his  son  Isaac  the  new  house  he  had  built,  and  the 
glass  he  had  provided  for  it.  and  four  acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  Wood- 
bury road,  in  Middlebury;  John  and  Nathaniel  Griffin  and  Joshua  Holcomb  of 
Symsbury,  grandsons  of  John  Welton,  the  planter,  sold  their  rights  of  inheritance, 
to  James  Blakeslee,  including  10  acres  "westwardly  of  a  hill  commonly  called 
Malmalick  down  southwardly  upon  the  brook  that  runs  through  Scovill's  and  Gay- 
lord  s  boggy  meadow";  Samuel  Graves  of  Sunderland,  *'Hamsheir"  county,  in 
Massachusetts  Bay,  sold  land  "laid  out  to  the  hiers  of  Israel  Richardson";  Joseph 
"Gearnsey"  of  Milford  bought  lands  at  The  Village;  Joseph  Mix  of  New  Haven 
conveyed  land  which  seems  to  have  descended  by  inheritance  from  Sergt.  Samuel 
Hikcox;  Amos  Camp  of  Wallingford  expended  ;£'ioo  in  land  and  habitation  at 
Plymouth;  John  and  Hannah  Scott  of  Sunderland,  Mass.,  conveyed  land  to  Samuel 
Graves  of  Sunderland.  This  John  Scott  is  a  surprise !  He  does  not  seem  to  be 
accounted  for,  except  upon  the  remote  possibility  that  he  may  have  been  the  long 
lost  son  of  Jonathan.  This  deed  was  signed  in  1732,  recorded  in  1734.  Joseph 
Guernsey  of  Milford  sold  a  village  lot  to  his  brother;  Thomas  Marks  sold  "  Oze- 
Bass  "  swamp  to  Nathan  Hubbard;  the  village  lots  flitted  from  owner  to  owner 
like  birds  from  twig  to  twig;  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  was  busied  with  his  land 
sales  and  exchanges  and  the  laying  out  of  land;  Samuel  Hull  of  Derby  bought 
land  at  a  place  called  Bear  plains,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  at  Derby  bounds; 
Samuel  Scott  was  living  in  Derby;  Dr.  Jeremiah  Hulls  bought  lands  freely;  John 


WATERBURT  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS.     361 

Morris  of  New  Haven  sold  his  land  to  Joseph  Guernsey  of  Milford,  as  did  many 
other  land  owners;  Caleb  Hendrick  of  Wallingford  bought  of  Jacob  Johnson  for 
£100,  80  acres  "about  three  miles  east  from  the  town,  near  Doctor  Hull's  land. 
This  is  a  peculiar  deed,  in  that  it  contains  the  following :  "  To  have  and  to  hold  all 
that  is  therein,  thereon,  or  any  wayes  thereunto  appertaining,  As  mines,  minerals, 
wood,  Timber,  stones,  water,  Water  Courses,  TurflE  and  Twigg,"  suggesting  mining 
operations  on  East  mountain.  Nathaniel  Beadle,  John  and  Eleazer  Hurd  of  Strat- 
ford, and  Joseph  Harris  of  Ridgefield,  own  land  in  Waterbury;  there  was  a  Free 
Holders  Court  held  at  Richard  Welton's  house  on  Buck's  Hill  to  determine  to  whom 
a  seven-acre  orchard,  or  seven  acres  with  an  orchard  on  it,  belonged;  Mrs.  Susanna 
Munson  of  New  Haven  obtained  a  Village  lot;  Samuel  Scott  of  Derby  bought  four 
acres  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Drum  hill;  Mr.  James  Bradley  of  North  Haven 
secured  the  right  to  lay  out  100  acres  of  school  land  for  999  years — making  385  acres 
of  school  lands  sold  in  1734;  Ebenezer  Hikcox  sold  out  all  his  lands  and  rights  of 
land  in  Waterbury,  except  the  acre  on  which  his  mill  stood  at  Judd's  meadows; 
John  Humaston  of  New  Haven  bought  20  acres  to  be  taken  up  in  the  undivided 
land;  Thomas  and  Samuel  Barnes  sold  their  father's  Town  Plot  house  lot  to  Mr. 
Daniel  Curtice  of  Stratford;  Bantum  Swamp  and  Great  Pond  in  Litchfield  are 
mentioned;  in  the  sale  of  the  Long  Meadow  School  lot  it  was  bounded  south 
"upon  land  that  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  old  Giffer  John  Bronson."  This  name, 
applied  to  John  Bronson,  the  planter,  occurs  a  number  of  times  in  the  records. 

In  1735  Thomas  Matthews  Jr.  of  Wallingford  bought  of  Thomas  Andrews  a 
house  and  69  acres  of  land,  described  as  next  Woodbury,  and  by  the  road  that  goes 
to  Woodbury;  Stephen  Hopkins  had  a  saw  mill  at  Judd's  meadow;  Joseph  Guern- 
sey. Jr.  of  Milford  bought  of  Josiah  Piatt  of  Milford  land  **  at  a  place  called  the 
North  Village."  Mr.  John  How  of  Wallingford  invested  ;f355  in  a  house  and  lands 
up  the  river;  Deacon  Samuel  Brown  became  the  owner  of  the  Irving  Block  corner, 
and  other  lands;  Captain  William  Judd  began  the  purchase  of  his  great  farm  two 
miles  and  a  half  out  on  the  Woodbury  road,  by  buying  of  Ebenezer  Bronson  three 
houses  and  numerous  lands  on  T\\^o-and-a-half-Mile  and  on  Three-Mile  hills — 
beside  the  little  "  two  and-a-quarter  rod"  piece  at  Sandy  Hollow  that  Ebenezer 
had  bought  for  a  Sabbath  Day  house  of  Joseph  Smith,  when  Smith  owned  the 
Henry  Scovill  place;  Benjamin  Hikcox  conveyed  to  Mary  Hikcox  and  her  son 
Thomas  all  his  land  rights;  Benajah  Stone  sold  land  up  the  river;  Nathaniel  and 
Timothy  Stanley,  both  of  Farmington,  sold  to  Martha  Smith,  wife  of  Thomas  of 
that  town,  100  acres  off  a  larger  tract  that  was  conveyed  to  their  father.  Lieut.  John 
Stanley;  Samuel  Wooster  and  Else,  his  wife,  of  Derby,  sold  to  Nathaniel  Gunn 
land  at  Poland,  originally  laid  out  to  Stephen  Welton,  deceased;  Samuel  Moss  con- 
veyed his  right  in  400  acres  lying  between  the  Spruce  Swamp  and  the  West  Branch; 
Samuel  Baker  of  Branford  invested  £i()  in  a  Village  lot,  which  he  at  once  trans- 
ferred to  Robert  Foot  of  New  Haven;  a  deed  went  upon  record,  whereby  we  learn 
that  twenty  proprietors  of  Waterbury  united  in  1725,  in  giving  to  Nathaniel 
Arnold  63  acres  in  the  undivided  lands,  doubtless  to  induce  so  desirable  a  citizen  to 
live  in  Waterbury;  Daniel  Tommus  of  West  Haven  began  to  buy  lands;  Basill 
Dixwell,  formerly  of  Boston,  but  then  resident  in  New  Haven — a  silver-smith — 
conveyed  to  Captain  Moses  Mansfield  of  New  Haven  part  of  a  £so  right  in  the 
town,  purchased  by  his  grandfather,  Mr.  John  Prout;  Mrs.  Susanna  Munson  of 
New  Haven  bought  a  Village  lot;  John  Morgan  of  Norwich  bought  100  acres; 
Stephen  and  Isaac  Hopkins,  brothers,  who  had  held  their  lands  in  common,  agreed 
to  divide  them — ^both  having  dwelling  houses  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town; 
Daniel  Curtiss  of  Stratford  bought  a  ^^40  right  in  the  township,  originally  Benjamin 


362  HISTORY  OF  WAIERBURT. 

Warner's;  Nathan  Tuttle  bought  land  of  Edward  Scovill;  Nathaniel  Gunn 
augmented  his  possessions  by  paying  to  Joseph  Lewis,  Jr.,  £^9^  in  money  for  no 
acres  and  two  houses;  Eunice  Welton  of  Durham  conveyed  land  at  Poland  and  at 
the  Village;  Ezekiel  Welton  of  Milford  Town  obtained  7  acres  at  Isaac's  meadow 
bars;  James  Smith  of  Had  dam  gave  ;f  226  money  for  four  pieces  of  land  northward 
of  Scott's  mountain;  and  Israel  Richardson  had  removed  to  Sunderland,  Mass. 

In  1736,  the  forty-year-old  deed  by  which  Isaac  Bronson  obtained  the  lands  of 
Thomas  Newell  when  he  removed  to  Farmington  in  1696,  is  placed  upon  record; 
Amos  Matthews  of  Wallingford  obtains  57  acres  of  Thomas  Andrews*  land;  Hannah 
Tompkins  of  Woodbur}',  for  ;^ioo,  gets  three  village  lots  of  16  acres  and  20  rods 
each,  and  parts  of  three  other  lots;  Jonathan  Baldwin  buys  of  John  Bronson  the 
land  lying  in  the  point  between  the  Mad  river  and  the  Naugatuck  river— two  acres 
in  extent;  Abigail  Woodbridge  of  Hartford  sells  to  John  Warner  land  of  her 
mother,  Elizabeth  Wilson  (widely  known  for  her  ability  as  a  financier);  Samuel 
Frost  of  Wallingford  secures  his  first  land  in  Waterbury;  there  is  paid  out  of  the 
Waterbury  town  treasury  fifty  shillings  in  money  to  Elnathan  Taylor  for  "a  triangle 
piece  of  land  containing  half  an  acre  and  fifty- two  rods "  in  present  Thomaston 
"  for  a  burying  place  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Waterbury,  lying  on  the 
plain  by  Elnathan  Taylor's  house,  a  little  north  of  it  and  north  of  Twitch  Grass 
brook";  Samuel  Baker  of  Branford  buys  for  £^00  current  money  land  in  The  Vil- 
lage; Abel  Gunn  of  Derby  buys  of  his  brother  Nathaniel  the  30  acres  at  Judd's 
meadows,  with  two  houses  on  it,  which  Nathaniel  had  bought  of  Joseph  Lewis; 
Mary  Tuttle  of  Woodbury  has  50  acres  laid  out  on  her  father  Daniel  Warner's 
right;  John  Rumrill  buys  a  slice  of  Joseph  Lathrop's  400  acres  at  the  West  Branch; 
Shadrach  Seager  of  Wallingford  buys  60  acres  next  south  of  Mr.  Read's  gpreat 
farm,  next  Wallingford  bounds;  Lemuel  Baker  had  worked  for  Joseph  Lathrop 
three  years  and  some  months,  and  was  to  labor  two  months  more  for  100  acres  of 
land  lying  near  the  West  Branch;  four  Wells  brothers,  all  of  Stratford,  give  to  their 
six  sisters — four  of  them  married — 200  acres  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township; 
Joseph  Prime  of  Woodbury  sells  to  Sergeant  Moses  Johnson  of  that  town  209  acres 
near  Break  Neck  hill. 

In  1737  Mr.  Benjamin  Prichard  of  Milford  bought  of  Obadiah  Warner,  for  ;f  190 
in  money,  50  acres  at  Buck's  Hill,  with  a  house  and  barn  upon  it;  Mr.  Samuel 
Baker  of  Branford,  60  acres  at  Scott's  mountain;  Richard  Porter  of  New  Haven 
sold  to  John  Bronson  his  lands  at  Popple  meadow;  Mr.  Josiah  Terrill  of  Milford 
paid  James  Brown  ;f  814  in  money,  for  his  possessions  **  at  and  about  Judd's 
meadow  on  the  east  side  of  the  river" — eight  parcels  in  all,  including  his  house; 
Daniel  Tommus  of  West  Haven  had  become  Daniel  Thomas  of  Waterbury,  when 
he  sold  to  Josiah  Terrell  20  acres  that  he  bought  of  his  father  Brown,  at  Judd's 
Meadow;  James  Poisson  of  Hartford  quit  claimed  land  to  John  Southmayd,  Jr., 
made  over  to  him  by  order  of  the  General  Court  from  the  estate  of  Israel  Richard- 
son, deceased;  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison  of  Branford  bought  in  acres,  with  a  house 
and  bam  upon  it,  of  the  land  that  the  brothers,  Stephen  and  Isaac  Hopkins,  had 
but  latel}'  divided,  lying  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township;  Mr.  Samuel  Todd  of 
New  Haven  purchased  30  acres  of  division  land,  formerly  belonging  to  Joseph 
Prime  of  Woodbury;  John  Alcock  secured  a  ;^2o  right  in  the  sequestered  and  undi- 
vided lands;  Mr.  John  Smith  of  East  Haddam  expended  ;^i94  in  Waterbury  lands; 
Stephen  Curtice  and  Zachariah  Sanford  of  New  Haven,  ;^20o;  Mr.  Samuel  Cook  of 
Wallingford,  ;f2oo;  Mrs.  Abigail  Tanner  of  New  Haven,  ;f2oo;  Mr.  John  Hummes- 
ton  of  New  Haven,  ;^425  in  money,  paid  to  Mr.  Southmayd;  Samuel  Linsley  of 
Branford,  £^\  Nathan  Beard,  "  Plough  Right,"  secured  land  from  a  dozen  own- 


WATERBURT  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS,     363 

ers;  Nathan  and  Mary  Prindle  sold  to  their  brother,  Nathaniel  Arnold,  the  house 
and  land  on  which  they  were  living  in  April,  1737;  and,  in  December  of  the  same 
year,  Arnold  conveyed  it  to  Ephraim  Warner,  Jr.,  and  Ebenezer  Judd— as  **4 
acres  with  a  house,  shop,  Fulling  mill  and  tainters  thereon,  the  press  Iron 
plate  and  other  materials  for  dressing  of  cloth,  lying  eastward  from  the  town 
by  the  highway  to  Buck's  Hill;"  Moses  Tayler  and  James  Pumroy  of  Hartford 
obtained  of  Robert  Foot  of  Branford  his  portion  of  a  Village  lot,  and  bought 
another  of  John  Scovill;  Moses  Taylor  and  James  Pumroy  of  Hartford  bought  the 
32d.  lot  in  The  Village,  of  John  Scovill.  In  1737  Abraham  Utter  had  left  Waterbury, 
for  he  is  called  "  of  the  Oblong  or  Woster  Sheer  in  Duchers  County,  in  the  province 
of  New  York  in  America."  In  this  year  also,  Isaac  Trowbridge  expended  ;f36o, 
and  Thomas  Foot  ^^163  in  land;  John  Morris  of  New  Haven  bought  10  acres  at  the 
mouth  of  Hog  Pound  brook — that  is,  near  the  East  Farms  school  house;  James 
Wakelin  of  Stratford,  land  at  Judd's  Meadow;  Jacob  Blakeslee  of  New  Haven,  100 
acres  up  the  river;  Nathan  Tuttle,  **  living  on  the  Oblong."  sold  his  Popple  meadow 
land;  Israel  Richardson  "of  Sunder  Land,"  son  of  Israel,  and  grandson  of 
Thomas,  sold  his  father  s  Bachelor  right  to  Capt.  Timothy  Hopkins;  Samuel  Sher- 
wood of  New  Milford.  Joshua  and  Mary  Judson,  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  Curtice, 
Gershom  and  Sarah  Edwards,  Thomas  and  Phebe  UfiFoot,  and  Samuel  Sherwood  of 
New  Milford,  sold  rights  in  land. 

In  1738,  Nathan  and  Hannah  Gaylord  of  New  Milford,  and  Samuel  Sherwood  of 
the  same  place,  sell  rights  in  lands;  Mathew  Blakslee  of  Wallingford  receives  the 
gift  of  land;  Mr.  John  Smith  of  East  Haddam  removes  to  Waterbury  to  take  pos- 
session of  his  lands,  for  which  he  has  paid  ;^5o8;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Todd  owns  115  acres, 
about  this  time;  William  Ludington  of  New  Haven  buys  land  between  Shum*s 
orchard  and  the  river  (in  the  north  part  of  the  township);  Joseph  Lothrop  writes 
himself  "of  Norwich; "  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lewis,  wife  of  Joseph  of  Derby,  buys  eight 
parcels  of  land;  Samuel  Cowle  Sen'  of  Wallingford,  John  Morgan  of  Norwich, 
Shadrach  Sagar  and  Daniel  Clark  of  Wallingford,  are  land  owners.  Mr.  Roger 
Prichard  of  Milford  buys  of  John  Warner  a  house  and  barn  and  20  acres  of  land  on 
Buck's  Hill;  David  and  Ruth  Johnson  (the  youngest  daughter  of  Joseph  Gaylord, 
the  planter),  of  Durham,  convey  all  rights  in  Waterbury  lands  to  Benjamin  Judd; 
Edmund  Tompkins  of  Woodbury  buys  for  ;^i70,  in  money,  half  of  the  grist  mill  at 
Oakville  of  James  Williams,  including  a  house  and  lands,  and  Samuel  Root  of 
Farmington,  fifty  acres  on  Three  Mile  hill. 

In  1739  Daniel  and  Lydea  Pardy  of  New  Haven  sell  11  acres  upon  the  side  of 
Abrigado.  given  by  Lydea's  father,  Richard  Porter;  James  Waklee  of  Stratford 
buys  a  £,\o  propriety;  Josiah  Piatt  of  Milford  conveys  land;  Phebe  Wooster, 
widow,  of  Derby,  conveys  a  part  of  a  propriety  that  was  Benjamin  Richards'; 
Elizabeth  and  Matthew  Woodruff,  both  of  Farmington,  lay  out  lands;  James  Smith 
has  a  house  north  of  Scott's  Mountain  and  east  of  Obadiah's  Meadow,  where 
William  Scovill  had  20  acres  laid  out  on  the  "Ministry  Right;"  James  Bellamy 
becomes  the  owner  of  86  rods  of  land;  Mr.  Alexander  and  Lydia  Woolcot  of  New 
Haven,  and  Mr.  John  and  Lydea  Eliot  of  the  same  place,  lay  out  lands — the  first 
on  a  right  derived  from  Timothy  Hopkins,  the  latter  from  John  Gaylord.  Eliphalet 
Bristol  and  Daniel  Mallery  of  New  Haven  sell  rights  derived  from  Ebenezer  Bron- 
son's  bachelor  lot;  Samuel  and  Sarah  Weed  of  Derby  sell  land  to  Edmund  Tomp- 
kins of  Waterbury.  John  and  Ruth  Hill  of  East  Guilford  sold  land;  Gamaliel 
Turrell  of  New  Milford  bought  20  acres  at  Scovill's  mountain  lot,  and  27  acres  at 
Buck's  Hill  on  the  east  side  of  Benjamin  Warner's  house  lot,  and  laid  out  six  parcels 
of  land;  Jeremiah  Peck  for  "the  consideration  of  value  received"  of  Mr.  Mark 


364  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

Leavenworth,  conveyed  to  him  46  acres  westward  of  Hop  Swamp,  and  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth records  151  acres;  the  heirs  of  Consider  Hopkins  of  Hartford  lay  out  lands; 
Daniel  Potter  was  of  Waterbury;  Mrs.  Susanna  Munson,  widow,  of  New  Haven, 
buys  54  acres  of  school  land.  Moses  Johnson  of  Woodbury  acquired  land;  William 
Lampson  of  Stratford  sold  land  to  George  Nichols,  who  began  the  record  of  his 
lands — as,  '*  25  acres  on  the  westerly  part  of  Burnt  hill,  east  of  the  head  of  the 
Little  brook,  on  a  popple  swamp;"  Ephraim  Warner  sold  his  half  of  the  fulling 
mill,  house,  and  shop,  that  he  had  bought  from  Nathaniel  Arnold;  John  "Morris  of 
East  Haven  laid  out  land  with  Mr.  Southmayd  and  his  son  John,  east  of  the  town, 
and  north  of  the  Farmington  road.  Ephraim  Sanford  and  Obadiah  Hill  obtain  cer- 
tain land  rights  from  John  and  Samuel  Stanley  of  Wallingford — that  were  derived 
through  John  and  Thomas  Newell  and  John  Stanley;  Daniel  Clark  takes  land  at 
David's  swamp;  Mr.  Benjamin  Harger  of  Derby  buys  of  Daniel  Hall  of  Derby,  and 
Josiah  Gilbert  of  Ridgefield,  land  south  of  Ash  Swamp;  Thomas  Osborne  buys  no 
acres  on  Bedlam  hill;  Hackaliah  and  Elizabeth  Thomas  of  New  Haven,  sell,  in 
I733»  to  their  brother  Zadock  Clark,  Elizabeth's  right  in  land — by  a  division  of  the 
estate  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Rebeckah  Clark,  late  of  New  Haven;  James  Fenn 
becomes  the  owner  of  land  on  Bedlam  hill;  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Knowles  of 
Woodbury  sell  to  James  Nichols  land  of  John  Bronson's  original  propriety,  from 
their  father  Ebenezer  Bronson's  estate;  Joseph  Peet  of  Stratford  sells  to  Thomas 
Leavenworth  two  tracts  of  land — one  on  the  Little  brook,  the  other  on  Burnt  hill; 
"Alice  "  Woster  (formerly  Else)  sells  her  land  at  the  southeast  corner  of  East  moun- 
tain to  Samuel  Burwell  of  Milford;  James  Royce  of  Wallingford  sells  to  his  brother 
Phineas  his  right  of  inheritance  in  land  up  the  river  of  their  father  Nehemiah 
Royce;  Daniel  Brackett  of  Wallingford  buys  land  in  Poland;  Mr.  Joseph  Moss  of 
Derby,  12  acres  on  the  Twelve  Mile  hill,  at  the  Twelve  Mile  stake,  bought  in  1721, 
and  not  before  recorded — this  is  the  12  acres  originally  laid  out  to  Stanley,  and 
adjoined  the  loo-acre  farm  the  Moss  brothers  bought  of  the  Indian  proprietors  on 
that  hill;  Elisha  and  Abigail  Kent  of  Fairfield  also  sell  a  right  in  the  same  12  acres; 
Daniel,  John,  and  Ebenezer  *•  Bowton,"  Eliphalet  and  Mary  Slason,  David  and 
Mary  Waterbury,  John  and  Eunice  Fanshaw,  all  of  Stamford,  quit  claimed  their 
rights  in  land,  derived  through  their  mother,  Mercy  Bowton. 

In  1740  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Peck  of  Milford  conveyed  to  the  Rev.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth land  to  be  laid  out;  Mr.  Samuel  Hall  of  Wallingford  and  Joseph  Daring  of 
Litchfield  each  bought  20  acres  to  be  laid  out;  Abram  Canfield  of  Derby  laid  out  10 
acres  on  the  southwest  end  of  Malmelick  hill;  Zachariah  Blackman  of  Stratford,  60 
acres  near  Grassy  hill;  Samuel  and  Daniel  Lindly,  heirs  of  Jonathan  Lindly,  all  of 
Branford,  over  a  hundred  acres  on  both  sides  the  Mad  river;  Josiah  Rogers  of 
Branford,  land  on  Patucko's  ring,  while  Josiah  Rogers  and  Josiah  Piatt  of  Milford, 
give,  each  of  them,  10  acres  '*  for  the  consideration  of  the  First  Society  in  Water- 
bury settling  a  minister,  and  to  make  over  to  their  now  present  minister  (Mr. 
Leavenworth)  as  part  of  settlement; "  Josiah  Piatt  in  the  same  year  gave  in  addi 
tion  to  Mr.  Leavenworth  5  acres  to  lay  out,  assigning  the  former  consideration  as  a 
motive,  and  a  few  proprietors  contributed  60  acres  for  the  same  end;  Walter  Hen- 
derson of  Hartford  bought  two  Village  lots;  Joseph  Hikcox,  John  and  Hannah 
Camp  of  Durham,  grandchildren  of  Joseph  Gaylord,  sold  lands;  Mr.  Jonathan 
Smith  of  West  Haven  bought  of  Thomas  Brooks  of  Boston  60  acres  to  lay  out  *'  on 
the  Right  that  was  originally  Phillip  Judds;"  Thomas  Clinton  of  Wallingford 
bought  an  £%o  right  in  the  undivided  lands;  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  O'Kean  of 
Derby  mortgage  land  a  little  south  of  Break  Neck  hill,  which  land  was  given  to 
Hannah  O'Kean  "  when  she  was  called  by  the  name  of  Hannah  Hawkins,  by  her 


WATERS URT  LANDS  HELD  BY  NON-RESIDENT  OWNERS.     365 

father,  Joseph  Hawkins;  "  Captain  Benjamin  Holt  of  Wallingford  becomes  a  land 
owner;  and  the  children  of  Thomas  Judd,  Jr.,  sell  their  rights  in  land  to  "our 
brother  and  sister  Joseph  Hall  and  Abigail,  his  wife,  of  Wallingford."  Abigail  is 
not  mentioned  among  the  children  of  Thomas,  Jr. 

The  above  items  represent  but  a  very  small  fraction  of  the  real 
estate  transactions  enacted  during  the  period.  Mr.  Southmayd's 
duties  were  indeed  arduous,  and  especially  so  during  the  year  when 
he  resigned  his  pastoral  office,  and  in  the  year  following,  his  weak- 
ness and  inability  are  manifest  in  the  public  records.  Oftentimes 
his  strength  failed  in  the  midst  of  the  recording  of  a  deed,  and 
another,  and  a  very  awkward  hand,  took  up  the  work. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

SAMUEL  HOPKINS,  D.  D.  —  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD,  JR.  —  SABBATH  DAY  HOUSES 
—  BRIDGES — THE  "GREAT  SICKNESS"  OF  1749  —  JOHN  ALLEN,  A 
WORKER  IN  METALS — INVENTORY  OF  HIS  ESTATE — TOWN  INDEBT- 
EDNESS  EXPENSES    FOR    THE    YEAR    I749 — WARDS   OF    THE    TOWN 

MR.  SOUTHMAYD — HIS    DEATH    IN    1755 — TOWN    OFFICERS    IN    1760. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  preaching  of  Tennant  and  Whit- 
field  and   Edwards,  the   standard   of   the   religion   of   the 
Puritans,  held  aloft  through  such  stress  of  tribulation  for 
so  many  years,  was  gradually  lowered.     Nevertheless,   here   and 
there  a  rare,  unsullied  flower  of  Puritanism  raised  itself  into  life 
and  beauty.     Waterbury  gave  birth  and  nourishment  to  Samuel 
Hopkins,  a  royal  specimen  of  that  peculiar  flower  and  fruitage — 
which  specimen,  men  of  coming  ages  will  seek  to  analyze  with  sci- 
entific interest,  and,  let  us  hope,  with  spiritual  insight.     It  is  at 
this  time   that   we  find  him,  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years, 
returning  after  his  graduation  from  Yale  College  to  his  father's 
house  in  Waterbury — to  live  for  some  months  the  life  of  a  recluse, 
spending  whole  days  in  fasting  and  prayer,  seeking  the  promotion 
of  that  which  to  him  appeared  to  be  the  true  religion  and  spend- 
ing his  time  in  promoting  it  among  the  young  people  in  the  town. 
Wherever  we  follow  him,  whether  preaching  a  little  later  for  a  few 
Sabbaths  in  the  Waterbury  meeting-house  in  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Southmayd,  the  teacher  of  divine  truth  to  him  from  his  infancy,  or 
seeking  to  live  under  the  light  that  fell  from  the  life  of  Jonathan 
Edwards,  or  preaching  to  the  people  of  Great  Harrington;  whether 
hurrying  home  in  the  hope  of  receiving  his  mother's  last  words, 
and  tenderly  confessing  his  great  love  for  her;  or  again  speeding 
over  the  same  weary  miles  to  find  his  father  dying;  whether  spend- 
ing himself  in  the  care  and  education  of  his  three  young  brothers 
(all  members  of  Yale  College)  left  to  his  protection,  or  in  efforts 
for  the  African  and  the  Indian;  whether  creating  a  great  system  of 
theology,  or  performing  the  lowliest  service  to  man,  we  find  this 
grand  Puritan  an  absolutely  truthful  man!     Presently  we  hear  him 
breathing  forth  to  himself  in  the  silence  of  his  diary,  words  like 
these;  "If  all  the  highest  enjoyments  of   earth  were  laid  at  my 
feet,  to  have  them  to  all  eternity  without  God,  I  would  not  give 
this  hour's  enjoyment  for  them  all.     How  swift  and  how  sweetly 
do  ideas  pass  the  mind,  when  it  is  in  any  measure  in  a  right  frame. 


1742- 17G0.  ^57 

And  again:  "O  astonishing  that  I  may  say  it!  I  have  had  a  gracious 
and  most  sweet  visit  from  God.  My  soul  adored  and  loved  and 
rejoiced  in  him!"  and  again,  "Have  had  a  sweet  time  in  a 
walk  in  the  woods.  Had  more  hope  and  confidence  before  God  that 
I  should  dwell  with  him  forever  in  his  kingdom  than  I  ever  had 
before;"  and  once  again,  "I  have  been  walking  in  a  rope  walk  by 
myself.  There  I  dedicated  myself  to  Jesus  Christ  with  strength  of 
heart,  with  unspeakable  joy."  But  we  might  go  on  indefinitely, 
repeating  the  scale  of  the  heights  and  the  depths  of  that  man's 
magnificent  nature — under  Puritanism — without  conveying  a  sin- 
gle note  of  its  surpassing  grace  and  sweetness.  Would  that  some 
one  of  Waterbury's  sons  might  honor  himself  by  giving  to  our 
"  Meeting  House  Green  "  statues  in  memory  of  John  Southmayd 
and  Samuel  Hopkins. 

The  esteem  in  which  John  Southmayd,  Jr.  was  held  by  his  fel- 
low townsmen  is  well  evinced  by  his  election  in  December  of  1742 
to  the  offices  of  selectman,  constable,  fence  viewer,  collector  of  the 
country  rate  and  member  of  the  school  committee.  Two  months 
later  he  died,  leaving  a  wife — to  whom  he  had  been  married  but 
three  years — and  two  sons.  Daniel  Southmayd,  his  only  brother  and 
younger  by  seven  years,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacant  office  of  con- 
stable, and  to  gather  the  country  rate,  while  Timothy  Judd  became 
townsman,  and  Lieut.  John  vScovill  served  on  the  school  committee. 

In  1743  Wallingford  was  ambitious  to  have  "Courts  kept"  a 
part  of  the  time  in  that  town,  and  invited  Waterbury  to  join  with 
her  in  a  petition  to  that  effect,  which  was  agreed  to  on  the  part  of 
Waterbury,  provided  that  "no  part  of  any  expense  of  money  in 
making  the  application,  or  building  a  court  house  or  prison  might 
fall  upon  her."  In  the  same  year  liberty  was  granted  "to  set  a 
school  house  where  the  old  school  house  stood,"  but  no  word  or 
hint  has  been  afforded  us  as  to  the  location  of  any  school  house  up 
to  this  period,  beyond  the  fact  that  when  it  was  voted  to  build  one 
in  1731,  it  was  to  be  "  twenty  foot  square  and  on  the  Meeting  House 
Green,"  but  a  year  from  that  day  the  above  vote  was  cancelled  and 
we  hear  no  more  of  a  school  house  until  1743.  The  probabilities  seem 
to  be  that  the  first  house  was  not  on  the  green — that  the  second  one 
was— and  that  the  third  one  was  placed  where  the  first  one  had  been. 
This  was  also  the  year  when  the  town  voted  to  apply  to  the  General 
Assembly  that  the  new  bridge  over  the  river  at  West  Main  street 
might  "be  made  a  toll  bridge  for  all  that  should  pass  over  it  except 
the  town  inhabitants." 

Sabbath  Day  houses  became  prominent  in  1743.  The  earliest 
one  noticed  was  in  1731  when  Joseph  Smith,  then  owning  the  Henry 


368  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

Scovill  homestead  lot  of  three  acres,  sold  from  that  portion  of  it 
called  the  Sandy  hollow,  a  two  rod  square  piece  to  Ebenezer  Bron- 
son  for  a  Sabbath  Day  house.  The  Dr.  North  residence  stands  in 
Sandy  hollow.  In  1737  James  Porter,  then  living  at  Hop  swamp, 
sold  to  his  brother  Thomas  the  homestead  of  their  father  Daniel — 
the  taxable  estimate  of  which  land  alone  is  to-dav  rated  at  over  one 
million  dollars — "except  20  foot  square  on  the  east  side  joining^  to 
the  highway  to  build  a  small  house  upon."  The  third  one  we  find 
when  Stephen  Hopkin.s — then  living  at  Judd's  Meadow — bought 
of  the  William  Hikcox  estate,  Jan.  12,  1740,  "a  small  Sabbath  day 
House  and  twenty  foot  square  of  land  on  which  it  stands  in  the 
First  Society  near  the  Meeting  House,  bounded  south  on  a  high- 
way and  every  other  side  on  Mr.  Leavenworth's  land."  Forty-four 
years  later  Stephen  Hopkins'  son  Joseph  sold  the  above  land  to  the 
Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth,  then  described  as  "lying  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  his  home  lot."  It  may  now  be  described  as  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  homestead  land  of  the  family  of  the  late  Charles 
B.  Merriman.  This  Sabbath  Day  house  had  an  eventful  history  in 
its  later  and  more  secular  days.  In  1743  William  Silkriggs  had 
liberty  to  set  up  a  house  "  in  the  highway  against  the  north  end 
of  Edmund  Scott's  house  where  the  discourse  was  of  setting  the 
church."  The  land  granted  was  to  be  twenty  by  twenty-two  feet 
in  dimensions.  In  the  same  year  the  town  "upon  the  motion  made 
by  some  persons  for  liberty  to  set  up  Sabbath  Day  houses  in  the 
highway,  appointed  a  committee  to  state  what  place  they  should 
build  on."  Ebenezer  Hikcox  wished  to  place  a  house  in  the  Ram 
pasture  [Willow  street  south  of  W^est  Main  street],  but  was  referred 
to  the  committee  appointed  to  state  places  for  the  building  of  Sab- 
bath day  Houses.  He  was  probably  an  attendant  of  the  church 
near  by.  A  little  later  general  permission  was  accorded  "such 
farmers  as  had  a  mind  to  build  Saboth  day  Houses,  of  setting  them 
in  the  highway  against  the  Sandy  hollow  above  Thomas  Bronson's. ' 
They  were  to  advance  into  the  highway  sixteen  feet,  and  extend 
along  it  twenty  rods. 

In  1745  the  town  resolved  "to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
May  or  some  other  time  or  way  to  get  a  settlement  of  the  line 
between  Farmington  bounds  and  Waterbury."  Mr.  Southmayd, 
Captain  Samuel  Hikcox,  and  Sergeant  Thomas  Porter  were  empow- 
ered with  authority  to  settle  the  matter.  The  bridge  over  the 
Great  river  on  the  Woodbury  road  was  a  source  of  continual 
anxiety,  trouble  and  cost.  It  was  built  and  repaired  and  rebuilt 
with  surprising  frequency.  In  1748  it  was  again  swept  away. 
Eighty  pounds  was  appropriated  to  the  building  of  a   new  one. 


174^-1760.  3^9 

"  taking  the  timber  and  plank  left  of  the  old  bridge."  At  the  same 
time  jQ22  was  appropriated  for  the  Northbury  bridge,  ;^22  "  for 
the  bridge  over  the  Mad  river,  a  little  below  the  mill,"  and  ;^22  to 
Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  toward  a  good  cart  bridge  over  the  river  at 
his  mill.  Even  the  highways  in  present  Watertown  were  **  spoiled 
by  the  flood  "  in  that  year.  Nothing  is  found  in  relation  to  a  bridge 
at  Judd's  Meadow  until  1753,  when  the  inhabitants  living  there 
petitioned  for  some  relief  about  building  a  bridge.  The  town  sent 
a  committee  "to  view  the  circumstances  and  judge  of  the  necessity 
of  having  a  bridge  and  how  the  inhabitants  there  were  affected  to 
it."  Captain  Daniel  Southmayd  was  on  this  committee.  The 
report  of  the  committee  was  acted  upon  by  granting  "Judd's 
Meadow  men  leave  to  draw  jQioo  old  tenor,  towards  the  building  a 
bridge  over  the  river  at  the  mouth  of  Toantic  [or  Long  Meadow] 
brook  where  it  empties  itself  into  the  river,"  but  the  grant  was  con- 
ditional,— Samuel  Scott,  Gideon  Hikcox,  and  John  and  Samuel 
Lewis  were  required  to  give  sufficient  bonds  that  there  should  be 
no  further  demands  on  the  town  for  building  or  repairing  a  bridge 
in  that  place.  In  a  "  Bridge  account  at  Judd's  Meadow  "  which  has 
been  preserved  without  date,  but  somewhat  later,  at  the  raising  of 
the  bridge  eighty  "  meals  of  victuals  "  were  furnished  at  six  pence 
each.  Among  the  items  of  cost  are  included  two  gallons  of  rum 
at  four  shillings  per  gallon,  and  "five  gallons  of  Rhum  of  Capt. 
Ezra  Bronson,  allowed  for  the  Watermen."  The  charge  for  a 
day's  work  on  this  bridge  varied  from  two  to  three  shillings, 
but  in  most  instances  the  town  reduced  the  amount  by  a  six 
pence,  if  over  two  shillings.  In  1749  the  townsmen  were  ordered 
to  take  bonds  of  Ebenezer  Richardson,  Isaac  Bronson,  Jr.,  and 
Stephen  Welton  for  the  Woodbury  Road  bridge.  That  was  a 
King's  highway,  or  country  road,  and  it  was  necessary  to  keep 
it  open. 

Mr.  James  Blake  of  Dorchester,  left  an  account  of  the  severe 
drought  that  prevailed  in  the  summer  of  1749,  in  which  he  tells  us 
that  it  was  the  6th  of  July  before  any  rain  came;  that  by  the  end 
of  May  the  grass  was  burned  up  and  the  ground  was  white;  that 
the  cattle  were  "poor,  lowing  things"  wandering  in  search  of  food, 
and  nothing  green  to  be  seen.  There  was  so  little  hay  that  one 
hundred  pounds  of  English  hay  sold  for  three  pounds,  ten  shillings; 
barley  and  oats  were  so  pinched  that  only  seed  was  obtained;  Indian 
corn  rolled  up  and  wilted,  and  flax  failed — that  the  next  spring, 
butter  sold  for  seven  shillings  and  six  pence  the  pound,  and  that 
June  i8th,  1750,  was  said  to  be  the  hottest  day  ever  known  in  the 
northerly  part  of  America. 

24 


370  mSTOBT  OF  WATERBUBT. 

The  history  of  the  summer  of  1749  in  Waterbnry  is  best  told  in 
the  brief  and  terse  words  of  a  petition  of  the  inhabitants,  addressed 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony,  in  October  of  that  year,  in 
which  they  say:  In  the  summer  past,  by  the  Providence  of  Almighty 
God  we  have  been  visited  with  Remarkable  and  Sore  Sickness, 
which  spread  itself  throughout  the  whole  Town  in  so  extraordinary 
a  manner  that  in  two  Parishes  scarcely  ten  families  escaped  the  dis- 
temper. Mar^  whole  families  at  the  same  time  were  incapable  of  helping 
thanselres  in  the  least  degree.  It  happened  at  a  time  when  our  Hus- 
bandry required  our  utmost  diligence  and  labor,  and  very  much 
distressed  us  on  that  account.  From  the  middle  of  Harvest  to  the 
last  of  September,  almost  all  that  were  in  health  were  constantly 
employed  in  tending  and  watching  with  the  Sick,  or  burying  the 
Dead.  Without  the  charges  commonly  arising  in  like  cases  on 
account  of  Physicians,  Tenders,  and  loss  of  time,  which  are  doubt- 
less very  great  in  such  a  Distressing  time,  these  are  not  comparable 
with  what  we  have  suflFered  by  neglecting  our  husbandry  in  the 
proper  season  for  improving  the  same.  Almost  all  our  Low  Meadows 
dried  as  thev  stood,  so  that  what  of  them  were  mowed  were  of  little 
or  no  value  and  some  not  mowed  yet.  Not  above  half  the  usual 
number  of  Acres  of  English  Grain  were  sowed,  and  that  so  much 
out  of  season  and  so  poorly  Tilled  that  we  have  reason  to  expect 
but  a  thin  harvest  in  proportion  to  what  we  have  sowed,  so  that  if 
it  should  please  God  to  favor  us  with  health  in  the  ensuing  year, 
our  Distresses  will  be  great — our  Provision  to  be  purchased  for  our 
Families  and  our  Town  and  Society  charges  greatly  increased  on 
many  accounts. 

They  besought  the  abatement  of  the  Country  tax  upon  the  list 
of  1748.  The  tax  in  question  was  forgiven  the  people,  but  the  town 
received  no  school  money  for  that  year. 

Of  the  disease  which  caused  such  sore  distress  and  affliction. 
Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  that  it  took  the  form  of  a  low,  nervous  fever, 
and  that  if  a  patient  survived  the  ninth  day,  recovery  was  expected. 
We  have  a  list  of  ninety-three  deaths  which  occurred  during  the 
year  1749.  According  to  Dr.  Bronson's  estimate  of  the  population 
in  that  year — 1500 — the  mortality  must  have  been  equal  to  one-six- 
teenth of  the  inhabitants.  He  also  states  that  "  six  graves  were 
open  in  the  old  burying  ground  at  the  same  time."  These  graves 
were  probably  made  for  Rachel  Johnson,  an  infant,  Susanna 
Williams,  daughter  of  Daniel,  aged  seventeen  years,  a  three  year 
old  son  of  Obadiah  Richards,  an  infant  son  of  Thomas  Hikcox, 
Mary,  the  three  year  old  daughter  of  Samuel  Hickox,  and  Osee, 
the  three  year  old  son  of  Isaac  Hopkins,  as  the  first  named  three 


died  on  the  24th  of  August,  and  the  second  three  on  two  succeeding 
days.  Three  deaths  also  occurred  on  August  nth.  John  Barnes, 
the  shoe-maker,  lost  four  children.  Thomas  Williams  died,  and 
three  of  his  children.  The  Scott  family  lost  six  of  its  members, 
and  the  Prichard  family  seven.  The  very  poor,  the  utterly  desolate, 
the  solitary,  the  homeless  individuals  disappeared  from  record,  and 
left  no  sign.  Their  numbers  we  cannot  give.  John  Allyn,  or 
Allen,  had  "no  near  relative,*'  and  but  for  the  Probate  Records  at 
Woodbury,  his  very  existence  as  the  first  known  worker  in  brass 
and  other  metals  in  Waterbury,  would  have  remained  unknown. 
The  "estate  of  John  Allen"  was  presented  on  October  31st,  1749. 
**  No  near  relatives,  and  John  Alcox,  represented  as  a  man  faithful, 
was  appointed  administrator."  The  inventory  consisted  of  more 
than  one  hundred  and  fifty  items,  of  which  the  first  mentioned  is  a 
Bible,  appraised  at  ;^2,  followed  by  a  Psalm,  a  Hymn,  and  a  spelling 
book.  He  had  a  £2  10  shilling  gray  wigg,  a  new  jQ6  castor  hat, 
leather,  brown  Holland,  and  plush  breeches,  beside  check  trousers;  a 
£iQ  camblet  coat,  a  jQio  grate  coate,  and  a  JQ^  blue  streight  body, 
brown  russet  vests,  blew  vest  with  silver  buttons,  and,  best  of  all,  a 
costly  green  vest;  neck  cloths  of  muslin  and  of  silk,  red  checked  and 
brown;  stocks  of  cambric  and  muslin,  both  checked  and  plain;  hand- 
kerchiefs of  silk,  linen  and  cotton;  woolen,  linen,  new  Holland  and 
old  Holland  shirts;  caps  and  mittens;  old,  and  Blew  linen,  brown, 
and  Blew  worsted  stockings;  red  flowered  and  yellow  plate  ribbons, 
and  a  paper  ofpinns,  beside  two  snuff  boxes,  knives,  combs,  a  razor, 
brass  ink  horn  and  numerous  other  articles.  But  what  should 
interest  Waterbury  especially  is  the  fact  that  he  was  apparently 
a  silversmith  and  worker  in  brass.     We  quote  from  the  inventory. 

£  s.  d. 

Cash, 21  07  00  I  pound  of  steel, 

4  pair  of  knee  buckles,    .           2  00  00  6  ounces  of  copper, 
3  pair  of  shoe  buckles,         .      2  16  00  5  pounds  6  ounces  old  iron, 

2  pair  of  cast  buckles,             00  17  00  Wire, 00 

Pair  silver  knee  buckles  and  A  hand  vice,    . 

stock  buckles,  .        .      3  05  00  A  screw  plate  and  taps  [?] 

Sale  knee  buckles,  .         00  03  00  2  small  screw  plates. 

Glass  buttons  set  in  silver,      00  08  00  A  wier  plate, 

Pair  of  brass  buttons,     .         00  04  06  Pair  of  small  Dividers, 

Knee  buckles,       .        .        .     00  03  00  Pair  of  large  Dividers, 

30  pounds  and  4  ounces  of  A  pair  of  scales, 

brass,  .        .        .         12  02  00  Old  files,      ....    00 

2  pounds  6  ounces  cast  brass,  01  00  00  A  brass  box,     . 

5  pounds  of  lead,         ..    00  15  00 

Beside  the  above,  there  are  knives,  a  chest,  boxes,  a  leather  apron, 
a  jQi-^  piece  of  red  broad  cloth,  thread,  and  silk,  and  remnants  of 


£ 

s. 

d. 

00 

05 

06 

00 

03 

09 

00 

II 

00 

00 

10 

00 

I 

05 

00 

I 

05 

00 

00 

03 

00 

00 

03 

00 

00 

06 

00 

00 

04 

00 

00 

15 

00 

00 

12 

00 

00 

05 

00 

372  HISTORY  OF  WATEHBUHr. 

dry  goods,  vials,  and  more  snuff  boxes.  June  ii,  1752,  an  addi- 
tional inventory  was  presented,  containing  wooden  flasks,  a  pair  of 
spring  tongs,  a  brass  skillet,  sodering  iron,  an  iron  spindle,  points 
of  comb  teeth,  tongs  for  buckles,  copper,  a  pair  of  flukes,  six  pairs 
of  boxes  for  great  wheels,  Juels  without  any  drops;  chisels,  thread 
stockings,  and  other  things,  from  alspice  to  seventy  bushels  of  coal, 
the  latter  appraised  at  £2  02  06. 

Poor  John  Allen!  no  near  relatives!  died,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, in  1749.  His  entire  estate  appears  to  have  been  dissolved  in 
taking  care  of  him  in  his  last  illness.  It  is  stated  that  the  adminis- 
trator brought  in  an  account  of  debts  due  from  the  estate,  which 
amount  is  ;£i73  07*07.  "There  remains  ;£S  02  11  which  the  court 
allows  to  the  administrator  in  full  for  his  trouble  and  charge  and 
discharged  him  June  15th,  1752" — just  four  days  after  the  second 
or  additional  inventory  was  returned.  No  list  of  debts  against  the 
estate  is  on  file  at  Woodbury. 

The  above  view  of  the  case  is  more  than  suggested  by  original 
documents  that  have  fallen  into  our  hands  of  other  cases.  We  give 
a  single  one,  showing  that  however  kind  and  neighborly  and  chari- 
table the  inhabitants  of  Waterbury  may  have  been  to  their  own, 
they  expected  full  reward  for  whatever  care  was  bestowed  upon 
the  stranger  within  their  gates.  The  case  selected  is  that  of  Lydia 
Cosset.     It  is  entitled : 

An  account  of  and  Bill  of  cost  of  what  the  Selectmen  of  Water- 
bury  have  done  for  Lydia  Cosset,  daughter  of  Ranney  Cosset,  of 
Symsbury,  from  the  fifth  day  of  January,  A.  D.,  1749-50,  in  her  sick- 
ness in  Waterbury,  which  is  as  follows:"  (The  bill  was  presented 
to  Ranny  Cosset.  Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  presented  his  bill  to 
the  Town  of  Waterbury  six  days  after  the  last  charge  in  the  ac- 
count against  Lydia.  It  is  for  "his  time  and  money  spent  in  Riding 
to  Simsburey  upon  Lidey  Cosit  Bisnes,  three  days."  In  his  account 
of  expense  items  for  the  trip,  we  infer  that  he  stopped  once  at 
"Barnes's,"  twice  at  "Owens,"  twice  at  "Leweses,"  once  at 
"  Phelpes,"  and  once  at  three  several  places,  whose  owner's  names 
are  not  deciphered).     The  following  is  the  bill: 

I    the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Meril  four  days. 

2.  the  wife  of  Roger  Pritchard  five  days,     .... 

3.  the  wife  of  Thomas  Barnes  eight  days, 

4.  the  widow  Prichard  one  day, 

5.  the  wife  of  Robert  Johnson  one  day,    .... 

6.  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Judd  one  day,        .... 

7.  the  wife  of  Ebenezer  Bronson  one  day, 

8.  Philas  the  negro  of  Mr.  John  Southmayd  one  day, 

9.  the  daughter  of  Docf^  Porter  one  day. 


£ 

s 

d 

2 

8 

00 

3 

0 

00 

4 

0 

00 

0 

7 

00 

0 

10 

00 

0 

10 

00 

0 

10 

00 

0 

10 

00 

0 

10 

00 

174^-1760, 


373 


10.  Rachel  Baldwin  one  day,  .... 

11.  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Prichard  one  day  and  half, 

13.  to  Ensign  Fulford  for  eight  bushels  of  coal,* 

14.  the  widow  Hickcox  two  days,       .... 

15.  Isaac  Nichols  three  days  tendenc,   . 

17.  to  the  wife  of  Ebenezer  Bronson  one  day  more, 

18.  to  Doct'  Levenwurth  formedisens, 

19.  to  Doct'  Ephrem  Warner  for  Doctring  her, 

20.  to  Doct'  Benjamin  Judd  for  doctring  her, 

21.  to  Doct'  Judd  for  one  month  bord  and  tendence, 
to  the  old  Doct'  Warner  for  doctring  her, 

Total 

Item  George  Nicols  bill  from  the  fifth  of  January  In  Sd  year  In  her 
sikness  to  the  9th  day  of  Fubrey — as  follows: 

1.  by  2>^  pounds  of  Shauger  at  6  a  pound,     . 

2.  by  five  gallons  of  Rhum 

3.  by  an  ounce  of  treahel  water  camphor, 

4.  by  12  pound  of  candels  3-6  pr  pond, 

5.  by  damiag  to  futher  Bed, 

6.  by  keeping  her  and  watchers  and  nurses, 

7.  wood  and  house  room  4  weeks  4  pound, 

8.  per  week, 

to  Keeping  the  old  Doctor  one  night — and  hors, 

9.  to  Sarah  Bams  2  weeks  more  to  nurse  Said  Lyde, 


£ 

s 

d 

0 

10 

00 

0 

15 

00 

I 

04 

00 

I 

00 

00 

2 

10 

00 

0 

10 

00 

3 

19 

09 

8 

09 

09 

8 

01 

00 

6 

00 

00 

2 

00 

00 

47    10    06 


0 

15 

00 

II 

00 

00 

00 

10 

00 

2 

02 

00 

6 

00 

00 

16 

00 

00 

2 

10 

00 

3 

00 

00 

45 

03 

00 

47 

10 

06 

92 

13 

06 

2 

10 

00 

10.  and  keeping  Lydie  and — by  us,  ... 

11.  to  three  pints  of  Rhume  more  the  last  fortnight. 


12.  two  weeks  and  candels  and  hous  room,      .... 

Note  here — this  bill  of  Corst  is  from  the  5th  of  January  until  the  i8th  of  Instant 

March.  * 

Thomas  Bronson,    j 

Samuel  Hickcox,    >  Selectmen  of  Waterbury, 

John  Scovill,  ) 

Among  the  bills  allowed  for  the  same  year,  are  one  to  Edward 
Scovill,  "for  keeping  Chilson's  child;"  to  Samuel  Scott,  "for  keep- 
ing Mary  Arbs;"  to  James  Blakeslee,  "for  making  Widow  Camp's 
coffin,  and  one  for  John  Welton's  child;"  to  Thomas  Porter,  "for 
curing  Stephen  Camp's  arm,  and  for  riding  to  Sergt.  Warner's  to 
prize  sheep;"  to  "Reuben  Blackeslee  of  Captain,"  Abigail  Howe, 
Thankful  Francher,  Mary  Church,  Mary  Cobin  and  Hannah  Hull — 
all  for  the  care  of  Widow  Camp;  to  John  Scovill,  "for  holding 
three  vandues  with  the  Widow  Camp's  goods,  and  one  day's  ten- 
dance of  Mr.  Camp's;"   to  Jacob  Blackslee,  "for  summonsing  and 


*  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  John  Allen's  inventory,  70  bushels  of  coal  wcTe-valued  at  only  a  little  over  £,^. 


374  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURY. 

bringing  persons  to  tend  the  sick,  three  days;"  to  Doctor  Ephraim 
Warner,  "for  Mary  Arbs*  child,  and  for  Mr.  Camp." 

"  Enezer "  Welton  was  another  person  afflicted  with  illness. 
Joseph  Lewis,  Jr.,  (who  fell  a  victim  to  the  same  disease)  spent  a 
day  in  riding  after  the  Doctor  for  him,  and  cared  for  him  in  person 
for  two  days.  John  Weed,  Abraham  Warner,  the  widow  Sarah 
Warner,  Mehetable  Rew,  John  Lewis,  Samuel  Lewis  and  even 
the  good  Deacon  Joseph  Lewis  himself  (also  a  victim)  attended 
"  Enezer  "  one  or  more  days,  while  John  Lewis  spent  a  day,  as  his 
brother  Joseph  had,  in  riding  after  the  doctor  for  him;  Ebenezer 
Richardson  is  credited  in  the  same  year  "for  a  Journey  of  his  Wives 
Horse  to  Stratford"  (doubtless  for  medicines).  Soon  after  this 
time  Chilson's  child  begins  its  wanderings  from  family  to  family. 
Deacon  Thomas  Bronson  lends  the  town  his  man  and  horse  to 
transport  a  woman  to  Farmington,  while  his  son  Thomas  mends 
Phebe  Warner's  shoes  and  sends  in  a  bill  "for  keeping  her  40 
weeks  "at  12  shillings  a  week.  It  must  not  be  inferred  that  Phebe 
Warner  is  a  pauper,  because  she  is  a  **town  charge."  The  two  con- 
ditions are  often  confounded,  the  one  with  the  other.  Phebe 
Warner — a  young  girl  of  fifteen  years — bereft  of  her  mother  by 
death  in  1747;  of  her  father  and  a  brother  in  1749,  and  of  her  only 
brother  in  the  next  year,  became  a  ward  of  the  town.  With  a  **  dis- 
ordered mind,"  and  an  inheritance  in  lands  appraised  at  ;£^2oo,  we 
follow  her  in  her  wanderings  from  Samuel  Hikcox's  house  to 
Joseph  Bronson's;  from  John  Judd's  to  Thomas  Bronson's.  We 
find  her  spending  five  weeks  in  the  late  Charles  D.  Kingsbury 
house — then  newly  built  by  Andrew  Bronson — transferred  to  Cap- 
tain Upson's  for  three  weeks,  and  passed  on  to  the  house  of  his  son 
Stephen  for  the  next  three  weeks,  while  Daniel  Southmayd  makes 
a  "  gownd  "  for  her,  and  obtains  liberty  from  the  General  Assembly 
to  sell  her  lands,  which  sale  David  Scott  achieves  in  1752.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  persons  became  for  one  reason  or  another 
wards  of  the  town,  as  an  outcome  of  the  "great  sickness"  of  1749. 
Joseph  Lewis,  a  grandson  of  Deacon  Joseph  Lewis,  is  of  that  num- 
ber. Let  us  look  for  a  moment  at  the  circumstances  surrounding 
this  unfortunate  youth.  About  1748  Joseph  Lewis,  his  father, 
bought  a  house  and  a  goodly  number  of  acres  on  Twelve  Mile  hill. 
The  house  was  described  as  "near  the  twelve  mile  stake,"  so 
often  referred  to.  Bereft  of  his  mother  at  the  age  of  two 
years,  of  his  father  at  thirteen,  and  his  grandfather  Lewis  a  few 
days  later,  the  boy  was  left  in  the  house — that  many  of  us  well  re- 
member as  standing,  in  its  age,  on  Andrews'  hill,  summer  winds 
moaning  through  its  open  doors  and  shaking  clapboards — to  con- 
front the  desolate  outlook  of  that  cruel  time,  with  only  a  child's 


knowledge  of  life  to  lead  him.  Tradition  tells  the  story  that 
Joseph  went  through  a  corn  field  and  plucked  the  ears  and  made  a 
fire  on  the  Sabbath  day  and  roasted  and  ate  the  corn — that  he  was 
publicly  whipped  for  his  crime,  and  that  the  whipping  destroyed 
his  reason.  Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  that  Joseph  Lewis  was  a  town 
pauper,  and  was  tried  before  Thomas  Clark,  Esq.,  May  12,  1756,  on 
complaint  of  Oliver  Terrell,  for  stealing  forty  shillings,  proclama- 
tion money,  and  condemned  to  pay  six  pounds,  proclamation 
money,  with  costs  of  suit,  and  also  a  fine  of  ten  shillings,  lawful 
money,  to  the  town  treasurer,  and  be  whipped  on  ye  naked  body 
ten  stripes — costs  taxed  at  jQi  3  3."  That  "he  was  whipped  accord- 
ing to  the  judgment  of  the  court,  and  bound  out  to  the  plaintiffs  as  a 
servant,  till  the  above  sum  should  be  paid."  Joseph  Lewis  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  trial.  That  he  was  of 
unsound  mind,  whether  by  reason  of  his  early  sorrows  or  of  his 
punishment,  seems  only  too  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  never 
gained  control  of  his  property,  his  name  not  appearing  on  the  tax 
list,  and  that  as  late  as  1779  the  town  sold  land  belonging  to  him 
for  ^400.  Still  later,  we  find  his  guardian,  the  town,  buying  for 
him  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  getting  another  pair  mended.  Neverthe- 
less, he  served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

In  connection  with  the  above  incident  relating  to  Joseph  Lewis 
Dr.  Bronson  gives  the  following  estimate  of  our  Puritan  ancestors 
which  we  cannot  forbear  to  quote: 

Individually,  our  Puritan  ancestors  were  very  much  such  men  as  we  are — little 
better,  no  worse.  There  were  among  them  men  eminent  for  virtue,  knowledge 
and  patriotism  ;  while  there  was  about  the  ordinary  proportion,  found  in  the 
farming  communities,  of  the  worthless  and  the  vile.  A  very  slight  inspection  of 
the  records  of  the  criminal  courts  will  dissipate  the  dreams  of  those  who  contend 
that  our  g^eat  grandsires  were  perfect  beings.  They  were  bred  in  a  rigorous  age, 
and  were  exposed  to  peculiar  hardships,  dangers  and  temptations.  These  gave 
origin  to  peculiar  moral  characteristics — to  virtues  and  to  vices  which  were  a  little 
different  from  those  of  other  ages  and  communities.  But,  on  the  whole,  they,  like 
us,  were  average  men.  We  have  more  science,  a  more  widely  diffused  literature; 
better  roads,  and  bulkier  ships,  but  our  men  are  like  their  men — shoots  from  the 
same  stock.  Undistinguishing  eulogy  cannot  properly  be  applied  to  any  of  the 
generations  of  New  England;  nor  will  truth  justify  indiscriminate  censure.  Saints 
and  sinners,  wise  men  and  foolish,  have  been,  and  will  continue  to  be  found,  in  fair 
proportion,  among  all.  We  do  rightly  in  judging  leniently  of  the  weaknesses  and 
mistakes  and  even  the  guilt  of  our  fathers.  We  make  allowances  for  their  circum- 
stances, the  state  of  their  civilization,  the  age  in  which  they  lived,  the  modes  of 
thinking  which  prevailed  at  the  time,  their  education,  even  their  temptations  and 
their  prejudices,  and  the  entire  g^oup  of  influences  which  contributed  to  mould 
opinions. 

The  above  estimate  of  the  men  of  New  England,  if  applied  to 
the  period  subsequent  to  1740,  seems  eminently  fair.     The  "Great 


376 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBY, 


Awakening  "  was  unto  sin,  as  well  as  unto  righteousness.  Puritan 
New  England  became  thereafter  a  thing  of  the  past.  Its  real  gold 
had  become  an  alloy,  still  bearing  the  name  and  applied  to  the 
ancient  usages,  but  dimmed  and  imperfect  in  many  ways.  The 
good  men  were  here,  but  the  "  good  old  time  "  had  vanished. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  after  two  generations  many  of  the 
old  names  are  still  at  the  helm  in  town  affairs.  Year  after  year 
Mr.  Southmayd  is  chosen  town  clerk,  and  proprietor's  clerk.  It  is 
his  hand  that  pens  the  long  deeds,  and  records  them;  that  writes 
the  indentures;  that  prepares  many  of  the  tax  lists;  that  records 
scores  of  highway  lay-outs;  and  carefully  preserves  the  minutest 
minutes  of  every  town  and  proprietor's  meeting.  We  have  a  little 
book  of  two  sheets  about  eight  by  eight  inches,  once  folded,  and 
carefully  sewed,  in  which  his  hand  recorded  the  town's  debts  and 
credits  for  the  year  1748.  Happy  Waterbury  of  the  long  ago!  The 
following  is  the  list: 


Town  Debts  for  the  year  1748: 

JL      s. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Ebenezer  Bronson,      .        .      2      16 

6 

C.  Tho.  Blaaksle,     . 

00 

19 

10 

C.  Will  Judd,            .        .           I     00 

6 

Jonathan  Prindle, 

01 

II 

5 

Abel  Camp,          .        .        .     13     12 

4 

Abel  Curtice, 

00 

12 

4 

John  Judd,       ...         04    14 

0 

Cap.  Tho.  Hickcox,     . 

01 

II 

00 

Widow  Hannah  Bronson,   .     00     17 

7 

Jno.  Southmayd,     . 

3 

12 

10 

Ambros  Hickcox,     .        .         00    15 

2 

Jno.  Scovill, 

.       6 

00 

04 

Greorge  Welton,            .        .      2    04 

4 

AbelSuUiff,     . 

01 

10 

00 

20  lb  granted  to  Northbury  to  build  the  bridge. 

Debts  allowed  1748: 

£    s. 

d. 

£ 

S. 

d. 

C   Sam"  Hickcox,       '.        .     05    00 

0 

Cap.  Stephen  Upson, 

00 

12 

0 

Dan"  Southmayd,            .           2     15 

0 

D.  Thomas  Clark, 

00 

06 

0 

Abraham  Truck,          .        .    00     15 

0 

Richard  Nichols, 

.    00 

12 

0 

Obadiah  Richards,                   00     18 

0 

Jn«.  Southmayd, 

01 

18 

6 

Account  of  Debts  Due  to  the  Town  as 

they  stand  December,  1748, 

on  Notes: 

£     s. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Gideon  Allyn,      .        .        .     13     15 

2 

Will  Luding^on, 

00 

10 

0 

Silas  Johnson,          .        .         00    10 

0 

John  Rew,    . 

.     04 

15 

0 

Samuel  Warner,           .        .     02     10 

0 

Jonathan  Scott, 

00 

10 

0 

Timothy  Porter,       .        .         05    00 

0 

Jonathan  Cook,    . 

.     00 

10 

0 

Caleb  Thompson,        .        .      2     10 

0 

Ebenezer  Wakelee, 

06 

12 

3 

Ebenezer  Warner,           .           2     10 

0 

James  Nichols,     . 

.    04 

18 

6 

Benj.  Arnold,.      .        .        .     50    00 

0 

Debts  to  the  Town  Due  for  Creatures  Sold,  Charges  Deducted: 

£     s. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

Deacon  Blackslee,        .        .       8    00 

0 

Gamaliel  Terrill, 

9 

00 

0 

Thomas  Bams,        .        .           5    00 

0 

John  Sutliff ,  Jr. , 

12 

10 

0 

Gideon  Hikcox,   .        .        .     14    00 

0 

Ebenezer  Richards, 

3 

15 

0 

174£-1760,  377 

In  1745  the  town  indebtedness  was  still  less.  In  1749  it  was 
greatly  augmented.  Many  autograph  bills,  in  which  the  town  is 
the  debtor,  still  remain.  The  approved  bills  are  duly  signed  by  the 
selectmen. 

Of  the   number  is  one,  whereby  the  "  Town  of  Waterjbury  is 
Indebted  to  the  Perambulators  of  Farmington  Line,  for  a  Quart  of 
Rhum  00-12-6  and  their  expences  at  Camebridge  ;^i-io-9.   And  to  the. 
Drumer  for  2  Days  in  Ocf,  1747,  ;£'i-oi-o.'*    Other  bills  are — one  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Hiekcox  "  for  his  journey  to  Stratford,"  and  Ensign 
Fulford  one  "for  a  journey  to  Stratford  ";  to  "  Capt.  Upson  for  carry- 
ing Mr.  Camp  to  Dc**  Lewis's  o-ioo'*;  to  Thomas  Bronson,  Jr.,  in 
1747,  *'  16  shillings  for  8  meals  to  the  listers  ";  to  "Jane  Baldwin,  for 
sundry  articles  for  cloathing  for  Mary  Earls,  for  victuling  and  tend- 
ing the  widow  Chilson  two  weeks,  for  fetching  a  doctor  for  her,  for 
four  shillings  and  six-pence  paid  to  the  Dc'.  total  ^S-14-6"  (this 
was   in   1749);   to   Richard   Seymour  and   Eleazer  Scott,   thirteen 
pounds  (the  original  charge  was   twenty  pounds)  for  building  a 
Pound  Near  the  meeting  house  In  Westbury  "  in  1750;  to  Stephen 
Mathews   "for   making  Mr.  Wood's   cofen";   to   Doctor   Benjamin 
Warner  "for  doctoring  Edman  Scot's  family  ;;^io-i8-o";  to  Thomas 
Barnes  "for  keeping  Hitte  Camp  and  Moll  ;^23-7-6  ";  to  Ebenezer 
Wakelee  "for  making   Bier  and  board   [for]   Chilson  3-0-04"  to 
"  John  Scovill  for  Listers  Dinner,  &c.,  JQ2-12-02  ";  to  "  Thomas  Porter 
for  taking  Coxe's  estate  and  other  things";  to  "Ebenezer  Bronson 
for  keeping  Moll";  to  "John  Southmayd  for  dressing  Moll's  child 
and  writing  ;^i-i8-oo";  to  "William  Selkrigg  for  digging  a  grave 
;^i-i5-oo";    to   "Thomas  Cole   for  keeping  Thomsan   Wood";    to 
"Jonathan    Baldwin,  Jr.  for  a  pair  of  sheets  ;^2-io-oo";   to   "me 
for  rum   for  the  bridg  9   Gallans   ;^i2-i2-oo;   to  rum   for — Camp 
^03-04-00;  to  rum  for  Ebenezer  Wostar  ;£'2-o5-oo.     This  is  a  true 
account  from  your  friend,  George  Nickols";  to  "Gershorm  Fulford 
for  viewing  Derby  Road  ;  selling  Phebe  Warner's  land;  his  and  his 
wives  assisting  George  Scott's  wife";  to  "Thomas  Porter  for  view- 
ing Derby  Road;  selling  P.  Warner's  land,  and  for  going  to  Mr. 
Hopkins  to  borrow  money  for  the  town."     In  1747  Daniel  South- 
mayd, Abraham  Truck,  Obadiah  Richard,  "  man,  self  and  2  cattle," 
Stephen  Upson,  Thomas  Clark  and  Richard  Nickols  sent  in  a  bill 
"for   Drawing  bridge   Timber  out   of  the   river."     In    1754  John 
Bronson   sent  a  bill   for    dining    the   County   Surveyor    and    his 
atendence  six  meals."     Even  Mr.  Leavenworth  is  credited  in  1749 
with  three  pints  of  Rhum,  two  pounds  of  sugar,  a  pound  of  candles, 
half  a  pound   of  butter"   and   "to  Bed,  boarding  Nurses,  House 
Room,  &c.,  to  the  amount  of  ;£'i3-i6-9." 


378  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

There  are  also  accounts  of  sales  made  by  the  town  of  the  worldly- 
goods  of  deceased  persons — sometimes  without  a  mention  even,  of 
the  once-owner's  name — the  belongings  intimating  a  young  man 
without  house  or  home  within  the  town.  Occasionally,  the  load  of 
indebtedness  is  lightened  by  a  ray  of  neighborly  kindliness,  or  some- 
thing that  looks  like  it,  as,  in  the  following,  addressed  to  the  consta- 
bles of  the  town:  "These  are  to  Desire  you  to  Abate  Caleb 
Thompson  of  his  Country  Rate  made  on  the  List  of  1749  so  much  as 
by  Law  ought  to  come  to  the  Listers."  This  request  was  written  by 
Daniel  Southmayd,  and  bears  his  autograph  and  the  signatures  of 
his  fellow  listers,  John  Warner,  Stephen  Welton  and  John  Sutliff . 

A  list  of  debts  due  to  the  town,  lies  before  me — the  date  and  the 
names  I  forbear  for  obvious  reasons  to  give.  The  following  are 
some  of  the  terse  conclusions  arrived  at,  and  expressed  against 
certain  of  the  names  of  the  debtors :  "  Nothing  done.  Ordered  to 
be  stayed.  Given  in  by  the  selectmen.  Dead  and  lost.  Dead  and 
lost  I  believe.  Poor  wretch.  In  dispute.  Very  poor,  and  agreed 
to  be  given  in.  Poor  as  Death.  Poor  enough.  Rather  poor.  As 
poor  as  you  please."  The  latter  is  against  a  prominent  member  of 
one  of  the  best  known  families  of  the  Waterbury  of  to-day. 

In  1749  "it  was  agreed  that  in  choosing  townsmen,  constables, 
and  grand  jurymen,  each  man  should  bring  in  a  vote  for  five  towns- 
men with  their  names  fairly  written,  and  so  for  three  constables, 
and  so  for  five  grand  jurymen."  It  was  in  1749  also  that  Daniel 
Southmayd  was  first  chosen  moderator  of  the  town  meeting,  an 
office  which  he  held  as  long  as  he  lived.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
had  gradually  been  taking  certain  work  from  his  father's  over- 
burdened hands.  We  recognize  his  handwriting  on  numerous  docu- 
ments. It  is  a  younger,  bolder,  less  finished  edition  of  the  perfect 
formula  of  letters  given  by  Mr.  Southmayd  for  so  many  years. 
Honors  gathered  about  the  young  man.  At  thirty  years  of  age 
he  was  "established  and  confirmed"  Captain  of  Waterbury  train 
band.  He  was  chosen  a  deputy  for  his  native  town  at  the 
October  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1748,  and  re-elected 
seven  times.  On  the  tenth  of  December,  1753,  at  the  Great 
Town  Meeting  he  was  moderator,  elected  townsman,  and  ap- 
pointed tithingman.  Eight  days  later,  he  was  chosen  to  his 
last  public  work.  The  road,  now  called  the  Watertown  road,  had 
just  been  laid  out,  then  described  as  "the  highway  from  the 
bridge  up  by  the  west  side  of  the  river  through  Richards's  Eight 
acre  Lott  to  the  south  end  of  Tompkins's  field  against  Lieut. 
Prindle's  House."  He,  with  Thomas  Barnes,  and  Thomas  Porter, 
who  was  Captain  Southmayd's  lieutenant,  were  to  lay  out  a  passage 


174^-1760.  379 

from  the  highway  on  the  east  side  the  river  to  the  new  one  on  the 
west  side,  and  was  also  "  to  search  into  the  circumstances  of  the 
mill  land  and  see  what  title  Mr.  Baldwin  held  to  the  land,"  for  the 
reason  that  the  above  passage  would  pass  through  a  portion  of  the 
ancient  mill  land  that  was  laid  out  in  the  meadows. 

Twenty-five  days  after  the  above  meeting  the  record  penned  by 
Mr.  Southmayd's  own  hand  tells  us  that  "  Daniel  Southmayd,  son  of 
John  Southmayd,  died  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  January  12th, 
1754."  It  is  well  to  believe  that  Mr.  Southmayd's  sons  were  manly, 
winsome  men,  fitted  by  birth,  environment  and  education  to  enact 
deeds  of  value  to  their  fellow  townsmen,  and  that  the  loss  occa- 
sioned by  their  taking  away  was  a  genuine  bereavement  to  the 
town,  as  well  as  to  the  beneficent  patriarch  of  the  early  church  and 
township.  It  increases  our  admiration  to  behold  John  Southmayd, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  rising  up  from  the  very  depth  of 
sorrow  and  going  on  in  his  fine,  patient,  effective  career,  to  finish 
his  course  in  the  very  fore-front  of  duty.  Eighteen  days  after  the 
death  of  his  son  Daniel  he  was  present  at  a  town  meeting  and  wit- 
nessed the  election  of  Deacon  Timothy  Judd  as  moderator  of  the 
meeting  in  that  son's  place,  and,  after  an  hour's  adjournment,  of 
Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  to  his  place  as  townsman,  and  Jonathan 
Baldwin,  Jr.,  to  his  place  as  one  of  the  listers.  On  the  ninth  of  May 
we  find  Mr.  Southmayd  with  the  legislators  of  the  land  at  Hartford 
for  a  long  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  which  continued  until 
the  end  of  the  month,  adjourning  from  time  to  time.  There  was  no 
royal  road  of  ease  to  Hartford  at  that  date,  and  every  mile  of  the 
long  journeying  on  horseback  must  have  been  a  weariness  to  a  man 
of  Mr.  Southmayd's  years.  At  the  May  town  meeting  he  was  on 
duty,  when  "it  was  voted  that  the  town  should  commence  a  suit 
against  Litchfield  for  not  perambulating";  also,  that  "the  town 
would  be  at  the  charge  of  paying  the  surveyor  and  chainmen  for 
their  time  and  expenses,  and  the  expenses  of  the  waiters  in  meas- 
uring and  planning  and  settling  our  north  line  on  the  east  side  the 
river  between  Hartford  and  Windsor  proprietors  and  this  town." 
He  was  also  present  at  the  great  town  meeting  in  December,  1754, 
when  the  meeting  was  opened  by  prayer  by  the  Rev.**  Mr.  Samuel 
Todd,  and  when  Mr.  Southmayd  was  chosen  town  clerk  for  the 
thirty-fifth  successive  year,  and  town  treasurer.  At  the  March 
meeting  following,  Mr.  Southmayd  was  absent  and  Timothy  Judd 
was  appointed  to  take  the  notes.  At  a  later  date,  Mr.  South- 
mayd made  record  of  the  meeting.  His  days  of  service  were 
drawing  to  a  close.  The  last  record  made  by  him,  that  has  been 
noticed,  was  on  the  tenth  of  May,  when  he  recorded  the  laying 


380  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERS URT, 

out  of  a  highway  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  by  Dr.  Power's 
home  lot. 

Of  the  last  summer  of  Mr.  Southmayd's  life,  we  have  no 
knowledge.  He  died  November  14,  1755,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years  and  three  months.  Few  men  have  been  permitted  to  serve 
any  New  England  town  for  so  long  a  period,  and  through  so  many 
forms  of  service,  as  did  John  Southmayd.  Forty  years  he  was 
pastor  of  the  only  Church  of  Christ,  where  now  there  are  forty 
churches;  thirty- five  years  the  town  clerk  over  a  territory 
embracing  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  square  miles;  proprietor's 
clerk  for  an  equal  length  of  time,  and  occasionally  serving  the 
town  as  recorder  from  the  year  1709  to  the  date  of  his  election  to 
that  office  in  172 1;  representing  Waterbury  repeatedly  in  the 
General  Assembly;  sixteen  times  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Waterbury,  and  several  times  for  the  county;  serving  the  General 
Assembly  on  its  committees  on  numerous  occasions,  and  serving 
the  people  of  Waterbury  as  councilor  and  legal  adviser  on  every 
conceivable  occasion,  he  rounded  out  his  life  into  a  formula  of 
active  beneficence,  whose  unseen  influence  is  evident  in  every  crisis 
of  the  town,  whether  temporal,  mortal,  or  religious.  Every  man 
who  stood  at  the  helm  in  the  little  storm-tossed  ship  of  aflFairs  at 
his  coming  in  1699  had  passed  on  and  been  gathered  to  his 
fathers  when  this  man  finished  his  course  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  centre  of  the  group  of  Southmayd  graves  in  the  old  burial 
place.*  All  that  now  remains  of  that  group  is  a  photograph.  The 
Silas  Bronson  Library  building  covers  its  site. 

Three  weeks  after  Mr.  Sonthmayd's  decease  the  December 
town  meeting  was  held.  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  present  and  opened 
the  meeting  with  prayer.  Deacon  Thomas  Clark  was  chosen 
to  the  offices  of  town  clerk,  which  he  held  until  his  death  in 
1764,  and  town  treasurer.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  1755, 
thirty -eight  offices  out  of  seventy  -  seven  were  held  by  persons 
owning  the  names  that  held  sway  before  1700.  We  find  Deacon 
Clark  carefully  framing  with  a  pen  line,  the  following  significant 
act:  "It  was  voted  to  give  Thomas  Doolittle  his  fine  for  speak- 
ing without  liberty  in  ye  town  meeting."  The  bridge  at  West 
Main  street  was  to  be  substantially  fenced  on  both  sides  at  the 
town's  cost.  The  Little  Pasture  at  Mr.  Sonthmayd's  death  re- 
turned to  the  party  concerned.  In  a  proprietors'  meeting  in 
1756,  it  was  voted  that  it  should  be  for  the  use  of  the  several 

*In  Mr.  Southmayd's  will^  made  May  37,  1755,  is  the  following  request  to  the  Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth: 
It  is  my  will  that  my  Executor  at  the  charge  of  my  estate  procure  and  get  engraved  four  head  stones  and 
four  foot  stones  of  Farmington  stone,  to  be  set  at  the  head  and  foot  of  the  graves  of  my  wife,  my  son  John, 
and  my  son  Daniel's  grave  and  my  own  if  I  don't  live  to  get  some  of  them  in  my  life  time. 


1742-1760,  381 

schools  in  the  town  of  Waterbury,  to  be  disposed  of  as  the  other 
school  lands  had  been.  In  the  town  meeting  of  1756,  and  of  1757,  it 
was  voted  to  rent  out  said  pasture  for  the  ensuing  year  and  put  the 
money  into  the  town  treasury.  In  1756  the  service  of  the  county 
surveyor  was  to  be  obtained  to  erect  monuments  from  the  white-oak 
tree  at  the  river  to  Farmington  line.  In  1759  the  bridges  had  again 
been  carried  away;  for  it  was  voted  to  give  the  Society  of  North- 
bury  five  pounds  for  the  encouragement  of  a  bridge,  provided  they 
should  complete  a  good  cart  bridge  within  a  year,  to  give  "the 
gentlemen  that  have  built  a  bridge  over  the  river  at  Woodbury 
road,  five  pounds  to  be  paid  unto  them  within  a  year  from  this 
time."  The  same  inducement  was  offered  to  Captain  Thomas 
Porter  to  "compleat  "  one  at  Judd's  Meadow.  Two  years  later  the 
town  was  as  bridgeless  as  ever. 

Unaccountable  as  it  may  seem,  it  was  not  until  1757  that  John 
Stanley,  Jr.,  was  finally  put  into  possession  of  his  Bachelor  lot,  and 
permanently  added  to  the  list  of  proprietors.  About  this  time, 
certain  men  of  large  possessions  desired  to  have  their  lands  care- 
fully surveyed  and  the  general  plan  of  the  farms  placed  upon 
record.  Of  this  number,  were  vStephen  Hopkins  (for  whom  Deacon 
Thomas  Clark  and  Captain  Daniel  Southmayd  had  made  a  survey 
and  plan)  and  the  heirs  of  Captain  Timothy  Hopkins — their  land 
lying  at  Bronson's  Meadow,  the  east  side  of  Long  hill,  where  they 
were  allowed  to  lay  out  twenty-five  additional  acres  in  order  to 
complete  the  survey  of  their  farm.  The  first  local  officer  at  Judd's 
Meadow  was  Simeon  Beebe,  appointed  keeper  of  the  pound  key  in 
1759.  I^  ^^^  year  1760  no  town  meeting  was  held  until  December. 
An  unusual  number  of  young  men,  not  long  resident  in  the  town, 
were  elected  to  office.  Nathaniel  Lowre,  Reuben  Hale,  Seth 
Bartholomew  and  Usael  Barker  were  of  the  number.  The  town 
officers  were  the  clerk,  treasurer,  agent,  two  packers  of  provisions 
(in  which  the  colony  rate  was  paid),  three  constables,  eight  select- 
men, twenty  surveyors  of  highways,  seven  fence  viewers,  nine 
listers,  ten  grand  jurors,  eight  tithingmen  (to  compel  a  proper 
observance  of  the  Sabbath  in  meeting  houses,  church  and  town), 
two  gagers,  a  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  three  key  keepers  for 
the  pounds,  an  excise  man,  a  receiver  of  provisions,  three 
leather  sealers,  three  branders  of  horses,  and  three  collectors  of 
rates,  one  for  each  parish.  It  was  evidently  deemed  wise  to 
interest  as  many  inhabitants  as  possible  in  the  good  government  of 
the  township.  For  perhaps  the  first  time  the  selectmen  were 
given  power  to  abate  the  town  rates  of  poor  men  who  made  applica- 
tion to  them,  and  "  a  premium  of  three  shillings  was  offered  for  the 


382  UISTORT  OF  WATERS URY, 

killing  or  destroying  "  a  grown  wild  cat,  and  two  shillings  for  a 
fox,  if  killed  by  an  inhabitant  within  the  town  bounds.  The  select- 
man giving  an  order  for  the  premium  was  first  to  cut  off  the  right 
ear  of  the  cat  or  fox  shown  to  him,  to  prevent  a  repetition  of 
reward  for  the  same  animal. 

The  rigidity  of  the  rule  against  new  inhabitants  who  did  not  at 
once  become  land  owners  and  otherwise  fortify  themselves  against 
the  possibility  of  becoming  town  incumbrances  was  evidently 
softening.  In  evidence,  we  find  the  following  paper,  with  auto- 
graph signatures: 

We,  the  subscribers,  being  neighbors  to  Mr.  Ebenezer  Bradley  of  Northbury 
do  certifye  that  We  Esteem  him  the  sd  Bradley  an  Honest,  Industrious  man  and 
that  he  and  his  family  are  likely  to  prove  wholesome  inhabitants. 

Waterbury,  February  26th,  1759. 

thomas  blakeslee  Ebe'  Ford 

Jacob  Blakslee  Asahel  Castel 

Caleb  Tompson  Isaack  Castel 

Gedion  Allen  John  How 

moses  blakslee  Ebenezer  Curtis 
Ebenezer  Allen 

The  judgment  of  Mr.  Bradley's  neighbors  was  undoubtedly 
justified.  In  his  record  of  the  above  testimonial,  Thomas  Clark 
omitted  the  signature  of  Caleb  Tompson — not  so  important  an 
omission,  however,  as  that  of  the  early  recorder  who  failed  to  give 
the  name  of  Benjamin  Judd,  in  his  record  of  the  original  planters 
of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

SERGEANTS — FIRST    COMMISSIONED    OFFICER  —  FIRST    LIEUTENANT  —  FIRST 
CAPTAIN  —  FIRST    MILITIA    COMPANY    IN    1689  —  TWO   COMPANIES   IN 
1732  —  THIRD    COMPANY    IN     1740  —  WATERBURY    IN     THE    SPANISH 
WEST    INDIAN    WAR  —  CAPTAIN    HOPKINS   A    RECRUITING    OFFICER — 
WATERBURY's    graves    on     cape    BRETON  —  A     NORTHBURY    TRAIN 

BAND    IN    1754 — WATERBURY    IN    THE    FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR 

MUSTER-ROLLS — ISRAEL    CALKINS*    MEMORIAL. 

'"T^HE  evolution  of  the  military  life  of  the  Colony  from  the  time 
I  when  Major  Mason  gave  thirty  days  in  the  year  to  training 
the  men  of  Hartford,  Windsor  and  Wethersfield,  is  of  inter- 
est, but  we  must  limit  the  recital  to  the  simple  fact  that  in  1739  ^.H 
the  military  companies  then  in  being  had  been  formed  into  thir 
teen  regiments,  and  their  respective  field  officers  appointed.  The 
tenth  regiment  was  composed  of  the  train  bands  of  Waterbury,  of 
Wallingford,  the  parish  of  Southington,  and  Durham.  Its  field 
officers  were  Colonel  James  Wadsworth  of  Hartford,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Benjamin  Hall,  and  Major  Thomas  Miles  of  Wallingford. 

Because  of  its  numerical  weakness,  the  Waterbury  train  band 
had  no  commissioned  officer  until  1689  Its  earliest  sergeants  were 
John  Stanley  (who  had  been  a  lieutenant  in  Farmington),  and 
Thomas  Judd.  They  are  so  called  in  1684.  Our  only  knowledge  of 
the  sergeants  of  the  township  is  derived  through  Mr.  Southmayd's 
perfect  system  of  nomenclature  in  his  records  of  town  meetings. 
Not  once  have  we  failed  to  find  him  giving  the  individual  his  mili- 
tary title  in  the  year  following  its  bestowment  by  commission. 
The  following  is  the  list  of  sergeants,  as  supplied  by  him,  from  1721 
down  to  the  year  1754.  The  names  are  given  in  the  order  of  their 
election.  Sergeants  John  Stanley,  Thomas  Judd,  Samuel  Hikcox, 
Timothy  Stanley,  Isaac  Bronson,  Thomas  Judd  (Deacon),  John 
Hopkins,  Steven  l>pson,  John  Scovill,  John  Bronson,  David  Scott, 
Thomas  Hikcox,  William  Judd,  Richard  Welton,  Joseph  Lewis, 
Thomas  Clark,  Thomas  Bronson,  Samuel  Warner,  John  Bronson,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Warner,  Thomas  Richards,  John  Judd,  Thomas  Barnes, 
Thomas  Porter,  Richard  Welton,  Jacob  Blakslee,  Nathan  Beard, 
Obadiah  Warner,  Thomas  Hikcox,  John  Warner,  William  Scovill, 
Nathaniel  Arnold,  Gershom  Fulford,  Jonathan  Prindle,  James 
Prichard,  Samuel  Scott,  Obadiah  Richards,  John  Lewis,  Oba- 
diah Warner,  Jonathan   Prindle,  John  Sutliff,   Amos  Hikcox,  and 


384  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUHT. 

Thomas  Bronson.     Where  names  have  been  repeated,  the  person- 
ality was  not  identical. 

Thomas  Judd  (Sen.)  was  the  first  commissioned  officer  in  the 
town.  He  was  appointed  an  ensign  in  1689.  John  Stanley  was  the 
first  lieutenant — in  1689.  Thomas  Judd,  nephew  of  the  first  ensign, 
was  the  first  captain — in  17 15.  Other  captains  were  Dr.  Ephraim 
Warner,  in  1722;  William  Hikcox,  son  of  Sergt.  Samuel,  in  1727; 
William  Judd,  son  of  the  first  captain,  in  1730  (upon  the  death  of 
William  Hikcox).  In  1732,  when  Waterbury  was  entitled  to  a 
second  company,  Timothy  Hopkins  was  made  its  captain,  Thomas 
Bronson  its  lieutenant,  and  Stephen  Upson  its  ensign — the  com- 
missioned officers  of  the  First  company  at  that  date  being  Captain 
William  Judd,  Lieutenant  Samuel  Hikcox,  and  Ensign  John  Scovill. 
The  sixth  captain  was  Samuel  Hikcox  of  the  First  company,  in  1737. 

In  1740  the  Third  company  was  formed,  with  Thomas  Blackslee, 
captain,  John  Bronson,  lieutenant,  and  Daniel  Curtiss,  ensign. 

Although  we  are  not  able  to  give  individual  instances  of  special 
devotion  to  warfare  during  the  earlier  years  of  town  life,  we  have 
learned  that  certain  of  our  planters  held  interest  in  land  conferred 
upon  their  fathers  for  services  in  the  Pequot  massacre;  we  have 
inferentially  believed  that  they  very  generally  did  service  during 
King  Philip's  war;  we  also  know  that  they  protected  their  own 
fields  and  firesides  during  all  the  long  and  agonizing  periods  of 
Indian  warfare — but  in  1740  a  new  condition  arose.  England 
declared  war  against  Spain  and  sent  over  a  proclamation  to  her 
colonies  in  America  announcing  that  fact,  and  also  that  an  expedi- 
tion was  fitting  out  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies,  and  offering 
to  any  of  her  colonists  who  would  volunteer  to  serve  in  that  expe- 
dition, a  supply  of  arms  and  proper  clothing,  promising  that  they 
should  be  paid  by  King  George,  and  should  be  under  the  command 
of  officers  appointed  by  the  Governor.  They  were  also  assured  that 
they  should  share  in  the  booty  which  might  be  taken  from  the 
enemy,  and  when  the  expedition  should  be  over,  that  they  should 
be  sent  back  to  their  homes.  An  additional  inducement  offered  was 
five  pounds,  as  a  premium — to  be  paid  out  of  the  colony  treasury. 
In  July,  1740,  the  utmost  activity  prevailed  throughout  the  colony. 
Beside  putting  the  sea-coast  on  the  defensive,  the  government 
obtained  three  vessels  to  transport  the  troops  to  Cuba,  and  provided 
every  needful  thing  for  the  men,  except  clothing,  tents,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  pay,  and  immediately  began  the  building  of  the 
war-ship,  The  Defence. 

No  known  muster-rolls  of  the  men  engaged  in  this  expedition 
are  extant,  and  but  three  names  are  known  to  the  writer,  of  Water- 


WATERBURY  IN  THE  COLONIAL    WARS.  385 

bury  men  who  had  active  part  in  that  warfare.  Josiah  Arnold,  a 
young,  unmarried  man,  of  perhaps  twenty  eight  years,  the  son  of 
Nathaniel  Arnold,  made  his  will  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1740,  in 
which  he  announces  that  he  is  designed  to  go  into  the  war  in  the 
Spanish  West  Indies.  On  the  same  4th  of  July,  Ephraim  Bissell 
made  his  will,  with  the  same  announcement  (both  wills  doubtless 
written  by  Mr.  Southmayd).  Neither  of  the  young  men  returned 
from  the  war.  Careful  research  might  disclose  names  of  other 
soldiers  from  Waterbury.  In  August,  1741,  recruits  were  called  for, 
and  a  letter  containing  instructions  concerning  the  levying  of 
troops  was  sent  to  "Captain  Hopkins."  Our  Captain  Timothy 
Hopkins  is  the  only  Captain  Hopkins  to  be  found  in  the  colony  at 
that  date,  therefore  he  may  have  been  the  recruiting  officer  who 
with  Captain  Winslow  proceeded  to  enlist  not  less  than  fifty,  nor 
more  than  two  hundred  men  "  to  be  transported  to  the  isle  of  Cuba 
in  the  colony  sloop.  The  Defence."  The  recruiting  officers  were 
empowered  to  draw  four  pounds  from  the  public  treasury  for  each 
man  enlisted.  Under  the  above  circumstances,  it  is  perfectly 
reasonable  to  infer  that  a  goodly  number  of  young  men  were 
enlisted  by  our  Captain  Hopkins.  Young  men,  under  twenty-one, 
and  without  families,  drop  away  and  leave  no  sign  in  the  public 
records.  Doubtless  certain  of  the  missing  sons  of  Waterbury  fell 
on  Cuban  soil  in  1740  and  1741,  whose  names  may  be  found  on  mus- 
ter-rolls yet  to  be  returned  from  their  long  concealment.  In  1743 
Stephen  Upson  was  made  captain  of  the  First  company  in  Water- 
bury. 

In  February,  1745,  the  Governor  of  the  Colony  convened  the 
Assembly,  to  act  upon  a  proposed  expedition  against  his  Majesty's 
enemies  at  Cape  Breton.  As  early  as  1731  France  had  encroached 
upon  the  claimed  territory  of  New  York,  by  building  a  fort  at 
Crown  Point,  which  encroachment  at  once  called  forth  an  urgent 
appeal  from  that  Province  to  the  English  crown,  in  which  appeal 
Connecticut  had  been  requested  to  join.  Meanwhile,  on  the  island 
of  Cape  Breton,  commanding  the  entrance  to  the  Bay  of  St.  Law- 
rence, France  had  constructed  a  fortress  of  wonderful  strength,  at 
a  cost  of  ^1,200,000  sterling.  Its  ruins  to-day  give  full  evidence  of 
the  formidality  of  this  ancient  stronghold.  The  solidity  of  the 
foundation-walls  of  its  citadel  and  its  "shattered  bomb-proofs, 
whose  well-turned  arches  choked  with  debris  remain,"  are  cited  by 
S.  A.  Drake,  while  he  tells  us  that  one  may  continue  the  walk  along 
the  ramparts  without  once  quitting  them,  for  fully  a  mile,  to  the 
point  where  they  touch  the  sea-shore  among  the  inaccessible  rocks 
and  heaving  surf  of  the  ocean  itself. 

25 


386  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

It  was  the  great  fortress  at  Louisburg,  on  the  island  of  Cape 
Breton,  that  caused  Mr.  John  Southmayd  to  take  the  wintry  ride 
on  horseback  from  Waterbury  to  Hartford  in  February,  1745 — that 
called  up  every  deputy  throughout  the  colony  to  the  same  place. 
Not  England — she  was  too  busy  elsewhere — ^but  her  weak  American 
colonies  resolved  to  take  the  French  city  and  fortress.  The  utter 
amazement  with  which  the  project  was  received  by  the  deputies 
may  be  imagined,  but  not  described.  It  is  mentioned  as  a  "matter 
of  great  importance."  The  Assembly  considered  two  letters  written 
by  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts,  and  other  papers  presented 
— and  then  "concluded  and  resolved  (relying  on  the  blessing  of 
Almighty  God)  to  join  with  the  neighboring  governments  in  the 
intended  expedition." 

The  first  step  in  the  work  was  to  encourage  five  hundred  men  to 
enlist  themselves  to  join  the  forces  from  the  neighboring  govern- 
ments in  the  expedition.  The  inducements  offered  were  the  receipt 
of  "  eight  pounds  in  old  tenour  bills  "  for  each  month  of  service, 
with  ten  pounds  as  a  premium  if  the  enlisting  soldier  provided  for 
himself  "  a  good  fire-lock,  sword,  belt,  cartridge  box,  and  blanket, 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  enlisting  officer."  He  was  also  to  receive 
one  month's  wages  before  embarkation;  three  pounds  additional  if 
he  provided  his  own  blanket,  and  an  equal  share  in  all  the  plunder 
with  the  soldiers  of  the  neighboring  governments.  The  land  forces 
were  to  march  to  New  London,  and  there  embark  on  transports 
which  were  to  be  convoyed  by  the  Colony  sloop.  The  Defence, 
"equipped  and  manned  with  her  full  complement  of  officers  and 
men."  The  five  hundred  men  were  divided  into  eight  companies 
under  Roger  Wolcott  as  Commander-in-Chief. 

The  experience  of  1740  in  the  Spanish  West-Indies  had  been 
severe,  and  it  evidently  told  effectively  upon  the  spirits  of  the 
colonists,  for  the  enlistments  were  not  encouraging.  A  month  later 
the  "  enlisting  officers  were  authorized  to  beat  up  the  drums  in  the 
regiments,  and  the  captains  were  ordered  to  call  their  companies 
together  under  their  command  for  enlisting  volunteers,  when 
required  to  do  so.  In  May  two  companies  more  were  made  ready  and 
sent  to  New  London  to  await  the  transports.  In  July,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  raise  three  hundred  men  in  addition  to  the  seven  hundred 
already  gone.  The  three  hundred  men  were  to  consist  of  three 
companies.  Our  Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  was  placed  in  command 
of  one  third  of  the  recruits  to  be  then  enlisted  as  their  captain  for 
the  expedition;  but  before  the  companies  were  in  readiness  news 
came  that  the  fortresses  at  Louisburg  had  surrendered  on  the  loth 
of  June,  after  a  close  siege  of  forty-nine  days. 


WATERBURY  IN  THE  COLONIAL   WARS.  387 

Immediately,  350  men  were  enlisted  to  garrison  the  fortresses 
and  town  of  Louisburg  until  the  following  June.  Among  the 
Waterbury  men  who  were  of  the  garrison  quota,  and  who  doubtless 
had  already  enlisted  in  Captain  Hikcox's  company,  was  Samuel 
Thomas,  a  neighbor  of  the  Captain's,  who  died  at  Cape  Breton  in 
1747.  Another  soldier  was  Daniel  Warner,  the  son  of  Samuel 
Warner.  "On  the  morning  of  the  day  whereon  he  left  his  father's 
house  in  Waterbury  (being  called  as  a  soldier  to  go  to  Cape  Breton) 
in  the  month  of  November,  1745,  he  made  a  verbal  declaration  con- 
cerning his  worldly  goods — how  they  should  be  disposed  in  case  of 
his  never  returning,"  and  called  Thomas  Warner  of  Waterbury,  and 
Elizabeth  Warner  of  Stonington  to  witness  his  will,  "which  was 
spoken  in  the  street  near  to  Daniel's  father's  house."  He  com- 
mitted all  his  worldly  estate  into  the  hands  of  his  brother,  Timothy 
Warner,  "who  was  to  pay  his  debts,  and  on  his  return  to  restore  all 
his  estate  to  him  again,  and,  in  case  he  never  returned,  Timothy 
was  to  have  all,  as  his  own."  Daniel  never  returned  to  reclaim  his 
estate.  An  old  indenture  is  extant,  through  which  it  is  made 
evident  that  Abraham  Barnes,  son  of  Samuel,  was  a  third  young 
man  who  lost  his  life  in  the  same  expedition.  His  little  son, 
Abraham,  at  the  age  of  two  years  was  indentured  to  serve  a 
neighbor  for  nineteen  years,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  his  father 
died  at  Cape  Breton.  This  is  clearly  a  case  of  adoption,  perhaps 
under  the  only  formula  then  known  as  legal.  Waterbury  thus  owns 
three  of  the  five  hundred  graves  that  lie  in  the  bleak  and  wind- 
swept field  bordering  the  harbor  of  Louisburg  —  the  graves  of 
Samuel  Thomas,  Daniel  Warner,  and  Abraham  Barnes.  How  many 
more  young  men  served  and  returned,  or  served  and  perished  there 
we  may  not  tell. 

Thomas  Hikcox  (2d)  was  commissioned  captain  in  1746  of  the 
First  company  in  Waterbury;  Daniel  Southmayd  in  1747;  John 
Bronson  in  1757.  In  1752  the  Fourth  company  was  formed — in 
Westbury  parish — with  Nathaniel  Arnold,  Jr.,  captain;  Jonathan 
Prindle,  lieutenant;  Timothy  Judd,  ensign.  In  1754  Thomas  Porter 
became  captain  of  the  First  company,  by  reason  of  the  death  of 
Captain  Daniel  Southmayd,  with  Obadiah  Richards,  lieutenant,  and 
John  Lewis,  ensign.  In  1754,  the  officers  of  the  Northbury  Parish 
company  were  Phineas  Royce,  captain;  John  Sutliff,  lieutenant; 
Zachariah  Sanford,  ensign. 

In  1757  Jonathan  Beebe  was  second  lieutenant  of  the  13th  com- 
pany in  the  loth  regiment.  In  the  same  year  the  officers  of  the 
Westbury  company  were  Capt.  Timothy  Judd,  Lieut.  Ebenezer 
Richards,  Ens.  Edward  Scovill.     In  1756  Israel  Woodward  was  cap- 


388  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

tain  of  the  6th  company  in  the  2d  regiment.  In  1759  George 
Nichols  was  captain  in  Waterbury.  In  1760  Phineas  Castle  served 
as  captain  of  the  12th  company  in  the  2d  regiment,  of  which  regi- 
ment the  Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth  was  chaplain.  In  1760  also, 
Gideon  Hotchkiss  became  captain  of  the  First  company  in  Water- 
bury,  and  Stephen  Upson  (the  third)  became  lieutenant  of  a  com- 
pany called  the  South  company,  with  Jonathan  Baldwin  its  ensign. 
In  1 76 1  Oliver  Wei  ton  was  ensign  of  the  5  th  company  in  the  2d  reg- 
iment; Edward  Scovill  was  made  captain  of  the  First  company  of 
Waterbury  and  Amos  Hitchcock  or  Hickcox  lieutenant.  In  1762 
Stephen  Culver  was  lieutenant.  Moses  Blakslee  was  lieutenant  in 
the  6th  company  of  the  7th  regiment  and  Timothy  Clark  lieutenant 
in  the  4th  company  of  the  12th  regiment.  In  1763  Thomas  Richards 
was  captain,  John  Nettleton  lieutenant  and  Abel  Woodward  ensign 
of  the  Westbury  company.  In  the  same  year  Joseph  Bronson  was 
lieutenant  and  William  Hikcox  ensign  in  the  Second  company  in 
the  First  society;  Samuel  Hikcox,  Jr.,  was  ensign  of  the  First  com- 
pany in  the  same  society  and  Stephen  Seymour  of  the  Northbury 
company.  In  1764  Stephen  Upson  was  captain  of  the  First  com- 
pany; in  1765  Joseph  Bronson  of  the  Second  company  with  William 
Hikcox  his  lieutenant;  the  officers  of  a  new  company  in  Northbury 
were  Captain  John  Sutliff,  Lieut.  Stephen  Seymour,  Ens.  David 
Blakslee — Lieut.  Benjamin  Upson  and  Ens.  Samuel  Curtis,  Jr., 
belonging  to  the  old  company.  In  1764  also  the  East  company  in 
Westbury  was  formed  under  Capt.  Samuel  Reynolds.  In  1766  the 
officers  of  the  Second  company  in  the  First  society  were  Lieut. 
Samuel  Hikcox  and  Ens.  Stephen  Welton — in  the  autumn  of  that 
year  Capt.  John  Welton,  Lieut.  Jesse  Leavenworth  and  Ens,  Abra- 
ham Hikcox  commanded  the  company,  while  Lieut.  Abel  Woodward 
and  Ens.  Peter  Welton  were  of  the  West  company  in  Westbury  In 
1766  there  was  a  "new  erected  company*'  in  Farmingbury  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Aaron  Harrison,  Lieut.  Heman  Hall  and  Ens. 
Josiah  Rogers.  In  1767  Capt.  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Lieut.  Andrew 
Bronson  and  Ens.  Samuel  Porter  commanded  the  First  company. 
Daniel  Potter  was  captain  of  the  First  company  at  Northbury.  In 
1769  Randal  Evans  was  captain  of  the  same  company,  and  Bartholo- 
mew Pond  lieutenant;  Abel  Woodward,  Peter  Welton  and  Thomas 
Cole  were  the  officers  of  the  West  company  in  Westbury;  Samuel 
Hikcox  was  captain  and  Richard  Seymour  lieutenant  of  the  Second 
company  in  the  First  society;  and  Samuel  Porter  was  lieutenant  of 
the  First  company.  "  In  the  Farmingbury  company,  Josiah  Rogers 
was  lieutenant  and  John  Alcock  ensign.  /)f  the  new  company  in 
Northbury,  David  Blakslee  was  captain,  Eliphalet  Hartshorn  lieu- 
tenant, and  Jude  Blakslee  ensign. 


WATERBVRY  IN  THE  COLONIAL   WARS,  389 

In  1753  Captain  Daniel  Southmayd  was  one  of  eight  gentlemen 
appointed  to  audit  the  Colony  accounts.  The  treasurer  delivered 
to  them  ;^7527.i2S.9d.  old  tenor,  received  by  the  treasurer  for  duties 
on  goods,  exportation  of  lumber,  for  the  sale  of  Weed's  estate  [in 
Waterbury],  and  for  impost  and  powder  money.  This  money  the 
auditors  ** burnt  and  consumed  to  ashes."  Its  value,  as  lawful 
money,  was  but  ;^855.8s.2d,  or  eight  and  more  than  two-third  pounds 
for  one  of  old  tenor.  This  depreciation  of  the  currency  was  due 
principally  and  we  might  add  with  an  approach  to  truth,  chiefly  and 
altogether  because  the  colony  had  been  compelled  to  fight  England's 
wars.  The  exact  relationship  to  lawful  silver  money  that  bills  of 
old  and  new  tenor  bore  at  this  time  is  illustrated  by  a  three-farthing 
silver-money  tax,  which  it  was  declared  permissible  to  pay  in  bills 
of  credit — the  new  tenor,  at  fourteen  shillings  and  seven  pence 
for  six  shillings  in  silver,  the  old  tenor  at  fifty-one  shillings  for  the 
same  six  shillings. 

Early  in  1755  ^^®  ^^^1  again  came  for  "a  considerable  number  of 
forces  to  be  raised  because  of  the  invasion  of  his  Majesty's  just 
rights  and  dominions  in  North  America,  by  the  French  and  the 
Indians  in  their  alliance."  The  order  of  King  George,  that  Con- 
necticut Colony  should  contribute  as  far  as  could  be  afforded  to 
repel  the  common  danger,  was  at  once  complied  with.  More  money 
was  required  than  could  be  well  obtained,  but  more  Bills  of  credit 
were  at  once  ordered  to  be  imprinted,  representing  seven  thousand 
five  hundred  pounds  lawful  money,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  make  preparations  for  enlisting,  supplying,  and  furnishing  troops 
at  the  cost  and  expense  of  the  government.  Almost  immediately 
came  the  order  from  England  for  the  raising  of  several  regiments. 
England's  designs  in  regard  to  the  regiments — where  and  how  they 
were  to  be  used — ^remained  unknown,  when,  at  the  session  of  The 
Assembly  summoned  in  March,  1755,  a  proposition  was  received 
from  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts.  It  was  that  the  five  New 
England  governments  should  unite  in  an  attempt  to  erect  a  strong 
fortress  upon  the  eminence  near  the  French  fort  at  Crown  Point. 
In  order  that  the  expedition  might  be  eminently  successful  and 
the  territory  secured  from  any  further  encroachment  of  the  French, 
it  was  proposed  that  New  York  should  send  800  men,  Connecticut 
1000,  Rhode  Island  400,  Massachusetts  1200  and  New  Hampshire 
600.  Connecticut  was  fully  aware  that  the  force  asked  of  her  was 
much  too  large  in  proportion  to  that  of  New  York  and  Massachu- 
setts, but  she  stopped  to  consider  the  situation  of  her  neighbors, 
and  understood  full  well  the  importance  of  the  undertaking,  and 
at  once  began  the  task  of  getting  together  one  thousand  "  effective 


390  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

men,"  and  empowered  her  Governor  to  raise  500  additional  men,  in 
case  they  should  be  required  to  reinforce  troops  already  in  service, 
and  immediately  advised  her  neighbors  to  do  the  same  thing. 
Each  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  March  1755,  was  re- 
quired to  swear  to  keep  secret,  until  given  leave  to  reveal  them, 
all  matters  relating  to  the  "defence  of  our  frontiers,  and  all  con- 
sultations and  resolutions  thereon."  Mr.  Stephen  Hopkins  and 
Mr.  Caleb  "  Humistone  "  were  the  required  oath-takers  for  Water- 
bury. 

I  think  it  may  be  said  that  at  no  time  in  our  history  has  there 
been  a  season  of  greater  activity  in  martial  life  than  the  year  1755. 
It  is  not  known  that  any  men  from  Waterbury  were  numbered 
among  the  three  thousand  warriors  who  regained  Nova  Scotia  in 
June  of  that  year;  it  is  not  probable  that  a  single  man  of  our  town 
was  with  General  Braddock  in  his  memorable  defeat  near  Fort  du 
Quesne  in  July,  but  we  have  every  reason  to  think  that  a  goodly 
number  accompanied  General  Johnson  to  Lake  George  in  August 
of  that  year,  and  joined  the  brave  twelve  hundred  who  fought  on 
its  shores — for  Gershom  Fulford,  the  blacksmith,  was  appointed 
second  lieutenant  of  the  Fourth  Company  in  the  Major  General's 
regiment,  and  Roger  Prichard  "  quarter-master  of  Troop  of  horse 
in  the  Tenth  regiment"  in  March  of  that  year,  but  we  have  no 
muster-rolls  to  prove  the  thought  to  be  according  to  facts.  When, 
in  May,  Oliver  De  Lancey,  Esq^  of  New  York,  appeared  before  the 
Assembly  and  set  before  the  deputies  the  exceeding  great  impor- 
tance of  raising  additional  men  for  Crown  Point,  it  was  determined 
to  give  New  York  the  opportunity  to  raise  three  hundred  men  in 
Connecticut,  to  serve  under  a  major  of  that  Province — other  officers 
to  be  appointed  by  this  Colony. 

In  August,  General  Johnson,  at  Fort  Edward,  sent  for  additional 
troops  to  be  sent  without  delay,  and  the  order  went  forth  for  two 
regiments  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  be  enlisted,  and 
divided  into  nine  companies  in  each  regiment.  The  muster  rolls  of 
certain  Connecticut  companies  in  service  from  1755  to  1762  have 
been  recently  recovered  from  their  long  resting  place,  and  are  now 
in  the  State  library.  They  have  never  been  published,  and  are  of 
valuable  interest.  Between  the  first  and  the  seventeenth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1755,  the  following  men  enlisted,  or  were  impressed  into 
service,  in  the  company  of  Captain  Eldad  Lewis,  of  Southington. 
The  men  of  this  company  were  from  Waterbury  and  its  vicinity. 
Of  its  seventy-three  men,  thirty-four  went  from  Waterbury.  We 
have  identified  these  from  local  records.  Other  names  in  the  com- 
pany doubtless  belong  to  Waterbury  men,  but  for  want  of  sufficient 


WATERS URT  IN  THE  COLONIAL    WARS. 


391 


evidence  at  hand  they  are  not  included.     The  names  marked  with 

a  f  were  from  Waterbury. 

Captain  Eldad  Lewis's  Muster  Roll. 

Sworn  to  at  Hartford  Feb.  17th,  1756. 

First  Lieutenant,  Isaac  Higbee;  Second  Lieutenant,  David  Whitney;  Sergeants, 
Joel  Clark,*  fSamuel  Root— deserted  Oct.  24th,  fTim*  Clark,  John  Webster. 

Clerks,   Drummers  and  Corporals— Joel  Clark,  clerk;   f  Ashbel  Porter,  Samuel 
Higby,  flsaac  Prichard,  Ephr*  Parker,  Ambro*  Sloper,  corporals  and  drummers. 

Centinels. 


Abraham  Waters, 
f  Abel  Gunn, 

Allen  Royse, 

Amos  Cook, 
f  Asa  Barnes, 

Barn*  Hugh, 
f  Benj°  Scott, 
f  Benj"  Wetmore, 
f  Benj"  Turril, 
t  Benj-'  Stillwell, 
f  Caleb  Jones, 

David  Wetmore, 
f  David  Hungerford, 
f  Dan^  Upson, 

Dan'  Winston, 

Eben'  Hopkinston, 
fEzeki  Scott, 
t  Eliph*  Scott, 

Eben'  Bracket, 

Elias  Wetmore, 
f  John  Scott, 

Joseph  Twiss, 
f  Joseph  Barrot, 
f  John  Barrot, 
f  Jesse  Alcock, 


Joseph  Rogers, 

Elihu  Morse, 
f  Abraham  Woster, 

Jesse  Parker, 
f  James  Doolittle, 
f  Josiah  Stow, 
f  Joseph  Ludington, 
f  Jon""  Preston, 

Levi  Thomas, 

Linus  Hopsk°, 

Medad  Munson, 
t  Moses  Foot, 

Moses  Hall, J 
f  Moses  Bronson, 

Nathan'  Hitchcock, 

Nathan'  Messenger, 

Peter  Fenn,  [?] 

Joseph  Merion, 

James  Scarrit, 

Job  Bracket, 

Hail  Hall, 
f  Sam'  Upson, 
t  Sol**  Barrit, 

Steph"^  Winston, 
t  Steph"  Blakslee, 


t  Weight  Woster, 

Sam'  Whedon, 
t  Sam'  Wheler,  ? 
t  Jabez  Tuttle, 
f  Thomas  Way, 

John  Collins, 

Willida  William, 

William  Pike, 

Zealous  Atkins, 

Zebulon  Peck, 

Remember  Baker, 
f  Sam'  Warner, 

Abijah  Barnes, 
f  Enos  Ford, 
f  Thomas  Fenn, 

Peter  Judson, 

Elnath"    Sharp,    or 
Thorp, 
t  Sam'l  How, 
f  Eben^  Saxston, 

Matth*  Johnson, 

Nath'  Lewis, 

Moses  Austin, 
f  Bartholomew  Pond. 


The  above  company  served  about  three  months  and  the  men 
were  allowed  twelve  days  for  the  march  from  Lake  George  to  their 
homes.§ 

Other  Waterbury  soldiers  of  1755,  were  Henry  Cook,  Bartholo- 
mew Jacobs,  Bela  Lewis,  and  William  Mancer,  but  these  names  do 
not  conclude  the  list.  It  was  to  carry  bread  to  these  and  other 
soldiers  that  the  horses  of  the  two  Waterbury  men  were  impressed 
in  October  of  1755.    Bread  and  flour  to  the  amount  of  120,000  pounds 

*  Dr.  Bronson  gives  Joel  Clark  as  a  Waterbury  man,  but  I  think  he  was  from  Farmington. 
t  "  Died  on  the  asih." 

9  In  the  lists  here  given,  the  reader  may  make  allowance  for  errors  in  the  spelling  of  names,  due  to  the 
muster-roll  makers,  and  also  for  possible  errors  in  the  transcription  of  names  from  the  muster  rolls. 


39« 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 


were  carried  on  horses  (not  more  than  500  in  number  and  impressed 
in  Connecticut)  from  Albany  or  its  vicinity  "for  the  use  of  our 
troops  at  the  forts  at  the  Carrying  Place,  and  at  Lake  George." 

In  the  beginning  of  1756  it  was  resolved  by  the  four  New  Eng- 
land governments,  and  New  York,  to  raise  10,000  men,  Connecticut 
agreeing  upon  2500  as  her  quota  and  immediately  ordering  her 
commissaries  to  procure  flour  suflficient  for  that  number  of  men  for 
four  months.  The  troops  were  formed  into  four  regiments  of  eight 
companies  each.  The  Sixth  company  in  the  Second  regiment  is 
called  on  the  muster  roll : 

The  Waterbury  Company. 

In  the  Expedition  against  Crown  Point  from  April  to  December,  1756,  this  com- 
pany was  commanded  by  Capt.  Israel  Woodward. 

First  Lieutenant,  Asa  Royse.  Second  Lieutenant,  Joel  Clark. 

r  Oliver  Welton,  f  Ethan  Curtis, 

J  Enoch  Curtis,  ,         Tames  Doolittle, 

Sergeants,  1  ^^^.^^  ^^^^  Corporals,  j  j^^^  Hoerington, 

I  David  Woodward.  I  Abiel  Roberts. 

Drummer,  Moses  Frost. 


Samuel  Adams, 
Ephraim  Allyn, 
Stephen  Bagley, 
Remember  Baker, 
John  Barret, 
Nathan  Benham, 
Joseph  Blake, 
Tho*.  Bray, 
Asa  Brown  son, 
John  Brownson, 
Moses  Brownson, 
Joseph  Bunnel, 
Parmineus  Bunn^ 
John  Butler, 
Israel  Calkins, 
Elijah  Clark, 
Ezekiel  Curtis, 
Hezek*'  Davenport, 
Jehiel  Dayton, 
Stephen  DuUf  [?] 
Benj*  Ellis. 
Benj»  Aly  (Ely)? 


Centinels. 

John  Fenn, 
Joseph  Foot, 
Samuel  Frost, 
Luke  Fox, 
John  Gibbs. 
Jerimi  Gillet, 
Jacob  Guild, 
Jotham  Hall, 
John  Haystens, 
Nath'  Hitchcock, 
Voluntine  Hitchcock, 
William  Horton, 
Samuel  Lounsbury, 
Nath^  Messenger, 
Wm.  Munson, 
Judah  Palmer, 
Nath»  Pardy, 
Eliab  Parker, 
John  Parker, 
Samuel  Pike, 
Elnathan  Prichard, 
Joel  Roberts, 


Ezekiel  Scott,* 
Peleg  Spencer, 
Israel  Squire, 
Simeon  Stow, 
John  Strickland, 
Isaac  Terril, 
Oliver  Terril, 
Seth  Thayer. 
John  Tomas, 
Charles  Warner, 
Nath^  Weed, 
Will™  White, 
Benj*  Williams, 
Nathan   Woodward, 

clerk, 
Samuel  Woodward. 
Benj°  Woodworth, 
Peleg  Woodworth, 
Reuben  Woodworth, 
Herrman  Worster, 
Jonathan  Wrif^ht, 
Nathan  Wright. 


All  the  men  of  this  company  were  not  from  Waterbury.     Enos 
Doolittle,  Israel  Dayton,  and  Benjamin  Judd  were  of  the  soldiers  of 


*  Advanced  to  Corporal  Sept.  28th. 


J 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  COLONIAL   WARS. 


393 


'756-  John  Sutliff  and  Abel  Curtiss  were  in  Col.  Elihu  Chauncy's 
regiment  at  Crown  Point  in  1756.  In  Captain  John  Pettibone's 
company  in  the  same  regiment,  among  the  men  from  Waterbury 
will  be  found  Joseph  Smith,  John  Slawter  (sometimes  spelled 
Slaughter),  Samuel  Lewis,  Thomas  Porter,  and  Joseph  Bronson. 
This  regiment  served  sixty-three  weeks. 

Dr.  Bronson  has  given  the  following  list  of  soldiers  who  went 
in  Captain  Eldad  Lewis'  company  in  the  Fort  William  Henry  alarm 
in  1757.  At  this  time  the  militia  marched  away  in  headlong  haste; 
some  on  horseback  for  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the  way,  the  residue 
on  foot — many  subsisting  themselves  at  their  own  expense  on 
the  march,  and  others  at  public  and  private  houses  and  at  small 
stores  erected  at  certain  stages  of  the  course,  going  in  haste  too 
great  to  take  blankets,  or  knapsacks,  or  anything  but  the  soldier 
himself  and  his  fire-arms  to  the  rescue!  So  great  was  the  risk  of 
delay  that  the  horses,  when  no  longer  needed,  were  left  to  wander 
away,  and  were  taken  up  in  New  York,  and  elsewhere.  Months 
afterward,  by  order  of  the  government,  these  wandering  horses 
were  gathered  in,  and  even  the  Waterbury  horses  were  returned 
to  their  homes.  Under  such  circumstances  went  forth  the  fol- 
lowing men  from  Waterbury: 

Lieut.  John  Sutliff,  Moses  Cook,  [Drummer.] 

Sergt.  Stephen  Wei  ton,         Ensign  Gideon  Hotchkiss, 


Daniel  Porter,  Clerk. 


Jesse  Alcock, 
Benjamin  Barnes  (?)* 
Daniel  Barnes, 
Solomon  Barrit, 
Simeon  Beebe, 
Shadrack  Benham, 
Asher  Blakeslee, 
Reuben  Blakeslee, 
Hezekiah  Brown, 
Thomas  Cole, 


Centinels. 

Benjamin   Cook   [of 

Wallingford,] 
Nathaniel  Edwards, 
Ambrose  Field  (?), 
Nathaniel  Foot  (?), 
Joel  Frost, 
Jonathan  Garnsey, 
Thomas  Hikcox, 
Samuel  Judd, 
Samuel  Lewis, 


Stephen  Matthews, 
Abraham  Richards, 
Thomas  Richards, 

W Scott, 

Oliver  Terrill, 
Charles  Warner, 
Joseph  Warner, 
Eliakim  Wei  ton, 
Thomas  Williams. 


In  1757,  in  Col.  Phineas  Lyman's  regiment,  Ephraim  Preston  was 
captain  of  a  company  raised  for  the  expedition  against  Crown 
Point,  which  company  was  at  Fort  Edwai;d  in  August  that  year, 
when  "Fort  William  Henry  at  the  head  of  Lake  George,  was 
besieged  by  the  French  forces  under  Montcalm.  At  this  time  the 
English  general,  Webb,  was  lying  with  an  army  of  four  thousand 
men  at  Fort  Edward,  fourteen  miles  distant."  It  is  said  that 
**  instead  of  marching  to  the  relief  of  Col.  Munroe  and  thus  saving 


*  Familiar  as  this  name  is  and  Waterbury  bortif  there  was  no  one  of  the  name  here  at  the  above  date. 


394  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

the  fort,  Webb  wrote  him  a  letter  advising  his  capitulation.  The 
messenger  and  letter  were  intercepted  by  the  Indian  allies  of  Mont- 
calm. The  latter,  thinking  Webb's  communication  would  promote 
his  own  interests,  forwarded  it  at  once  to  the  commander  of  the 
fort.    A  capitulation  soon  followed."* 

The  following  is  the  story,  as  told  by  the  messenger  himself  who 
bore  the  letter  to  Gen.  Webb.  It  was  entrusted  to  Sergeant  Israel 
Calkin  (later  Calkins)  a  young  man,  who  was  married  in  Waterbury 
by  the  Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth,  Aug.  ii,  1752,  to  Sarah,  the 
daughter  of  William  Hoadley,  and  who  lived  at  Judd's  meadow. 
He  told  the  General  Assembly  in  Oct.,  1758,  that  he  "was  a  sergeant 
in  Capt.  Ephraim  Preston's  company  in  Col.  Lyman's  regiment,  and 
was  at  Fort  Edward  in  August,  1757;  that  he  was  sent  by  Gen. 
Webb  express  from  Fort  Edward,  with  despatches  for  Col.  Munroe, 
commander  of  Fort  William  Henry — that  notwithstanding  the 
utmost  caution,  he  unhappily  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  being  taken 
by  Indians.  After  the  surrender  of  the  fort  he  was  by  savages 
conveyed  to  Canada,  but  was  there  redeemed  out  of  their  hands  by  a 
French  gentleman,  but  he  was  immediately  taken  with  small-pox, 
which  sore  distemper  he  had  very  severely — in  want  of  almost 
every  comfort,  convenience,  and  accommodation.  Being  by  a  kind 
Providence  carried  safely  through  that  distemper,  he  sailed  Nov. 
5th,  1757,  from  Quebec  for  France,  where,  through  inexpressible 
hardships,  naked  and  famished,  he  arrived  in  the  Port  of  Rochelle 
on  the  2d  of  December  (the  day  after  his  daughter  Sarah  was  born 
in  Naugatuck.)  There,  having  been  confined  for  fifteen  days  in  a 
loathsome  Gaol,  he  was  again  taken  sick  and  carried  to  a  hospital. 
After  twenty-one  days  he  was  returned  to  Gaol,  where  he  was  kept 
under  most  disagreeable  circumstances  until  placed  on  board  a 
cartel  ship  for  England,  which  ship  was  twenty-five  days  on  its 
passage  on  account  of  storms,  the  ship  being  so  crowded  that  there 
was  scarce  room  enough  to  lie  down,  and  almost  without  food  or 
clothing.  He  obtained  liberty  after  four  months  to  return  to 
America.  He  arrived  at  Boston  Oct.  6,  1758.  He  assured  The 
Assembly  that  during  his  captivity  he  had  endured  calamities,  dis- 
tresses, and  fatigues  that  were  more  than  words  could  express,  or 
Imagination  could  paint,  and  that  on  his  arrival  at  his  home  he 
found  that  almost  all  the  little  Interest  he  left  behind  him  had  been 
dissipated  and  lost  in  his  absence,  and  that  he,  with  his  wife  and 
three  small  children,  was  reduced  to  the  lowest  state  of  want  and 
necessity  " — and  all  because  he  had  entered  upon  a  most  dangerous 
service   for    his  country.       He  asked   for  his    wages   during  the 

*Dr.  Bronson. 


WATERS UR7  IN  THE  COLONIAL   WARS, 


395 


time  of  his  captivity  and  until  his  return  home,  and  such  addi- 
tional compensation  as  might  be  granted — and  received  thirty 
pounds  out  of  the  treasury,  "in  consideration  of  his  fidelity  while 
in  the  service  of  this  Colony  and  the  calamities  he  sustained  in  his 
captivity."* 

In  the  muster  roll  of  Captain  Ephraim  Preston's  regiment  we 
find  the  following  Waterbury  names  in  1757: 

Jonathan   Beebe,  Second         Uzal  Barker, 


Lieutenant, 
Moses  Matthews,  Ensign, 
Israel  Calkins,  Sergeant, 
Phineas  Beach,  Sergeant, 
Gideon  Allen, 
James  Baldwin, 


James  Barret, 
Joseph  Benham, 
Zera  Beebe, 
Henry  Cook, 
Jesse  Cook, 
Andrew  Culver, 


Justus  Dayly, 
Samuel  Fenn, 
Jesse  Hotchkiss, 
Aaron  Luddington, 
Bartholomew  Pond, 
Josiah  Stow, 
Wait  Wooster. 


The  above  soldiers  appear  to  have  gone  on  the  occasion  of  the 
"  Fort  William  Henry  Alarm." 

The  muster  roll  of  the  following  company  is  given— its  members 
being  from  Waterbury  and  the  near-by  towns  : 

2D   REGIMENT — MARCH   27   TO    NOV.    l6,    1 758. 


Eldad  Lewis,  Captain, 

Joel  Clark,  )  Lieutenants. 

Gideon  Hotchkiss,  ) 
Thomas  Richards,  Ensign, 
Abel  Woodward, 
Joab  Horsington, 
Abiel  Roberts, 


•-  Sergeants, 


Osee  Webster,  Clerk, 

Cephas  Ford,f     "j 

Tim.  Hotchkiss,   I 

Sam.  Wheeden,   \  Corporals, 

John  Strecklin,    J 

Ambrose  Sloper.  )  Drummers, 


Moses  Frost 


Ethan  Curtis,         J 

Samuel  Adams, 
David  Arnold, 
Moses  Ball.J 
David  Barnes, 
John  Barrit, 
Merwin  Beckwith, 
Benj.  Benham, 
Samuel  Berley, 
John  Bill, 
Moses  Bronson, 
James  Brown, 
Parmenius  Bunnel, 
Parmenius  Bunnel, 

John  Chapman, 
Silas  Chapman, 


David  Clark. 
Lemuel  Collins, 
Jesse  Cook, 
Abner  Curtiss, 
David  Curtiss, 
James  Curtiss, 
Joshua  Curtiss, 
Phineas  Curtiss, 
Cornelius  Dunham, 
Nath'  Edwards, 
Samuel  EUwell, 
Luther  Evans, 
Eben.  Fanf  her,  ] 
John  Fancher, 
David  Fenn, 
Samuel  Fenn, 


Samuel  Frost, 
Jon.  Fulford, 
Henry  Grilley, 
Eben.  Hart, 
Josiah  Hart, 
Jason  Harvard.^ 
Amos  Hitchcock, 
Reuben  Hitchcock, 
David  Hotchkiss, 
John  How. 
Samuel  How, 
David  Hungerford,** 
Joseph  Ives, 
William  Judd, 
Samuel  Kellogg,  ft 
Bela  Lewis, 


*  The  next  year  Israel  Calkins  removed  to  Walpole,  N.  H.,  where  his  son  Roswell  was  born.     In  1764  he 
had  returned  to  Waterbury,  and  continued  to  pay  taxes  until  1783. 

+  Died  Nov.  3.  $  Died  Oct.  7.  g  Died  Aug.  23.  I  Died  Aug.  x8.  t  Died  Sept.  29. 

»*  Died  July  22.         ft  Died  Sept.  13. 


39^ 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 


2D  REGIMENT — MARCH  27  TO  NOV.  16,  1 758 — Continued. 


Abr.  Luttington, 
Joseph  Luttington, 
Solomon  Luttington, 
EldadMix. 
William  Munson, 
David  Newel. 
Wonks  Nobikin 
James  Noisons, 
Judah  Palmer, 
David  Pardee, 
Nath^  Pardee, 
Eliab  Parker, 
Gideon  Parker, 


Aaron  Parsons, 
Samuel  Pike, 
William  Pike,* 
Jonathan  Prichard, 
Eben.  Prindle, 
Sam.  Richards.! 
Eben.  Robards, 
Barnabas  Scott, 
Eben.  Scott. 
Ezekiel  Scott, 
John  Slater, 
Kinner  Smith, 
Samuel  Sperry, 


Benj.  Stillwell.J 
Lemuel  Thomas, 
Gideon  Todd, 
Samuel  Upson, 
Thomas  Warner, 
Thomas  Way. 
Nath»  Welton, 
Oliver  Welton. 
Abner  Wetmorc,  § 
Barth.  Williams, 
Benjamin  Williams, 
Jobe  Yale,  | 
Street  Yale. 


Other  soldiers  of  1758  were  : 


Joseph  Atkins, 
Joseph  Blake, 
Lieut.  Phineas  Castle, 


Dan.  Chatfield, 
Lemuel  Chatfield, 
Dan.  McNamara, 


Isaac  Peck, 
Jabez  Wooster. 


In  1759  Abel  Woodward  was  sergeant  under  Samuel  Gaylord  in 
the  first  regiment,  and  Benjamin  Stillwell,  corporal.  In  the  second 
regiment,  Moses  Sanford  and  Jesse  Ford  were  sergeants  under  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Wilmot;  Justus  Blakeslee,  Tille  Blakeslee  (perhaps  of 
Woodbury),  John  Fulford,  Caleb  Granniss  and  James  Hungerford, 
who  died  December  2,  were  "  centinels  "  or  private  soldiers.  Lieu- 
tenant Jonathan  Beebe,  and  Sergeant  Israel  Calkins  were  under 
Captain  Amos  Hitchcock,  as  was  also  Jabez  Tuttle.  In  Captain  Joel 
Clark's  company,  Oliver  Welton  was  sergeant,  David  Arnold,  Wait 
Hotchkiss,  Eliphalet  Preston,  James  Scarret,  Caleb  Thompson  and 
Gideon  Webb  were  "centinels."  In  the  third  regiment,  in  Capt. 
Mead's  company  were  Ira  Beebe,  Isaac  Curtis,  Samuel  Curtis,  Isaac 
Darrow,  John  Palmer  and  Abraham  Prichard. 

In  1 761,  in  Colonel  Whiting's  regiment,  were: 


Samuel  Adams,  Ensign, 
Johnson  Anderson,  Corp., 
Titus  Barnes, 
Daniel  Byington, 
Jehiel  Byington, 
Joel  Byingrton, 
Jonathan  Byington, 
Benjamin  Cook, 


Moses  Cook, 
Israel  Dayton, 
David  Doolittle, 
Moses  Frost,  Drummer, 
Ambrose  Hikcox, 
Jude  Hoadley, 
Bartholomew  Jacobs, 
Brewster  Judd, 


Thomas  Judd, 
William  Judd, 
Abraham  Lewis, 
Gains  Prichard, 
John  Painter, 
Nathan  Prindle, 
Eben  Saxton, 
Jehiel  Saxton, 


♦  Died  Sept.  i6.        +  Died  Aug.  a8. 

%  Benjamin  Stillwell  was  enlisted  among  other  soldiers  for  this  expedition  by  Lieut.  Hotchkiss.  Still- 
well  broke  his  arm  just  after  enlisting.  Dr.  Porter  set  it,  and  he  marched  with  his  company.  In  October, 
Z770,  Lieut.  Hotchkiss  asked  the  Colony  for  remuneration  for  Dr.  Porter*s  services,  and  received  it. 

6  Died  Sept.  4.        I  Deserted  Sept.  4. 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  COLONIAL   WARS,  397 

Woolsey  Scott,  Hez.  Tuttle,  Stephen  Welton, 

Stephen  Scovill,  Jabez  Tuttle,  Benj.  Williams, 

Nath^  Selkrig,  Serg.,  Reuben  Tuttle,  Corp.,  Dan.  Williams, 

Joash  Seymour,  Gideon  Webb,  Obadiah  Winters, 

Sam.  Stow,  Ezekiel  Welton,  Rufus  Yarrington. 
John  Stricklin,* 

Captain  Eldad  Lewis  served  under  Colonel  Whiting  in  the  first 

regiment  from  March   15  to  December  3,  in  the  year   1762.     His 

officers  were: 

[Samuel]  Judd.f    )    Lieutenants. 
John  Colhns,  ) 

Oliver  Welton.  Ensign, 


Asa  Bray, 
William  Judd, 


Eldad  Mix,  1 


?11,^^!l!f:      \  «-g-°ts.  triTl?!^"'   \  Corporals. 


Jabez  Tuttle,  °  Joel  Roberts,        j 

John  Miles,        j  John  Bronson,     J 

Jesse  Cook, 


J 


Waterbury  names  among  the  centinels  were: 

Abraham  Barnes,  Jonathan  Fulford,  Abner  Munson, 

Bordon  Beebe,  James  Harrison,  John  Parker, 

Isaac  Castle,  Elijah  Hotchkiss,  Samuel  Potter, 

Charles  Cook,  John  Lewis,  Gains  Prichard, 

Jesse  Cook,  Aaron  Luddington,  John  Scovil. 
Thomas  Fancher, 

Waterbury  has  been  found  nobly  to  have  acted  her  part  in  the 
Colonial  wars.  The  result  of  this  expenditure  of  life,  service  and 
money,  was,  that  every  pound  the  English  colonists  taxed  them- 
selves for;  every  soldier  they  furnished  to  fight  England's  war  with 
France,  cost  the  colonies  themselves,  a  little  later  in  their  history, 
untold  sums  of  money,  and  unrecorded  lists  of  human  lives.  Their 
ability  and  achievement  excited  the  attention  of  England  and 
aroused  apprehension  regarding  her  own  supremacy  over  this  part 
of  her  kingdom.  It  also  awakened  the  colonists  themselves  to  the 
fact  of  their  own  united  strength.  Thus  was  sown  the  seed  of 
Independence,  the  cotyledons  of  which  the  colonists  themselves 
failed  to  recognize. 

♦Died  AujTUSt  6.  +  App.  April  29,  1760. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A.  PETITION  FROM  THE  WEST  FARMS  FOR  WINTER  PRIVILEGES — A  COL- 
LECTOR OF  EXCISE — MEN  OF  FARMINGBURY  PETITION  FOR  WINTER 
PRIVILEGES — A  PROPOSAL  TO  MAKE  NAVIGABLE  THE  NAUGATUCK 
RIVER — DEATH  OF  DEACON  THOMAS  CLARK — MR.  LEAVENWORTH 
MARRIES  A  BROTHER  MINISTER  AT  MIDNIGHT — BURYING  YARD  AT 
PRESENT  WOLCOTT — DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  HIKCOX — AU- 
THORITY OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  LAID  ASIDE — THE  STAMP  ACT — A 
COLONIAL  CONGRESS  HELD  IN  NEW  YORK — THE  NEWSPAPER 
"glorious  news" — REPEAL  OF  THE  STAMP  ACT — A  MAY  THANKS- 
GIVING  HARTFORD'S      SORROW — ISAAC       FRAZIER — THE       FRENCH 

FAMILY — WOODBURY  COUNTY — A  PETITION  FROM  THE  SOUTH 
FARMS — BAPTISTS — MINISTRY  LANDS  AND  MONEYS — FARMINGBURY 
SOCIETY — MIDDLEBURY    BURYING    YARD. 

DURING  the  period  of  the  French  and  Indian  war  and  in  the 
subsequent  time  down  to  the  dawning  of  the  war  of  the 
American    Revolution,   Waterbury  moved   onward    in    her 
town  life  without  any  startling  deviations   from  her  accustomed 
course. 

In  October,  1760,  Josiah  Bronson  and  other  inhabitants  of  present 
Middlebury  and  its  vicinity,  complaining  of  their  sufferings 
endured  in  reaching  places  of  public  worship  because  of  distance 
and  the  badness  of  roads,  besought  the  General  Assembly  to  grant 
them  winter  privileges  under  the  usual  forms.  The  petition  was 
granted — the  time  being  from  the  first  day  of  December  to  the  last 
of  March,  annually,  for  three  years.  In  the  lines  given  as  the 
boundaries  of  the  territory,  mention  is  made  of  Eight  Mile  brook, 
Quassapaug  po'nd,  Israel  Curtise's  lot  of  mowing  meadow  land,  the 
lane  by  Eliphalet  Bristol's  running  to  Lt.  Samuel  Wheeler's,  the  saw 
mill  on  Hop  brook,  and  a  large  rock  with  a  number  of  pine  trees  on 
it  east  of  Ebenezer  Richardson's.  Ebenezer  Porter  was  left  out  of 
the  limits.  Three  years  before  this  time  a  similar  petition  had 
been  denied.  To  that  of  1757  were  appended  thirty-three  names, 
which  names  are  here  given: 

Isaac  Bronson,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Thomas  Mallery, 

Isaac  Bronson,  Junior,  Arah  Ward,  James  Burges, 

Josiah  Bronson,  Japhet  Benham,*  Ebenezer  pender,t 

Stephen  Miles,  Edward  Smith,  Daniel  Mallery, 


♦  [James  ?]  +  Ebenezer  Porter. 


WATERBUBT'8  LATER  TEARS  AS  A  COLONIAL  TOWN,         399 

Nathan ?  John  Scott,  Stephen  Abbott, 

Daniel  Tyler,  Reuben  Hale,  [Dr.]  Peter  Powers, 

Gideon  Mallery,  Noah  Cande,  Nathaniel  Richardson, 

Benjamin  Bristol,  Daniel  Hawkins,  Abner  Munson, 

w^om  away —  John  Weed,  Amos  Scott, 

Ezekiel  Tuttle,  Andrew  Weed,  Samuel  Sherman, 

JaphetBenham,  Jun.,*         James  Bronson,  Thomas  Masters. 

All  but  seven  of  the  above  names  were  within  the  bounds  of  Waterbury. 

The  good  Deacon  Thomas  Clark  was  yearly  chosen  town  clerk 
as  long  as  he  lived;  when  Deacon  Timothy  Judd  f  was  not  chosen 
moderator  of  the  great  town  meeting  in  December,  Thomas 
Matthews  or  Caleb  Humaston  received  the  honor;  Deacon  Clark 
was  town  treasurer  until  1760,  when  Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins  was 
chosen  to  the  office,  which  he  held  until  1764. 

In  1755  "an  act  had  been  passed  for  licensing  and  regulating 
Retailers  and  for  granting  and  collecting  an  Excise  on  Distilled 
Spirituous  liquors."  Accordingly,  in  1756  a  new  officer  was  added 
to  the  town  list — Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jr.  was  chosen  "  Collector  of 
Excise."  According  to  this  act,  any  person  desiring  to  retail  any 
rum,  brandy,  or  other  distilled  spirituous  liquor  was  required  to 
obtain  an  annual  license  from  an  assistant  or  justice  of  the  peace  in 
his  own  town,  under  a  bond  to  the  officer  of  twenty  pounds,  for 
which  he  was  to  pay  one  shilling  and  sixpence.  To  the  collector 
of  excise,  the  retailer  was  to  render  an  account,  upon  oath,  of  all 
the  liquors  he  had  on  hand  at  his  taking  the  license,  and  all  that  he 
received  during  the  year,  and  pay  the  excise  thereon,  subtracting 
one-fifth  part  for  leakage  and  wastage.  Four  pence  per  gallon  was 
to  be  paid  to  the  excise  collector  for  all  liquors  sold  in  quantity 
less  than  thirty  gallons.  A  retailer  could  not  sell  less  than  one 
quart — although  a  tavern-keeper  might  under  certain  restrictions. 
The  revenue  under  this  act  was  for  the  benefit  of  schools. 
Occasionally,  and  chiefly  because  of  town-line  disputes,  a  town 
agent  was  appointed  for  the  year — Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  being 
so  appointed  "to  represent  the  town  in  any  action  that  might  be 
brought  against  it  at  any  court  of  justice  whatsoever."  Thomas 
Matthews,  Captain  Stephen  Upson,  Captain  George  Nichols  and 
others  were  so  chosen  in  subsequent  years.  In  October,  1762, 
Joseph  Adkins  [Atkins]  living  in  present  Wolcott,  with  others, 
petitioned  for  the  privilege  of  hiring  preaching  among  themselves 
five  months  in  the  winter  season,  carefully  setting  forth  the  limits 
of  the  territory  to  be  covered  by  the  permission. 


*  [James  Jr.  ?]  t  Timothy  Judd  was  a  captain,  a  deacon,  and  sometimes  a  '*  preacher." 


400  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

It  began  on  the  first  long  lots  in  Farmington  on  the  mountain  next  to  Water- 
bury,  and  ran  westerly  three  miles  by  the  south  end  of  the  society  of  New 
Cambridge,  and  to  where  Cambridge  comes  into  the  society  of  Northbury  two 
miles  to  a  birch  tree  at  the  north  end  of  a  ledge  of  rocks  in  Stephen  Blakslee's  lot, 
about  sixty  rods  east  of  his  house,  then  south  two  degrees  east  four  miles  to  a 
white  oak  tree  marked,  thence  south  twelve  degrees  east  one  mile  and  seven  rods 
to  a  bunch  of  cherry'  trees  by  the  west  side  of  the  Mad  river,  thence  south  two 
degrees  east  about  half  a  mile  into  a  line  drawn  west  from  Farmington  southwest 
corner,  thence  east  a  mile  and  three  quarters  to  said  corner,  from  thence  in  Farm- 
ington line  until  it  comes  to  the  east  side  of  the  original  twenty  rod  highway 
across  the  long  lots  in  Farmington,  thence  northerly  straight  to  the  top  edge  of  the 
mountain  west  of  Phineas  Bams'  house,  thence  on  the  height  of  said  mountain  to 
the  first  mentioned  place. 

The  above  petition  included  "  liberty  of  setting  up  a  school "  and 
freedom  from  ministerial  rates  during  the  five  months.  The 
Assembly  granted  the  petition  in  its  every  part,  also  yielding  them 
liberty  to  tax  themselves  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  and 
school,  as  societies  by  law  had  power  to  do.  The  next  May,  the 
First  Society  presented  before  the  Assembly  its  side  of  the 
question,  setting  forth  the  fact  that  within  the  above  limits  lived 
all  the  inhabitants  in  the  northeast  quarter,  except  two  or  three 
families — that  their  "meeting  house  was  thrown  from  the  centre 
into  an  extreme  part  of  the  society,  giving  a  dangerous  aspect  and 
tending  to  their  destruction.*** 

Among  the  events  of  the  period  were  the  following:  Grove  street 
was  narrowed  two  feet  near  its  west  end  for  one  hundred  feet;  a 
premium  of  three  shillings  was  offered  for  killing  or  destroying 
any  grown  wild  cat  or  fox — provided  that  the  animal  was  killed 
within  the  bounds  of  the  town — the  selectman  to  cut  off  the  right 
ear  of  the  cat  or  the  fox  to  prevent  any  other  selectman  from 
giving  an  order  for  the  same  animal;  this  premium  soon  rose  to 
five  shillings,  and  later  was  but  one  shilling;  the  selectmen  were 
given  power  to  abate  town  rates  on  the  application  of  any  four 
persons — at  their  discretion;  it  was  in  1761  that  Abraham  Hikcox 
and  Stephen  Upson,  Jr.,  laid  before  the  town  the  following  notable 
memorial:  "  Whereas  it  hath  been  conjectured  that  the  river  from 
Waterbury  to  Derby  might  with  a  little  cost  be  made  Navigable  for 
Battooing,  we  pray  that  this  meeting  would  Grant  that  whoever 
shall  subscribe  and  work  at  clearing  said  River,  shall  for  each  day's 
work  be  allowed  to  have  it  go  off  for  a  Highway  day";  in  1763  it 
was  voted  that  the  Town  Rate  might  be  received  by  the  collectors 
in  provisions— wheat  at  four  shillings,  rye  two  shillings  and  eight 


*  Dr.  Bronson  has  entered  so  fully  into  the  details  of  the  formation  of  the  ecclesiastical  societies  of 
Farmingbury  and  Middlebury,  that  it  has  not  been  deemed  necessary  to  repeat  them  here. 


WATEBBURY'S  LATER  YEABS  AS  A  COLONIAL  TOWN,  401 

pence,  Indian  corn  at  two,  oats  at  one  shilling  a  bushel,  and  flax  at 
six-pence  per  pound — provided  the  payment  of  rates  was  made  at  a 
specified  time;  in  the  same  year  the  old  question  of  the  ministerial 
lands  and  moneys  came  before  the  town  again,  and  a  committee 
was  to  search  the  records  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting — 
adjourned  for  that  purpose — ^but  when  the  meeting  was  met,  it 
decided  only  on  the  manner  of  impounding  rams,  and  the  annual 
premium  for  killing  foxes  and  wild  cats ;  and  when  it  was  pro- 
posed to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee  which  had  been 
appointed  to  search  the  records  of  the  ministerial  land  and  moneys 
dissension  seems  to  have  arisen.  It  is  indicated  by  the  words^the 
last  penned  in  our  records  by  the  then  town  clerk — "  Answered  in 
the  Negative  voted  to  Dismiss  the  meeting." 

Nov.  12,  1764,  died  Deacon  Thomas  Clark — "Town  Clerk  and 
Treasurer" — a  man  of  most  excellent  attainment  and  of  valuable 
reputation,  who  had  lived  here  as  boy  and  man  for  more  than  sixty 
years.*  Mr.  Clark  lived  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  City 
Hall.  Across  the  meeting  house  green  lived  the  Rev.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth. Within  a  few  months  of  the  time  of  Mr.  Clark's  death,  his 
third  daughter,  Hannah,  was  to  be  married  to  the  Rev.  Solomon 
Mead  of  New  Salem,  New  York.  Wedding  festivities  were  pre- 
pared for.  The  guests  assembled  to  witness  the  marriage  cere- 
monies, but  the  Reverend  bridegroom  did  not  arrive.  A  bridge  in 
his  journey  of  forty  miles  on  horseback  had  been  carried  away,  but 
of  this  the  guests  knew  not.  They  waited  until  the  unseemly  hour 
of  eleven  at  night,  when  they  all  went  home..  At  half-past  eleven 
Mr.  Mead  reached  Waterbury.  At  New  Salem  every  preparation 
had  been  made  by  his  people  to  welcome  their  pastor's  bride  the 
next  evening,  and  the  tiresome  journey  of  more  than  forty  miles 
must  be  begun  early  in  the  morning.  A  messenger  aroused  Mr. 
Leavenworth,  and  a  midnight  marriage  took  place.  Very  early  the 
next  morning  the  bride  took  her  departure,  the  same  horse  carrying 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mead,  the  wedding  apparel  of  the  bride  being  securely 
strapped  to  the  pillion. 

Ezra  Bronson  was  chosen  town  clerk  and  town  treasurer  a  month 
after  Deacon  Clark's  death.  At  this  meeting  it  required  eighty- 
two  ofl&cers  to  fill  the  town's  quota,  two  or  more  ofl&ces  frequently 
being  represented  by  the  same  person.     It  is  interesting  to  note 

*  Thomas  Clark  was  also  a  merchant,  and  the  book  in  which  he  kept  his  '*  accounts,"  commencing  in 
Z727,  Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  was  loaned  to  him  by  Mrs.  Aurelia  Clark,  Deacon  Clark's  granddaughter.  Dr. 
Bronson  deposited  it  for  security  with  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society.  He  very  courteously 
gave  to  the  writer  an  order  for  its  recovery,  that  it  might  add  to  the  interest  of  this  work.  A  most  patient 
and  earnest  search  for  it  in  the  Society's  rooms  in  the  late  State  House  and  in  the  Insurance  Building,  and 
also  in  its  new  home,  has  been  without  reward. 

26 


402  BISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

that  the  Proprietors  are  still  holding  the  balance  of  power — ^more 
than  one-half  of  the  places  being  filled  by  their  lineal  representa- 
tives. Unfamiliar  names,  in  the  unfamiliar  characters  of  Ezra 
Bronson's  pen  look  up  at  us  from  the  open  page.  The  Culvers  and 
Dunbars  and  Frisbies;  Eliphalet  Hartshorn,  Philemon  Sanford, 
Isaac  Spencer,  and  Randal  Evans  have  come  into  office;  and  young 
William  Southmayd,  grandson  of  the  Reverend  John  Southmayd  (a 
few  months  married  to  Irene,  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Todd)  we  find  surveying  highways. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Fulford  branded  the  horses;  Aaron  Harrison, 
Richard  Seymore,  and  David  Blakslee  sealed  the  leather,  Isaac 
Prichard  still  repacked  the  provisions,  in  which  the  people  paid 
their  colony  rates;  Captain  Stephen  Upson,  Jr.,  sealed  the  measures; 
eight  men  were  required  to  make  the  tax  lists;  thirty,  to  survey 
the  highways;  and,  so  unruly  had  Waterbury  and  its  dependencies 
become,  that  fourteen  tithingmen  were  deemed  none  too  many  to 
keep  order  in  the  community,  and  to  properly  attend  to  the  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath  Day  according  to  the  established  law,  in  a  town 
of  four  parishes,  three  meeting  houses,  and  one  church  edifice. 

On  the  last  day  in  the  year  1764,  the  town  instructed  Capt. 
George  Nichols  and  Capt.  Stephen  Upson,  Jr.,  "  to  go  out  Eastward 
near  Joseph  Atkins  to  view  and  purchase  half  an  acre  of  land  upon 
the  Town  cost  in  that  neighborhood  where  they  shall  think  it  most 
convenient  for  a  burying  yard."  They  selected  the  land  now  used 
for  that  purpose  near  Wolcott  centre. 

In  May,  1765,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  Captain  Samuel 
Hikcox  died.  He  was  an  efficient  and  a  prominent  citizen,  holding 
an  important  place  in  the  community. 

The  authority  of  the  First  Church  was  publicly  laid  aside  in 
1765.  For  nearly  a  century  the  governing  power  had  there  inhered. 
The  words  of  its  dethronement  were  few — a  simple  announcement 
in  town  meeting  declaring  that  "no  regard  should  be  paid  to 
society  nominations  for  Town  Officers."  However,  a  century  of 
impetus  is  not  soon  overcome,  and  the  same  men,  in  so  far  as  we 
may  discern,  were  duly  elected  under  the  new  regime — Captain 
Ezra  Bronson  was  chosen  town  clerk  and  town  treasurer ;  the 
selectmen  were  "  Capt.  Stephen  Upson,  Jun',  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq*", 
Capt.  John  Sutliff,  Capt.  Edward  Scovill,  Timothy  Judd,  Esq',  and 
Lieut.  Daniel  Potter." 

Upon  the  termination  of  the  French  and  Indian  war  the  English 
government  began  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  recover  from  her 
English  colonies  in  America  that  portion  of  the  cost  of  the  conflict 
which  the  colonies  had  received  from  England  in  part  payment  for 


WATERBURT'8  LATER  TEARS  AS  A  COLONIAL  TOWN.         403 

their  colonial  expenditures.  To  this  end  were  devised  certain 
stamp  duties,  which  gave  to  the  bill  of  particulars  its  popular  title — 
**The  Stamp  Act."    The  full  title  of  the  bill  was: 

An  Act  for  granting  and  applying  certain  Stamp  Duties  and  other  Duties  in  the 
British  Colonies  and  Plantations  in  America,  towards  defraying  the  Expenses  of 
defending,  protecting,  and  securing  the  same,  and  for  amending  such  parts  of  the 
several  Acts  of  Parliament  relating  to  the  trade  and  revenues  of  the  said  Colonies 
and  Plantations,  as  direct  the  manner  of  determining  and  recovering  the  penalties 
and  forfeitures  therein  mentioned.  Also  ten  publick  bills  and  seventeen  private 
ones. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  this  simple  narrative  of  the  early  years 
of  a  colonial  town,  to  enter  into  circumstantial  details  of  the  causes 
that  led  to  the  Colonial  Revolution — and  we  may  only  refer  to  the 
general  gloom  and  discontent  that  crept  down  upon  the  people,  as 
they  found  themselves  deprived  of  their  constitutional  rights  as 
British  subjects,  by  having  taxes  imposed  upon  them  without  their 
own  consent — the  colonies  having  no  representation  in  Parliament. 
The  colonists  claimed  that  liberty  and  freedom  were  taken  from 
them,  being  involved  in  the  above  power.  In  October,  1764,  the 
General  Assembly,  convened  at  New  Haven,  resolved  to  petition 
Parliament  against  this  bill  for  a  stamp  duty,  or  any  bill  for  an 
internal  tax  on  the  colony — which  resolve  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion. Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins  and  Mr.  Ephraim  Warner  were  the  dep- 
uties from  Waterbury  who  voted  on  this  petition.  One  year  from 
that  time  a  Congress  was  held  in  New  York,  composed  of  the 
several  governments,  "  to  confer  upon  a  general  and  united  humble, 
loyal  and  dutiful  representation  to  his  Majesty  and  the  Parliament, 
of  the  present  circumstances  of  the  Colonies,  and  the  difficulties  to 
which  they  were  and  must  be  reduced  by  the  operation  of  the  acts 
for  levying  duties  and  taxes  on  the  Colonies,  and  to  implore  relief. 
One  of  the  instructions  to  the  members  of  this  first  Congress  must 
be  noted,  because  of  its  true  Connecticut  ring:  In  your  proceedings 
you  are  to  take  care  that  you  form  no  such  junction  with  the  other  Com- 
missioners  as  will  subject  you  to  the  major  vote  of  the  Commissioners  present. 
One  feels  like  giving  a  cheer  for  Connecticut  Colony  in  1765! 

And  all  this  time  while  the  government  was  aroused  and  in 
action  for  its  constitutional  rights  of  representation,  and  privilege 
of  trial  by  jury;  and  expressing  in  every  conceivable  way  its  distress 
and  alarming  apprehensions  that  the  English  parliament  "should 
entertain  sentiments  so  different  from  its  own,  respecting  what  was 
ever  reckoned  among  the  most  important  and  essential  rights  of 
Englishmen,*'  Waterbury  continued  her  planting  and  harvesting, 
her  living  and  dying,  only  now  and  then  giving  a  word  here,  and  a 


404  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

line  there,  whereby  we  may  faintly  discern  the  paths  in  which  her 
people  were  led.     There  are  no  records  for  town  meetings  in  the 
year  1766.     The  missing  leaf  was  probably  lost  in  re-binding.     It 
may  have  been  that  it  is  because  of  these  missing  pages  that  Water- 
bury's  action  on  the  reception  of  the  following  news  is  unknown. 
Certain  "  rate  books  "  found  in  the  Kingsbury  house  were  enclosed 
in  newspaper  covers.    One  of  the  covers  is  a  newspaper,  of  a  single 
issue,  printed  at  New  Haven  on  Monday  morning.  May   19,  1766, 
bearing  for  its  title:    Glorious  News.     At  eleven  o'clock  on  Friday, 
May  i6th,  there  arrived  at  Boston  a  brig  belonging  to  John  Han- 
cock, Captain  Shubael  Coffin,  in  "  6  Weeks  and  2   Days  from  Lon- 
don." Mr.  Jonathan  Lowder  set  oflF  to  bear  the  news  the  brig  brought 
and  "rode  very  hard,'*  reaching  New  London  at  9  o'clock  Saturday 
night,  and  waiting,  without  doubt,  until  sundown  on  the  Sabbath 
day  before  taking  up  his  journey  to  New  Haven,  where  he  arrived 
on  Monday  morning.     And  this  was  the  news,  from  the   London 
Gazette,  of  March  i8th,  1766:    **This  day  His  Majesty  came  to  the 
House  of  Peers,  and  being  in  his  royal  robes  seated  on  the  Throne 
with  the  usual  solemnity,  Sir  Francis  Molineux,  Gentleman  Usher 
of  the  Black  Rod,  was  sent  with  a  Message  from  his  Majesty  to  the 
House  of  Commons,  commanding  their  attendance  in  the  House  of 
Peers.    The    Commons    having    come   thither,    His    Majesty  was 
pleased  to  give  his  Royal  Assent  to  An  Act  to  Repeal  an  Act  made 
in  the  last  Session  of  Parliament.     When  the  King  went  to  the 
House  of  Peers,  there  was  such  a  vast  concourse  of  People,  huzza- 
ing, and   clapping  hands,  that  it  was   several  hours  before   His 
Majesty  reached  the  House.     As  soon  as  the   Royal   Assent  was 
affixed  to  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp-Act,  the  merchants  trading  to 
America  dispatched  a  vessel  which  had  been  waiting,  to  put  into 
the  first  port  on  the  Continent  with  the  news.    The  greatest  rejoic- 
ings possible  by  all  Ranks  of  People  were  held  in  London,  the  ships 
in  the  river  displayed  their  colors.      Illuminations   and    bonfires 
abounded,  and  the  Rejoicings  were  as  great  as  ever  was  Known  on 
any  occasion."     In  Boston,  it  "was  impossible  to  express  the  Joy 
the  Town  was  in  on  receiving  the  above  great,  glorious,  and  impor- 
tant news."     The  bells  in  all  the  Churches  were  set  a-ring^ng,  and 
a  day  for  general  rejoicing  was   to  be  held.     An  hour  after   Mr. 
Lowder  reached  New  London,  the  guns  in  the  fort  were  firing,  and 
New  Haven  on  Monday  morning,  was  in  like  rejoicings.     No  paper 
it  is  safe  to  say  was  ever  more  welcome  in  Waterbury  than  was  this 
issue  of  "  Glorious  News."    We  do  not  know  who  brought  it  here 
or  how  long  the  rider  lingered  at  Stephen  Hopkin's  gate  to  tell  the 
tidings,  or  who  held  him  fast  at  Judd's  Meadow  until  the  story  was 


WATEBBURT'8  LATER  TEARS  A8  A  COLONIAL  TOWN,        405 

retold,  but  we  do  know  that  four  days  later,  on  Friday,  a  special 
Thanksgiving  day  was  held  throughout  the  colony.  The  rejoicings 
at  Hartford  were  not  only  religiously  observed,  but  bells  and  colors 
and  cannon  played  their  parts,  and  "  preparations  were  making  for  a 
general  illumination  in  the  evening,  when,  accidentally,  fire  was 
communicated  to  a  quantity  of  powder  put  in  one  of  the  lower 
rooms  of  the  new  brick  school  house  (which  stood  where  the  Ameri- 
can Hall  is  now,  1881,)  to  be  delivered  out  to  the  military  and  used 
on  the  joyful  occasion.  In  an  instant  the  building  was  reduced  to 
a  heap  of  rubbish.  A  number  of  young  gentlemen  had  met  to  make 
sky  rockets  in  the  chamber  over  the  room  where  the  powder  was 
deposited.    About  thirty  were  buried  in  the  ruins,  of  whom  six  died." 

A  few  days  after  this  Thanksgiving  was  held,  Joseph  Hopkins 
of  Waterbury  asked  the  Assembly  for  ^^jQz^  4  8^,  or  any  part 
thereof,  because  Isaac  Frazier,  a  transient  person,  broke  open  his 
shop  (on  the  north  side  of  West  Main  street)  in  the  night,  between 
the  5th  and  6th  days  of  October,  1765,  and  stole  and  carried  away  a 
large  quantity  of  goldsmith's  wares,  with  some  monies."  Mr.  Hop- 
kins pursued  the  thief  with  men  and  horses,  and  found  him  at  South 
Kingston  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  returned  to  Waterbury,  and 
committed  to  prison  at  New  Haven  at  the  above  cost.  Dr.  Bronson 
tells  us  that  Frazier  **  was  sentenced  to  be  executed,  but  asked  for 
perpetual  imprisonment,  banishment  or  slavery  instead,  and  that 
the  request  was  not  granted."  We  confess  to  a  sense  of  relief  at 
finding  Dr.  Bronson  in  probable  error.  According  to  Mr.  Hopkins' 
plea,  he  was  convicted  before  the  Superior  court,  and  punished — 
but  as,  after  the  punishment^  he  was  bound  to  Mr.  Hopkins  for  the 
payment  of  the  sums  expended  in  his  capture,  "  but  continued  in 
service  but  four  days  and  then  absconded;"  and,  several  years  later, 
as  one  Isaac  Frazier  was  "  a  prisoner  in  Fairfield  county,  for  a  cap- 
ital crime,"  we  have  ventured  to  infer  that  Isaac  Frazier  was  not 
executed  for  stealing  Joseph  Hopkins's  goldsmith  wares  in  Water- 
bury. 

A  committee  to  remove  encroachments  from  highways  had  for 
some  time  been  an  almost  annual  appointment,  but  in  1768  the  same 
committee  was  impowered  "by  the  majority  of  its  members  to  lease 
for  a  reasonable  rent  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Town,  such  parts 
of  the  highways  as  might  reasonably  be  spared."  In  the  same  year 
the  selectmen  were  bidden  to  allow  the  cost  of  building  a  room, 
eight  feet  long  and  six  wide,  for  the  use  of  keeping  the  Town  stock 
(guns  and  ammunition),  to  any  person  who  should  build  the  same. 

When  England,  at  the  close  of  the  war  with  France  in  1763,  dis- 
persed the  helpless  Acadians  and  they  were  doomed  to  service  in 


4o6  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  English  colonies,  six  of  the  number  were  allotted  to  Waterbury. 
Special  provision  was  made  by  Connecticut  for  the  transfer  from 
town  to  town  of  these  most  helpless  mortals.  In  this  year,  the 
following  act  in  our  records  is  supposed  to  refer  to  a  family  of 
French  Acadians  :  **  Voted,  to  give  the  French  Family  in  this  town, 
in  order  to  Transport  sd.  French  Family  into  the  Northward 
country,  not  exceeding  Ten  pounds,  including  Charitable  Contribu- 
tions." It  is  supposed  that  they  were  landed,  as  were  our  soldiers 
in  the  Cape  Breton  expedition,  at  New  London,  and  were  then 
passed  on  from  town  to  town  to  their  appointed  destination. 

In  May  of  1768,  "the  proposal  of  a  New  county  being  erected  in 
Woodbury"  came  before  the  town.  This  county  was  to  include 
Woodbury,  Waterbury,  New  Milford,  Newtown,  and  New  Fairfield. 
Waterbury's  vote  on  the  question  was  passed  in  the  negative. 

During  sixty-seven  years  the  inhabitants  at  Judd's  meadow  had, 
however  rough  the  roads,  or  bitter  the  wintry  winds,  toiled  upward 
to  the  Meeting-House  green  at  the  Town  spot  to  attend  divine 
service.  In  January,  1769,  a  modest  petition  for  "  priviledges  "  from 
Gideon  "  Hecox  "  and  others  of  Waterbury,  reached  the  Assembly. 
There  is  about  that  petition  a  pitiable  little  pathos,  a  half -guilty 
something,  that  is  indefinable  but  potent  to  tell  that  Judd's  meadow 
men  felt  their  position  to  be  that  of  an  erring  child,  I  suspect  it 
was  because  they  had  so  often  joined  in  denying  winter  and  society 
privileges  to  their  own  townsmen,  that  they  were  half  ashamed  to 
ask  for  themselves.  Judd's  meadow  or  South  Farms  is  not  even 
mentioned  in  the  plea.  The  usual  five-months'  term  of  release  was 
granted  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly.  In  the  same  year 
Samuel  Scott  was  collector  of  the  colony  tax.  He  became  insolvent 
and  conveyed  his  estate  to  the  town  as  security  for  his  collections. 
The  town  ordered  his  estate  sold  at  a  "  Publick  Vandue "  at  the 
dwelling  house  of  the  second  Thomas  Clark.  In  1769  there  were 
three  Baptists  in  Waterbury.  They  are  so  noted  in  the  rate-book 
for  that  year — their  names  being  James  Blakslee,  Jacob  Richmond, 
and  David  Cole.  This  was  the  same  year  in  which  Joseph  Meacham, 
a  Baptist  minister,  was  prosecuted  "  at  the  suit  of  the  king  before 
the  county  court  of  Hartford,  for  solemnizing  a  marriage  between 
Frances  Baxter  and  Abigail  Saxton."  His  punishment  was  a  fine 
of  twenty  pounds,  and  six  pounds  cost,  in  lawful  money.  On  prov- 
ing his  innocence  of  intended  evil-doing,  his  fine  was  forgiven  him, 
but  not  the  costs. 

In  1770  the  old  question  of  the  disposition  of  the  school  moneys 
which  had  been  received  by  the  town  from  the  colony — funds  which 
had  arisen  from  the  sale  of  the  seven  townships — came  anew  to  the 


WATERBURT'8  LATER  YEARS  AS  A  COLONIAL  TOWN,        407 

front.  The  sales  had  taken  place  at  a  time  when  there  was  but  one 
head  in  the  township,  and  that  head  was  the  First  church.  West- 
bury  and  Northbury  had  already  claimed  their  proportion  according 
to  their  lists  in  1732.  Of  the  money  arising  from  the  Proprietor's 
gift,  in  1715,  of  a  jQiso  right  in  lands,  the  sale  of  which  was  to  be 
used  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  the  Church  of  England  now 
claimed  its  equal  proportion,  and  the  town  agreed  that  from  1770 
the  above  money  should  be  divided  according  to  the  claims  of  the 
various  parties,  and  that  the  societies  or  parts  of  societies  that 
should  thereafter  be  formed  should  share  in  a  like  privilege.  Cap- 
tain Samuel  Hikcox  (son  of  Deacon  Thomas),  Captain  John  Welton, 
and  Captain  Phineas  Royce  were  chosen  to  go  to  the  Secretary's 
office  and  search  into  the  affairs  relative  to  the  matter,  and  to  draw 
orders  and  give  receipts  relative  thereto.  The  above  vote  very  naturally 
was  more  than  distasteful,  and  it  was  believed  to  be  "  against  the 
common  sense  and  practice  of  mankind.''  Party  strife  entered  into 
the  struggle.  It  was  the  Town  of  Waterbury  vs.  The  First  Church 
and  Society.  From  the  latter  emanated  most  vigorous  protests. 
That  of  the  Societies*  committee  of  the  First  Society  ran  thus  : 

Whereas  the  town  of  Waterbury  formerly  (when  consisting  of  but  one  ecclesias- 
tical society)  was  possessed  of  certain  large  quantities  of  lands  devoted  to  the  use 
of  the  ministry  in  the  same.  And  whereas,  since  the  sd  town  has  been  divided 
into  several  ecclesiastic^  societies,  the  inhabitants  of  sd  societies  convened  in  a 
town  meeting  did  formerly  undertake  by  their  votes  to  sell  part  of  the  sd  lands,  and 
to  divide  the  interest  of  the  moneys  raised  thereby  to  and  amongst  sd  societies — 
And  now  the  said  inhabitants  have  also  voted  that  a  certain  party  called  the  church 
of  England,  (which  bad  no  existence  in  sd  town  when  sd  lands  was  granted  to  the 
use  of  the  ministry  therein,)  shall  have  their  equal  proportion  of  s<*  moneys,  all 
which  votes  are  an  affringement  on  the  property  of  the  first  society  of  sd  Water- 
bury and  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  Colony Therefore  we  the  subscribers, 

society's  committee  in  sd  first  society,  do  enter  this  our  protest  more  especially 
against  the  last  of  the  above  sd  votes  made  this  day,  as  it  is  also  against  law  and 
equity  and  the  most  important  rites  and  interest  of  this  society  and  against  the 
common  sence  and  practice  of  mankind,  and  request  the  same  may  be  recorded  in 
the  office  of  the  town  clerk  in  sd  Waterbury.     Dated  March  12,  1770. 

(Signed)  Andrew  Bronson,  Joseph  Hopkins,  Ashbel  Porter,  Dan.  Welton,  Ezra 
Bronson,  society's  committee  of  the  first  society  of  Waterbury. 

On  the   same  page  the  School  committee  of  the  First  Society 
caused  its  protest  to  be  recorded: 

Whereas  the  Hon^'«  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  in  the  year  1733,  Granted 
certain  moneys  raised  by  the  Sale  of  the  Western  [lands]  (then  so  called)  to  the 
First  society  in  Waterbury  for  the  use  of  the  schools  in  sd  First  society  forever — 
And  Whereas  on  this  Day  the  Inhabitants  of  the  several  societies  in  a  Town  meet- 
ing have  taken  upon  them  to  vote,  and  have  voted  that  the  said  moneys  shall  be 
Divided  to  the  several  societies  in  Waterbury  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  colony 


4o8  mSTOBT  OF  WATERS URT. 

Therefore  we  the  subscribers  school  committees  (intimating  two  schools  as  then 
existing  at  the  town  centre)  in  the  First  society  Do  Enter  this  our  Protest  against 
said  vote  as  being  unlawful  unquitable  and  Injurious  to  Posterity,  and  Request 
that  the  same  may  be  Recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Town  Clerk  in  said  Waterbury. 

Dated  this  12th  Day  of  March,  A.  D.  1770. 

Also  Mr.  Isaac  Bronson  Protested  against  sd.  vote  and  Desired  the  same  might 

be  entered. 

Jonathan  Baldwin, 

Isaac  Bronson,  Ju°. 

Ezra  Bronson, 

Reuben  Blakslee, 

School  Committee  of  the  First  Society  of  Waterbury, 

[The  meeting  Dismist.] 

The  First  Church,  without  doubt,  felt  grieved  and  defrauded  of 
that  which  had  been  its  inheritance.  Its  power  and  its  riches  had 
joined  hands  and  were  fleeing  away  from  it.  A  similar  hour  enters 
every  human  heart  in  its  earthly  course. 

The  next  town  meeting  opened  with  "  Prayer  by  the  Rev'd 
Mark  Leavenworth."  It  would  seem  that  it  was  only  on  momentous 
occasions  (born  of  sorrow  or  some  weighty  consideration),  that  the 
civil  meetings  of  the  community  were  fortified  by  prayer,  before  the 
year  1770. 

In  October  1770,  the  Society  of  Farmingbury  was  duly  incorpo- 
rated on  lines  somewhat  less  in  extent  than  those  over  which 
winter  privileges  had  held  sway.  The  society  line  passed  through 
the  middle  of  the  dwelling  houses  of  Caleb  Barnes  and  Elijah 
Frisbie.  After  a  series  of  mistakes  in  regard  to  the  center  of  West- 
bury  Society,  the  site  for  the  second  meeting  house  was  finally  deter- 
mined. The  stake  "  was  set  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  old  meeting 
house,  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  from  the  old  meeting  house 
to  Benjamin  Richards  Junr.,  in  Wait  Scott's  orchard,  about  seven- 
teen or  eighteen  rods  southwest  from  Wait  Scott's  dwelling  house, 
and  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  rods  west  from  the  highway."  The 
stake,  set  by  "  Bushnel  Bostwick,  Abijah  Catlin,  and  John  Whiting 
Esq",  was  to  be  included  within  the  sills  of  the  house." 

In  May  177 1,  the  First  Society  asked  the  General  Assembly  for 
the  return  of  the  moneys  that  had  been  taken  from  it,  but  obtained 
no  redress.  In  the  same  year  the  selectmen  were  appointed  "to  go 
and  view  and  find  a  convenient  place  for  a  Burying  Place  in  the 
west  part  of  the  First  society."  The  site  selected  was  the  first 
place  of  burial  in  Middlebury. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

THE  RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  —  THE  EARLIEST 
INTIMATION  OF  AN  APPROACHING  WAR  —  A  COMMITTEE  OF  IN- 
SPECTION—  WATERBURY  RESOLVES  TO  ABIDE  BY  THE  ASSOCIATION 
ENTERED  INTO  BY  CONGRESS  —  MASSACHUSETTS  BOYCOTTS  THE 
IMPORTERS    OF    BRITISH     GOODS  —  BOSTON     RIOTING  —  THE    BOSTON 

PORT-BILL  —  Windham's  gift  of  sheep  —  thirteen   gentlemen 

IN  WATERBURY  RECEIVE  CONTRIBUTIONS  FOR  BOSTON  —  WATER- 
BURY'S  military  COMPANIES  1770-1775  —  POPULATION  IN  1774 — 
CHURCHMEN — AN  ARMY  OF  SIX  THOUSAND  MEN  IN  APRIL,  1775 — 
WATERBURY  SENT  152  SOLDIERS  —  CAPT.  PHINEAS  PORTER'S  COM- 
PANY—  DISAFFECTION  AT  NORTHBURY  —  THE  REV.  JOHN  R.  MAR- 
SHALL— CAPT.  BROWN — STEPHEN  UPSON — A  "  RUMPUS  "  IN  WATER- 
BURY—  THE    REV.  MR.  INGLIS DR.    MANSFIELD  —  THE    REV.    JAMES 

SCOVILL — BENJAMIN  BALDWIN — BIRTH  OF  THE  NATION  AT  PHILA- 
DELPHIA— GENERAL  HOWE'S  BRITISH  FLEET — GENERAL  WASHING- 
TON'S APPEAL  FOR  CONNECTICUT  MILITIA — WATERBURY  TROOPS 
REACH  NEW  YORK — THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE  READ — 
STATUE  OF  KING  GEORGE  OVERTHROWN  —  MAJOR  PHINEAS  POR- 
TER'S  ORDERLY    BOOK — WATERBURY    MEN    IN    MANY    PLACES. 

IN  May,  1774,  the  House  of  Representatives,  tinder  solemn  and 
serious  conditions,  passed  eleven  resolutions,  which,  after 
having  been  in  the  Lower  House  read  distinctly  three  several 
times  and  considered,  were  voted  and  passed  with  great  unanimity. 
In  the  ist  resolution,  his  Majesty  King  George  is  acknowledged 
to  be  the  lawful  and  rightful  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  duty  is 
admitted  of  the  people  of  his  kingdom,  including  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  to  bear  faithful  and  true  allegiance  to  their  king  and  to 
defend  him  in  all  attempts  upon  his  person,  crown  or  dignity;  in 
the  2d,  the  colonists  laid  claim  to  all  the  liberties  and  privileges  of 
natural  born  subjects,  as  fully  as  though  they  had  been  born  within 
the  realm  of  England,  claiming  property  in  their  own  estate,  and 
the  right  to  be  taxed  by  their  own  consent  only,  given  in  person  or 
by  their  representatives,  that  their  liberties  or  free  customs  were 
not  to  be  taken  from  them,  and  that  they  were  not  to  be  sentenced  or 
condemned  but  by  the  lawful  judgment  of  their  peers,  all  of  which 
they  claimed  by  their  charter;  in  the  3d,  that  the  only  lawful  repre- 
sentatives of  the  freemen  were  the  persons  elected  by  them  to  serve 


4IO  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

in  the  General  Assembly;  in  the  4th,  the  right  to  be  governed  by 
their  General  Assembly  in  the  article  of  taxing  and  internal  police 
was  set  forth,  with  the  claim  that  the  same  had  been  enjoyed  more 
than  a  century  under  the  charter  which  had  neither  been  forfeited 
nor  surrendered,  but  had  during  all  the  century  been  constantly 
recognized  by  King  and  Parliament;  in  the  5th,  the  Assembly  pro- 
tested against  the  erection  of  new  Courts  of  Admiralty  vested  with 
powers  above  and  not  subject  to  the  common-law  courts  of  the 
Colony  to  determine  suits  relating  to  duties  and  forfeitures,  as 
being  foreign  to  the  established  jurisdiction  of  the  former  courts  of 
admiralty  in  America  on  the  ground  that  it  was  "destructive  of 
one  of  their  most  darling  rights,  that  of  Tryal  by  Juries,"  which 
was  held  in  esteem  as  one  chief  excellence  of  the  British  consti- 
tution, and  a  principal  bulwark  of  English  liberty;  in  the  6th,  pro- 
test was  made  against  the  apprehending  and  carrying  persons 
beyond  the  sea  to  be  tried  for  any  crime  committed  within  the 
Colony,  or  trial  by  any  court  constituted  by  act  of  Parliament  or 
otherwise  within  the  Colony  in  a  summary  way,  without  a  jury;  in 
the  7th,  declaration  was  made  that  any  harbor  or  port  duly  consti- 
tuted and  opened  could  not  be  shut  up  and  discharged  except  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature,  without  subverting  the  rights,  and  destroy- 
ing the  property  of  subjects;  in  the  8th,  the  act  of  Parliament 
inflicting  pains  and  penalties  on  the  town  of  Boston  by  blocking 
up  its  harbor  was  a  precedent  justly  alarming  to  the  colonists  and 
inconsistent  with  their  constitutional  rights  and  liberties;  in  the 
9th,  the  Colony  promised  that  whenever  his  Majesty's  service 
should  require  the  aid  of  her  people,  most  cheerfully  to  grant  its 
proportion  of  men  and  money  for  the  defense,  protection  and 
security  of  the  British  American  dominions;  in  the  loth,  it  was 
set  forth  that  according  to  the  extent  and  circumstances  of  the 
American  Colonies,  there  were  within  them  as  many  loyal,  virtu- 
ous, industridjiis  and  well-governed  subjects  as  in  any  part  of  the 
British  dominions,  that  they  were  as  warmly  engaged  to  promote 
the  best  good  and  real  glory  of  the  grand  whole  of  the  Empire  as 
any  subjects  within  it,  and  that  the  colonists  looked  upon  their 
connection  with  Great  Britain  (under  God)  as  the  greatest  security 
to  the  colony,  which  connection  they  ardently  wished  might  con- 
tinue to  the  latest  posterity,  declaring  that  the  Constitution  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  as  understood  and  practiced  upon  ever  since 
it  existed  until  the  late  troubles  intervened,  was  the  surest  band 
of  union,  confidence  and  mutual  prosperity  between  the  mother 
country  and  her  colonies,  and  the  best  foundation  on  which  to  build 
the  good  of  the  whole,  whether  considered  in  a  civil,  military  or 


WATERBUR7  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  411 

mercantile  light;  in  the  nth,  acknowledgment  was  made  of  the 
duty  owed  by  the  colony,  to  king,  country,  themselves  and  their 
posterity  to  maintain,  defend  and  preserve  their  rights  and  liber- 
ties, and  to  transmit  them  entire  and  inviolate  to  the  latest  gene- 
rations, and  announcing  a  fixed,  determined  and  unalterable  resolu- 
tion faithfully  to  discharge  that  duty. 

When  Capt.  Jonathan  Baldwin,  and  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq., 
unflinchingly  declared  their  unbounded  patriotism  by  subscribing 
in  behalf  of  Waterbury  to  the  resolutions,  of  which  the  above  is  a 
mere  outline,  they  had  been  twelve  times  deputies  to  the  General 
Assembly. 

The  earliest  intimation  of  an  approaching  war  to  be  found  in 
our  record  appears  Nov.  17,  1774,  when  a  meeting  was  warned  to 
take  action  on  the  "nth  Article  of  the  Association  of  the  General 
Congress."  The  above  "Article"  recommended  that  every  town 
should  appoint  a  committee  whose  business  it  should  be  attentively 
to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  touching  that  Association  of 
the  General  Congress,  and  if  any  one  was  found  inimical  to  it 
the  case  was  to  be  published  in  the  Gazette  —  "to  the  end  that 
all  such  foes  to  the  rights  of  British  America  might  be  publicly 
known  and  universally  contemned  as  the  enemies  of  American  lib- 
erty." Thereafter,  all  dealings  with  such  persons  were  to  be  broken 
off.  The  town  at  once  appointed  its  Committee  of  Inspection. 
The  men  chosen  on  this  important  occasion  were  Joseph  Hop- 
kins, Dr.  Ebenezer  Beardsley,  Deacon  Andrew  Bronson,  and  James 
Bronson  from  the  First  society;  Capt.  John  Welton  from  the 
.Church  of  England  in  the  First  society;  Capt.  Gideon  Hotchkiss 
and  John  Lewis  from  Salem;  Deacon  Timothy  Judd,  Capt.  Benjamin 
Richards  (who  kept  a  tavern)  and  Stephen  Matthews  from  West- 
bury;  Dr.  Roger  Conant,  Jesse  Curtis  (one  of  seventeen  Curtis 
men)  and  Nathaniel  Barnes  from  Northbury;  and  Josiah  Rogers 
from  Farmingbury.  , 

The  people  in  town  meeting  assembled,  agreed  and  resolved 
faithfully  to  adhere  to,  and  strictly  to  abide  by  the  association 
entered  into  by  said  Congress — and  the  above  committee  were  to 
see  the  same  carried  into  execution  in  every  article  thereof.  The 
town  clerk  was  instructed  to  get  a  copy  of  the  doings  of  the  Con- 
gress, well  bound,  at  the  cost  of  the  town,  and  lodge  it  in  his  office, 
there  to  remain  among  the  records  of  the  town  for  the  use  of  future 
generations.  If  it  should  be  decided  to  hold  a  County  congress, 
the  committee  already  appointed  was  to  choose  two  out  of  their 
number  to  attend  such  congress.  Thus  Waterbury  valiantly 
pledged  herself,  and  entered  with  no  uncertain  voice  into  the  dark 
struggle. 


412  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUBT, 

Dec.  22,  1774,  a  second  meeting  was  held,  at  which  an  order  was 
given  for  a  new  and  larger  building  in  which  to  store  the  Town 
stock,  and  to  increase  the  stock  to  double  the  amount  hitherto  held. 
This  increase  was  in  response  to  a  colonial  order  and  must  have 
equalled  300  pounds  of  powder,  1200  pounds  of  bullets,  and  1800 
flints  to  meet  the  requirements  at  that  date. 

Notwithstanding  the  absence  of  written  evidence,  we  may  not 
for  a  moment  believe  that  the  war  did  not  begin  in  Waterbury  in 
1770,  as  well  as  elsewhere.  Nearly  all  the  maritime  towns  on  the 
continent  could  not,  at  that  date,  have  entered  into  an  agreement 
not  to  import  British  goods,  a  few  necessary  articles  excepted,  until 
the  Act  of  Parliament  imposing  certain  duties  on  tea,  glass,  paper, 
painters*  colors,  oil  and  other  articles,  was  repealed;  the  Massachu- 
setts towns  could  not  have  been  "boycotting"  in  1770  in  the  most 
fundamental  manner  the  merchants  who  imported  British  goods, 
neither  buying  themselves,  nor  suffering  any  one  acting  for  them 
to  buy,  and  saying :  "  Neither  will  we  buy  of  those  that  shall  buy 
or  exchange  any  articles  of  Goods  with  them,'*  and  voting :  "  That  to 
the  End  the  Generations  which  are  yet  unborn  may  know  who  they 
were  that  laughed  at  the  Distresses  and  Calamities  of  this  people, 
and  instead  of  striving  to  save  their  Country  when  in  imminent 
Danger,  did  strive  to  render  ineffectual  a  virtuous  and  commendable 
Plan,"  and  ordering  that  "  the  names  of  the  Importers  should  be 
annually  read  in  Town  meeting  " — could  these  things  have  been,  and 
this  remote  town  felt  no  thrill  of  patriotism  ?  Are  we  to  suppose 
that  the  story  of  Griffin's  wharf;  the  cargoes  of  the  brig  Beaver,  the 
ships  Eleanor  and  Dartmouth;  the  meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall  to 
determine  ways  and  means  of  getting  rid  of  the  cargoes  of  the  three 
obnoxious  Indiamen;  the  adjournment  to  the  South  Church;  Josiah 
Quincy's  speech;  Governor  Hutchinson's  refusal  to  send  away  the 
ships;  the  return  of  the  committee  about  sundown  to  the  church 
with  the  report  of  his  refusal;  the  rush  of  the  sixty-five  men  to  the 
harbor,  the  dock,  the  ships,  the  tea — that  all  this  rioting  on  the  i6th 
day  of  December,  1773,  in  the  face  of  an  English  fleet  and  English 
soldiers  in  the  castle,  had  not  been  told  and  borne  fruit  that  fell 
upon  some  luckless  trader  in  forbidden  luxuries  in  Waterbury 
before  1774? 

The  Boston  Port  bill  went  into  operation  the  first  day  of  June, 
1774.  By  its  terms  no  person  was  permitted  to  land  anything  at 
Boston,  or  at  Charlestown.  In  Boston  harbor  on  Noddle's,  Hog, 
Snake,  Deer,  Apple,  Bird  and  Spectacle  islands  were  many  sheep 
and  cattle,  likewise  hay  and  wood,  all  of  which  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston  needed  for  daily  use — and  the  Port  bill  denied  them.    It  was 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


413 


a  desperate  situation — the  neck  of  Charlestown  reached  out  to  the 
north  for  food  and  help,  and  the  neck  of  Boston  pleaded  with  the 
south  for  assistance,  and  by  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  June  the  cry 
had  reached  Windham,  Connecticut.  On  that  day  nine  gentlemen 
of  that  town  met  at  their  meeting-house  door  to  go  forth  and 
gather  food  in  answer  to  that  cry.  In  three  days  they  collected  257 
sheep  which  were  driven  to  Roxbury,  there  to  await  an  opportu- 
nity to  get  them  into  Boston.  A  letter  accompanied  the  gift,  in 
which  letter  the  givers  begged  the  men  of  Boston  to  suffer  and  be 
strong  remembering  what  had  been  done  for  the  country  by  its  founders^  and 
closing  with  the  words :  "  We  know  you  suffer,  and  feel  for  you. 
As  a  testimony  of  our  commiseration  for  your  misfortunes,  we  have 
procured  a  small  flock  of  sheep,  which  at  this  season  are  not  so  good 
as  we  could  wish,  but  are  the  best  we  had.  This  small  present,  gen- 
tlemen, we  beg  you  would  accept  and  apply  to  the  relief  of  those 
honest,  industrious  poor,  who  are  most  oppressed  by  the  late 
oppressive  acts." 

It  was  November  22,  1774,  that  in  Waterbury  a  committee  of 
thirteen  men  was  appointed  to  receive  donations  contributed  towards 
the  relief  of  the  poor  in  Boston.  Col.  Jonathan  Baldwin  (this  was  a 
few  days  after  he  received  his  commission  as  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  loth  regiment  of  militia)  and  Joseph  Hopkins  of  the  meeting 
house,  Captain  John  Welton,  Esq'.,  and  Stephen  Welton  of  the 
Church  of  England  received  for  the  centre— James  Porter  for  the 
Hop  Swamp  region — Captain  Samuel  Hikcox  and  Timothy  Judd, 
Esq.,  for  Westbury — Stephen  Seymour,  Randal  Evans  and  David 
Smith  for  Northbury — ^Josiah  Rogers  for  Farmingbury — Samuel 
Lewis,  Esq.,  and  John  Hopkins  for  Salem.  We  are  denied  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  what  was  sent  to  Boston  from  Waterbury  as 
the  result  of  the  ingathering  of  the  above  gentlemen. 

In  order  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  Waterbury's  position  in  the 
militia  of  the  colony  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  we  must  review 
her  military  record  for  a  few  years. 

In  1770  Waterbury's  military  officers  and  companies  were:  In 
the  First  society,  three  companies — in  Westbury,  two  (called  the 
East  and  the  West  company) — in  Northbury,  two — in  Farmingbury 
one  —  making  eight  military  companies  in  the  township.  The 
officers  of  the  first  of  the  three  companies  in  the  First  society  were 
Capt.  Ezra  Bronson,  Lieut.  Ashbel  Porter,  Ens.  Stephen  Miles — of 
the  second,  Capt.  Abraham  Hikcox,  Lieut.  Hezekiah  Brown,  Ens. 
Joseph  Warner — of  the  third,  Capt.  John  Lewis,  Lieut.  Samuel 
Porter,  Ens.  Amos  Osborn.  Of  the  West  company  in  Westbury  the 
officers  were  Capt.    Abel    Woodward,  Lieut.  Peter    Welton,   Ens. 


414  BISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

Thomas  Cole.  The  other  Westbury  company — ^having  been  the 
second  in  the  township  in  the  date  of  its  formation,  continued  to  be 
called  the  Second  Waterbury  company — its  officers  in  1770  were 
Capt.  Samuel  Hikcox,  Lieut.  Richard  Seymour,  Ens.  Samuel  Brown. 
In  Northbury,  the  First  company  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Randal 
Evans,  Lieut.  Bartholomew  Pond  —  the  Second  company's  officers 
were  Capt.  David  Blakesly,  Lieut.  Eliphalet  Hartshorn,  Ens.  Jude 
Blakesly.  Of  the  "  newly  erected  company  in  the  winter  parish  of 
Waterbury,  so  called,"  or  Farmingbury,  Josiah  Rogers  was  lieu- 
tenant and  John  Alcock  ensign.  In  177 1,  Thomas  Cole  was  captain 
and  Benjamin  Richards  lieutenant  of  the  West  company  in  West- 
bury.  Samuel  Curtis  was  lieutenant,  Nathaniel  Barnes,  ensign 
in  the  First  company  of  Northbury.  In  1772,  Phineas  Porter  was 
ensign  in  the  First  company  of  Waterbury.  Samuel  Brown  was 
lieutenant,  Michael  Dayton,  ensign  in  the  Second  company. 
Samuel  Porter  was  captain,  Thomas  Kincaid,  lieutenant,  in  the 
Third  company.  In  1773,  ^^  changes  were  made.  In  1774,  all  the 
companies  of  Waterbury  belonged  in  the  loth  regiment,  of  which 
Jonathan  Baldwin  was  lieutenant-colonel  (in  the  room  of  Elisha 
Hall  gone  to  Great  Britain).  In  October  of  that  year  the  First  com- 
pany of  Waterbury,  Capt.  Phineas  Porter,  Lieut.  Reuben  Blakslee, 
Ens.  Isaac  Bronson,  Jr.,  became  the  2d  company  of  that  regiment. 
The  Second  Waterbury  company,  Capt.  Hezekiah  Brown,  Lieut. 
Isaac  Benham,  Ens.  Ephraim  Warner  (all  Church  of  England  men), 
became  the  12th  company.  A  Northbury  company,  Capt.  Michael 
Dayton,  Lieut.  Stephen  Matthews,  Ens.  Thomas  Fenn,  became  the 
7th  company;  a  second  Northbury  company,  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Barnes,  Lieut.  Lazarus  Ives,  Ens.  James  Warner  became  the  loth 
company;  a  third  Northbury  company,  Capt.  Benjamin  Richards, 
Ens.  Nathaniel  Edwards,  became  the  13th  company,  and  a  fourth 
Northbury  company  appears  —  Capt.  Amos  Bronson,  Ens.  Samuel 
Scovill  (both  of  the  Church  of  England),  forming  the  14th  company. 
In  March,  1775,  Moses  Foot  of  the  Northbury  parish,  with  other 
inhabitants,  informed  the  Assembly  that  they  had  with  great  care 
and  expense  applied  themselves  to  the  use  of  arms  and  the  art  of 
war,  and  prayed  to  be  constituted  a  military  company.  In  April, 
1775,  (t^^  next  month),  Joseph  Garnsey  of  the  Westbury  parish 
appeared  with  the  same  request.  The  Assembly  made  answer  by 
commissioning  Capt.  Jesse  Curtiss,  Lieut.  Moses  Foot,  Ens.  Roger 
Conant,  officers  of  the  Northbury  company,  which  became  the  i8th 
company;  and  by  commissioning  Capt.  Joseph  Garnsey,  Lieut. 
Jonathan  Roberts,  Ens.  Benjamin  Richards  officers  of  the  Westbury 
company,  which  became   the   19th   company.     At   the  same  time 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION,  415 

Capt.  John  Lewis,  Lieut.  Ira  Bebee,  Ens.  Israel  Terril,  of  Salem 
parish,  were  commissioned  officers  over  that  company,  which 
became  the  15th  company — all  in  the  loth  regiment. 

According  to  the  census  of  Connecticut  colony  in  1774  Water- 
bury  had  3526  inhabitants.  There  were  1228  children  under  ten 
years,  609  girls,  619  boys — 807  young  persons  between  ten  and 
twenty,  of  whom  427  were  males,  380  females;  of  this  number  nine- 
teen young  women  were  married,  and  five  young  men — of  1407 
between  twenty  and  seventy,  700  were  men,  707  women;  of  this 
number  132  men  and  138  women  were  unmarried — 21  women  and  6 
men  were  over  seventy  and  unmarried — there  were  34  negroes,  13 
under  twenty.  Of  Indians,  but  4  remained,  3  under  twenty — one,  a 
woman  over  twenty. 

We  can  add  that  Waterbury's  tax-paying  population  in  1774 
consisted  of  about  750  persons — a  very  few  of  whom  were  women. 
These  were  scattered  through  the  ancient  town  in  the  following 
manner:  221  belonged  at  the  centre,  212  in  present  Watertown,  181 
in  present  Plymouth  and  Thomaston,  46  in  present  Wolcott,  and  91 
in  present  Naugatuck,  including  the  settlers  in  present  Prospect. 
The  Middlebury  settlers  were  included  in  Waterbury  centre.  These 
were  again  divided  by  their  church  relations  in  the  following 
manner:  Of  the  First  society's  221  tax -payers,  140  were  numbered 
as  First-society  men,  79  as  Church  of  England  men.  In  Watertown, 
Mr,  Trumbull's  people  of  the  Established  Church  were  165,  Church 
of  England,  47.  In  Plymouth,  144  went  to  Mr.  Storrs*  meeting 
house,  37  to  the  English  Church.  In  the  Salem  or  Naugatuck 
parish,  82  were  meeting-house  people,  9  were  churchmen.  In 
Farmingbury  society  or  Wolcott,  38  belonged  to  the  Established 
Church,  8  to  the  Church  of  England.  Taking  the  township  as  a 
whole,  we  find  571  men  paying  taxes  who  belonged  to  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  and  180  to  the  Church  of  England,  or,  about  one  man 
in  four  whose  loyalty  to  King  George  was  anchored  within  the  deep 
waters  of  his  more  or  less  religious  nature.  The  temptations  which 
the  churchmen  experienced  to  ignore  many  things  that  the  non- 
churchmen  felt  to  be  treasonable  in  their  very  nature,  are  clearly 
seen  to-day.  More  earnest  men  were  probably  never  held  to  duty 
on  the  earth,  then  these  whigs  andtories — men  that  were  grown  out 
of  the  same  conditions  of  life  and  habit,  men  whose  ancestors  side  by 
side  had  lived  and  died.  The  story,  although  it  has  been  breathed 
from  lip  to  lip  for  more  than  a  century,  and  dropped  in  innumer- 
able words  from  a  thousand  pens,  will  forever  remain  untold. 

It  is  difficult  to  make  an  estimate  for  the  young  men  of  the  town 
who  were  old  enough  for  military  duty,  but  not  for  tax-paying,  but, 


4i6  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

including  all  available  material,  we  think  there  may  have  been  not 
far  from  one  thousand  men  in  the  township.  It  is  not  proposed 
to  follow  the  militia  companies  through  the  war,  but  a  list  has  been 
made  of  the  men  who  joined  the  forces  for  campaign  purposes,  and 
of  certain  of  the  officers  who  served  on  the  field,  by  which  we  are 
able  to  show  that  Waterbury's  place  is  very  near,  if  not  at  the  head 
of  the  line  of  towns,  and  that  her  number  of  men  is  in  full  pro- 
portion to  her  officers  —  whereas  it  has  disparagingly  been  said 
that  her  "men  were  all  officers."  In  January,  1775,  there  were 
nine  militia  companies  of  540  men. 

In  April,  1775,  it  was  ordered  that  one-fourth  part  of  the  militia 
in  the  colony  should  be  enlisted,  equipped  and  assembled  for  the 
special  defense  and  safety  of  the  colony.  The  premium  was  fifty- 
two  shillings  and  one  month's  advanced  pay.  Every  man  provided 
his  own  blanket,  knapsack  and  clothing,  and  was  allowed  ten  shill- 
ings for  his  own  "arms,  a  good  bayonet,  and  cartouch  box."  The 
colony  required  3000  stand  of  arms  and  announced  that  all  that 
should  be  made  and  completed  by  the  first  day  of  July  would  be 
purchased  by  the  colony  at  a  reasonable  price.  Waterbury  went 
forth  about  this  time  to  the  Mad  river,  where  she  built  a  "gun 
factory  "  and  probably  made  guns  for  her  country. 

An  army  of  6000  men  was  raised  and  divided  into  six  regiments 
of  ten  companies  each,  100  men  to  a  company.  In  the  ist  regiment, 
Phineas  Porter  was  captain,  Stephen  Matthews  ist  lieut.,  Isaac 
Bronson,  Jr.,  2d  lieut.,  David  Smith,  ens.  of  the  8th  company.  Jesse 
Curtiss  was  2d  lieut.  and  Nathaniel  Edwards,*  ens.  in  the  5th  com- 
pany. James  Blakesley  was  2d  lieut.  in  the  ist  company,  and  pro- 
moted to  be  ist  lieut.  in  the  9th  company.  Aaron  Foot,  "sometimes 
of  Waterbury,  sometimes  of  Litchfield,"  was  2d  lieut.  in  the  4th 
company.  In  the  2d  regiment,  Ezekiel  Scott  was  commissioned  ist 
lieut.  in  April,  and  within  a  month  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of 
the  2d  company. 

In  1775  Waterbury  was  the  twelfth  town  in  point  of  wealth  in 
the  colony.  New  Haven,  with  her  ;^72,5i5,  stood  first.  Farmington 
stood  second  with  jQ^  1,582.  Waterbury  had  ;^4i,243,  less  than  ;^5ooo 
more  than  half  the  wealth  of  New  Haven  or  Farmington.  The 
additions  have  not  been  estimated.  The  returns  of  the  number  of 
soldiers  sent  in  from  fifty-five  of  the  seventy  towns  in  1775  are 
determined  in  this  manner.  The  poll-tax  of  a  soldier,  ;^i8,  was 
abated.  Waterbury  claimed  an  abatement  on  ^^2736  for  152  men 
sent   to  the  war.     Farmington   sent    157   men,  New   Haven  152 — 


*  The  Nathan  Edwards  of  the  Colonial  Records. 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


417 


Farmington  (our  mother)  the  most  loyal  town  in  the  colony  !  Her 
eldest  child,  Waterbury,  second  only  to  that  mother  of  all  the  towns 
in  the  commonwealth  in  the  first  year  of  the  war ! 

Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  that  Capt.  Phineas  Porter's  company  was  to 
be  raised  in  Waterbury;  that  it  was  in  readiness  and  about  to  march 
late  in  May,  1775;  ^^^^  ^^^  term  of  service  was  not  to  exceed  seven 
months.  According  to  the  "  Record  of  Service  of  Connecticut  Men 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,"  issued  from  the  Adjutant  General's 
Office  in  Hartford  in  1889,  the  enlistment  roll  of  this  company  is 
missing.  The  names  of  thirty  men  belonging  to  it  are  given,  as 
discharged  from  service  in  the  Northern  Department — all  but  four 
of  them  in  November.  The  first  man  on  the  list  is  John  Woodruff 
of  Mr.  Trumble's  flock  in  Westbury.  The  second  man  is  given  as 
Jonah  Hall,  who  was  from  Salem  parish,  and  whose  perfect  name 
was  Jonathan  Hall.  His  name  on  our  tax-list  is  Jonah  Hall. 
Stephen  Hotchkiss  of  the  First  church  was  the  third  man;  Zadock 
Curtiss  of  Northbury  the  fourth. 

The  5th  company  in  the  same  regiment  (the  ist)  must  also 
have  been  recruited  from  Waterbury,  if  not  in  Waterbury.  Its  ist 
and  2d  lieutenants,  Jesse  Curtiss  and  Nathaniel  Edwards;  its  ser- 
geants, Aaron  Matthews  and  Stephen  Scott;  its  clerk,  Eli  Curtis; 
its  corporals,  Edward  Dunbar  and  Amos  Hikcox;  its  fifer,  Giles 
Dunbar;  its  drummer,  Joel  Judd;  beside  fifty-one  of  its  centinels. 
or  privates,  were  Waterbury  men.     Their  names  are  : 


Elijah  Weed, 
Ezekiel  Sanford, 
Lyman  Curtiss, 
David  Foot, 
Timothy  Pond. 
Elisha  Street, 
Josiah  Bams, 
Epenetus  Buckingham, 
John  Doolittle, 
Josiah  Edwards, 
David  Foot,  Jr., 
Consider  Hicox, 
Joseph  Hotchkiss, 
Daniel  Judd, 
Freeman  Judd, 
Demas  Judd, 
Thomas  Merchant, 
Gershom  Scott, 


Daniel  Seymour, 
John  Eggleston, 
Allyn  Judd, 
Amos  Matthews, 
Elisha  Parker, 
Solomon  Trumbull, 
Isaac  Barnes, 
Amos  Dunbar, 
James  Fancher, 
Solomon  Griggs, 
Joash  Sejj'mour, 
Rufus  Farrington  (Yar- 

rington  ? ) 
John  Fulford, 
Woolsey  Scott, 
Joseph  Lewis, 
Stephen  Judd, 


Isaac  Pendleton, 
Israel  Williams, 
Obed  Williams, 
Bartholomew  Williams, 
Michael  Dayton, 
Luman  Luddington, 
Nathaniel  Merrils, 
Solomon  Way, 
Titus  Fulford, 
Elisha  Hicox, 
Joseph  Pribble, 
Samuel  Barnes, 
Archibald  Blakeslee, 
Elijah  Smith, 
James  Thomas, 
Benjamin  Warner, 
Bronson  Foot. 


The  above  men  served  from  May  to  December,  1775,  and  were 
at  the  siege  of  Boston. 
27 


4i8  mSTOBT  OF  WATERBUBT. 

Northbury  was  somewhat  turbulent  from  the  beginning.  The 
earliest  signs  of  disaffection  came  from  that  section.  John  Sutliff, 
Jr.,  and  other  men  who  were  members  of  the  West  company  in  that 
parish,  in  April  1775  informed  the  General  Assembly  that  "the 
major  part  of  the  company,  both  officers  and  soldiers  were  totally 
disaffected  to  the  general  cause  of  American  liberty,  and  altogether 
refused  to  adopt  the  measures  advised  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
but  were  accustomed  to  speak  and  act  in  direct  opposition  thereto." 
Capt.  Amos  Bronson  and  Ensign  Samuel  Scovill  were  "cashiered 
and  dismissed  from  their  military  offices."  The  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  "to  lead  the  company  to  the  choice  of  a  captain 
and  ensign  and  other  needful  officers."  In  October,  "  on  informa- 
tion of  the  state,  circumstances  and  doings "  of  that  company,  it 
was  "  dissolved,"  and  all  persons  by  law  obliged  to  do  military  duty 
were  annexed  to  the  companies  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Jesse 
Curtiss  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Bams. 

At  the  same  date,  "  John  R.  Marshall  of  Woodbury,  missionary, 
was  cited  to  appear  before  the  court  and  answer  for  his  inimical 
temper  and  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  plans  adopted  for 
the  defence  of  the  American  people."  This  is  the  first  instance  in 
which  a  clergyman  was  called  before  the  court  for  hostility  to  the 
American  cause.  On  the  same  day,  certain  inhabitants  of  Water- 
bury  presented  a  memorial,  in  which  they  advised  the  court  that 
Capt.  Hezekiah  Brown  was  disaffected  to  the  method  advised  by 
the  Continental  Congress,  and  that  he  said  in  the  presence  of  a 
number  of  people  "that  the  Congress  ought  to  be  punished  for 
putting  the  country  to  so  much  cost  and  charge,  for  they  did  no 
more  good  than  a  parcel  of  squaws;  that  it  was  unnecessary  expense, 
and  the  Assembly  had  no  right  to  do  it;  that  Boston  had  wrongfully 
undertaken  to  quarrel  about  the  tea,  and  we  had  no  hand  in  it;  that 
our  General  Assembly  was  as  arbitrary  as  the  pope  of  Rome,  when 
it  cashiered  Capt.  Bronson  and  Ensign  Scovill;  and  that  he  would 
not  go  one  step  further  for  the  relief  of  people  in  Boston  than  he 
was  obliged  to  go."  Definite  action  on  both  the  cases  cited  seemed 
to  await  the  enactment  of  laws  touching  this  new  crime  in  the  com- 
munity. The  laws  came  two  months  later,  forbidding  any  person 
within  the  colony  to  supply  the  Ministerial  army  or  navy  with  pro- 
visions, military,  or  naval  stores;  prohibiting  the  giving  of  any 
manner  of  intelligence;  the  enlisting  or  procuring  any  enlistments 
into  the  service  of  that  army  or  navy;  the  taking  up  of  arms  against 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut  or  the  United  Colonies;  the  piloting  of 
any  vessel,  or  the  giving  of  any  manner  of  aid  or  assistance — the 
penalty  for  offense  in  any  of  the  above  particulars  being  the  forfei- 


WATERS UBF  IJ^  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  419 

ture  of  estate  and  imprisonment  for  a  term  not  exceeding  three 
years.  And,  to  cover  cases  like  Hezekiah  Brown's,  any  person  who 
should  libel  or  defame  any  of  the  resolves  of  the  Honorable  Con- 
gress of  the  United  Colonies,  or  the  acts  or  proceedings  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  made  for  the  defense  or  security  of  the  rights  or 
privileges  of  the  people,  should,  on  proper  conviction,  be  disarmed 
and  not  allowed  to  have  or  keep  any  arms,  or  to  hold  or  serve  in 
any  office,  civil  or  military,  and  should  be  punished  by  fine,  impris- 
onment or  disfranchisement,  or  find  surety  for  peace  and  good 
behavior  and  pay  the  cost  of  prosecution.  On  complaint  made  to 
the  Civil  Authority  and  Committee  of  Inspection  of  any  person 
as  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  the  Colony,  that  person  was  to  be 
examined  touching  his  innocence  of  the  accusation,  and  if  not 
proved  innocent,  he  was  not  to  be  allowed  to  have  or  keep  any 
arms.  Any  person  held  or  screened  under  the  protection  of  the 
Ministerial  army  or  navy,  or  assisting  to  carry  into  execution  meas- 
ures against  America,  and  having  real  estates,  such  estates  were  to 
be  attached  and  held  under  the  care  of  appointed  persons,  and 
improved  for  the  use  of  the  Colony.  The  Treasurer  of  the  Colony 
held  the  power  to  sell  such  estates  by  auction,  or  at  private  sale. 

After  the  passage  of  the  above  act,  Capt.  Hezekiah  Brown,  "  of 
the  12th  military  company  in  the  loth  regiment"  was,  after  trial, 
found  guilty  of  disobedience,  cashiered,  and  rendered  incapable  of 
holding  any  further  military  office  in  the  colony.  The  town,  how- 
ever, had  relieved  him  from  office  in  1774,  at  the  same  meeting  in 
which  the  "very  jumbled  and  unintelligible"  vote  was  rescinded, 
by  which  the  Church  of  England  had  been  receiving  for  four  years 
its  proportion  of  interest  money  derived  from  lands  devoted  to  the 
ministry  by  the  town  proprietors  of  17 15.  Hezekiah  Brown  was  a 
man  of  about  fifty  years,  the  son  of  Deacon  Samuel  Brown,  who 
came  to  Waterbury  from  "Boston,  Hartford  County"  (and  not,  I 
think,  related  to  James  Brown).  Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  that  he  left 
Waterbury  early  in  1777  and  joined  the  Ministerial  army  in  New 
York,  received  a  captain's  commission  and  died  among  his  new 
friends,  August  27,  1777.  His  wife,  a  daughter  of  Lieut.  Prindle, 
who  had  eight  children  to  care  for,  probably  remained  loyal  to  the 
colony,  for  the  real  estate  belonging  to  her  husband  was  restored 
to  her. 

Six  letters,  yellowed  by  time  and  worn  with  the  touch  of  a 
mother's  fingers,  are  all  that  remain  to  tell  the  story  of  the  fourth 
Stephen  Upson  in  lineal  descent  from  the  planter  Stephen.  P>om 
them  we  learn  that  he,  a  lad  of  seventeen  years,  indentured  to  a 
master  with  whom  he  was  not  happy,  ran  away,  (we  infer  to  Litch- 


420  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UR7. 

field)  and  there  enlisted  July  12,  1775,  in  Capt.  Nathaniel  Tuttle's 
company,  in  the  7th  regiment.  The  first  letter,  bearing  date  Sep- 
tember 15th,  is  written  from  New  London.  In  it  he  tells  his  mother 
that  the  soldiers  have  little  to  do  with  tones  at  New  London;  that 
the  troops  are  throwing  up  fortifications,  but  that  he  is  living  with 
the  Lieutenant  in  a  house  where  there  is  a  family;  that  he  lies  on 
as  good  a  bed  as  he  did  at  his  master's,  and  lives  as  well  and  feels 
better;  that  he  would  not  go  home  for  anything.  It  is  a  boy's 
letter  with  an  ache  in  his  heart  that  he  stifles  to  the  last  and  then 
betrays  by  telling  her  that  he  "  has  written  one  letter  to  her  but 
has  had  no  answer  from  her,  or  any  letter  from  any  body,  and 
hopes  that  she  will  not  slite  him  so  much  as  not  to  write  to  him." 
The  second  letter  is  from  "Camp  at  Cambridge,  Nov.  5th,  1775,  ^^^ 
is  written  to  relieve  his  mother's  anxiety  regarding  him.  He 
assures  her  that  it  is  a  time  of  general  health  in  the  camp,  adding: 
"  We  are  all  of  good  spirits  and  not  afraid  of  a  Cannon.  About 
swearing,  there  is  some,  but  not  more  than  can  be  expected  of  so 
many  saylors  as  there  are  here."  He  again  assures  his  mother  that 
he  is  more  contented  than  he  should  be  at  home  at  his  master's,  and 
that  he  shall  return  to  her  as  soon  as  his  time  is  out.  On  Christmas 
day  he  wrote  again  from  Camp  Winter  Hill,  at  Charlestown,  that 
he  had  enlisted  again,  five  days  after  his  time  was  expired,  for  a 
year,  and  that  his  pay  was  to  be  44  shillings  a  month,  adding:  "I 
should  not  have  enlisted  had  it  not  been  that  I  thought  my  Country 
was  in  more  Need  of  me  here  than  at  home,  but  I  hope  to  come 
home  and  see  you  on  furlough  soon,  and  to  meet  with  your  good 
affection  at  my  coming  home,  and  your  approbation  in  my  engage- 
ment in  the  army.  Our  provisions  are  good  and  plenty,  and  bar- 
racks are  comfortable,  considering  all  things."  The  third  letter  is 
of  but  eight  lines,  written  from  Roxbury,  March  15,  1776.  His  regi- 
ment, he  informs  her,  had  that  day  received  orders  to  march — 
adding,  "I  suppose  to  New  York.  Uncle  Clark  has  been  to  the 
Colonel  to  get  liberty  for  me  to  go  through  Waterbury,  but  cannot." 
In  May  he  wrote  from  New  York:  "I  am  determined  not  to  go  to 
live  at  my  master's  any  more.  If  you  can  get  up  my  indenture  I 
[would]  have  you  do  it.  If  you  can  get  it  up,  I  will  not  enlist 
again,  but  come  home  and  live  with  you — if  you  cant " — the  remain- 
der of  the  letter  is  gone.  There  is  )'^et  another  letter  written  from 
New  York  on  his  birth-day.  It  is  dated  Sept.  12,  1776.  In  it  he 
writes:  "We  expect  the  enemy  to  make  another  push  very  soon.  I 
mean  to  stay  here  till  my  time  is  out.  I  shall  not  enlist  again 
before  I  come  home,  for  I  mean  to  come  home  and  live  with  you  if 
my  life  is  spared  so  long.     I  would  not  have  you  conserned  about 


WATERS URT  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION,  421 

me,  but  keep  up  a  good  spirit,  for  in  time  I  hope  we  shall  drive 
our  Enemy  off  from  Our  land  and  have  peaceful  times  again.  This 
day  I  am  Eighteen  years  of  age.  Whether  ever  I  shall  see  another 
birth-day  or  no  I  cant  tell.  God  knows.  Remember  my  love  to 
Mark  and  Daniel  (his  brothers),  and  to  my  sisters  and  to  all  my 
friends.  Pray  write  to  me  as  often  as  you  can."  The  letter  closes 
with  the  usual  "  Your  loving  son  Stephen  Upson."  The  boy  folded 
it — addressed  it  "  To  the  Widow  Sarah  Upson  at  Waterbury  in  Con- 
necticut," omitting  from  the  lower  left  hand  comer  the  usual — "  To 
be  left  at  Landlord  Clarks."  Three  days  later,  "at  the  battle  of 
Harlem  Heights,"  Stephen  Upson  was  killed. 

By  whatever  name  known,  whether  royalist  or  rebel,  whether 
Whig  or  Tory,  the  grief  of  the  widow  of  Hezekiah  Brown  and  the 
grief  of  the  widow  and  the  mother  of  Stephen  Upson  was  one 
and  the  same.  It  was  the  same  story,  repeated  in  Waterbury 
from  Northbury's  remotest  bound  to  Salem's  southern  limit;  from 
the  borders  of  Quassapaug's  waters  to  the  summit  of  Benson's  hill 
and  to  East  mountain— a  story  of  mingled  patriotism,  loftiest 
courage,  heroic  endeavor  and  patient  endurance,  born  out  of 
the  sufferings  of  heroic  ancestors,  whose  vanishing  faces  were 
still  luminous  with  the  light  of  that  Liberty  toward  which  the 
children  of  1776  were  marching.  Side  by  side  with  these  ardent 
lovers  of  inherited  and  chartered  rights — in  their  town,  in  their 
homes,  in  their  very  lives  were  inwoven  the  lives  of  other  men, 
who  were  actuated  by  what  they  believed  to  be  their  duty  to 
king  and  country — a  duty  which  they  honestly  pursued  through  a 
pathway  of  suffering.  Dr.  Bronson  has  written  of  these  men: 
"  They  had  reasons  satisfactory  to  themselves  for  their  opinion  and 
conduct.  They  wished  the  success  of  the  British  government, 
because  on  that  success  depended  their  hopes  of  worldly  distinction 
and  religious  privilege.  On  that,  they  supposed  they  must  rely  for 
the  permanent  ascendency  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  America,  its 
doctrine,  its  faith  and  its  worship.  To  England  they  were  bound 
by  the  strongest  ties.  From  that  country  their  parish  clergymen 
had  from  the  first  received  a  great  part  of  their  support.  They 
owed  it  a  debt  of  gratitude,  which,  if  they  could  not  repay,  they 
were  unwilling  to  forget.  .  .  .  They  thought,  with  some  show  of 
reason,  that  resistance  would  be  in  vain,  and  that  the  rebels  would 
soon  be  compelled  to  return  to  duty.  It  is  impossible,  thought  they, 
for  the  American  Revolutionists,  without  money  or  discipline,  ill 
furnished  with  arms  and  not  perfectly  united  among  themselves, 
to  resist  for  a  long  time  the  whole  force  of  the  British  empire. 
And  there  were  others,  wise  men,  that  entertained  the  same  views." 


422  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

He  also  tells  us  that  "  so  great  was  the  alienation  of  feeling,  that 
parents  could  not  always  agree  to  send  their  children  to  the  same 
school,"  and  that  in  1775  a  vote  was  passed  dividing  the  school  dis- 
trict on  the  Farmington  and  Wallingford  road  into  two — one  for 
the  "  Presbyterians "  and  one  for  "the  Church  of  England;"  that, 
"when,  at  one  period,  thick  gloom  had  settled  over  the  prospects  of 
the  colonists  and  the  church  party  felt  almost  sure  of  a  speedy 
triumph,  some  of  the  more  enthusiastic  of  the  party  met  together 
and  determined  in  what  manner  the  farms  of  their  opponents  should 
be  divided  among  themselves,  after  the  subjugation  of  the 
country;"  that  "in  Westbury  the  windows  of  the  Episcopal  church 
were  demolished,  the  principal  members  of  that  church  were  not 
allowed  to  attend  public  worship,  but  were  confined  to  their  farms." 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Timothy  Hosmer  of  Farmington,  for  the 
following  picture  of  life  in  Waterbury  at  this  time.  It  is  contained 
in  a  letter  written  by  him  to  his  friend  Ensign  Amos  Wadsworth, 
on  July  30,  1775,*  ^^^  relates  to  an  old  red  house  that  is  still  stand- 
ing about  two  miles  from  Waterbury  centre,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Middlebury  road,  and  on  the  lower  end  of  Gaylord's  hill.  I 
think,  but  do  not  know,  that  this  house  was  built  about  1750,  by 
James  Nichols,  the  founder  of  The  Park.  It  is  generally  accred- 
ited, however,  to  Capt.  George  Nichols,  and  the  tradition  still 
lives  that  two  days  were  spent  in  raising  the  large  frame,  that  an 
ox  was  roasted,  and  that  unusual  festivities  attended  the  occasion. 

The  house  was  sold  in  1760  by  Capt.  George  Nichols  to  his  son 
Lemuel,  who  "  kept  tavern "  there  during  the  war  and  it  was  the 
scene  of  the  events  narrated  in  the  letter  from  which  the  following 
is  taken:  "  There  hath  been  a  terrible  rumpus  at  Waterbury  with 
the  tories  there.  Capt.  Nichols'  son,  Josiah,  enlisted  under  Capt. 
Porter  in  Gen.  Wooster's  regiment,  went  down  to  New  York  with 
the  regiment,  tarried  a  short  time  and  deserted  .  .  .  came  home 
and  kept  a  little  under  cover,  but  goes  down  to  Saybrook  and  there 
enlisted  with  Capt.  Shipman  .  .  .  got  his  bounty  and  rushed  off 
again.  Capt.  Shipman  came  up  after  him  .  .  .  and  went  with 
some  people  they  had  got  to  assist  them  to  Lemuel  Nichols'  where 
they  supposed  he  was.  Lemuel  forbade  their  coming  in,  and  pre- 
sented a  sword  and  told  them  it  was  death  to  the  first  that  offered 
to  enter,  but  one  young  man  seized  the  sword  by  the  blade  and 
wrenched  it  out  of  his  hands.  They  bound  him  and  made  a  search 
through  the  house,  but  could  find  nothing  of  Josiah.  The  Tories 
all  mustered  to  defend   him,  and  finally  got  Lemuel   from  them 


*  Mr.  Julius  Gay,  of  Farmington,  gives  this  letter  in  his  **  Historical  Address  on  Farmington  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,"  1893. 


WATERBUB7  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION, 


423 


and  he  and  Josiah  pushed  out  where  they  cannot  be  found.  This 
ran  through  Thursday.  The  Whigs  sent  over  to  Southington 
for  help,  and  the  people  almost  all  went  from  Southington  on 
Friday.  .  .  .  They  had  near  100  Tories  collected  upon  the 
occasion  and  were  together  until  ten  o'clock  Friday  night.  They 
dispersed  and  there  was  nothing  done  to  humble  them."  Dr. 
Hosmer  also  wrote  that  Capt.  Nichols  was  carried  before  Esq. 
Hopkins  who  had  him  bound  over  to  the  County  Court  at  New 
Haven.  Local  tradition  tells  another  story — "  that  Lemuel  Nichols 
was  inclined  to  the  King's  side  in  his  heart,  but  took  the  oath  of 
Fidelity  to  the  State.  One  day  when  a  squad  of  Continental  soldiers 
was  passing  along  the  Woodbury  road,  he  standing  in  his  door,  and 
thinking  himself  secure  in  distance — the  house  being  at  that  time 
more  than  a  thousand  feet  north  of  the  road — treated  them  with 
derision.  The  soldiers  turned  and  fired  into  the  house.  After  Lem- 
uel Nichols — Major  Morris  lived  in  the  tavern;  his  son  Miles  when 
re-covering  the  house  found  three  bullets  which  were  supposed  to 
have  been  fired  into  it  by  the  soldiers  when  passing  along  the  road. 
Dr.  Hosmer  was  in  error,  in  attributing  to  Capt.  Nichols  a  son 
Josiah.  It  may  have  been  his  son  Daniel  or  his  son  William  who 
was  the  deserter.  Tradition  asserts  that  the  house  of  Solomon 
Tompkins  in  Nichols'  Park  was  the  head -quarters  of  the  Tories,  but 
there  was  a  Solomon  Tompkins  who  was  a  Connecticut  pensioner 
of  the  Revolution  in  good  and  regular  standing,  living  in  New 
York  until  1823  and  claiming  to  have  been  **born  in  or  near  Water- 
bury,  Conn."  and,  as  Lemuel  Nichols  took  "the  oath  of  Fidelity  to 
the  State  "  soon  after  the  "  terrible  rumpus,"  and  Samuel  Scovill 
was  not  only  active  in  forming  a  company  on  July  4th,  1776,  but 
enlisted  for  the  war  in  a  Regiment  of  Artificers  under  Col.  Jedu- 
than  Baldwin  of  Mass.  (which  was  authorized  by  Congress),  we  may 
believe  that  many  persons  who  were  at  first  inimical  to  the  Sons  of 
Liberty  found  cause  for  a  change  of  heart  and  proved  valiant 
defenders  of  the  American  cause.  As  early  as  1776,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Inglis  wrote  to  the  "  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  for- 
eign parts  "  that  every  one  of  the  society's  missionaries  in  New  Jer- 
sey, New  York  and  Connecticut  had  proved  faithful,  loyal  servants, 
and  had  opposed  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  the  spirit  of  disaffec- 
tion and  rebellion,  and  that  the  other  clergy  of  the  church,  though 
not  in  the  society's  service,  had  observed  the  same  line  of  conduct; 
that  to  officiate  publicly  and  not  pray  for  the  king  and  royal  family 
according  to  the  liturgy,  was  against  their  duty  and  oath — and  yet 
to  use  the  prayers  for  the  king  and  royal  family  would  have  drawn 
inevitable   destruction   upon   them — the  only  course  which    they 


424  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

could  pursue  to  avoid  both  evils,  was  to  suspend  the  public  exer- 
cises. Mr.  Inglis  also  wrote  that  "  Mr.  Beach  of  Connecticut  alone 
continued  to  officiate  after  Independence  was  declared,  affirming 
that  he  would  do  his  duty,  preach  and  pray  for  the  king  till  the 
rebels  cut  out  his  tongue."  Mr.  Beach  deserved  to  own  his  own 
tongue,  and  I  trust  retained  it  whole  and  entire  until  he  was  able 
to  admit  that  the  rebels  were  not  so  black  as  he  had  painted 
them.  The  poor  clergymen !  They  were  exempt,  as  clergymen, 
from  bearing  arms,  but  I  infer  that  when  they  had  placed  them- 
selves out  of  active  service  by  closing  their  churches,  the  civil 
government  called  upon  them,  as  members  of  the  colony,  to  bear 
arms;  for  Mr.  Inglis  testifies,  "that  clergymen  were  warned  to 
appear  at  militia  musters  with  their  arms — that  they  were  fined  for 
not  appearing,  and  then  threatened  with  imprisonment  for  not  pay- 
ing their  fines." 

Good  Dr.  Mansfield  of  Derby  made  himself  offensively  active  by 
writing  to  Gov.  Tryon  that  if  properly  protected,  several  thousand 
men  in  the  three  western  counties  of  Connecticut  would  join  him. 
This  letter  was  intercepted,  and  Dr.  Bronson  adds  that  Dr.  Mans- 
field was  obliged  to  flee  for  his  life.  The  above  letter  was  probably 
the  occasion  of  the  following:  "  On  a  Sunday  morning  while  Dr. 
Mansfield  was  preaching,  a  guard  of  American  troops  marched  into 
his  church.  The  clergyman  left  his  desk  in  haste  and  escaped  to 
his  home,  fleeing  from  thence  to  the  British  on  Long  Island,  leav- 
ing his  wife  and  infant  and  seven  other  children  to  the  care  of 
others."  Dr.  Mansfield  lived  so  long  and  lived  so  well  in  Derby 
that  his  venerable  and  commanding  figure,  his  large  white  wig  and 
his  broad  brimmed  hat  are  still  had  in  remembrance  by  a  few  of 
his  neighbors,  while  his  praise  is  in  all  the  churches.  Of  Mr. 
Scoviirs  church  in  Waterbury  Mr.  Inglis  wrote  that  "there  was 
scarcely  a  single  person  found  of  his  congregation  but  what  had 
persevered  steadfastly  in  his  duty  and  loyalty."  I  think,  however, 
that  Mr.  Inglis  gave  too  bright  a  picture  for  his  English  society  to 
gaze  upon.  I  think  our  list  of  soldiers  in  the  war  will  include  more 
than  "scarcely  a  single  person  from  the  Church  of  England  in 
Waterbury."  Dr.  Bronson  had  the  advantage  of  personal  acquaint- 
ance in  his  youth  with  participants  in  the  scenes  presented  during 
the  war,  and  attributes  the  fact  that  Waterbury  was  to  a  mention- 
able  extent  free  from  scenes  witnessed  in  some  other  towns,  in  part, 
to  the  prudence  and  wisdom  of  Mr.  Scovill,  of  whom  he  says  that: 
"  He  was  sometimes  threatened.  Occasionally,  he  had  reason  to 
fear  injury.  In  the  more  critical  seasons,  it  is  stated,  he  often  slept 
from  home  in  order  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  midnight  calls — ^but  he 


WATERBUR7  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  425 

■ 

had  the  courage,  which  the  Whigs  respected,  to  remain  through 
the  war."  Dr.  Bronson  had  evidently  never  heard  of  the  scenes  out- 
lined in  Dr.  Hosmer's  letter. 

While  General  Washington  was  still  at  Boston,  in  March  of  1776, 
two  regiments  from  Connecticut  were  at  New  York  "  employed  in 
pulling  down  and  carting  away  the  north  part  of  the  Fort  and 
erecting  a  Fashine  Battery  about  eighteen  rods  north  of  it  across 
the  Broad  Way  to  obtain  a  clear  passage  for  retreat  into  the  bat- 
tery, if  repulsed  by  the  enemy."  A  third  Connecticut  regiment 
was  building  entrenchments  on  Tower  hill — a,  mile  east  of  New 
York  and  in  plain  sight  of  it  and  of  the  Asia  (man  of  war),  which 
young  Benjamin  Baldwin  of  Waterbury  informs  his  brother  Jona- 
than (student  at  Yale  college)  has  not  as  yet  fired  a  gun  at  the 
workers  on  Tower  hill,  of  which  Benjamin  was  one. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  that  event  of  events — the  birth  of 
the  United  States  of  America — had  taken  place  at  Philadelphia. 
Every  man  who  signed  his  name  as  witness  to  the  deed  knew  full 
well  that  unless  the  colonists  could  fight  longer  and  stronger  than 
Great  Britain  could  do,  that  his  signature  would  prove  his  own 
death  warrant — and  this  was  done  while  one  hundred  and  thirty 
English  ships  were  anchoring  at  their  doors,  and  General  Washing- 
ton was  calling  for  the  militia  of  Connecticut  without  loss  of  a 
moment's  time  to  be  sent  to  his  aid  at  New  York.  Two  days  before 
the  Nation  was  born,  Governor  Trumbull  and  his  council  of  eight 
trusty  men  were  met  at  Lebanon  to  hear  the  cry  from  twelve  towns 
"pressing  for  powder" — ^under  their  apprehensions  from  Canada. 
Eight  hundred  pounds  of  gunpowder  from  Elderkin  and  Wales's 
mill,  and  one  thousand  pounds  of  lead  from  the  furnace  at  Middle- 
town  were  allowed  them — the  powder  at  5s.  4d.  per  pound,  the  lead 
at  6d.;  it  was  ordered  that  the  row-galley  Shark  should  be  paid  for 
at  a  cost  of  £^61  \  twenty-five  carpenters  were  sent  to  Crown  Point 
to  help  build  batteries  under  Gen.  Schuyler;  it  was  ordered  that  the 
lead  on  the  water-wheel  of  Jonathan  Kilburn's  sawmill  should  not 
be  taken  from  him  for  the  use  of  the  publick  until  actually  wanted 
— and  then  to  be  taken  by  the  selectmen  without  further  orders 
(and  this  suggests  that  Waterbury's  selectmen  may  have  gleaned 
the  lead  they  gathered  for  the  government  from  Waterbury 's  mills); 
other  orSers  were  issued,  and  officers  appointed,  and  then  the 
important  event  of  the  day  came  before  the  Council. 

It  w-as  the  consideration  of  Gen.  Washington's  appeal  for  the 

militia  without  one  momenfs  loss  of  time^  seconded  by  "several  letters 

from  the  Hon**^*  President  of  the  Continental  Congress  "  urging  the 

ame   thing  "in   strong  and   pressing  terms."      The  battalion   of 


426  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

militia  ordered  to  be  raised  for  the  relief  and  support  of  the  army 
at  New  York,  "by  inevitable  difficulties  of  preparation,"  could  not 
be  made  ready  so  as' to  arrive  in  New  York  "seasonably  for  the 
expected  attack  of  the  enemy."  Should  that  be  the  case,  it  was 
feared  that  it  "would  prove  fatal  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty." 
Believing  that  "in  that  critical  situation  no  efforts  could  be  too 
great,"  it  was  ordered  that  the  three  regiments  of  light  horse 
lately  established  should  set  forward  and  march  to  New  York 
to  stay  until  the  regiments  appointed  for  that  service  should 
arrive. 

It  was  the  20th  of  June,  1776,  that  Capt.  Phineas  Porter  of 
Waterbury  was  given  a  Major's  commission  on  the  staif  of  Col. 
Douglas'  regiment  in  Gen.  Wadsworth's  brigade  of  State  troops 
raised  to  reinforce  Washington's  army  at  New  York.  In  less  than 
three  weeks  this  regiment  in  which  so  many  Waterbury  men 
enlisted  was  recruited  and  marched  to  New  York.  It  reached  that 
city  on  a  most  auspicious  day.  Our  weary  men  were  ushered  into  a 
great  camp  of  many  regiments  under  all  the  excitement  of  the 
knowledge  that  Gov.  Howe  was  at  that  moment  landing  his  forces 
on  Staten  Island.  The  hour  was,  as  nearly  as  can  be  determined,  12 
o'clock  at  noon.  The  day  was  Tuesday,  July  9,  1776.  That  evening, 
all  the  brigades  in  and  around  New  York  were  ordered  to  their 
respective  parade-grounds  for  a  purpose — that  purpose  was  that  on 
each  parade  ground  to  each  regiment  might  be  read  important  news. 
Washington  himself,  on  the  spot  near  where  stands  the  old  City  Hall, 
sat  on  horseback  within  the  hollow  square  formed  by  a  regiment, 
and  with  uncovered  head  and  reverent  mien  listened  to  the  read- 
ing by  one  of  his  aids  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  This 
was  not  done  under  the  rosy  flush  of  victory  but  in  the  fast- 
approaching  shadow  of  mighty  Britain,  strong  in  all  the  power, 
and  radiant  with  all  the  pomp  of  war.  And  what  had  a  few  little 
colonies  to  meet  them  with  ?  They  had,  it  is  true  a  new  name — 
that  of  States,  but  cannon  and  camp-kettles  alike  were  wanting. 
The  small  powder  mills  in  the  Connecticut  hive  could  yield  them 
only  a  fragment  of  the  powder  General  Washington  had  cried  for, 
day  and  night,  from  Cambridge  and  from  New  York.  The  houses 
of  the  inhabitants,  diligently  searched  for  fragments  of  lead,  gave 
not  enough,  and  it  is  well  known  that  every  homesteacf  in  New 
England  was  besieged  with  demands  for  the  last  yard  of  homespun 
cloth,  that  the  country's  soldiers  might  not  go  coatless  by  day  and 
tentless  at  night.  Washington  refrained  from  ordering  the  regi- 
ments to  be  uniformed,  knowing  full  well  that  his  order  could  not 
be  effected. 


WATERBURY  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  427 

After  the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence — after  the 
grand  parade  at  sunset— after  the  day  was  done,  there  came  the 
same  night  a  hasty  march  in  which  the  Connecticut  men  were  not 
too  weary  to  join — a  march  that  no  commandant  ordered,  into 
Bowling  Green. 

Only  four  years  had  passed  since  an  equestrian  statue  had  been 
borne  by  loyal  subjects  to  a  loyal  Province.  It  was  a  noble  horse, 
though  formed  of  lead,  that  stood  proudly  on  its  pedestal,  bearing 
the  figure  of  King  George.  The  Crown  of  Great  Britain  was  on  his 
head,  a  sword  in  his  left  hand,  his  right  hand  grasped  the  bridle 
lines,  and  over  all  a  sheen  of  gold,  for  horse  and  king  were  gilded. 
King  George  faced  the  bay  and  looked  vainly  down  on  Staten 
Island,  for  his  brave  ships  and  his  eight  thousand  soldiers  on  ship 
and  shore  could  not  save  him  from  the  sea  of  wrath  surging  in  the 
hearts  of  the  colonists  at  his  feet.  We  all  know  the  story  of  the 
overthrow  of  the  statue,  and  of  the  bullets  that  were  made  from 
the  lead  of  it  in  Litchfield — ^but  Major  Porter's  orderly  book  reveals 
to  us  General  Washington's  reproof  to  the  soldiers  for  the  act: 

"The  General  doubts  not  the  persons  who  pulled  down  and 
mutilated  the  statue  in  the  Broadway  last  night  were  actuated  by 
zeal  in  the  Public  cause,  yet  it  has  so  much  the  appearance  of  riot 
and  want  of  order  in  the  army,  that  he  disapproves  the  manner 
and  directs  that  in  future  such  things  shall  be  avoided  by  the 
soldiers  and  be  left  to  be  executed  by  proper  authority." 

The  same  book  mentions  the  brigades  of  Generals  Heath, 
Spencer,  Heard,  Scott,  Wadsworth,  Mifflin,  Putnam  and  Phillips,  as 
being  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York — also  the  regiments  of 
Colonels  Bayly,  Mason,  Baldwin,  Parsons,  McDougal,  Learned, 
Douglas,  Kitzema,  Malcom,  Parker  (regiment  of  artificers).  Ward, 
Huntington,  Chester,  Sage,  Hardenburg,  Reed,  Prescott,  Nixon, 
Marten,  Ward,  Mansfield  and  Van  Cortland. 

The  British  soldiers  in  their  gay  uniforms,  who  had  just  arrived, 
must  have  furnished  a  sharp  contrast  to  our  soldiers  in  their  non- 
descript attire.  No  wonder  is  it  that  on  July  12th:  "the  General 
was  very  sorry  to  observe  that  many  of  the  officers  and  a  number 
of  men  instead  of  attending  to  their  duty  on  the  beating  of  the 
drum  continued  along  the  banks  of  the  North  river,  gazing  at  the 
ships,"  remarking  that  "a  weak  curiosity  makes  a  man  look  mean 
and  contemptible."  Nevertheless,  the  contrast  must  have  been 
painful,  even  to  General  Washington.  We  quote  from  Major  Por- 
ter's orderly  book  under  date  of  July  24th  : 

The  General  being  sensible  of  the  difficulty  of  providing  cloth  of  almost  any 
kind  for  the  troops  feels  an  unwillingness  to  recommend,  much  more  to  order  any 
kind  of  uniforms,  but  as  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  men  should  have  clothes 


428  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT, 

and  appear  decent  and  tight,  he  earnestly  encourages  the  use  of  hunting  shirts 
with  long  breeches  of  the  same  cloth  made  gaiter  fashion  about  the  leg^  to  all 
those  who  are  unprovided-  No  dress  can  be  had  cheaper  or  more  convenient,  as 
the  wearer  can  be  cool  in  warm  weather  and  warm  in  cold  weather  by  putting  on 
underclothes  which  will  not  change  the  outward  dress  winter  or  summer,  besides 
which  it  is  a  dress  supposed  to  carry  no  small  terror  to  the  enemy,  who  think  every 
such  man  a  complete  marksman. 

Meanwhile  the  Continental  Congress  had  recommended  the 
Assemblies  of  the  United  Colonies  to  procure  clothing,  and  only- 
five  days  after  the  Continental  troops  were  reproved  for  "weak" 
curiosity  along  the  banks  of  the  North  river,  Connecticut  had  given 
forth  the  order  for  3000  coats  and  3000  waistcoats  of  homemade 
cloth, — as  far  as  might  be  of  a  brown  or  cloth  color — for  all  the 
blankets  that  could  be  obtained  in  the  colony,  3000  felt  hats,  6000 
shirts  of  checked  flannel,  or  linen,  if  flannel  could  not  be  had,  and 
6000  pairs  of  shoes.  These  articles  were  proportioned  to  the  coun- 
ties. But  so  dire  was  the  need  of  the  troops  at  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga,  that  all  that  could  be  hastily  gathered  was  sent  on. 

So  serious  was  the  outlook  at  this  time  that  stringent  measures 
were  adopted  regarding  prisoners  of  war.  Hitherto  they  had  not 
been  confined,  being  allowed  to  go,  within  limits,  on  their  own 
parole  of  honor.  At  this  time  an  order  went  forth  that  no  unknown 
persons,  whether  appearing  in  the  character  of  gentlemen,  expres- 
ses, travelers  or  common  beggars,  might  pass  from  town  to  town, 
unless  upon  a  certificate  from  Congress,  Committee  of  Safety  or 
Inspection,  or  other  prescribed  officer.  Such  certificate  must  men- 
tion from  whence  and  whither  the  traveler  was  passing  and  that  he 
was  friendly  to  the  liberties  of  the  American  States.  All  officers, 
even  to  the  tithingmen  were  required  to  stop  and  examine  all 
unknown  persons  and  to  require  a  sight  of  the  certificate  the  trav- 
eler carried,  and  unless  full  satisfaction  was  given  on  every  point, 
the  officer  was  to  apprehend  the  person  and  take  him  before  the  civil 
authority  or  Committee  of  Inspection.  Watches  were  kept  in  towns 
to  apprehend  unknown  persons  who  might  travel  by  night  and 
practice  mischief. 

During  this  eventful  summer  Waterbury  had  her  special  excite- 
ment when  the  militia  companies  of  the  township  were  ordered  to 
New  York.  The  British  forces  were  augmented  to  such  a  degree 
that  Washington  called  for  home  troops.  August  17th,  under  Lieut. 
Col.  Jonathan  Baldwin,  the  loth  regiment  marched.  All  that 
remains  in  our  state  archives  of  the  men  who  went  on  this  service 
is  the  following  list  of  names  upon  **  an  abstract  of  the  marching 
money  due  the  company  in  Lieut.  Col.  Baldwin's  regiment  com- 
manded by  Lieut.  Isaac  Benham. 


WATERBURY  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  429 

Sergeants  Lemuel  Nichols,*  Stephen  Welt  on,  Daniel  Bronson, 
Samuel  Leavenworth,  Aaron  Benedict;  Drummer  Moses  Cook;  Coi- 
porals  John  Scovill,  Amos  Prichard;  Privates  John  Adams,  Elisha 
Benham,  Moses  Frost,  Titus  French,  Samuel  Frost,  Timothy  Frost, 
Cyrus  Grilley,  Joseph  Hopkins,  John  Merchant,  Samuel  Munson, 
Lue  Smith,  Jabez  Tuttle,  Benoni  Welton."  The  only  man  not  of 
Waterbury  on  the  list  is  Titus  French. 

There  are  in  the  writer's  possession  certain  receipts  and  frag- 
ments of  pay  rolls  once  belonging  to  Col.  Baldwin,  from  which  we 
gather  the  following  facts.  The  regiment  was  five  days  in  going  to 
New  York,  and  four  in  returning;  Capt.  Stephen  Yale's  and 
Capt.  Elisha  Hall's  men  were  in  service  forty-two  days  and  were 
discharged  September  25th;  Younglove  Cutler  went,  and  was 
allowed  "a  sickness  bill"  of  three  pounds  and  two  shillings;  Capt. 
Jesse  Moss  received  about  fifty  pounds  "toward  the  sick  bills 
allowed;"  Capt.  Elisha  Hall  received  pay  for  *' extraordinary  sick- 
ness due  to  his  complaint " — Sergt.  Joel  Hall  commanded  Capt. 
Hall's  company;  Lieut.  Joseph  Newton  gave  a  receipt  for  the 
"wages  and  mileage  dxie  to  Lieut.  Job.  Yale,  Jonas  Hills,  Lieut. 
Joseph  Newton  and  Daniel  Humiston  for  their  services  in  the  cam- 
paign to  New  York  in  1776;"  Gould  Gift  Norton  gave  a  receipt  for 
"his  own  and  the  services  of  Doc.  Amos  Hull  in  the  Continental 
Army  in  August  and  September,  1776;"  Benjamin  Richards  com- 
manded a  company— there  is  but  a  fragment  of  its  roll,  but  enough 
to  give  recognition  to  "  Lot  Osbom,  Alsop  Baldwin,  Noah  Richards 
and  David  Buckingham;  twenty-four  men  went  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Newton's  company;  Capt.  Elisha  Hall  gave  a  receipt  for  the  ser- 
vices of  Sergt.  Joel  Hall,  (taken  prisoner  later  at  Fort  Washington) ; 
Lieut.  Moses  Foot  gave  a  receipt  for  a  company — eleven  names  only 
remaining  of  the  roll — which  are  Joel  Humiston,  Moses  Michel,  Jesse 
Penfield,  Ambross  Potter,  Amos  Sanford,  Jonah  Sanford,  John  Sco- 
vill, Jesse  Turner,  Obed  Williams  and  Giles  Mingo;  and  the  roll  of 
Capt.  Elisha  Hall's  company  is  receipted  for  by  Oliver  Stanley. 
Very  many  of  the  men  in  the  militia  regiments  deserted,  being 
unaccustomed  to  the  rigors  of  service,  but  they  nearly  all  returned 
to  duty.     With  the  above  papers  is  the  following  : 

Waterbury  i6th  of  Sep.  A.  D.,  1777,  then  Received  of  Lieut.-Col.  Jonathan 
Baldwin  fourteen  pounds  four  shillings  lawful  money  in  full  for  the  Wages  and 
Milage  Due  to  those  men  who  Deserted  the  Service  Belonging  to  Cap.  Nathaniel 
Barnes  Company  and  my  own  in  the  months  of  August  and  Sep.  last,  and  Returned 
to  their  Duty  agreeable  to  His  Excellency  Governor  Trumbull's  proclamation. 

Received  by  Me,  Jesse  Curtis,  Capt. 

♦  The  Tory  of  1775. 


430  BISTORT  OF  WATERS UBT. 

In  regard  to  these  deserters,  we  learn  that  they  were  Lazarus 
Ives,  Aaron  Fenn,  Benjamin  Barnes,  Cephas  Ford,  Paul  Griggs  and 
Elnathan  Ives.  They  were  at  New  York  in  August  and  in  the  loth 
company  of  the  loth  regiment.  "By  [medical]  advice  they 
absented  themselves  and  returned  home  " — having  served  a  month 
and  traveled  224  miles.  They  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for 
their  "pay."  Appended  to  the  petition  is  the  statement  under  date 
of  September  5  th  of  Dr.  Roger  Conant  and  Dr.  Amos  Hull  that 
Lazarus  Ives  had  dysentery  and  rheumatism.  There  is  also  the  affi- 
davit of  seven  of  their  neighbors  that  the  same  men  were  unable  to 
go  to  Horseneck  in  November. 

It  is  estimated  that  at  this  time  Connecticut  had  fully  twenty 
thousand  men  in  the  service,  while  her  available  force  did  not 
exceed  twenty-three  thousand. 

Waterbury  men  enlisted  in  six  of  the  eight  companies  forming 
Col.  Douglas's  regiment,  of  which  Phineas  Porter  was  major.  Every 
commissioned  officer  of  its  4th  company  was  from  Waterbury. 
They  were  Capt.  John  Lewis,  Jr.,  ist  Lieut.  James  Warner,  2d  Lieut. 
Michael  Bronson,  Ens.  Joseph  Beach,  Jr.  There  is  no  roll  of  its 
members,  but  seventeen  names  are  given  of  those  who  received 
their  discharge  at  a  later  date.  Fifteen  of  the  seventeen  were  from 
Waterbury.  They  are,  Samuel  Scovill,  Selah  Scovill,  Selden  Spen- 
cer, John  Stewart,  Abel  Sutliff,  John  Tatterdon  (doubtless  Fallen- 
don),  John  Tucker,  Jared  Tirrel,  Elihu  Tirrel,  Samuel  Tuttle, 
Samuel  Webb,  Daniel  Welton,  Thomas  Gould  who  was  mortally 
wounded  Sept.  15th,  Titus  Mix  who  was  killed  Sept.  i6th,  John 
Beach,  a  sergeant,  missing  Sept.  15th,  Stephen  Johnson  who  was 
killed  at  White  Plains,  Oct.  28th,  and  David  Welton  who  was 
wounded  Oct.  28th. 

The  militia  regiment  of  Col.  Baldwin  reached  New  York  about 
two  weeks  before  the  battle  of  Long  Island.  In  that  battle.  Major 
Porter's  regiment,  in  which  it  will  be  remembered,  Waterbury  men 
fought  in  six  of  its  eight  companies,  "was  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight."  In  the  retreat  from  Long  Island  to  New  York,  Major  Porter 
is  said  to  have  been  in  the  last  boat  which  put  off  in  the  fog  from 
the  Brooklyn  shore.  This  was  about  two  months  after  his  entrance 
into  the  Continental  army  as  major  of  the  5th  battalion  of  foot 
under  Col.  William  Douglas.* 


*  His  military  record  is  the  following  :  May  1774,  Lieutenant  2d  Co.  zoth  reg.  of  the  Colony.  Oct.,  1774, 
captain  of  the  same  Co.  April  1775  he  entered  the  Colonial  army  as  captain  of  the  8th  Co.  in  the  ist  regi- 
ment. June  30th,  he  was  major  of  the  5th  battalion  of  foot,  under  Col.  Douglas.  The  above  appointments 
are  from  the  Colonial  records.  Later  he  appears  as  major  of  his  old  militia  regiment,  the  loth.  In  Jan.  of 
1780  he  became  colonel  of  the  same  regiment,  and,  when  the  Waterbury  companies  at  a  later  date  formed 
an  entire  regiment,  the  28th,  he  was  appointed  its  colonel. 


WATERS UBY  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


431 


About  two  weeks  later,  September  15  th,  an  attack  was  made 
upon  New  York.  The  5th  battalion,  under  Col.  Douglas,  to  which 
Major  Porter  belonged,  and  whose  4th  company  under  Capt.  Lewis 
was  composed  of  Waterbury  men,  the  muster  roll  of  which  is 
missing,  was  stationed  at  Kip's  Bay.  This  was  near  Thirty-fourth 
street.  The  main  body  of  the  army  was  then  at  Harlem  Heights. 
The  British  ships  ascended  the  North  and  the  East  rivers,  and 
their  fires  swept  across  the  whole  island,  under  cover  of  which, 
Howe  landed  near  Kip's  Bay.  The  troops  fled  panic-stricken.  This 
was  the  occasion  on  which  Washington  is  said  to  have  become  so 
excited  that  he  threw  his  hat  to  the  ground,  exclaiming:  "Are 
these  the  men  with  whom  I  am  to  defend  America  ? "  At  this 
moment,  Washington,  when  "  within  eighty  paces  of  the  enemy  and 
exposed  to  capture,  was  saved  by  his  attendant  who  turned  the 
head  of  his  horse  and  hurried  him  from  the  field."  It  is  pleasant 
to  know  that  one  Waterbury  man — Major  Phineas  Porter — was 
between  the  enemy  and  the  general,  for  in  this  retreat  he  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  suffered  nearly  three  months  of  hunger  and 
imprisonment,  during  which  time  he  parted  with  his  knee  buckles 
and  other  articles  of  value  for  food.  Five  men  are  recorded  as 
missing  after  the  retreat,  in  his  regiment. 

David  Smith,  who  ultimately  was  in  command  of  all  the  militia 
of  the  State,  was  another  Waterbury  man,  who  at  this  time  and 
later,  was  winning  for  himself  and  native  town  a  good  degree  of 
respect.  He  entered  service  May  ist,  1775,  in  the  4th  company  of 
the  ist  Continental  regiment,  as  a  private.  He  was  next  ensign  in 
the  8th  company.  We  find  him  captain  in  1776  of  a  company  in 
Col.  Elmore's  Continental  regiment,  which  took  the  field  in  July, 
under  Schuyler,  and  marched  from  Albany  into  Tryon  county. 
Captain  Smith's  company  was  composed  of  seventy  men,  nearly  all 
from  Waterbury.  His  ist  lieutenant  was  Nehemiah  Royce,  and  his 
ensign,  William  Andrews,  both  from  Waterbury.  This  company 
served  at  "  Burnetsfield  (German  Flats)." 

In  Wadsworth's  brigade  was  Capt.  John  Couch  of  Meriden,  with 
Waterbury  men  in  his  company,  and  our  Nathaniel  Edwards  for 
his  ist  lieutenant.  This  company  was  stationed  during  the 
summer  of  1776  at  Bergen  Heights  and  Paulus  Hook  (Jersey  city); 
in  October,  at  Fort  Lee;  in  November,  sent  across  the  river  to  assist 
in  defending  Fort  Washington,  where  Lieutenant  Edwards  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  did  not  reach  home  until  November  loth,  1780. 
Soon  after  his  captivity  he  had  small-pox  and  asked  for  full  pay  for 
the  time,  which  was  granted.  Ira  Tompkins,  Solomon  Trumbull 
and  David  Hungerford,  Waterbury  men,  and  of  his  company,  were 
taken  prisoners  at.  the  same  time. 


432 


mSTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 


In  the  same  summer,  in  June,  two  State  battalions,  under  Cols. 
Mott  and  Swift,  were  raised  to  reinforce  the  Continental  troops  in 
the  northern  department,  then  stationed  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fort  Ticonderoga.  The  4th  company  in  Swift's  regiment,  serving 
under  Gen.  Gates,  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Stephen  Matthews, 
who  reported  eleven  of  his  company  killed.  He  seems  to  have  gone 
to  Ticonderoga  a  little  after  our  poor  army  retreated  from  Canada 
— in  the  words  of  John  Adams — "disgraced,  defeated,  discon- 
tented, dispirited,  diseased,  undisciplined,  eaten  up  with  vermin, 
no  clothes,  beds,  blankets,  nor  medicines,  and  no  victuals  but  salt 
pork  and  flour,  and  a  scanty  supply  of  that." 

Stephen  Matthews*  eleven  men  were  probably  of  the  ninety  who 
were  killed  in  the  action  on  Lake  Champlain  in  October,  when  the 
Americans  lost  eleven  vessels.  The  names  of  ten  of  the  above  men 
are  given  by  Captain  Matthews,  when  he  asks  for  redress  for  the 
arms  once  belonging  to  them — which  he  had  saved,  but  which  were 
afterward  lost.  He  gives  four  as  from  Waterbury — "Job  Welton, 
Elihu  Robards,  Jonathan  Roberts  and  Dan  Welton."  Benajah  Judd 
was  also  from  Waterbury.  The  other  names  are  James  Warner 
and  John  Nichols  "of  New  Haven,*' Hezekiah  Clark,  John  Parker 
and  Daniel  Clapp.  These  men  must  have  been  among  those  drafted 
from  the  army,  for  the  navy. 

After  the  battle  of  White  Plains  the  loth  militia  regiment  was 
again  called  out — "to  place  itself  under  General  Wooster's  com- 
mand on  the  Westchester  border."  In  November  four  battalions  of 
state  troops  were  raised,  to  serve  in  Westchester,  or  in  Rhode 
Island,  in  the  2d  of  which  Captain  Benjamin  Richards,  ist  Lieut. 
Isaac  Bronson,  and  Ens.  Benjamin  Fenn  Jr.,  served. 

In  December,  so  appalling  was  the  situation  that  a  very  dark- 
ness of  fear  fell  upon  the  American  people.  Connecticut's  prisons 
were  crowded  with  Tories;  the  term  of  service  of  the  militia  was 
expiring;  some  of  the  New  York  troops  refused  to  serve,  and  it 
was  feared  that  the  people  would  "  rise  in  arms  and  openly  join  the 
British  forces;"  Washington's  little  army,  "not  exceeding  four 
thousand  men,"  was  encamped  on  a  plain  between  the  Hackensack 
and  the  Passaic  rivers;  Heath  had  a  division  in  the  Highlands,  and 
Lee  had  a  corps  on  the  east  side  of  the  North  river,  and  a  British 
column,  led  by  Comwallis,  was  approaching  Washington.  Under 
the  above  circumstances,  our  General  Assembly  asked  every  able 
bodied  man  living  west  of  the  Connecticut  river  to  go  forward  and 
offer  himself  for  the  service. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

A  MORE  PERMANENT  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  REQUIRED  —  JOSEPH 
HOPKINS'  SERVICES  —  MOSES  DUNBAR  I  HIS  "LAST  SPEECH  AND 
DYING  words"  —  SOLDIERS  SUMMONED  TO  PEEKSKILL  —  WATER- 
BURY  OFFERS  BOUNTIES — THE  DANBURY  ALARM — COL.  BALDWIN'S 
PAPERS — OUR  MEN  AT  TICONDEROGA  —  IN  THE  HIGHLANDS — AT 
STILLWATER  AND  SARATOGA  —  WATERBURY  FURNISHES  CLOTHING 
— PROVIDES  FOR  SOLDIERS'  FAMILIES — VALLEY  FORGE — MONMOUTH 
— MRS.    ISAAC    BOOTH    LEWIS — ARTICLES   OF   CONFEDERATION. 

IN  1775  the  enthusiasm  of  the  colonists  had  made  it  an  easy  and 
a  natural  thing  to  raise  an  army,  in  a  day — for  a  day.  Material 
that  came  to  hand  had  been  accepted,  and  had  marched  away 
in  haste — to  meet  the  horrors  of  defeat  and  disaster.  Eighteen 
months  had  passed  since  that  gala  day  when  half  the  men  of  Con- 
necticut colony  called  with  proffers  of  assistance  at  Boston's  doors 
— a  year  and  a  half,  strewn  with  battles,  assault  and  siege.  Several 
thousand  men  had  fallen  in  death  and  wounds  on  the  field.  Bunker 
Hill,  Quebec,  Long  Island,  Harlem  Heights,  White  Plains  and  Tren- 
ton had  written  their  gory  texts  on  the  hearts  of  the  people — but 
an  older  text,  written  deeper  even  than  battles  could  write,  had 
been  engraven  by  the  God  of  Battles  in  the  hearts  of  the  colonists, 
urging  them  to  still  loftier  endeavors. 

General  Washington's  experience  with  men  who  enlisted  for 
short  terms,  and  with  the  hitherto  untried  militia  regiments,  had 
been  disappointing.  A  more  permanent  organization  was  impera- 
tive. It  was  resolved  to  create  a  standing  army,  whose  members 
should  enlist  for  three  years,  or  for  the  war.  They  who  enlisted  for 
the  war  and  served  to  the  end  were  promised  one  hundred  acres  of 
land.  Army  life  had  lost  its  charms.  Connecticut  farms  grew  very 
attractive,  when  seen  from  the  field  of  stern  discipline  and  carnage. 
Volunteers  for  the  new  army  did  not  press  to  the  front.  It  was 
said  that  small  pox  "  more  effectually  retarded  the  entering  into  the 
service  than  any  other  prospect  of  danger,  or  fear  of  the  enemy." 
In  Waterbury,  it  had  at  this  time  gotten  beyond  the  control  of  the 
selectmen. 

During  this  period,  Joseph  Hopkins  was  active  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  With  Capt.  Samuel  Forbes,  he  went  to  the  lead  mines 
in  New  Canaan,  examined  the  quality  of  the  lead,  and  prepared  a 
28 


434 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


report  for  the  Assembly  (which  is  printed  in  American  Archives); 
he  received  i8o  votes  for  nomination  for  election,  as  Governor's 
Assistant;  was  appointed  "to  procure  fire-arms  and  gtm-locks  to  be 
made  and  manufactured  in  the  colony;"  and  he  was  at  the  head  of  a 
committee  of  five  gentlemen  who  were  "  severally,  or  in  conjunc- 
tion, to  search  after  lead  mines,  and  report  any  discovery  to  the  Gov- 
ernor," who  was  to  report  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Waterbury  furnished  at  this  time  a  conspicuous  martyr — who 
died,  devoted  to  the  Church  of  England.  It  seemed  absolutely 
necessary  to  find  a  victim  whose  death  should  prove  a  powerful 
object  lesson  to  the  Tories,  and  to  the  political  prisoners  who  filled 
the  prisons.  Moses  Dunbar  was  the  man  selected.  The  tragedy 
and  the  pathos  attending  his  dying  will  forever  appeal  to  the  heart 
of  an  American — be  he  the  descendant  of  Whig  or  of  Tory.  While 
in  prison  and  under  sentence  of  death,  Dunbar  made  an  attempt  to 
escape.  Elisha  Wadsworth  was  arrested,  fined  £40,  and  sentenced  to 
one  year's  imprisonment  for  assisting  him.  Wadsworth,  in  his  own 
defense,  said  that  "  he  did  not  assist  him,  but  simply  followed  him 
out" — that  Dunbar  "effected  his  own  escape  as  far  as  he  went." 
Wadsworth  was  released  from  prison,  Oct.  14,  1777,  on  paying  costs 
and  taking  the  Oath  of  Fidelity. 

About  1880,  in  the  removal  of  an  ancient  house  in  Harwinton, 
the  following  document — containing  the  farewell  words  of  Moses 
Dunbar  to  his  children,  and  to  this  world — was  found. 

The  "  Cause "  must  indeed  have  been  a  sacred  one,  that  re- 
quired the  sacrifice  of  the  man,  whose  last  words  were  the  fol- 
lowing : 

My  Children  :  Remember  your  Greater  in  the  days  of  your  youth.  Leam  your 
Creed,  the  Lord's  prayer,  and  the  ten  commandments  and  Catechism,  and  go  to 
church  as  often  as  you  can,  and  prepare  yourselves  as  soon  as  you  are  of  a  proper 
age,  to  worthily  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  I  charge  you  all,  never  to  leave  the 
Church.     Read  the  Bible.     Love  the  Saviour  wherever  you  may  be. 

I  am  now  in  Hartford  jail  condemned  to  death  for  high  treason  against  the  State 
of  Connecticut.  I  was  thirty  years  last  June,  the  14th.  God  bless  you.  Remem- 
ber your  Father  and  Mother  and  be  dutiful  to  your  present  Mother. 

(A  true  copy — written  by  Moses  Dunbar). 

The  last  speech  and  dying  words  of  Moses  Dunbar,  who  was  exe- 
cuted at  Hartford  ye  19th  March,  A.  D.,  1777,  for  high  treason 
against  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

I  was  bom  at  Wallingford  in  Connecticut  the  14th  of  June,  A.  D.  1746,  being 
the  second  of  sixteen  children,  all  bom  to  my  Father  by  one  Mother.  My  Father, 
John  Dunbar,  was  bom  at  Wallingford,  and  married  Temperance  Hall  of  the  same 
place,  about  the  year  1743.  I  was  educated  in  the  business  of  husbandry.  About 
the  year  1760,  my  father  removed  himself  and  family  to  Waterbury — where,  May 


WATERBURT  IN  TEE  REVOLUTION, 


435 


ye  30th,  1764,  I  was  married  with  Phebe  Jearman  of  Farmington,  by  whom  I  had 
seven  children — four  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  first  year  of  our  marriage  my 
wife  and  I,  upon  what  we  thought  sufficient  and  rational  motives,  declared  our- 
selves for  the  Church  of  England — the  Rev.  Mr.  Scovill  being  then  missionary  at 
Waterbury.  May  20th,  1770,  my  honored  Mother  departed  this  life.  She  was  a 
woman  of  much  virtue  and  good  reputation,  whom  I  remember  with  the  most 
honor  and  gratitude  for  the  good  care  and  affection  she  continually  showed  me.  My 
joining  myself  to  the  church  occasioned  a  sorrowful  breach  between  my  Father  and 
myself,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  never  assisting  me  but  very  little  in  gaining  a 
livelihood — likewise  it  caused  him  to  treat  me  very  harshly  in  many  instances,  for 
which  I  heartily  forgive  him,  as  well  as  my  brothers,  as  I  hope  for  pardon  from  my 
God  and  my  Saviour  for  my  own  offences.  I  likewise  earnestly  pray  God  to  forgive 
them  through  Christ. 

From  the  time  that  the  present  unhappy  misunderstanding  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  began,  I  freely  confess  I  never  could  reconcile  my  opinion 
to  the  necessity  or  lawfulness  of  taking  up  arms  against  Great  Britain.  Having 
spoken  somewhat  freely  on  the  subject,  I  was  attacked  by  a  mob  of  about  forty 
men,  very  much  abused,  my  life  threatened  and  nearly  taken  away,  by  which  mob 
I  was  obliged  to  sign  a  paper  containing  many  falsehoods.  May  20th,  1776,  my 
wife  deceased,  in  full  hope  of  future  happiness  ....  The  winter  preceding 
this  trial  had  been  a  time  of  distress  with  us  ....  I  had  now  concluded  to 
live  peaceable  and  give  no  offence,  neither  by  word  nor  deed.  I  had  thought  of 
entering  into  a  voluntary  confinement  within  the  limits  of  my  farm,  and  making 
proposals  of  that  nature,  when  I  was  carried  before  the  Committee  [of  Inspection 
of  Waterbury?]  and  by  them  ordered  to  suffer  imprisonment  during  their  pleasure, 
not  exceeding  five  months.  When  I  had  remained  there  about  fourteen  days  the 
authority  of  New  Haven  dismissed  me.  Finding  my  life  uneasy,  and  as  I  had 
reason  to  apprehend,  in  great  danger,  I  thought  it  my  safest  method  to  flee  to  Long 
Island,  which  I  accordingly  did,  but  having  a  desire  to  see  my  friends  and  children, 
and  being  under  engagement  of  marriage  with  her  who  is  my  wife — the  banns  of 
marriage  having  been  before  published — I  returned,  and  was  married.  Having  a 
mind  to  remove  my  wife  and  family  to  Long  Island,  as  a  place  of  safety,  I  went 
there  the  second  time,  to  prepare  matters  accordingly.  When  there,  I  accepted  a 
captain's  warrant  for  the  King's  service  in  Col.  Fanning's  reg't.  I  returned  to 
Connecticut — when  I  was  taken  and  betrayed  by  Joseph  Smith,  and  was  brought 
before  the  authority  of  Waterbury.  They  refused  to  have  anj-thing  to  do  with  the 
matter.  I  was  carried  before  Justice  Strong  and  Justice  Whitman  of  Farmington, 
and  by  them  committed  to  Hartford,  where  the  Superior  Court  was  then  sitting. 
I  was  tried  on  Thursday,  23d  of  January,  1777,  for  High  Treason  against  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  by  an  act  passed  in  October  last — for  enlisting  men  for  General 
Howe,  and  for  having  a  captain's  commission  for  that  purpose.  I  was  adjudged 
guilty,  and  on  the  Saturday  following  was  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  court  and 
received  sentence  of  death.  The  time  of  my  suffering  was  afterward  fixed  to  bo 
the  19th  day  of  March,  1777 — which  tremendous  and  awful  day  now  draws  near, 
when  I  must  appear  before  the  Searcher  of  hearts  to  give  an  account  of  all  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  whether  they  be  good  or  evil.  I  shall  soon  be  delivered 
from  all  the  pains  and  troubles  of  this  wicked  mortal  state,  and  shall  be  answerable 
to  All-Seeing  God,  who  is  infinitely  just,  and  knoweth  all  things  as  they  are.  I  am 
fully  persuaded  that  I  depart  in  a  state  of  peace  with  God  and  my  own  conscience. 
I  have  but  little  doubt  of  my  future  happiness,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ. 
I  have  sincerely  repented  of  all  my  sins,  examined  my  heart,  prayed  earnestly  to 


436  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBUBT. 

God  for  mercy,  for  the  gracious  pardon  of  my  manifold  and  heinous  sins,  I  resign 
myself  wholly  to  the  disposal  of  my  Heavenly  Father,  submitting  to  His  Divine 
will.     From  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  forgive  all  enemies  and  earnestly  pray  Grod 

to  forgive  them  all.    Some  part  of  Th S *s  evidence  was  false,  but  I  heartily 

forgive  him,  and  likewise  earnestly  beg  forgiveness  of  all  persons  whom  I  have 
injured  or  offended.  Since  my  sentence  I  have  been  visited  by  sundry  worthy 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  who  have  discoursed  and  prayed  with  me — among  whom 
are  the  Rev.  William  Short  of  Hartford.  The  Rev.  Wm.  Veils  of  Simsbury,  my 
fellow^  prisoner  on  account  of  preaching  in  favor  of  the  British  government,  has 
been  indefatigable  in  affording  every  possible  assistance  to  prepare  me  for  my 
terrible  Exit.  He  administered  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  to  me  the  Sun- 
day before  I  was  to  be  put  to  death.  To  these  gentlemen,  as  w^ell  as  all  others 
who  have  shewed  me  kindness  I  give  my  most  sincere  thanks.  I  die  in  the  pro- 
fession and  communion  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Of  my  political  sentence  I  leave  the  readers  of  these  lines  to  judge.  Perhaps  it 
is  neither  reasonable  nor  proper  that  I  should  declare  them  in  my  present  situation. 
I  cannot  take  the  last  farewell  of  my  countrymen  Avithout  desiring  them  to  show 
kindness  to  my  poor  widow  and  children,  not  reflecting  on  them  the  manner  of  my 
death.  Now  I  have  g^ven  you  a  narrative  of  all  things  material  concerning  my 
life  with  that  veracity  which  you  are  to  expect  from  one  who  is  going  to  leave  the 
world  and  appear  before  the  God  of  truth.  My  last -advice  to  you  is  that  you, 
above  all  others,  confess  your  sins,  and  prepare  yourselves,  with  God's  assistance, 
for  your  future  and  Eternal  state.  You  will  all  shortly  be  as  near  Eternity  as  I 
now  am,  and  will  view  both  worlds  in  the  light  which  I  do  now  view  them.  You 
will  then  view  all  worldly  things  to  be  but  shadows  and  vapours  and  vanity  of 
vanities,  and  the  things  of  the  Spiritual  world  to  be  of  importance  beyond  all 
description.  You  will  all  then  be  sensible  that  the  pleasures  of  a  good  conscience, 
and  the  happiness  of  the  near  prospect  of  Heaven,  will  outweigh  all  the  pleasures 
and  honours  of  this  wicked  world. 

God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  tmd  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  have  mercy  on  me  and 

receive  my  spirit.    Amen,  and  Amen. 

MosEs  Dunbar, 

Hartford,  March  i8th,  A.  D.,  1777. 
[A  true  copy  by  Sylvanus  Cooke.] 

It  is  believed  that  Moses  Dunbar  was  hung  from  a  tree  that 
stood  on  the  hill,  and  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  Trinity  College 
buildings.  It  is  said  that  Moses  Dunbar's  widow,  when  an  aged 
woman,  pointed  out  the  tree  to  her  friends,  saying:  "That  is  the 
tree  on  which  my  poor  first  husband  was  hung."  It  is  said  that  at 
the  moment  when  the  execution  took  place  a  white  deer  sprang 
from  the  near-by  forest  and  passed  directly  under  the  hanging  vic- 
tim. This  tradition  is  pretty  firmly  established.  Dr.  Bronson  tells 
us  that  "  the  gallows  in  a  public  place  was  kept  standing  for  a  long 
time  as  a  warning  to  others." 

In  January,  1777,  John  Slater,  who  was  constable,  took  up  six 
runaway  Tories  at  Waterbury  and  guarded  and  transported  them  to 
Hartford,  "by  order  of  authority,"  receiving  twenty-five  pounds  and 
fourteen  shillings  for  his  services.     In  February,  two  thousand  men 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION.  437 

from  Connecticut  were  summoned  to  Peekskill.  The  quota  of  the 
I oth  Regiment  was  288  men,  which  made  three  full  companies  of 
ninety-six  men  each.  Nehemiah  Rice  [Royce]  was  appointed  ist 
lieutenant  in  Capt.  David  Smith's  company  in  Chandler's  regiment, 
and  Lieut  [Benjamin  ?]  Baldwin  was  transferred  from  that  com- 
pany to  Capt.  [Jabez]  Botsford's,  in  Col.  Swift's  battalion.  Stephen 
Matthews  was  captain  and  Amos  Hickox,  Jr.  lieutenant  in  the  same 
battalion.  Much  of  the  service  of  the  above  battalion  was  in  the 
Northern  department. 

In  April,  1777,  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety  desired  and 
requested  the  Connecticut  towns  to  hold  meetings  for  the  purpose 
of  considering  what  measures  to  take  for  raising  soldiers  for  the 
Continental  army.  Waterbury  held  its  meeting  and  engaged  "  to 
give  each  non-commissioned  ofl&cer  and  soldier,  to  the  number  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one,  who  should  voluntarily  enlist  into 
either  of  the  eight  battalions  then  being  raised  in  the  State,*  for  the 
term  of  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  twelve  pounds  lawful  money 
annually."  Six  pounds  was  to  be  paid  on  enlistment,  or  secured  on 
demand,  and  six  pounds  at  the  end  of  every  six  months  during  ser- 
vice. To  raise  this  amount,  a  tax  of  one  shilling  on  the  pound  was  laid^ 
and  it  was  to  be  collected  within  one  month,  A  committee  was  appointed 
— any  two  members  of  it  with  full  power  to  give  security  for  the 
town  to  enlisting  soldiers,  and  to  draw  money  from  the  treasury  for 
that  purpose.  Private  donations  had  already  been  made  to  men 
who  had  "engaged  in  the  standing  army."  To  those  who  had 
received  such  donations  and  would  give  receipts  to  the  town  for 
such  sums  as  had  been  received  (which  sums  were  to  be  credited 
upon  the  first  six  pounds  due),  it  was  promised  that  the  twelve 
pound  annual  premium  should  be  given.  The  moneys  which  had 
been  contributed  by  individuals  were  to  be  credited  to  the  con- 
tributors on  the  shilling-rate.  Lest  the  shilling-rate  should  be 
oppressive  to  certain  individuals,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to 
make  abatements  of  rates  on  such  persons  as  were  poor  and  ought 
to  be  abated.  A  number  of  the  abated  rate  bills,  under  this  act, 
remain.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this  was  the  time  when 
small-pox  had  gotten  beyond  the  control  of  the  selectmen.  I  do  not 
know  that  any  record  remains  of  its  work  in  the  town  centre,  but  we 
know  that  at  Westbury,  Mrs.  Noah  Richards,  Mrs.  Edward  Scovil, 
Jr.,  young  Abel  Doolittle,  Nathaniel  Welton,  young  Montgomery  [?] 
Pendleton,  [Sarah  Judd]  the  wife  of  Captain  Benjamin  Richards, 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Arnold,  and  Samuel,  son  to  Lieut.  Samuel  Brown, 


*  This  is  the  first  allusion  to  Connecticut,  as  a  State,  in  the  records. 


438  HISTOBT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

all  died  from  that  disease  between  the  26th  of  March  and  the  19th 
of  May,  1777. 

We  have  been  compelled  to  ignore  the  great  and  stirring  events 
of  the  war,  and  have  made  no  mention  of  Washington's  Christmas 
night  crossing  of  the  Delaware  and  his  subsequent  success  in  New 
Jersey — of  his  six-months*  dictatorship  that  he  might  reorganize  the 
army— of  his  proclamation  commanding  all  persons  who  had  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  Great  Britain  "  to  deliver  up  their  protec- 
tions and  certificates  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States."  Full  liberty  was,  at  the  same  time,  granted  to  all  persons 
to  withdraw  themselves  and  families  to  the  enemy's  lines,  but  the 
edict  had  gone  forth  that  any  man  found  enlisting  soldiers  for  a 
Tory  regiment  should,  on  conviction,  be  executed  as  a  spy.  It  was 
the  edict  of  General  Washington,  as  dictator-general,  under  which 
Moses  Dunbar  was  to  remove  his  family  to  Long  Island,  and  under 
which  he  was  executed. 

This  was  also  the  period  when  "  Dear  Mother  England  "  took 
to  herself  the  confusion  and  shame  and  lasting  infamy  of  treating 
helpless  prisoners  with  atrocious  inhumanities — ^beginning  with 
Gen.  Lee  as  her  victim  and  continuing  until  her  work  culminated  in 
suffocating  fifteen  hundred  starving  men,  within  a  few  weeks,  in 
her  prison-ships.  Under  the  circumstances,  there  was  nothing  left 
for  the  United  States  but  to  avail  itself  of  the  law  of  retaliation. 
Accordingly,  the  prisoners  who  were  abroad  on  parole,  were  called 
in,  and  subjected  to  imprisonment.  April  17th,  Waterbury  secured 
625  lbs.  of  gunpowder.  On  the  26th,  Gen.  Tryon  fell  upon  Danbury^ 
where  three  regiments  were  gathered,  awaiting  orders.  Military 
stores  had  also  been  collected  there,  which  were  destroyed  by  the 
enemy.  It  was  estimated  that  1800  barrels  of  beef  and  pork,  800  of 
flour,  2000  bushels  of  grain,  1790  tents,  100  hogsheads  of  rum,  and 
clothing  for  a  regiment,  were  taken  or  destroyed,  accompanied  by 
the  burning  of  houses  and  the  murder  of  inoffensive  inhabitants. 
It  is  easy  to  picture  the  consternation  in  Waterbury  at  this  event. 
Her  soldiers  must  have  responded  to  the  alarm,  but  I  have  not 
found  other  evidence  of  their  deeds  than  the  following  autograph 
receipt  among  my  papers : 

Waterbury  9th  of  April  A.  D.  1778  then  received  of  Lieut.  Col:  Jonathan  Bald- 
win Sixteen  pounds  Twelve  shillings  &  two  pence  Lawful  money  to  Pay  the  officers 
&  Soldiers  belonging  to  the  Company  under  my  command  for  their  servis  in  the 
alarm  at  Danbury  in  the  month  of  April  A.  D.  1777.     Received  by  me 

Moses  Foot  Lt. 

There  is  also  "A  Roster  for  Col  Cooks  Regt  August  21  A.  D.  1777," 
giving  the  following  list  of  the  captains  of  29  companies  in  that 
regiment.     They  are : 


WATERBURY  IN  TEE  REVOLUTION. 


439 


THE  NUMBER  OF  ABLE  MEN  IN  EACH  COMPANY. 


Capt 

.  Samuel  Camp, 

.     29 

Capt.  Ephraim  Cook, 

.    40 

Charles  Norton,  . 

41 

Benjamin  Richards,     * 

32 

James  Robinson,     . 

.     26 

Phineas  Castle, 

..     20 

Ambrous  Hine,    . 

26 

Sam"  Bronson,    . 

.        38 

Caleb  Hall. 

.    41 

Jesse  Curtis,    . 

.     14 

Bezeliel  Ives, 

49 

Stephen  Seymour, 

7 

ElishaHall,    . 

.    40 

Thomas  Fenn, 

.     33 

Oliver  Stanley,    . 

.        63 

Isaac  Bronson,     . 

18 

John  Couch,     . 

.     26 

John  Woodruff, 

.     41 

Dan  Collins, 

28 

Nathaniel  Bams, 

23 

Nathaniel  Bunnel,  . 

.     33 

John  Lewis,    . 

.     40 

Miles  Johnson,    . 

29 

Josiah  Terril, 

10 

Miles  Hull,      . 

.     26 

Jotham  Curtis, 

12 

Jesse  Moss,  . 

29 

Joseph  Gamsey, 

29 

Stephen  Yale, 

.     34 

Of  the  above  877  men,  434  marched  with  Lieait.-Colonel  Baldwin 
to  Fishkill  in  October,  as  would  appear  from  an  "  Abstract  of  money- 
paid  as  a  bounty  at  Fishkill  in  Oct.,  1777."  The  men  were  to  receive 
one  pound  each  (see  Record  of  Conn.  Men  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution, p.  523),  but  there  is  also  the  following  abstract  among  my 
papers,  which  I  give,  and  from  which  it  would  appear  that  the 
above  service  was  for  twenty-seven  days : 

A  Pay  Abstract  for  the  lo*'*  Militia  Reg*  from  the  State  of  Connecticut  com- 
manded by  L*  Col*>  Baldwin  for  service  at  Fish  Kill  in  Oct^  1777 — 


NO.  MBN. 


TOTAL 
NO.  DAYS. 


AMOUNT  OP  WAGES. 


Lieut  Col«  Baldwin 

Maj'  Porter 

Chaplain  Stores 

Adj*  Hough 

Qut'  Master  Hickox 

Surgeon  Elton  [John] 

Surg°  Mate  Gay  lord 

Serg*  Maj'  Foster 

Qut'  Mas*'  Scott 

Captains  Samuel  Bronson 

B.  Richards 

Caleb  Hall 

J.  Moss 

J.  Robinson 

O.  Stanley 

N.  Bams 

P.  Castle 

E.  Cook 


60 
60 
60 
60 

59 

59 
60 

62 

61 


27 

23 

27 
27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 
1620 

1335 
1480 

1539 
1351 

1348 

1327 
1519 
1473 


16 
II 

10 

7 

13 

10 

2 

2 

130 

113 

"5 
127 

106 

110 

109 

123 

120 


4 
10 

2 

5 
10 
16 

8 

3 
II 

2 

I 

10 

II 

I 

17 

19 
I 


6 
9 


10 

3 
6 

2 

7 
2 

3i 

4 
6 

3 
I 


440  BISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 

In  the  thirteen  Waterbury  companies  belonging  to  this  regi- 
ment on  the  2 2d  of  August  in  the  next  year  but  221  men  are 
returned  as  fit  for  duty,  of  which  number  99  seem  to  have  been 
drafted  upon  four  or  more  subsequent  calls.  This  account  makes 
evident  the  depletion  of  the  regiment  by  service,  enlistments  into 
the  army,  and  the  casualties  of  war. 

When  Danbury  was  raided,  Washington's  army  was  still  in  win- 
ter quarters  at  Morristown,  where  it  remained  until  May.  General 
Burgoyne  was  in  Canada,  preparing  to  invade  the  States  with 
"seven  thousand  troops,  a  train  of  artillery,  and  several  tribes 
of  Indians,"  with  the  design  to  advance  from  the  north  and  cut  off 
communication  between  New  England  and  the  Southern  States.  In 
anticipation  of  this  attack,  the  New  England  militia  had  been  arriv- 
ing from  day  to  day  at  Ticonderoga  and  at  Mount  Independence — 
which  were  opposite  to  each  other  on  the  lake,  at  a  distance  of  over 
twelve  hundred  feet.  The  two  fortifications  were  connected  by  a 
floating  bridge,  which  had  been  constructed  through  enormous 
labor  and  at  great  expense  (and  in  part  by  Connecticut  men). 
Twenty-two  piers  had  been  built  in  the  lake — that  part  of  it  some- 
times called  South  Bay — and  between  the  piers  were  fifty-foot 
floats,  fastened  together  with  iron  chains  and  rivets.  On  the  north 
side  of  the  bridge  was  a  large-timbered  boom,  well-bolted  and 
riveted,  and  the  boom  was  still  farther  strengthened  by  a  double 
iron  chain.  This  bridge  was  thought  to  form  an  impenetrable  bar- 
rier to  the  passage  of  any  vessel  that  might  attempt  it.  On  Mount 
Independence,  which  was  strongly  fortified  and  supplied  with  artil- 
lery, was  the  hospital  where  so  many  of  our  soldiers  were  suffering. 
While  our  Waterbury  men  in  Col.  Cook's  regiment  had  been  hasten- 
ing northward  to  defend  Ticonderoga  and  Independence  from  the 
expected  enemy  from  the  north,  our  Lieut-Col.  Baldwin,  with  his 
regiment,  was  going  or  had  gone  to  the  Highlands  to  perform  a 
similar  service  in  preventing  the  enemy  from  passing  up  the  Hud- 
son river  to  assist  Burgoyne.  From  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort 
Clinton  on  the  west  bank,  a  boom  and  chain,  on  the  same  principle 
as  the  one  on  Lake  Champlain,  extended  across  the  river.  Properly 
protected  by  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  at  the  forts,  the  barriers 
across  Lake  Champlain  and  the  Hudson  would  have  proved  effective, 
but  the  men  of  Fort  Montgomery  and  Fort  Clinton  had  been  called 
off  to  help  Gen.  Gates  in  the  north,  and  Gen.  Putnam  at  Peekskill 
had  but  a  small  force  to  guard  the  stores.  Such  was  the  condition 
of  affairs  at  Ticonderoga  and  on  the  Hudson  when  early  in  July 
Burgoyne  came  down  upon  the  Americans,  whether  for  siege  or 
assault,   it  was   not   known.     To  their  astonishment,  he  ascended 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION.  441 

Mount  Defiance,  dragging,  it  is  said,  his  cannon  over  the  tree  tops, 
thus  holding  the  American  fortifications  at  his  mercy,  as  Defiance 
commanded  both  Ticonderoga  and  Independence.  In  the  night,  the 
almost  instant  flight  of  the  American  army  was  accomplished.  The 
sick  and  wounded,  a  few  hospital  stores,  as  many  cannon,  tents,  and 
provisions  (of  which  but  twenty -days'  supply  were  in  the  forts),  as 
could  be  thrust  into  five  galleys  and  two  hundred  batteaux,  started 
in  flight,  but  Burgoyne's  forces  burst  the  bridge  between  the  forts 
and  followed  the  Americans,  who  were  forced  to  abandon  artillery, 
stores,  and  even  their  sick  and  wounded.  On  the  19th  of  Septem- 
ber in  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  and  at  Saratoga,  both  Lieut.-Col. 
Baldwin  and  Major  Porter  were  present.  Col.  Thaddeus  Cook's 
orderly  book,  "  in  possession  of  the  Worcester  Antiquarian  Society, 
reports  among  those  present,  the  Lieut.-Col.,  the  Major,  and  others, 
but  gives  no  names."  In  Major  Porter's  orderly  book,  I  find  the  fol- 
lowing, under  date  of  Aug.  20th,  1777:  "The  Rank  of  Each  Com- 
pany in  the  loth  Regiment  of  Militia  and  the  names  of  Each  Offi- 
cer. Field  Officers,  Col.  Thaddeus  Cook,  Wallingford;  Lieut.-Col. 
Jonth**  Baldwin,  Waterbury;  Maj'  Phineas  Porter,  Waterbury,"  and 
as  the  battle  of  Stillwater  occurred  only  a  month  later,  there  prob- 
ably had  been  no  change  in  the  regimental  officers.  From  Dr. 
Bronson,  it  appears  that  Lieut.  Michael  Bronson  acted  as  adjutant 
of  Col.  Cook's  regiment,  and  particularly  distinguished  himself  in 
the  above  battles.  In  October,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  his  forces, 
appeared  on  the  North  river,  before  the  forts  Montgomery  and 
Clinton,  and  demanded  of  the  brothers  Clinton,  their  commandants, 
a  surrender.  Being  refused,  an  assault  was  made  and  the  forts 
taken,  but  a  part  of  the  garrisons  escaped,  leaving  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners.  At  the  same  time. 
General  Putnam,  guarding  with  insufficient  troops  the  stores  and 
provisions  at  Peekskill,  was  forced  to  retire  from  his  position. 

The  above  is  only  the  faintest  glimpse  of  the  reverses  that  were 
continually  befalling  our  army  and  cutting  off  in  their  youth  the 
sons  of  New  England.  In  1777  nearly  three  thousand  Americans 
were  slain,  or  wounded,  or  made  prisoners,  before  October. 

In  the  history  of  our  town-meetings  it  is  highly  probable  that  no 
more  jubilant  one  was  ever  held  than  that  of  Oct.  22,  1777,  for  the 
news  must  have  reached  the  town  that  five  days  before,  the  British 
army,  under  Burgoyne,  had  surrendered,  at  Saratoga.  No  wonder 
is  it  that  the  good  men,  with  "Timothy  Judd,  Esq**,  chosen  mod- 
erator and  Abner  Johnson  Clerk  Pro  temporary,"  on  the  "  Request 
of  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety  requesting  sundry  articles  of 
clothing  for  the  Continental  soldiers,"  responded,  by  appointing  fif- 


442  HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBURT, 

teen  gentlemen  to  carry  the  request  into  execution.  They  were  Eli 
Bronson,  David  Taylor,  Moses  Cook,  Peter  Welton,  Abraham 
Andrews,  Samuel  Hikcox,  Phineas  Royce,  Esq.,  John  Dunbar  (the 
father  of  Moses),  Caleb  Barnes,  Joseph  Sutliff,  Jr.,  Daniel  Alcox, 
Simeon  Hopkins,  Samuel  Lewis,  Esq.,  Gideon  Hotchkiss  and  Ira 
Beebe.  The  selectmen  were  to  take  the  money  out  of  the  treasury 
or  otherwise  provide  to  procure  the  clothing  required,  which  was 
for  each  non-commissioned  ofl&cer  and  soldier  belonging  to  such 
town,  one  shirt  or  more,  one  hunting  frock,  one  pair  of  woolen  over- 
alls, one  or  two  pair  of  stockings,  and  one  pair  of  good  shoes.  The 
selectmen  afterwards  presented  an  account  against  the  State,  show- 
ing that  Waterbury  provided  at  this  time,  "115  woolen  shirts,  in 
which  were  262  J4  yards  of  shirting;  24  linen  shirts,  with  65  yards  of 
linen;  133  hunting  frocks  [after  Washington's  suggestion  in  Major 
Porter's  orderly  book]  having  366  yards  of  toe  cloth  in  them;  130 
pair  of  over  halls,  having  305^  yds  fulled  cloth;  184  pairs  of  stock- 
ings; 127  pairs  or  shoes;  and  5  sacks  of  toe  cloth  for  transporting 
clothing."  It  will  be  remembered  that  Waterbury  promised  to  give 
a  bounty  of  twelve  pounds  a  year  to  131  men  who  should  enlist  into 
the  Continental  army  for  three  years  or  for  the  war,  and  it  was  for 
these  men  that  this  clothing  was  to  be  provided.  Many  of  them 
were  in  Chandler's  regiment,  and  a  goodly  number  in  Capt.  David 
Smith's  company.  These  men  of  ours  had  recently  passed  through 
the  battle  of  Germantown,  and  the  cold  nights  of  autumn  were  upon 
them,  and  the  winter  at  Valley  Forge  lay  just  before  them. 

In  December,  1777,  to  provide  for  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the 
Continental  army,  Capt.  Stephen  Matthews,  Thomas  Dutton,  Jona- 
than Scott,  Benjamin  Munson,  Dan"  Bronson,  Capt.  John  Welton, 
John  Thompson,  Wait  Hotchkiss,  Dan"  Sanford,  Sam"  Scovill, 
Thomas  Fauncher,  Capt.  Sam"  Porter,  Gideon  Hickcox,  Stephen 
Warner,  Samuel  Judd,  Jr.,  Isaac  Prichard,  Aaron  Benedict,  Aaron 
Dunbar  and  Josiah  Rogers  were  chosen,  and  thirty-eight  surveyors 
of  highways  were  appointed.  In  Jan.,  1778,  the  "  Representatives" 
were  directed  to  petition  the  General  Assembly  for  two  more  select- 
men than  the  law  then  admitted;  a  rate  was  laid  of  six  pence  on  the 
pound,  to  be  collected  by  the  first  of  March,  and  nine  men  were 
appointed  to  collect  it;  to  provide  clothing  for  the  soldiers,  were 
chosen  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  James  Porter,  Jr.,  Silas  Hotchkiss^ 
David  Taylor,  Isaac  Merriam,  Lot  Osborn,  Theophilus  Baldwin, 
Samuel  Parker,  Capt.  Stephen  Seymour,  Charles  Cook,  Charles 
Upson,  Josiah  Rogers,  Ira  Beebe,  Ashbel  Porter,  and  Ebenezer  Por- 
ter, Jr.  When  we  consider  the  great  number  of  officers  selected,  we 
must  also  consider  the  expanse  of  territory  covered  by  the  town- 


WATERBUBT  IN  THE  BEVOLUTION,  445 

ship,  and  the  exigencies  of  our  men  at  Valley  Forge.  Clearing  for- 
ests with  bare  feet  in  December  snows,  without  blankets,  with  little 
food,  and  no  money;  building  log-huts  on  the  cleared  ground,  with 
benumbed  fingers  and  chilled  hearts;  falling  down  under  the 
enforcing  hand  of  illness,  with  no  pillowing  tenderness  to  soften  the 
fall — such  was  the  fate  of  some  of  our  soldiers.  No  wonder  is  it 
that  Waterbury  appointed  fifteen  men  to  gather  clothing.  It  is 
perhaps  unnecessary  to  mention  in  this  connection  the  unappointed 
women,  who  spun  and  wove  by  daylight,  and  knit  by  moon  and 
candle  light  for  the  bleeding  feet  and  freezing  bodies  of  their 
beloved  ones,  "gone  to  the  army." 

The  entire  number  who  wintered  at  Valley  Forge  from  our  town 
I  am  not  able  to  name.  Sylvanus  Adams,  John  Saxton,  Ezekiel 
Scott,  Ezekiel  Upson,  Lue  Smith,  Joseph  Freedom,  Mark  Richards, 
Joel  Roberts,  Elisha  Munson,  Elisha  Hikcox,  and  William  Bassett 
were  there,  and  under  the  command  of  Capt.  David  Smith.  Nearly 
all  of  the  above  were  young  men — one  of  them,  John  Saxton,  a  boy 
not  yet  seventeen,  and  Mark  Richards  was  but  a  few  months  older. 
As  three-fourths  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Continental  line  wintered 
at  Valley  Forge,  it  will  appear  that  a  large  number  of  our  men 
were  among  the  ^^ thousands"  who  "were  without  blankets,  and, 
after  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  were  obliged  to  warm  themselves  over 
fires  all  night,  having  neither  small  clothes,  shoes,  or  stockings.*' 
Half-rations  for  weeks  in  succession,  four  or  five  days  together 
without  bread,  and  as  many  without  beef  or  pork — three  thousand 
soldiers  at  one  time  too  ill  to  perform  military  duty  in  a  camp  of 
eleven  thousand  men — with  a  powerful,  well-fed,  well-conditioned 
enemy  within  twenty  miles,  enjoying  all  the  comforts  that  Phila- 
delphia afforded.  Could  patriotism  bear  more  or  further  go  ?  Out 
from  that  camp  came,  in  June  of  1778,  the  soldiers  who  fought 
the  battle  of  Monmouth  with  the  Royal  forces  then  retreating 
from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  on  a  day  when  the  heat  was  so 
intense  that  many  soldiers  in  both  armies  died  from  that  alone. 
It  is  said  that  "the  tongues  of  the  soldiers  were  so  swollen, 
that  they  could  not  be  retained  in  their  mouths.*'  A  Waterbury 
woman,  Millisent,  the  daughter  of  Lieut.-Col.  Jonathan  Baldwin, 
fed  the  soldiers  of  Washington's  army  all  that  day,  cooking  for 
them  from  morning  till  night  all  the  provisions  that  she  could 
procure.* 

*  A  little  later— her  father,  having  gone  to  New  Jersey  to  escort  his  daughter  home,  she  being  then  the 
widow  of  Isaac  Booth  Lewis — they  were  on  the  return  journey  (Col.  Baldwin  having  one  of  her  two  children 
on  his  horse,  and  Mrs.  Lewis  the  other  child  on  her  horse)  when  in  fording  a  stream,  the  current  bore  Mrs. 
Lewis's  horse  from  its  feet,  and  carried  it  down  stream.  Expecting  to  be  drowned,  she  managed  to  throw 
her  child  safely  to  the  bank,  and  subsequently  escaped  herself. 


444  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 

On  the  19th  of  Jan.,  1778,  Waterbury  held  an  adjourned  meeting : 

For  the  Purpose  of  Taking  into  Consideration  the  Articles  of  Confederation, 
the  former  moderator  not  attending,  the  meeting  made  choice  of  Thomas  Matthews 
Esq'  to  Lead  in  said  meeting.  Then  the  meeting  proceeded  to  read  and  consider 
said  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  approved  of  the  first,  second,  third  and  fourth. 
As  to  the  fifth  article  it  is  the  mind  of  this  meeting  that  the  Power  of  Choosing 
Delegates  to  Congress  is  invested  in  the  People,  on  this  condition  we  concur,  also 
approve  of  the  sixth  and  seventh.  As  to  the  Eighth  Article,  the  Method  of  Propor- 
tioning the  Tax  for  supplying  the  Common  Treasury  is  not  satisfactory;  as  to  the 
Ninth  Article  where  it  mentions  the  Number  of  Land  forces  made  by  Regulations 
from  each  State  for  its  Quota  in  proportion  to  White  Inhabitants  in  Such  State,  we 
had  rather  chuse  it  should  be  in  Proportion  to  the  Number  of  free  subjects  in  Each 
State,  also  approved  of  the  loth  nth  12th  &  13th  Article.  After  going  through  the 
whole  of  said  Articles,  the  whole  was  Put  to  Vote  and  passed  in  the  affirmative 
Excepting  the  above  Exceptions  &  reserves,     the  meeting  Dismist. 

Thus  we  have  Waterbury*s  independent  and  expressed  opinion 
upon  the  national  "  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union  " 
agreed  upon  by  Congress,  and  quite  in  advance  of  that  of  the 
Connecticut  Legislature. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

BOUNTIES — CLOTHING  FOR  CONTINENTAL  SOLDIERS — SUPPLIES  FOR  SOL- 
DIERS* FAMILIES — TAXES  —  CONTINENTAL  MONEY  —  CONNECTICUT 
BILLS  OF  CREDIT — TOWN  TREASURER'S  ACCOUNTS — ON  THE  CON- 
TINENTAL   ROAD — EAST    FARMS    BURYING-YARD JOSEPH    BEACH'S 

TAVERN  —  EVENTS  IN  I779-I783  —  HIRING  SOLDIERS  FOR  HORSE 
NECK — THE  SOCIETIES  OF  WESTBURY  AND  NORTHBURY  INCORPOR- 
ATED AS  WATERTOWN — MISCELLANY — DIARY  OF  JOSIAH  ATKINS — 
JUDAH  FRISBIE — WATERBURY  MEN  WHO  SERVED  IN  THE  WAR  OF 
THE    AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 

THE  formula  for  enlistment  into  the  Continental  army — for 
which  town  bounties  were  paid  at  the  rate  of  six  pounds 
for  every  six  months — ^has  not  been  met,  but  there  lies  be- 
fore me  the  following  receipt : 

Waterbiiry,  Augfust  the  loth,  1777  :  Rec'd  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town  of  sd 
Waterbury  the  sum  of  five  Pound  Lawful  money  for  the  Purpose  of  going  into  Pub- 
lick  service  and  Joining  the  Regiment  under  the  Command  of  Col®  Comfort  Sage  at 
the  Piks  Kills  in  the  Room  of  one  that  has  Paid  in  their  fine.     Rec<^  by  me 

Silvanus  Adams. 

So  far  as  known  to  the  writer,  there  are  no  records  of  bounties 
paid  before  Jan.  12,  1778.  In  1778  and  1779  we  find  seventy-eight 
first,  ninety-three  second,  and  ninety-five  third  bounties  paid. 
Josiah  Atkins  seems  to  have  been  the  first  man  to  receive  a  third 
bounty.  It  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  only  the  soldiers  of  the  Con- 
tinental line  (who  entered  for  three  years,  or  for  the  war)  were  the 
recipients  of  the  above  town  bounty.* 

Doubtless  many  bounties  were  paid  not  specified  as  such,  but 
only  those  thus  designated  are  numbered,  although  soldiers*  names 
frequently  appear  with  six  pounds  paid  in  connection  therewith. 
In  some  instances,  a  man  received  his  six  bounties  at  the  same  time. 
The  first  bounties  paid  in  1778  were  on  January  12th  to  Thomas 
Button,  for  Jonathan  Davis,  and  for  Thomas  Merchant.  Stephen 
Welton,  Jr.,  was  the  third  recipient,  Ebenezer  Brown  the  fourth, 


*After  the  close  of  the  war,  suits  were  brought  by  a  number  of  persons  who  claimed  that  they  were  num- 
bered with  the  131  and  had  not  been  paid.  I  have  one  in  which  Samuel  Lewis  of  Watertown  claims  that'.he 
"  enlisted  at  Waterbury,  May  24,  1777,  in  Capt.  David  Smith's  company  in  Col.  [John]  Chandler's  regiment 
and  was  counted  with  the  131  men  entitled  to  receive  a  bounty."  Waterbury  and  Watertown  being  the 
defendants,  (in  this  case)  the  suit  probably  grew  out  of  the  separation  of  the  towns. 


446  JnSTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 

and,  in  April,  bounties  were  given  to  George  Prichard,  Jr.,  Jonah 
Mallory,  Isaac  Cleveland,  Samuel  Smith,  David  Wells  and  David 
Punderson.  The  first  man  to  receive  his  second  bounty  was  Caleb 
Scott — his  father,  Gideon,  receiving  it  in  his  name. 

In  Dec.  of  1777,  the  town  lent  ;^2o7  "to  the  committee  to  pur- 
chase clothing  for  soldiers  in  the  Continental  army ; "  but  collec- 
tions and  *•  fines  for  not  going  into  Publick  service  "  were  paid  in,  so 
that  by  May  5  th,  there  was  a  little  balance  left  in  the  treasury.  In 
November  and  December  of  1777  ^£'47 2  was  received  in  fines,  and 
this  was  before  the  currency  became  greatly  depreciated.  In  March 
or  April,  1778,  James  Bronson  made  a  journey  to  Pennsylvania,  for 
the  town,  at  the  cost  of  ;^8-io-.9,  which  the  record  refers  to,  as 
"being  a  present  made  to  the  Town  "  by  him.  It  is  notable  as  being 
the  only  "present"  made  to  the  town  that  is  on  record  to  date.* 
Everything  was  conducted  by  "  our  fathers  "  on  business  principles, 
The  town  was  exacting,  its  citizens  equally  so. 

Clothing  for  Continental  soldiers  was  furnished  by  the  majority  of 
the  families  in  town,  but  provisions  were  often  late  in  arriving  to 
home  consumers.  We  find  in  1780  that  Major  Smith  was  "  paid  in  cash 
to  make  him  good  for  his  not  having  the  money  seasonable";^! 39-3-4, 
and  "  to  Provision  purchased  for  his  family  to  make  up  the  arrears 
of  the  year  1779  ^1^169-15;  Ambrose  Potter  is  credited  for  paying 
Samuel  Camp  ;^iso,"  to  make  him  good  upon  the  account  of  his 
family  not  being  supplied  in  season.  The  accounts  of  expenditures 
remaining  to  us  are  too  imperfect  to  be  summarized.  Scores  of  citi- 
zens received  money  to  provide  for  soldiers'families,  but  seldom  do 
we  find  any  intimation  of  the  individual  family  cared  for.  Ezekiel 
Sanford  (a  soldier)  had  a  child  that  must  have  called  forth  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  public,  for  it  is  twice  referred  to  in  the  records  as  a 
"poor  child."  In  April,  1779  there  was  "paid  to  Capt  Nathaniel 
Barnes  for  Ezekiel  Sanford's  wife  for  encouragement  for  her  to 
take  care  of  her  poor  child  ^£'21-6,"  and  in  July  of  1780  Ezekiel  was 


*  Gifts  had  beea  made  to  the  First  Church  by  Joseph  Lewis  and  I  think  bjr  other  men.  The  following  inter- 
esting portion  of  Stephen  Hopkins'  will  relates  to  the  **  Poor  in  the  town."  The  will  had  been  probated  nine 
years  at  this  date :  **  Also  it  is  my  will  that  twenty  pounds  lawful  money  out  of  my  estate  be  put  upon  interest 
within  a  convenient  time  after  my  decease  to  be  in  bank  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  poor  in  the  town  of 
Waterbury  without  limitation  of  time,  the  interest  of  which  to  be  distributed  annually  at  the  discretion  of  the 
selectmen  of  the  town  of  Waterbury  for  the  time  being,  who  are  hereby  fully  empowered  in  trust  with  rela- 
tion to  said  legacy  to  be  let  out,  collected,  received  and  disbursed,  and  act  in  law  for  the  purpose  above  said — 
but  that  the  charitable  end  of  this  legacy  may  be  fully  known  and  answered,  and  not  perverted  for  the  use  of 
such  poor  as  are  slothful,  vicious  or  unwholesome  members  of  society,  it  is  understood  to  be  my  will  and  is 
hereby  ordered  that  the  interest  to  be  annually  distributed  shall  be  limited  and  confined  to  such  as  are  in  the 
full  communion  in  the  regular  orthodox  churches  in  this  town,  which  hold  and  worship  according  to  the 
method  settled,  esublished  and  now  generally  practiced  in  this  colony.  Stephen  Hopkins.** 

Woodbury  Probate  Records,  Vol.  6,  p.  177. 

In  the  year  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  interest  of  the  above  gift  was  one  pound  and  four  shillings — 
paid  to  the  town  by  Thomas  Hickcox,  Jr. 


WATEBBURT  IN  THE  BEVOLUTION.  447 

^'allowed  for  keeping  his  poor  child  eight  months,"  at  the  rate  of 
four  shillings  a  week. 

The  first  purchase  of  provisions  for  a  soldier's  family  in  1778, 
was  made  by  Capt.  Jotham  Curtis,  who  received  from  the  town  jQi2 
for  that  use.  This  was  quickly  followed  by  the  expenditure  of  large 
sums  for  provisions,  and  also  for  "clothing  for  Continental  soldiers." 
Moneys  were  dispensed  for  specified  purposes  as  "  bounties,  provis- 
ions, cloathing,"  and,  in  addition,  "by  order  of  the  select  men,"  and, 
"by  order  of  the  committee."  In  1778  the  State  repaid  the  Town 
;^i677-i7-9  "for  defraying  the  charges  of  those  that  supplyed  the 
soldiers*  families  last  year." 

In  1780  our  Committee  of  Supplies  received  from  the  State 
^^5464.  In  Connecticut  throughout  its  life  as  a  colony,  and  as  a 
state  during  its  first  war,  there  was  but  one  standard  of  values — 
that  of  provisions.  Is  there  any  other  to-day  ?  At  this  time  the 
people  were  taxed  almost  beyond  endurance.  The  taxes  within  one 
twelvemonth  were  the  following:  Nov.  16,  1780,  a  rate  was  laid  of 
six  pence  in  provisions,  or  double  in  States*  money;  the  following 
January,  eight  pence  in  States*  money.  This  is  the  last  recognition 
of  paper  currency  in  our  taxation.  On  the  same  day  a  tax  was  laid 
of  three  half -pence,  payable  in  provisions;  June  21,  four  pence,  in 
silver  or  Gold,*  or  good  merchantable  beef  cattle  at  prices  which 
had  been  named  by  the  Assembly;  July  9,  three  pence  lawful  silver 
money,  or  provision,  or  clothing  at  prices  fixed  by  legislation. 

As  a  result  of  oppressive  taxation  and  in  return,  every  man 
lived,  so  far  as  he  could,  upon  the  Town  and  the  State.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  other  resource.  War  is  robbery.  Government 
robbed  the  people;  of  men,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  crops 
could  be  planted  or  garnered;  of  provisions,  until  famine  was  at  the 
doors  of  the  inhabitants,  and  within  the  armed  camps;  of  money, 
until  in  one  instance  in  Waterbury  it  reached  a  point  where  Joseph 
Atkins  paid  fourteen  pounds  of  Continental  money  for  a  debt  of 
seven  silver  shillings.  This  was  near  the  time  when  the  last  of  the 
two  hundred  millions  of  dollars  in  Continental  bills  had  been 
issued.  Connecticut  bills  of  credit  stood  at  ten  for  one  at  the  time 
when  Continental  bills  stood  at  thirty  for  one — the  one  being  silver. 
A  transaction  for  cash  meant  concurrent  payment.  Town  transac- 
tions with  individuals  are  variously  estimated — in  Continental 
money,  States  money,  hard  money,  old  money,  cash,  and  silver — 
even  counterfeit  money  was  abundant. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Elisha  Leavenworth  we  have  the 
records  of  Ezra  Bronson,  Esq.,  as  town  treasurer  during  several 

*  The  first  meDtion  of  this  metal  found  in  our  records. 


448  HI8T0RT  OF  WATEBBURT, 

years  of  the  war.     For  the  Danbury  alarm,  Stephen  Hopkins  fur- 
nished 3  bushels  of  wheat,  Ebenezer  Hoadly  i,  John  Hopkins  i  and 
1 6  lbs.  of  pork,  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.  38  pounds  of  pork,  "found  for 
the  militia  when  they  went  to  Danbury,"  by  one  cow  valued  at 
;;^i3-io  in  States  money,  Moses  Cook  "  12^  lb.  of  pork,"  Timothy 
Porter  20  lbs.,  Benjamin  Baldwin  20  lbs.,  "that  went  to  Danbury," 
and  John  Thompson  is  credited  "  by  a  horse  going  to  Danbury  in  a 
team."   In  1778  Dr.  Lemuel  Hopkins  is  credited  with  doctoring  one 
Robert  Cooper  and  his  wife;  Peter  Welton  went  to  Hartford  "to 
request  liberty  to  carry  the  soldiers*  clothing  to  the  camp,"  at  a  cost 
of  j£sy  but  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  at  the  same  date  "  went  to  New 
Haven  with  the  clothing."   In  the  same  year  Silas  Constant  lent  six 
shillings  in  silver  to  hire  soldiers  for  Horseneck,  and  Amos  Prichard 
carried  a  sick  soldier  to  Southington.    The  same  sick  soldier  was 
probably  kept  by  Josiah  Bronson,  for  at  the  same  date  he  is  credited 
for  keeping  a  sick  soldier  and  "getting  one  pint  and  a  half  of  wine 
and  tending."     The  same  poor  fellow  was  attended  by  Dr.  Abel 
Bronson,  as  we  find  him  allowed  "  by  a  bill  for  Docktring  a  sick 
soldier  who  lived  at  Lieut.  Bronsons."     Elizabeth  Skinner  boarded 
a  lame  soldier  two  weeks  in  the  same  year.     "  Sick  soldiers  "  had 
become  such  a  burden  to  the  people  living  along  the  "  Continental 
road  running  east  and  west  through  Waterbury  "  that  in  July,  1780, 
the  selectmen  were  directed  by  the  town  "  to  prepare  a  memorial  to 
the  General  Assembly,  asking  that  a  provision  be  made  for  cost 
arising  by  soldiers  when  sick  on  the  road  to  and  from  the  army 
belonging  to  this  State."     Four  months  before  the  memorial  was 
ordered,  the  town  had  bought  of  Joseph  Beach,  for  fifteen  shillings, 
"a  piece  of  ground  for  a  burying  yard."     This  was  our  present 
East  Farms  cemetery,  and  it  is  said  that  the  earliest  burials  there 
(before  the  purchase  of  the  land  by  the  town)  were  of  soldiers  who, 
worn  out  and  ill,  had  reached  the  tavern  close  by — kept  during  the 
war  by  Joseph  Beach — and  there  had  died. 

The  confusion  and  distress  of  the  period  is  stamped  upon  the 
town  records.  Entries  were  evidently  made  from  detached  minutes 
of  town  meetings,  some  of  which  seem  to  have  been  lost  or  left 
unrecorded.  Ezra  Bronson  was  unable  to  do  the  work  required  of 
him,  and  Michael  Bronson  assisted,  and  the  result  is  to  be  regret- 
ted. 

In  1779  Esq'.  Judd  was  paid  j£g  for  "his  journey  to  Lebanon  for 
lead;  John  Trumball,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  sent  in  bills 
for  attending  the  convention;"  David  Taylor  went  to  Hartford  "to 
exhibit  a  cloathing  bill,  was  allowed  j£6  "  for  damage  done  a  gun  in 
the  public  service,"  and  furnished  house  room  and  dinners  for  the 


WATER BUEY  Ilf  THE  REVOLUTION.  449 

selectmen.  They  were  ordinarily  entertained  by  Ezra  Bronson, 
his  accounts  being  strewn  with  scores  of  dinners  for  public 
officials;  but  other  men,  notably  Col.  Baldwin,  furnished  "meals" 
for  selectmen  and  the  civil  authority. 

In  1780  David  Turner  is  credited  "for  two  days  service  warn- 
ing people  to  give  in  account  of  their  grain;"  Michael  Bronson  "pur- 
sued after  some  waggons  to  Breakneck,"  furnished  12J4  pounds  of 
lead,  and  bailed  two  pots;  Joseph  Hotchkiss  went  to  Guilford  for 
salt;  Dr.  Roger  Conant,  deceased,  is  credited  for  services;  Dr.  John 
Elton  for  doctoring  Mrs.  Clark  and  Joseph  Griffith;  Dr.  Osee  Dut- 
ton  and  Dr.  Timothy  Porter  are  paid  for  services;  widow  Mary 
Clark  kept  the  selectmen  two  days,  and  widow  Huldah  Richards  was 
one  of  the  women  who  furnished  clothing.  In  this  and  other  years 
dozens  of  men  are  credited  with  "paying  Solomon  Tompkins,"  but 
no  hint  is  obtained  of  the  nature  of  the  obligation;  Joel  Blakslee 
brought  a  hogshead  of  clothing  from  New  Haven;  Thomas  Bron- 
son, Jr.,  went  to  Salem  after  tents;  Thaddeus  Bronson  furnished 
wheat  flour  and  pork  "for  the  militia;"  Aaron  Benedict  was  paid 
"for  expenses  for  the  team  transporting  for  the  militia  marching  to 
West  Point";^25i;  Eliasaph  Doolittle  furnished  ;^i 00  "to  provide 
for  some  poor  people " — and  in  evidence  of  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  Peter  Welton  was  "allowed  for  carrying  the  corpse  of 
John  Welton  to  the  grave  in  that  extreme  season  in  the  snow  96 
dollars" — rendered  ^^28-16-0.  (Jan.  nth  "the  extremity  of  the  sea- 
son" prevented  a  town  meeting).  In  July,  Enoch  Scott  and  others 
assisted  the  county  surveyor  in  measuring  the  town,  and  in  October 
he  "numbered  the  people."  These  acts  were  in  reference  to  the 
formation  of  the  Societies  of  Northbury  and  Westbury  into  the 
township  of  Watertown. 

In  1781  Lemuel  Nichols  was  credited  "by  a  bill  for  cash  paid 
out  in  silver  for  transporting  provisions  to  Fishkill  ;^4-5-ii;"  the 
widow  Clark  was  paid  "  for  keeping  a  yoke  of  cattle  that  was  going 
to  Fishkill;  "  Zera  Beebe  spent  the  fourth  of  October  making  tents; 
James  Bronson  went  to  camp  to  procure  evidence;  Ephraim  Warner 
lost  a  chain  in  transporting  provisions  to  Fishkill;  William  Rowley 
fulled  five  blankets;  Gideon  Hikcox  and  Silas  Constant  lent  the 
town  six  shillings  in  silver  to  hire  soldiers  for  Horseneck.  In 
March,  Joseph  Hotchkiss  is  credited  for  packing  and  coppering  the 
provisions  that  went  to  Danbury,  and  Aaron  Benedict  transported 
"  for  the  army  "  to  West  Point.*    Among  the  unusual  items  found 

*  Young  Watertown  when  only  two  or  three  months  old  furnished  her  men  (ordered  for  the  relief  of  West 
Point)  under  Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Richards,  707  pounds  of  wheat  flour,  and  beside  other  stores,  514  pounds 
of  salt  pork.  Waterbury  furnished  the  tents  and  provisions,  and  the  tents  were  conveyed  to  Ridgefield— 40 
miles — by  "  3  teams,  4  cattle  each." 


450  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 

in  1782  is  one  relating  to  the  universal  difficulty  in  obtaining  salt. 
Joseph  Hotchkiss  went  to  Guilford  after  salt,  and  Nathaniel  Merrils 
received  money  "towards  his  journey  after  salt." 

Among  the  mysteries  of  Capt.  Ezra  Bronson*s  accounts  Agur 
Mallory  appears.  Of  him  we  gather  that  a  man  of  that  name  paid 
taxes  here  in  1774.  In  1778  Capt.  Gideon  Hotchkiss  sent  in  a  bill  to 
the  town  "  for  services  in  looking  a  place  and  moving  Agur  Mal- 
lory," and  for  "meat,  milk,  sider,  apple  butter,  firewood,  grain  and 
other  articles  furnished  for  him;"  October  12,  1779,  Capt.  Josiah 
Terrill  received  jQ^6  "for  twenty  days'  service  in  looking  after 
Agur  Mallory  when  at  the  Pool."  In  November  of  the  same  year 
Titus  Hotchkiss  served  "nine  days  in  assisting  him  home  from  the 
Pool,  at  Nine  Dollars  per  Day,  ;^24-6-o."  Dec.  6,  1779,  John  Hopkins 
is  credited  with  "a  sheet  to  put  over  Agur  Mallory  when  he  went 
to  the  Pool,"  and  Capt.  Thomas  Fenn  "for  the  service  of  a  horse  to 
the  Pool."  In  1780  Jude  Hoadly  made  "a  horse  litter  to  carry  him 
on;"  Timothy  Wetmore  is  credited  "by  a  Bill  for  8  Days*  service 
going  to  the  Pool  with  him;"  Enos  Warner  went  "1^  to  the  Pool" 
with  him  at  the  same  date,  and  for  three  or  four  years  Agur  Mallory 
is  "moved  "  again  and  again,  and  must  have  proved  a  costly  invalid 
for  the  town  until  in  1782  Mary  Mallory  apparently  came  to  Water- 
bury,  and  after  keeping  him  three  months  asked  the  town  to  reward 
her  with  the  modest  sum  of  four  pounds.  Nothing  further  has 
been  noticed  regarding  Agur  Mallory. 

In  the  town  accounts,  many  times  repeated,  can  be  found  the 
expression :  "  By  service  done  for  the  town."  No  intimation  is  to 
be  gained  of  its  nature.  "  Provisions  for  soldiers'  families  "  and 
"  Cloathing  for  soldiers  "  and  "  Sundry  articles  for  soldiers  "  or  for 
soldiers'  families  are  found  on  every  page — interspersed  with  "a 
cow,"  or  "a  sheep,"  "a  pair  of  stockings"  or  "a  blanket."  Rates 
are  "  turned  "  and  flour,  corn,  rye  and  oats  are  furnished — to  be  paid 
for;  the  bridges  appear  in  some  form  on  every  page,  and  the  follow- 
ing facts  regarding  the  hiring  of  soldiers  are  found. 

The  troubles  and  difficulties  attending  the  hiring  of  soldiers 
after  1779  were  almost  insurmountable.  Enthusiasm  had  vanished. 
Patriotism  was  not  dead,  but  it  slumbered  and  slept — ^wom  to  a 
weariness  that  nothing  but  the  near  approach  of  danger,  like  the 
attacks  upon  the  near-by  towns,  could  arouse  to  new  action.  When, 
in  January  of  1780,  Waterbury  was  required  to  furnish  thirteen 
soldiers  for  the  army  for  three  years,  they  could  not  be  obtained, 
and  a  compromise  was  made  for  one  year — the  town  engaging  "  to 
pay  half  the  bounty  or  wages  which  should  be  engaged  by  them  in 
provision  or  clothing  at  the  prices  which  such  articles  commonly 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION, 


451 


sold  for  in  the  year  1774,  and  the  other  half  in  lawful  money  or 
Bills  of  Credit  equivalent  to  such  sum  of  provisions  or  clothing  at 
the  time  of  payment."  Other  inducements  were  offered,  such  as  an 
immediate  supply  for  the  needs  of  soldiers'  families.  In  July,  ten 
other  soldiers  were  required,  and  in  November  the  town  was  classed 
or  divided,  by  an  Act  of  Assembly,  to  facilitate  the  raising  of  sol- 
diers. Capt.  Ezra  Bronson  was  made  "  Purchasing  Commissary  to 
receive  the  provisions  to  be  collected  for  the  use  of  the  Continental 
army  and  forces  raised  for  the  defense  of  the  State,  upon  a  six- 
penny rate  "  (by  Act  of  Assembly).  He  was  to  provide  casks  and  see 
the  same  well  put  up.  If  any  man  refused  to  meet  this  rate,  he  was 
to  be  made  to  pay  double  in  States  money.  A  few  men  did  refuse, 
but  they  paid  double.  The  town  appointed  forty-three  men  to 
inspect  the  provisions  thus  collected,  among  whom  were  Col. 
Phineas  Porter,  Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Richards,  and  Major  Jesse 
Curtis.  The  date  of  the  above  appointment  was  March  20,  1780.  It 
was  an  important  meeting.  The  last  rate  in  Continental  money  was 
laid — three  shillings  on  the  pound;  the  Church  of  England  was 
denied  any  future  income  from  the  sale  of  lands  given  by  the 
proprietors  in  17 15,  and  the  town  voted  to  prefer  a  memorial  to 
the  General  Assembly,  praying  that  the  Societies  of  Westbury 
and  Northbury  should  be  incorporated  into  a  separate  town,  and  be 
annexed  to  the  County  of  Litchfield.  The  conditions  offered  by 
Waterbury  were  simple  and  few.  The  new  town  was  to  pay  one- 
half  of  the  expenses  of  rebuilding  a  bridge  over  the  river  on  the 
Woodbury  road  in  the  same  form  as  then  erected,  and  half  the 
expenses  of  supporting  one  Agur  Mallory;  it  was  required  to  quit 
claim  all  right  and  title  to  the  public  school  and  ministerial  moneys 
— in  consideration  for  which  it  was  to  hold  all  the  unsold  town 
lands  within  its  borders;  all  military  stores  and  the  camp  equipage 
belonging  to  the  town  of  Waterbury  were  to  be  equally  divided 
between  the  two  towns,  when  the  new  one  should  be  incorporated. 
With  respect  to  the  dividing  lines,  a  committee  composed  of  men 
from  each  society  in  the  township  was  to  meet  and  determine  the 
division  and  report  to  the  next  meeting,  but  the  line  was  not  defi- 
nitely established  for  several  years. 

On  the  17th  of  September  in  this  year  (1780)  "General  Washing- 
ton with  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  General  Knox  with  a  splen- 
did retinue,"  left  the  camp  at  Tappan  (about  thirty  miles  below 
West  Point)  for  Hartford.  This  was  with  little  doubt  one  of  the 
occasions  when  Washington  passed  through  Waterbury.  His  object 
was  to  confer  with  the  commanding  officers  of  the  French  fleet  and 
army  (6000  men)  which  had  recently  arrived  at  Rhode  Island.     He 


452  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

was  absent  from  camp  nine  days,  during  which  time  Major  Andre 
made  the  fatal  journey  to  West  Point  or  its  vicinity,  to  confer  with 
Benedict  Arnold.  The  express,  sent  to  meet  General  Washington 
with  the  direful  news  of  Arnold's  treasonable  interview  (gained  by 
Andre's  capture),  taking  a  different  road,  failed  to  meet  him.  If  it 
were  not  for  this  failure,  we  might  think  that  this  was  the  occasion 
fitting  the  tradition  which  tells  us  that  General  Washington  once 
rode  loo  miles  in  one  day. 

In  1781  when  Gov.  Tryon  with  a  detachment  of  British  troops 
marched  from  King's  Bridge  to  Horse  Neck  (a  former  horse  pasture 
for  the  town  of  Greenwich)  every  effort  was  made  to  raise  soldiers 
for  the  defense  of  that  point.  Waterbury's  quota — Westbury  and 
Northbury  having  departed  from  it — was  seven  men.  Abraham  and 
David  Wooster  refused  to  pay  their  proportion  toward  hiring  a 
recruit  in  the  class  to  which  they  belonged.  David  Welton,  Henry 
Grilley,  Stephen  and  Timothy  Scovill  also  neglected  or  refused  to 
pay — but  they  were  obliged  "to  pay  double." 

Waterbury  was  called  upon  for  sixty-nine  soldiers  after  Water- 
town  was  incorporated.  Eighteen  of  the  number  were  required 
early  in  1781  and  were  to  serve  one  year  from  the  following  March, 
at  Horse  Neck,  and  were  "  to  be  had  on  as  reasonable  terms  as  they 
could  be  procured."  The  eighteen  men  were  not  to  be  had.  Is  it 
surprising,  when  **  under  their  complicated  distresses  "  officers  and 
men  were  exhausted  ?  The  confidence  of  the  army  in  public  prom- 
ises was  chilled  almost  unto  death,  and  despair  had  taken  the  place 
of  patience  and  fortitude.  All  that  the  army  asked  was  "a  perma- 
nent and  comfortable  support."  Regimental  officers  were  contin- 
ually resigning  and  exclaiming:  "Let  others  come  and  take  their 
turn!" 

It  was  during  this  winter  that  Col.  Elisha  Sheldon's  regiment  of 
dragoons  (240  men  and  140  horses)  was  quartered  for  a  time  in 
Waterbury.  There  being  insufficient  accommodation,  the  town 
asked  that  the  regiment  might  be  quartered  elsewhere,  as  "no  army 
supplies  were  kept  here." 

The  eighteen  men  were  not  secured  on  the  6th  of  March,  and 
some  suitable  person  was  empowered  to  "get  them  any  other  way 
that  should  be  judged  best."  It  would  seem  by  a  subsequent  "diffi- 
culty "  which  arose,  that  Seba  Bronson  and  William  Leavenworth 
were  permitted  to  obtain  soldiers  on  this  occasion.  Six  of  the 
above  soldiers  were  Eli  Rowley,  Asa  Chittenden,  Ezekiel  Porter, 
Toto  Cornelius  (secured  for  ";^  18  cash  in  States' money  and  he  to 
receive  his  wages"),  Zebulon  Miller  and  Daniel  Williams.  May  7, 
1 781,  Eli  Rowley  is  credited  "by  Entering  the  Public  Service  for 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION.  453 

the  Defence  of  Horse  Neck  and  is  to  be  paid  three  pounds  per 
month,  hard  money — the  obligation  given  by  Samuel  Scott,  Jr." 
To  or  for  Asa  Chittenden,  Eli  Bronson  gave  the  obligation.  A  week 
later  a  call  came  for  ten  footmen  and  one  horse  and  horseman  for 
the  post  at  Horse  Neck.  To  secure  men,  the  town  promised  that 
the  wages  offered  by  the  State  "  should  be  paid  in  silver  punctually 
(one  recorder  [Michael  Bronson]  has  it  perpetually)  at  6-8  per  ounce, 
or  an  equivalent  in  Bills  of  Credit.*'  Eli  Bronson  and  Joseph 
Atkins  were  made  town  agents  and  empowered  to  procure  the  men 
and  give  them  "  such  further  sums  as  they  should  think  proper,  if 
to  be  had  by  April  ist.'*  Jacob  Sperry  was  appointed  to  procure 
three  ox  teams,  drivers,  and  carts  for  Continental  service.  June  21, 
the  town  held  another  meeting  "  for  the  purpose  of  contriving  ways 
and  means  for  procuring  the  town's  quota  of  soldiers  for  Horse 
Neck  and  the  Continental  army."  Capt.  John  Welton  was  given 
"full  power  to  hire  seven  men"  and  reward  them  with  "hard 
money,  provisions  or  neat  cattle."  The  seven  men  were  obtained 
apparently  without  great  difficulty  or  delay,  and  the  following  events 
probably  influenced  the  men  who  enlisted. 

In  May,  General  Washington  had  again  journeyed  to  Con- 
necticut to  meet  Count  de  Rochambeau,  and  in  all  probability 
passed  through  Waterbury  at  that  time.  It  was  on  or  about 
June  2 1  St — the  date  of  the  town  meeting  when  the  seven  men 
were  to  be  hired  "for  hard  money,  provisions  or  cattle" — that 
the  French  army  under  General  Rochambeau  inarched  through 
Waterbury,  on  its  way  to  meet  Washington's  army  near  King's 
Bridge.  What  welcome  travelers  the  bonny  Frenchmen  must  have 
proved  themselves  as  they  journeyed  on,  for  they  paid  all  their 
expenses  in  hard  money,  committing  no  depredations,  and  treating 
the  inhabitants  with  great  civility  and  propriety.  The  officers 
wore  "  coats  of  white  broadcloth  trimmed  with  green,  white  under- 
dress,  and  hats  with  two  corners,  instead  of  three,  (like  the  cocked 
hats  worn  by  American  officers).  Sixteen  months  later  the  same 
army  again  passed  through  Waterbury.  An  old  inhabitant  told 
Dr.  Bronson  (as  given  in  page  359  History  of  Waterbury,  1858), 
that  the  soldiers  marched  two  and  two,  and  when  the  head  of 
the  column  had  disappeared  beyond  the  hill  at  Capt.  George 
Nichols,  (the  Dr.  James  Brown  house,  still  standing),  the  other 
extremity  had  not  come  in  sight  on  West  Side  hill.  What  a  picture 
of  Waterbury  in  1781  that  bit  of  description  affords  us  !  One  could 
stand  on  the  East  Main  Street  hill,  above  its  intersection  with 
Mill  street,  and  have  an  unobstructed  view  to  the  top  of  West 
Side  hill. 


454 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBURT. 


The  following  items  relating  to  the  passage  of  portions  of  the 
amiy  through  Waterbury  are  given  by  Dr.  Bronson,  and  are 
undoubtedly  authentic.  He  refers  to  the  main  east  and  west  road 
through  Waterbury,  as  communicating  with  Hartford  and  Middle- 
town  eastward,  and  with  Fishkill  and  the  Hudson  river  by  way  of 
Break  Neck  hill  in  Middlebury  westward,  and  says  that  teams  for 
carrying  goods  and  supplies  ran  frequently  and  regularly  to  and 
from  Fishkill.  It  was,  he  adds,  the  most  southern  of  the  traveled 
roads  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  sea.  The  following  statements 
could  not,  with  him,  have  been  mere  traditions,  for  he  had  personal 
knowledge  of  the  men  who  were  participants  in  the  events  narrated. 
"In  the  fall  of  1777,  after  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  a  detachment  of 
the  American  army  with  the  enemy's  splendid  train  of  artillery 
passed  through  Waterbury  to  the  eastward.  They  pitched  their 
tents  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  Manhan  meadow,  just  above 
the  bridge.  Many  people  visited  the  ground  to  see  the  beautiful 
brass  pieces  all  ranged  in  line.  Gen.  La  Fayette  at  one  time, 
attended  only  by  his  aids,  lodged  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Isaac  Bron- 
son— at  Break  Neck — who  then  kept  tavern.  The  host  introduced 
him  to  his  best  chamber  in  which  was  his  best  bed,  but  La  Fayette 
caused  the  feather  bed  to  be  removed,  saying  :  "  Straw  for  the  sol- 
dier," and  made  the  straw  underbed  his  couch  for  the  night.  He 
also  on  one  occasion  stopped  at  the  house  of  Esq.  (Joseph)  Hopkins, 
then  "the  most  prominent  civilian  in  the  place."  Dr.  Bronson  also 
confirms  the  statement — made  elsewhere,  that  General  Washington 
passed  through  Waterbury  on  his  way  to  Hartford.  He  makes 
mention  of  Gen.  Knox  as  being  with  him,  but  does  not  speak  of  La 
Fayette,  who  was  of  the  party.  "The  splendid  retinue  "  is  referred 
to  as  "a  somewhat  numerous  escort."  He  adds  that  General  Wash- 
ington rode  a  chestnut  colored  horse,  came  across  Break  Neck,  and 
returned  the  salutations  of  the  boys  by  the  roadside.  His  dig- 
nity of  manner,  set  off  by  his  renown,  made  a  durable  impression 
on  all  who  beheld  him.  He  dined  with  Esq.  Hopkins,  who  made 
many  inquiries,  and  at  last  became  decidedly  inquisitive.  After 
reflecting  a  little  on  the  last  question,  Washington  is  said  to  have 
said  :  "  Mr.  Hopkins,  can  you  keep  a  secret  ?"  "  I  can."  "  So  can 
I,"  the  General  instantly  replied. 

The  passage  of  the  French  Army  through  our  town  in  17  81.  or 
in  1782,  was  marked  by  an  encampment  on  Break  Neck  hill  where  it 
remained  over  one  day  to  wash  and  bake.  In  consequence,  all  the 
wells  in  the  neighborhood  were  drawn  dry,  and  the  French  army 
had  an  opportunity  to  test  the  quality  of  the  water  in  Hop  brook. 
In  1 78 1  the  same  army,  impeded  in  its  march  to  the  westward  by 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION,  455 

rain  and  freshets,*  encamped  two  or  three  days  in  Southington. 
The  place  of  its  encampment  at  that  time  is  well  established,  as 
well  as  that  of  a  second  encampment  of  the  same  army  on  French 
hill  in  the  same  town.  The  rows  of  "  white  washed  "  Sabbath  Day 
houses  were  of  interest  to  the  Frenchmen,  who  thought  them  the 
remains  of  a  military  encampment. f 

The  first  recorded  case  of  inoculation  J  for  small  pox  in  Water- 
bury  was  performed  by  Charles  Upson  in  February,  1782 — the 
patient  being  Ezra  Mallory,  who  was  taken  care  of  three  weeks 
by  Wait  Hotchkiss.  Almost  simultaneously  with  this  case,  the  town 
gave,  during  forty-eight  days,  permission  to  all  males  in  the  town 
over  ten  years  of  age,  and  to  all  persons  living  on  the  east  and  west 
Continental  road,  "to  take  the  infection  of  small  pox  by  way  of 
inoculation."  A  committee  was  appointed  of  fifteen  men  ("  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Mark  Leavenworth "  being  one)  whose  duty  it  was  "  to  give 
orders  respecting  the  time  when  the  infection  should  be  taken,  the 
house  or  houses  where  the  patients  should  live,  the  tendance,  the 
time  of  their  cleansing  and  the  time  of  their  release  from  restric- 
tions— and  to  take  whatever  precautions  should  be  deemed  expedi- 
ent for  preserving  the  inhabitants  from  taking  the  infection."  A 
few  days  later,  it  was  ordered  that  the  latest  day  for  inoculation 
should  be  March  20th  instead  of  April  ist.  Cases  of  inoculation  for 
the  disease  that  gave  such  distress  and  trouble  to  the  soldiers  in 
camp,  and  the  inhabitants  of  towns  everywhere,  were  frequent 
before  the  time  when  in  1784,  Dr.  Abel  Bronson  petitioned  the  town 
to  name  a  place  "  healthy,  convenient  and  secure  "  where  he  might 
build  a  house  to  receive  patients  for  inoculation.  Under  suitable 
restrictions,  the  consent  of  the  town  was  gained,  and  Dr.  Abel  Bron- 
son established  a  hospital  for  that  purpose,  in  Middlebury.  The 
only  portion  of  the  building  which  remains  is  a  single  door,  which 
was  removed  to  a  house  occupied  by  the  late  Burritt  Hall.  It  is 
covered  with  the  names  of  patients  who  there  endured  the  pains 
and  penalties  of  inoculation.  Of  the  number  are  "  Sheldon  Malary, 
Ezekiel  Birdsey,  Sam"  D.  H.,  Huntington,  April  24,  1792;  Jared 
Munson,  Harry  Edwards,  Richard  Skinner,  Alfred  Edwards,  Samuel 
Wheeler,  John  Newton,  of  Washington,  1795;  H.  Marshall,  Asa 
Green,  Macomber  AUis,  Johnson,  23;  Samuel  Southmayd,  Jr.,  Hodly, 
Clark,  Sheldon  Clark,  Leavit  T.  Harris,  and  John  Gilcrist."    Two 


*  This  detention  may  account  for  an  item  in  our  town  accounts  of  **  Soldiers  that  worked  at  the  [Grrat 
River]  bridge." 

+  History  of  Southington. 

4:  Charles  Upson  was  perhaps  the  first  man  to  name  a  child  Washington,  which  he  did  as  early  as  Sep- 
tember, Z775.    His  second  child  was  named  Gates,  his  third  child  was  named  Lee. 


4S6  HiaTOBT  OF  WATERBURT, 

sons  of  Nathaniel  Gunn  (Enos  and  Abel),  who  had,  it  is  said, 
received  commissions  in  the  British  army  with  the  condition  that 
they  should  be  protected  from  small  pox  by  inoculation,  went,  it  is 
said,  to  Dr.  Bronson's  and  died  there  from  exposure.* 

Of  the  many  traditions  which  have  been  kept  alive  concerning 
events  occurring  in  Waterbury,  the  following  are  well  authenti- 
cated. In  Union  City,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  there  is  stand- 
ing a  house  that  was  built  by  Thomas  Porter  before  the  war,  and 
was  occupied  as  a  tavern  during  the  war.  To  this  house  there  came 
on  one  occasion  so  many  soldiers  that  they  completely  filled  every 
room.  So  weary  were  the  men  that  they  fell  upon  the  floors, 
exhausted,  for  want  of  rest  and  sleep.  All  night  Mrs.  Porter  and 
her  attendants  cooked  for  these  men,  stepping  over  them  as  they 
worked. 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  the  heroism  of  Huldah  Warner, 
a  granddaughter  of  the  first  woman  who  was  buried  in  Naugatuck. 
She  was  at  that  time  the  wife  of  Samuel  Williams,  and  was,  with 
two  of  her  children,  in  Wyoming.  The  night  before  the  massacre 
at  that  place,  her  husband,  through  the  aid  of  their  elder  son, 
Zebah,  contrived  to  get  word  to  her  to  flee  at  once.  With  her 
daughter,  Rhoda,  and  a  still  younger  child,  Mrs.  Williams  began 
her  flight  for  her  former  home  in  Waterbury.  She  left  Wyom- 
ing the  same  night.  The  next  day  she  made  but  five  miles, 
and  spent  the  night  without  shelter  of  any  kind.  Continuing 
her  flight  from  day  to  day  (not  knowing  that  her  husband  was  slain 
during  the  first  night  of  her  journey),  she  reached  Waterbury  and 
the  house  of  her  sister  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Zebulon  Scott.  We 
find  in  November  of  1778,  Zebulon  Scott  credited  by  the  town  with 
keeping  Widow  Williams  and  two  children  four  months  and  a  half. 
One  of  the  two  children,  Rhoda,  became,  it  is  said,  the  grandmother 
of  95  children.  Zeruah,  the  only  daughter  of  Lieut.  Jonathan  Beebe, 
of  the  same  section  of  the  township,  hearing  that  her  husband, 
Israel  Terrel,  was  ill  in  camp,  took  her  infant  child,  Israel,  and  rode 
alone  to  the  Hudson  river,  and  there  cared  for  him  until  his 
recovery. 

Joseph  Root  was  one  of  the  force  under  Col.  Stark  at  Benning- 
ton.    The  night  before  the  battle  he  was  on  duty  as  sentinel.     Near 


"^The  following  advertisement  is  taken  from  The  Connect icni  Journal ^  published  at  New  Haven: 

INOCULATION. 

Any  Person  desirous  of  taking  the  infection  of  the  Small  Pox,  may  be  well  accommodated  by  applying 

to  the  subscriber,  who  has  a  very  convenient  house  for  that  purpose,  where  careful  attendance  is  given,  and 

every  favor  gratefully  acknowledged,  by  their  humble  servant. 

Abbl  Bronson. 
Waterbury^  Sept.  tS,  17Q2.  10  W. 


WATERS URT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION,  457 

morning,  as  he  and  his  comrade  were  nearing  each  other  on  their 
respective  beats,  there  rose  up  a  platoon  of  British  soldiers  who 
demanded  surrender.  Upon  this  both  sentinels  discharged  their 
pieces,  whereupon  the  whole  company  fired,  killing  Root's  comrade 
and  felling  Root  to  the  ground.  He  soon  rallied,  to  find  that  he 
was  only  shot  through  his  hat,  when  he  surrendered.  He  was 
finally  exchanged,  and  it  was  with  great  pride  that  the  old  gentle- 
man of  80  years  said  (to  Mr.  Laurel  Beebe,  who  gave  the  incident 
to  the  writer),  that  the  Americans  gave  two  Hessian  prisoners  in 
exchange  for  him. 

Ebenezer  Richardson,  a  man  who  loved  the  wilderness,  and 
moved  into  it  anew  whenever  neighbors  came  into  view — went  at 
last  to  live  at  Break  Neck.  This  was  before  the  name  Middlebury 
had  been  spoken  for  that  territory.  His  granddaughter,  Tamar 
Richardson,  lived  with  her  father  and  mother,  during  the  war,  at 
Break  Neck.  Of  her,  her  granddaughter  Mrs.  Gilbert  Hotchkiss 
has  written:  "  Many  times  has  my  grandmother  told  me  of  the  sol- 
diers of  the  Revolution  passing  her  father's  house  on  the  way  to 
and  from  Boston  and  Fishkill,  stopping  there  for  provisions  or  stay- 
ing over  night,  or  both,  and  always  keeping  a  guard.  She  told  how 
she  and  her  mother  would  bake  all  day  as  fast  as  they  could,  one 
ovenfuU  after  another,  the  soldiers  taking  the  pies  as  fast  as  they 
could  bake  them,  and  how  her  arms  have  been  burned  from  the 
heat  of  the  brick  oven — and  that  with  weary  feet  and  aching  limbs 
the  only  way  to  get  to  her  room  was  to  walk  over  the  soldiers  who 
lay  thick  upon  the  floor.*'  After  a  life  of  94  years,  this  woman  was 
committed  to  the  earth,  in  trust  for  the  Resurrection,  in  the  Grand 
street  cemetery,  and  upon  her  grave-stone  was  inscribed  (until  the 
city  of  Waterbury  served  upon  the  dead  a  summary  process  of  dis- 
possession)* the  following  words  :  "Tamar,  wife  of  Stephen  Hotch- 
kiss, died  Mar.  29,  1853  M.  94^  y'rs." 

Dear  pilgrim  farewell,  thy  journey  is  ended. 
Thou  hast  gone  to  thy  rest  in  the  temple  of  God, 

Hast  seen  the  dear  Lord  who  for  thee  descended 
To  take  thee  at  length  to  his  blessed  abode. 

The  following  list  of  persons  who  "left  Waterbury  during  the 
Revolutionary  War,  with  the  intention  of  joining  the  enemy  "  was 
made  by  Dr.  Bronson,  and  is  reproduced  here.  Certain  of  the  names 
appear  in  our  list  of  soldiers,  their  owners  having  served  in  the 

*  In  1890  the  City  of  Waterbury  decided  that  it  had  no  longer  room  for  the  graves  of  the  men 
and  women  whose  part  was  no  insignificant  one  in  giving  to  the  world  the  **  Thirteen  United  States."  Scores 
of  the  six  hundred  and  eighty-nine  soldiers  who  stood  for  Waterbury  in  the  American  army,  lay  within 
that  ground.    Corporations  sometimes  commit,  as  in  this  instance,  the  unpardonable  sin. 


460 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


my's  service.  After  the  war,  as  his 
conviction  rested  on  Roberts's  testi- 
mony alone,  he  petitioned  the  Assem- 
bly to  discharge  him  from  the  execu- 
tion.    The  prayer  was  granted,    but 


afterwards  the  vote  was  reconsidered 
and  negatived.  The  next  year  (1786), 
on  petition,  he  had  liberty  to  pay  in 
**  State  securities." 


The  following  list  of  689  names  of  men  who  served  as  soldiers 
in  the  war  in  some  one  of  the  various  military  organizations  of  the 
State,  or  in  the  Continental  army,  has  been  made  from  original 
documents  held  as  private  papers:  from  War  papers  in  the  State 
archives;  from  Bronson's  **  History  of  Waterbury,"  and  from  the 
"Record  of  Connecticut  men  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution."  Dr. 
Bronson  had  a  list  of  236  names,  which  he  referred  to  as  "very 
incomplete." 

Every  one  of  the  persons  included  in  this  list  was  bom  in  Water- 
bury,  enlisted  from  Waterbury,  or  lived  in  the  township.  In  a  case 
like  that  of  Capt.  Jesse  Leavenworth,  son  of  the  Rev.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth, although  he  enlisted  from  New  Haven,  it  has  been  thought 
to  be  quite  just  to  claim  him,  and  although  Aner  Bradley  when 
wounded  at  Danbury,  was  not  yet  resident  here,  but  later  removed 
into  Ancient  Waterbury,  he  and  other  men  under  similar  circum- 
stances have  been  laid  claim  to.  In  the  list  may  be  found  three 
lieutenant-colonels,  three  majors,  thirty-four  captains,  and  twenty- 
three  lieutenants. 

REVOLUTIONARY    SOLDIERS. 


James  Adams, 
John  Adams, 
Luke  Adams, 
Sylvanus  Adams, 
Asa  Alcox, 
Daniel  Alcox, 
David  Alcox, 
John  B.  Alcox, 
Samuel  Alcox, 
Solomon  Alcox, 
Abel  Allen, 
Daniel  Allen, 
Ebenezer  Allen, 
Gideon  Allen, 
John  Ames, 
Samuel  Ames, 
Ethan  Andrews, 
James  Andrews, 


Timothy  Andrews, 
Lieut.  Wm.  Andrews, 
Joseph  Atkins,  Jr., 
Josiah  Atkins,* 
Josiah  Atkins.f 
Samuel  Atkins, 
Thomas  Atwell,} 
Abel  Bacheldor, 
Josiah  Bacon, 
Ichabod  Bailey, 
Clark  Baird, 
Abel  Baldwin, 
Alsop  Baldwin, 
Benjamin  Baldwin, 
David  Baldwin, 
Dr.  Isaac  Baldwin, 
Lieut.  Col.  Jonathan 
Baldwin, 


Josiah  Baldwin, 

Ens.  Theoph.  Baldwin, 

Eliel  Barker, 

Isaac  Barker, 

Jonathan  Barker, 

Asa  Barnes, 

"Azer  Barnes,  Con- 
ductor, 1779-81." 

Benjamin  Barnes, 

Daniel  Barnes,  died 
March  30,  1778. 

Jsaac  Barnes, 

John  Barnes, 

Josiah  Barnes, 

Capt.  Nathaniel 
Barnes, 

Samuel  Barnes, 

Thaddeus  Barnes,  Jr. 


*  Probably  son  of  Joseph, 
f  Son  of  Josiah.    S«e  his  Diary,  p.  47a. 

t  Enlisted  in  Sheldon's  Light  Dragoons,  1777.  Description:  Farmer;  stature,  5  ft.  8  in.;  light  complexion, 
hair  and  eyes. 


WATERS UBY  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 


461 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — c 

Philip  Barret,  d.  April 

22,  1778. 
Samuel  Bartholomew, 
William  Basset, 
Benjamin  Bates, 
Asa  Beach, 
John    Beach,    missing 

Sept.  15,  1776. 
Joseph  Beach,  Jr., 
Thaddeus  Beach, 
Dr.  Ebenezer  Beards- 
ley,* 
David  Beebe, 
Eli  Beebe, 
Elisha  Beebe, 
Ephraim  Beebe, 
Capt.  Ira  Beebe, 
Joseph  Beebe, 
Martin  Beebe, 
Reuben  Beebe, f 
Seba    Beebe,  enlisted 

in  Vermont. 
Walter  Beecher, 
David    Bell    or    Ball, 

Watertown,  1781. 
Benjamin  Bement, 
Lieut.     Aaron    Bene- 
dict, 
Elihu  Benham, 
Elisha  Benham, 
Lieut.  Isaac  Benham, 
Samuel  Benham, 
Thomas  Blake, 
Amasa  Blakeslee, 


ontinued, 

Archibald  Blakeslee, 
Asa  Blakeslee  (des.) 
David  Blakeslee,  died 

at  Albany. 
Enos  Blakeslee,  d. 

Sept.  3,  1776. 
Lieut.   James   Blakes- 
lee? 
Jared  Blakeslee, 
Joel  Blakeslee, 
John  Blakeslee, 
Obed  Blakeslee,  black- 
smith,   dark,     stat- 
ure, 5,  8. 
Zealous  Blakeslee, 
Joseph  Boardman, 
Andrew     Bostwick, 
blacksmith,  light, 
stature,  5,  7. 
Aner  Bradley,  wound- 
ed at  Danbury. 
Stephen  Brister, 
Giles  Brocket, 
Abel  Bronson, 
Asahel  Bronson, 
Daniel  Bronson, 
Dr.  Isaac  Bronson, 
surgeon's    mate     in 
Sheldon's  Light  Dra- 
goons, 
Capt.  Isaac  Bronson, 
Joseph  Bronson, 
Josiah  Bronson,  Jr., 
Levi  Bronson, 


Lieut.  Michael  Bron- 
son, 

Reuben  Bronson, 

Roswell  Bronson, 

Capt.  Samuel  Bronson, 

Selah  Bronson, 

Titus  Bronson, 

David  Brown, 

Ebenezer  Brown, 

James  Brown, 

Benajah  Bryan, 

David  Buckingham, 

Epinetus  Buckingham, 

Isaac  Bunnell, 

Jonathan  Butler, 

Solomon  Butler, 

Lieut.  Daniel  Bying- 
tofi, 

Jared  Byington, 

Samuel  Byington, 

Robert  Cady  ? 

Israel  Calkins, 

Roswell  Calkins, 

Abel  Camp,     \ 

Bethel  Camp,  v  bro's. 

EldadCamp,  ) 

Ephraim  Camp, 

Capt.  Samuel  Camp, 

Samuel  Camp,  Jr., 

Cuff  Capeny.t 

Stephen  Carter, 

Thomas  Cartwright, 

Bradley  Castle, 

Capt.  Phineas  Castle, 


*'*  Ebenezer  Beardslee,  Surgeon,"  1775-77,  is  accredited  to  Bridgeport,  but  he  paid  taxes  here  from  Z769 
to  1776,  inclusive. 

tin  Beebe's  application  for  a  pension,  he  states  that  **  when  General  Washington  retreated  (from  Long 
Island,  1776),  Col.  Douglass's  regiment  was  the  last  one  to  leave  the  Island;"  that  he  was  discharged  Dec. 
Z776,  and  on  his  return  to  Waterbury  **  joined  a  company  of  minute  men,  commanded  by  Capt.  [Josiah] 
Terrell,  and  was  out  two  short  tours  at  Stamford  and  New  Haven;  continued  as  a  '  minute  man '  for  two 
years — the  company  being  composed  of  60  men  and  called  the  Ring^tont  company." 

$The  following  is  his  will:  Being  engaged  in  the  war  for  the  defense  of  America,  and  exposed  to  the 
dangers  thereof;  I  give  to  Stephen  Bronson,  £10,  to  be  paid  out  of  a  note  this  day  given  me  by  Simeon 
Nichols.  I  give  to  Moses  Cook  £6,  to  be  paid  by  a  note  executed  by  sd.  Cook  and  sd.  Bronson.  I  give  to 
Asa  Hopkins  my  caster  Hatt.  I  give  to  Joseph  Hopkins,  Jr.,  my  beaver  Hatt.  I  give  to  Joseph  Hopkins, 
Esq.,  all  the  remainder  of  my  estate,  whether  in  clothing,  notes  of  hand,  or  wages  due  to  me,  on  this  condi- 
tion—that he,  the  sd.  Joseph  Hopkins,  shall  pay  to  my  friend  Timothy  a  Negro  man  living  with  Isaac 
Newton  the  sum  of  five  pounds,  and  to  Silence,  a  servant  of  the  sd.  Joseph  Hopkins,  the  sum  of  live  pounds. 
I  appoint  Joseph  Hopkins  to  be  executor. 

CUFF  CAPENY, 
Theodore  Wad s worth,  I   ^^.^^^^^^^ 

Levia  Hopkins,  > 


This  will,  dated  June  3,  X777,  was  probated  Dec.  23,  1777. 


462 


mSTOBT  OF  WATERS URT, 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — continued. 


Silas  Chapman, 

Daniel  Chatfield, 

Thomas  Chilman, 

Asa  Chittenden,  at 
Horseneck. 

Asahel  Chittenden, 

Daniel  Clark. 

Richard  Clark, 

Ens.  Timothy  Clark, 

John  Allin  Clay, 

Isaac  Cleveland, 

Johnson  Cleveland, 

Israel  Clifford, 

John  Cobb, 

John  Cole, 

Thomas  Cole, 

Major  Augustus  Col- 
lins, 27th  Reg.  Mili- 
tia, May,  1782. 

Dr.  Roger  Conant, 
surgeon  with  Col. 
Fisher  Gay,  June, 
1776;  died  Feb. 8, 1777. 

Arba  Cook, 

Charles  Cook. 

Ebenezer  Cook, 

Joel  Cook, 

Lemuel  Cook,  last  sur- 
vivor of  the  war, 

Moses  Cook,  drummer, 

Ozem'  Cook, 

Roswell  Cook, 

Selah  Cook,  farmer,  5, 
7>^,  dark, 

Timothy  Cook, 

Trueworthy  Cook, 

Uri  Cook, 

William  Cook,  son  of 
Charles, 

Toto  Cornelius,  at 
Horseneck, 

Amos  Culver, 

Reuben  Culver, 


Benjamin  Curtis,  d. 
Nov.  15,  1776. 

Caleb  Curtis, 

Lieut.  Eli  Curtis, 

Elihu  Curtis. 

Felix  Curtis, 

Lieut.  Giles  Curtis, 

Isaac  Curtis, 

James  Curtis, 

Capt.  Jesse  Curtis, 

•*Major,"  on  Town  ace. 
book,  1780. 

Capt.  Jotham  Curtis, 

Lyman  Curtis, 

Samuel  Curtis, 

Stephen  Curtis,  3d, 

Zadoc  Curtis, 

Zerah  Curtis.  Water- 
town,  farmer,  5,  8|^, 

Joseph  Cutler, 

Younglove  Cutler. 

Ebenezer  Darrow, 
shoemaker,  5,  7, 

Jonathan  Davis, 

Stephen  Davis  (des.), 

Isaac  Dayton, 

Justus  Dayton, 

Michael  Dayton, 

Samuel  Dayton, 

Daniel  Dean, 

John  Dean,  d.  at  Far- 
mingbury,  Sept.  28, 
1776,  on  return  from 
y«camp  at  New  York. 
Church  record. 

Samuel  Dowd,  des. 
Nov.  7,  1778, 

Aaron  Dunbar, 

Amos  Dunbar, 

Edward  Dunbar, 

Giles  Dunbar, 

James  Dunbar,  far- 
mer, 5,  10,  light. 


Joel  Dunbar, 

John  Dunbar, 

JosephDunbar,  wound- 
ed at  Germantown 
and  White  Marsh, 
Pa.,  1777, 

Miles  Dunbar,* 

Lieut.  Thomas  Dut- 
ton, 

Lieut.  Titus  Dutton, 

Isaac  Edwards, 

Lieut.  Nathaniel  Ed- 
wards, prisoner  at 
Fort  Washington, 
Nov.  16,  1776, 

John  Eggleston, 

Surgeon  John  Elton, 

Ebenezer  El  well, 

Ozias  El  well, 

Samuel  Elwell, 

Randol  Evans, 

John  Fallendon(or  Tat- 
tendon), 

Ithiel  Fancher, 

James  Fancher, 

John  Fancher, 

Rufus  Farrington(Yar. 
rington,  on  Family 
Rec), 

Aaron  Fenn, 

Ens.  Benjamin  Fenn.. 

Jr.. 
Jacob  Fenn, 

Jason  Fenn, 

Jesse  Fenn, 

John  Fenn,  3d, 

Judah  Fenn, 

Captain  Thomas  Fenn, 

Lieut.  Nathan  Ferrisf 

Edmund  Fields, 

David  Finch, 

Jeremiah  Finch  (des.) 

Watertown. 


*  Miles  Dunbar  became  fatigued  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  and  was  left.  On  his  way  home,  was  taken 
sick  at  Newtown.    His  expenses  were  paid  by  the  State. 

t  Nathan  Ferris  was  *' commissioned  xst  lieut.  in  7th  Reg.  Conn.  Line  under  Col.  Heman  Swift,  Jan. 
X,  X777;  cashiered  Oct.  35,  for  misconduct  on  the  march  to  Germantown,  Oct.  4.  He  took  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance here  after  Dec.  8,  and  in  the  same  month  enlisted  eleven  men,  John  Ames,  Ethan  and  Timothy  And- 
rews, Thomas  Chilman,  John  Cole,  Titus  Dutton,  Elial  and  Elijah  Parker,  Isaac  and  John  Smith  and 
Thomas  Worden.    All  served  under  Capt.  Elizur  (?)  Warner.    He  died  in  Watertown  in  x8o8,  aged  74  yrs. 


WATERS URY  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 


463 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — continued. 


Titus  Finch, 

John  Pontine, 

Aaron  Foot, 

Abel  Foot, 

Capt.  Abraham  Foot, 
spent  a  part  of  his 
life  here. 

Bronson  Foot, 

Daniel  Foot  (son  of 
Nathan). 

David  Foot,  killed  at 
Fairfield. 

David  Foot,  Jr.  (son  of 
Samuel). 

Ebenezer  Foot,  died  at 
Horseneck. 

Ira  Foot, 

Ozem  Foot, 

Capt.  Moses  Foot, 

Amos  Ford,  dead  in 
Feb.  1777. 

Cephas  Ford, 

Noah  Fowler,  Lieut. 
Col.  28th  Reg.  Mili- 
tia, May,  1782. 

Joseph  Freedom, 

Castor  Freeman, 

Robin  Freeman, 

Charles  Frisbie, 

Ebenezer  Frisbie, 

Israel  Frisbie, 

Judah  Frisbie, 

Reuben  Frisbie, 

Elisha  Frost, 

Rev.  Jesse  Frost,  en- 
listed in  Southing- 
ton. 

Moses  Frost, 

Samuel  Frost, 

Timothy  Frost, 

David  Fulford, 

James  Fulford,  shoe- 
maker, 6  ft,  light. 

Lieut.  John  Fulford, 

Noah  Fulford, 

Titus  Fulford, 


Benjamin  Gaylord, 

Jonathan  Gaylord, 

Joseph  Gaylord, 

Capt  Levi  Gaylord, 

Benoni  Gillet, 

John  Glazier, 

Daniel  Goodrich, 

Jabez'*Goodill,"       ' 

Lieut.  Enos  Granniss, 

James  Granniss,  died 
at  Monmouth  after 
amputation  of  a  leg. 

Levi  Granniss, 

Benjamin  Graves, 

Simeon  Graves, 

Paul  Griggs, 

Samuel  Griggs, 

Solomon  Griggs, 

Cyrus  Grilley, 

*'Philo  G  r  u  m  s  e  y, 
Watertown,  1781." 

Chauncey  Guernsey, 

Jonathan  Guernsey, 

Capt.  Joseph  Guern- 
sey, was  one  of  the 
guards  at  Andre's 
execution. 

Southmayd  Guernsey, 

Reuben  Hale, 

Benajah  Hall, 

Isaah  (Isaac  ?)  Hall 

Jonah  Hall, 

Nathaniel  Hall, 

'•John  Hannan,  Water- 
town." 

Daniel  Harrison, 

Jabez  Harrison  ? 

John  Harrison, 

Ambrose  Hikcox, 
"drummer  during 
the  year  past.  May 
20,  1776," 

Lieut.   Amos   Hikcox, 

Jr.. 
Consider  Hikcox, 

Darius  Hikcox, 


Elisha  Hikcox, 
Gideon  Hikcox, 
Capt.  James  Hikcox, 
Josiah  Hikcox, 
Capt.  Samuel  Hikcox, 
William  Hikcox,  Jr., 
Ens.  Jared  Hill,  paid 

taxes,  1783, 
Benjamin  Hine, 
Hollingsworth  Hine, 
Hezekiah  Hine,* 
Hezekiah  Hine,  Jr., 
Reuben  Hine,  died  at 

Horseneck, 
Eliakim  Hitchcock, 
Zachariah  Hitchcock, 
Culpepper  Hoadley, 
Ebenezer  Hoadley, 
Jude  Hoadley, 
Philo  Hoadley, 
Silas  Hoadley. 
William  Hoadley, 
Joseph  Hopkins, 
Lemuel  Hopkins, 
Samuel  Hopkins, 
Abraham  Hotchkiss, 
Asahel  Hotchkiss, 
Eben  Hotchkiss, 
Capt.    Gideon  Hotch- 
kiss, 
Jesse  Hotchkiss,! 
Joel  Hotchkiss, 
Joseph  Hotchkiss, 
Stephen  Hotchkiss, 
Truman  Hotchkiss, 
David  Hubbard, 
Benjamin  Hull, 
Colwell  Hull, 
Ezra  Hull, 
James  Hull, 
Joseph  Hull, 
David  Humiston, 
Jared  Humiston,  farm- 
er,  5,    5.    light,   red 
hair;  enl.    1777,  des. 
1782. 


*  Hezekiah  Hine  and  his  seven  sons — but  not  all  living  in  Waterbury — are  said,  by  his  descendants,  to 
iiave  served  in  the  war. 

tWent  to  camp  to  nurse  his  brother  Eben,  who  had  camp-fever,  and  died  from  the  same  disease. 


464 


mSTORT  OF  WATEBBURT, 


Revolutionary  Soldiers— continued. 


Jesse  Humiston, 
Joel  Humiston, 
Timothy  Humiston, 
David    Hungerford, 

enl.   June    28;    pris- 
oner Nov.  16,   1776; 

died  Jan.  29,  1777. 
James  Hungerford, 
Jedediah  Hyde  ? 
Lieut.  Lazarus  Ives, 
Caleb  Johnson, 
Levi  Johnson, 
Samuel  Johnson  (des.) 
John  Jordan, 
AUyn  Judd, 
Balmarine  Judd, 
Brewster  Judd, 
Chandler  Judd, 
Daniel  Judd, 
Demas  Judd,  confined 

in    the    prison-ship, 

Jersey. 
Ebenezer  Judd  ? 
Freeman  Judd,  lost  a 

gun  in   the  Quebec 

expedition. 
"Immanuel  Judd, 

died  Apr.   rg,  1778." 
Joel  Judd,  d.  Apr.   5, 

1779. 
John  Judd,   farmer,  5, 

8,  dark. 
Levi  Judd, 
Richard  Judd, 
Lieut.  Samuel  Judd, 
Stephen  Judd, 
Thomas  Judd, 
Walter  Judd, 
William  Judd, 
Martin  Kellogg, 
John  J.    Kenea,  taxed 

in  1784. 


Samuel  Kimball, 
Joel  Lane, 
Nathaniel  Lane, 
Richard  Lawrence, 

tailor,  5,  9. 
C  a  p  t.   Asa     Leaven- 
worth, 

Capt.  Jesse  Leav- 
enworth, 

Mark  Leaven- 
worth, Secre- 
tary and  assist- 
ant Adjutant- 
gen,  to  Gen. 
Wooster. 

Nathan  Leaven- 
worth,  Sur- 
geon's  mate, 
8th  reg.  "Mass 
Line"  from 
Feb.,  1780,  to 
close  of  the 
war.  See  "Yale 
in  the  Revolu- 
tion, 1S88." 

Samuel  Leavenworth, 

Caleb  Lewis, 

"Clear  Lewis,"* 

David  Lewis, 

Capt.  John  Lewis, 

Capt.  John  Lewis,  Jr., 

Joseph  Lewis, 

Samuel   Lewis,  Jr., 
Northbury. 

Silas  Lewis, 

Joel  Lines, 

Isaac  Livingston, 

Joseph  Loomis? 

Josiah  Lounsbury,f 

Aaron  Luddington, 

Abraham  Ludding- 
ton ? 


J 


CO 

o 

CO 

O 

< 
pr 

r 

p 
< 

S3 
o 


Luman  Luddington. 
d.  Oct.  19,  1776. 

John  Major  (des.), 

Daniel  Mallory, 

Jonah  Mallory, 

Timothy  Mann,"  hired 
for  a  two  months' 
Tower    of   Duty," 

1779. 
Levi  Marks, 

Philip  Martin, 

Aaron  Matthews, 

Amos  Matthews, 

Jesse  Matthews, 

Capt.  Stephen  Mat- 
thews, J 

Amasa  Mattoon, 

John  Merchant, 

Thomas  Merchant,  Jr  , 

Ens.  Isaac  Merriam, 

Jesse  Merriam  (or 
Merriman). 

Joel  Merriam, 

Ichabod  Merrill, 

Nathaniel  Merrill, 

Charles  Merriman, 
Watertown  —  drum 
major. 

Moses  Michael  (Mitch- 
ell?) 

Timon  Miles, 

Z  e  b  u  1  o  n  Miller,  at 
Horseneck. 

Giles  Mingo, 

Dan  Miner, 

Joseph  Miner, 

Amos  Mix, 

Eldad  Mix, 

Levi  Mix, 

Samuel  Mix, 

Titus  Mix,  killed  Sept. 
16,  1776. 


♦Erroneously  given  as  "Caleb"  in  "  Family  Records."     No  other  record. 

^"Died  in  the  Camp  at  Boston,  Josiah  Lownsberry,  'Prentice  to  Asa  Levenworih,  February  24,  1776," 
—  Timothy  Judd's  Record. 

$  Under  date  of  Julys,  1776,  Stephen  Matthews  advertises  in  the  Connecticut  J ournaly  New  Haven: 
"  Deserted  from  my  company  in  Col.  Swift's  Battalion,  Frederick  Barents  an  Irishman,  a  thick,  well  set 
fellow,  wears  his  own  black  Hair,  is  pitted  with  the  Small  Pox,  says  he  lately  lived  near  Boston,  and  formerly 
lived  at  Hartford;  has  left  a  Wife  and  Child  in  Woodbury.  'Tis  said  he  has  since  listed  in  another  Com- 
pany." **  Five  Dollars  Reward"  is  offered  for  his  capture  and  confinement  in  Goal,  "  that  he  may  be  dealt 
with." 


WATERS UBT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION, 


465 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — continued. 


Nathaniel  Morris, 

Linus  Moss, 

Joseph  Munn,  negro. 

Benjamin  Munson, 

Elisha  Munson, 

Heman  Munson, 

Isaac  Munson, 

Samuel  Munson, 

Noah  Murray, 

Lemuel  Nichols, 

Cyrus  Norton, 

Zebal  Norton, 

Moses  Noyes, 

Abijah  Osborn, 

Ebenezer  Osborn  ? 

Elijah  Osborn, 

Joshua  Osborn, 

Lot  Osborn, 

Samuel  Palmer, 

Jonathan  Pardee, 

Aaron  Parker,  killed 
at  Horseneck. 

Eliab  Parker, 

Elijah  Parker, 

Elisha  Parker, 

Isaac  Parker, 

John  Parker,  '*  died  in 
camp." 

Ensign  Samuel 
Parker, 

Augustus  Peck, 

Benjamin  Peck, 

Isaac  Peck,  drowned 
while  in  service. 

Joseph  Peck,  died  of 
camp  fever, 

Ward  Peck, 

Capt.  Daniel  Pendle- 
ton,* 

Isaac  Pendleton, 

Jesse  Penfield,  farmer, 
5.8. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Pen- 
field, 


Lemuel  "Pete"  (Pe- 
ters, negro). 

Hezekiah  Phelps, 

Richard  Pitts,  d.  Aug. 
6, 1819. 

Gideon  Piatt, 

Biamabas  Pond, 

Bartholomew  Pond, 

Beriah  Pond, 

Ira  Pond, 

Moses  Pond, 

Munson  Pond,  killed  at 
Horseneck. 

Lieut.  Timothy  Pond, 

Lieut.  Ashbel  Porter, 

Ebenezer  Porter, 

Eldad  Porter, 

Ezra  Porter, 

Ezekiel  Porter,  at 
Horseneck. 

Ens.  James  Porter, 

Joseph  Porter, 

Maj.  Phineas  Porter, 

Capt.  Samuel  Porter, 

Truman  Porter, 

Ambrose  Potter, 

Daniel  Potter, 

Eliakim  Potter, 

Lake  Potter, 

Lemuel  Potter, 

Samuel  Potter,  d.  Nov. 

15.  1777. 
James  Power, 

Amasa  Preston, 

Hachaliah  Preston, 
missing  Sept.  15, 
1776. 

Jonathan  Preston, 

Joseph  Pribble, 

Samuel  Pribble,  bom- 
bardier, 

Amos  Prichard, 

Benjamin  Prichard, 

George  Prichard, 


George  Prichard,  Jr., 
Isaiah  Prichard, 
Lieut.  Jabez  Prichard, 

had  removed  to  Der- 

by. 
Jared  Prichard, 
Joseph  Prichard,  died 

at  Saybrook,  1777. 
Nathaniel  Prichard, 
David  Punderson, 
Nicholas  Ransom, 
Theophilus  Ransom. 
Eliatha  Rew,   resided 

here,  1 768-1 774. 
Capt.  Sam  Reynolds, 
Lieut.   Col.   Benjamin 

Richards, 
Ebenezer  Richards, 
Mark  Richards, 
Samuel  Richards, 
Abiel  Roberts,  Jr. , 
Gideon  Roberts, 
Joel  Roberts, 
Jonathan  Roberts,f 
Seth  Roberts, 
Josiah  Rogers, 
Joseph  Root, 
Samuel  Root, 
Eli  Rowley  (des.) 
Elijah  Royce, 
Capt.Nehemiah  Royce 

(sometimes  Rice). 
Phineas  Royce, 
Samuel  Royce, 
Riverius  Russell, 
Amos  Sanford, 
Archibald  Sanford, 
Lieut.  Daniel  Sanford, 
Ezekiel  Sanford, 
Joel  Sanford, 
Jonah  Sanford, 
Moses  Sanford, 
Zacheus  Sanford, 
Asa  Sawyer, 


**^  Captain  Pendleton's  Company  of  Artificers,  wholly  raised  in  Connecticut,  was  the  only  body  of  men 
from  the  State  that  served  south  of  Virginia  during  the  Revolution.''  At  least  twenty  of  its  men  were  from 
Waterbury. 

t  Lieut.  Jonathan  Robbards  died  Dec.  9,  1775,  with  a  mortification  in  his  leg,  says  **  Timothy  Judd's  re- 
cord of  deaths  in  West  bury.''    He  evidently  was  not  this  Jonathan. 

30 


466 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 


Revolution  a  ry  Soldiers^con  tin  ued. 


John  Sax  ton, 

Nathaniel  Scarrett, 

Amasa  Scott,  farmer, 
5,  lo.  light. 

Caleb  Scott, 

Ebenezer  Scott, 

Elijah  Scott, 

Enos  Scott,  d.  SepL 
29,  1778. 

Ethiel  Sc<3tt, 

Capt.  Ezekiel  Scott 
(Major?) 

Ezekiel  Scott  (private). 

Gershom  Scott,  Jr., 

Stephen  Scott, 

TJri  Scott, 

Wolsey  Scott, 

Amasa  Scovill, 

John  Scovill, 

Ens.  Samuel  Scovill, 

Selah  Scovill, 

Stephen  Sco\nll, 

Timothy  Scovill, 

John  Sea , 

Simeon  Sears, 

Jeremiah  Selkrig, 

Nathan  Seward, 

Daniel  Seymour, 

Joash  Seymour, 

Capt.  Josiah  Seymour  ? 

Capt.  Stephen  Sey- 
mour, 

Z  a  d  o  c  k     Seymour, 

"Shelton,  negro." 

Edmund  Sherman, 

Ens.  John  Slater, 

Allen  Smith, 

Anthony  Smith, 

Daniel  Smith, 

Major  David  Smith, 

Elijah  Smith, 

Isaac  Smith, 

James  Smith, 

Job  Smith, 

Joel  Smith, 

John  Smith, 

Levi  Smith, 


Lue  Smith, 

Samuel  Smith, 

Tabor  Smith, 

Patrick  Snow, 

Dr.  Daniel  Southmayd. 
was  living  m  Middle- 
town. 

William  Southmayd,* 

**  Anod  Spincer," 

Ansel  Spencer, 

Elihu  Spencer, 

Elisha  Spencer, 

Selden  Spencer, 

Elijah  Steele, 

Rev.  Andrew  Storrs, 
chaplain  loth  militia 
Reg.,  at  Fishkill, 
Oct.,  1777. 

Ens.  John  Stoddard, 

Samuel  Stow, 

Elisha  Street, 

David  Strickland, 

Capt.  Sam.  Strickland, 

Abel  Sutliff, 

John  Sutliff, 

Ichabod  Talmage, 

John  Tattenden,  Re- 
ported dead  in  1778, 
but  returned  and  re- 
ceived his  bounty 
after  that  date. 

David  Taylor, 

Theodor  Taylor, 

Amos  Terrell, 

Elihu  TerreU, 

Enoch  Terrell, 

Ichabod  Terrell, 

Isaac  Terrell, 

Israel  Terrell, 

Jared  Terrell, 

Joel  Terrell, 

Capt.  Josiah  Terrell, 

Oliver  Terrell, 

Thomas  Terrell, 

Asa  Thayer, 

Samuel  Thomas, 

James  Thompson, 


John  Thompson,  Jr., 

Stephen  Thompson, 

Elnathan  Thrasher, 

Amos  Tinker, 

John  Tinker, 

Ira  Tompkins. 

Solomon  Tompkins, 

Solomon  Trumbull, 
prisoner  at  Fort 
Washington,  died 
(1776?). 

"John  Trumbull's  ne- 
gro, "f 

WilliamTrumbull(with 
Waterbury  soldiers) 

Jesse  Turner, 

William  Turner, 

Ezekiel  Tuttle, 

Hezekiah  Tuttle, 

Jabez  Tuttle, 

Capt.  Lucius  Tuttle, 

Timothy  Tuttle, 

Abraham  Tyler, 

Benjamin  Upson, 

Ezekiel  Upson, 

Jesse  Upson, 

Noah  Upson,  farmer, 
5,  II,  fair. 

Stephen  Upson,  killed 
Sept.,  1776. 

Increase  Wade, 

Thomas  Warden, 

Lieut.  James  Warner, 

Justus  Warner, 

Capt.  Joseph  Warner, 

Martin  Warner, 

Stephen  Warner, 

Edward  Warren,  was 
at  the  surrender  of 
Comwallis. 

Solomon  Way, 

Samuel  Webb, 

Elijah  Weed? 

Jesse  Weed, 

David  Wells, 

Benjamin  Welton  ? 

Benoni  Welton, 


*  There  is  an  error  in  the  **  Family  Records"  regarding  the  date  of  his  death.     He  died  July  31,  1778. 
+  Was  it  '*  Grig,"  who  was  "  mustered  unfit  for  service,  May,  1776.*' 


WATEBBURT  IN  THE  BE  VOLUTION, 


467 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — contin ued. 


Daniel  Welton, 

David  Welton, 

Elijah  Welton, 

James  Welton, 

Job  Welton,  '*  died  in 
camp." 

Capt.  John  Welton, 

Josiah  Welton, 

Samuel  Welton,d.  May 
10,  1777,  of  camp  dis- 
temper. 

Shubael  Welton. 

Stephen  Welton, 

Stephen  Welton,  Jr., 

Thomas  Welton.  3d, 

Josiah  Wetmore, 


John  Whitney,  Water- 
town,  farmer,   5,    5, 
dark. 
Philemon  Wilcox, 
Bartholomew  Williams, 
Daniel  Williams. 
Obed  Williams, 
Reuben  Williams, 
Samuel  Williams, 
Aner  Wooding, 
Abel  Woodruff, 
Edward  Woodruff, 
Capt.  John  Woodruff, 
at  Fishkill,  i  yyS—had 
smallpox. 
Jonah  Woodruff, 


Lambert  Woodruff, 
Samuel  Woodruff, 
Abel  Woodward, 
John  Woodward, 
George      Wooldridge, 

Watertown  (des.) 
Benjamin  Wooster, 
David  Wooster, 
Hinman  Wooster, 
Moses  Wooster,   )  ^ 
Walter  Wooster,  i  B* 

/     CO 

Thomas  Worden, 
Abraham  Yelles, 

or 
Ambrous  Yellis.* 


The  following  is  all  that  remains  of  Timothy  Judd's  record  of 

-deaths  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  : 

**  died  in  the  Camp  6.  1776.     Died  in  New 

hn  Parker,  Job  Wei  Yo 

obbards,  and  John  Sea  Solomon  Trumble  & 

77  Died  in  Newtown 


from  Captivity  dur 


77  Died  in  Y 
T.  Samuel." 


When  the  chapter  on  the  French  and  Indian  war  was  prepared, 
the  autograph  record  of  deaths  in  Westbury  made  by  Timothy 
Judd,  had  not  been  seen  by  the  writer.  It  contains  the  following 
names  of  persons  who  died  "in  camp/'  or  "in  the  army:" 


July  22,  1758.  Died  in 
the  camp  at  Lake 
George,  Mr.  David 
Hungerford. 

Aug.  28,  1758.  Died  in 
the  camp  at  Lake 
George,  Samuel 
Richards. 

Sept.  4,  1758.  Died 
in  the  camp  at  Lake 
George,  Daniel  Stow. 

Sept. 5, 1759.  Died, Gid- 
eon Robards,  in  the 
army  at  Crown  Point. 


Sept.  12,  1759.  Died, 
Caleb  Thomson,  in 
the  army  at  Crown 
Point. 

Nov.  14,  1759.  Died 
in  the  camp  at  Crown 
Point,  Bartho.  Will- 
iams. 

Dec.  22,  1759.  Died, 
William  Thomson, 
at  Number  4. 

In  the  summer  1760. 
Died  in  the  camp, 
James  Andrus. 


Nov.  I,  1760.  Died 
this  side  Green  Bush 
in  his  return  from 
the  camp,  Joseph 
Blake. 

Aug.  5,  1761.  Died  at 
Crown  Point,  Serj: 
John  Strickland  with 
the  Small  Pox. 

Died  in  the  Camp  at 
Crown  Point,  No- 
vember, A.  D.  1 761, 
John  Painter,  Jun. 


It  is  with  regret  that  we  leave  this  list  of  soldiers,  and  make  no 
mention  of  the  individual  men  who  had  part  in  the  special  scenes 
that  marked  the  closing  events  of  the  war.     Men  are  included  in 


*'*Paid  Ko  Ab*  Yelles  his  first  and  second  bounty,  ^\-z\  paid  \.o  Ambrous   Yellis  his  third  and  fourth 
bounty,  i^ia."     Town  treasurer's  account  book. 


468  HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT. 

this  list,  who  crossed  the  Hudson  river  in  June,  1781,  from  West 
Point  and  marched  to  Peekskill  and  there  encamped  "on  fields  of 
corn  and  grain  and  meadow,"  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  same 
French  army  that  passed  through  Waterbury  and  tarried  to  wash 
and  bake  at  Break  Neck;  men  who  marched  from  three  o'clock  one 
morning  to  sunrise  the  next  morning  with  but  two  hours'  rest,  and 
then  were  bidden  to  advance  rapidly  to  assist  the  troops  who  had 
engaged  the  enemy  at  Kingsbridge;  who  set  off  on  the  21st  of 
August,  not  knowing  whither,  with  boats  mounted  on  carriages  and 
soldiers'  packs  carried  on  wagons  following  in  the  army's  train; 
who  marched  through  Princeton — the  one  hundred  front  windows 
of  whose  college  building  gave  light  to  no  student  within  its  walls 
— through  Trenton,  through  Philadelphia,  ''raising  a  dust  like  a 
smothering  snow  storm,"  the  soldiers  marching  in  slow  and  solemn 
step  regulated  by  drum  and  fife  in  a  line  extending  nearly  two 
miles,  the  general  oflficers  duly  mounted  on  "noble  steeds  elegantly, 
caparisoned" — the  French  army  following  the  next  day,  "in  com- 
plete uniform  of  white  broad -cloth,  faced  with  green; "  men  who  met 
on  the  Delaware  river  the  express,  with  the  news  that  a  French  fleet 
of  thirty-six  ships  of  the  line  and  three  thousand  land  forces  had 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Chesapeake  bay. 

Men  included  in  that  list  sailed  (in  some  one  of  the  eighty  ves- 
sels that  were  made  ready  at  the  head  of  Elk  river)  down  that 
river,  and  into  Chesapeake  bay,  and  heard  at  Annapolis  (that  town 
with  a  State-house,  but  no  church)  the  news  from  Connecticut,  of  New 
London's  grief  and  Fort  Griswold's  slaughter.  With  bows  plough- 
ing through  the  billows  they  sailed  in  gales  that  blew  up  the  mouth 
of  the  great  Potomac,  and  entered  James  river,  getting  as  they  went 
a  view  of  the  grand  French  fleet,  riding  at  anchor  in  Chesapeake 
bay;  said  to  be  the  most  noble  and  majestic  spectacle  ever  seen  by 
the  American  army;  they  reached  the  harbor  and  landed  at  the 
most  ancient  English  settlement  in  America  (finding  but  two 
houses  on  a  river  bank,  where  once  Jamestown  had  been);  they 
encamped  within  one  mile  of  the  redoubts  of  the  British  army,  and 
began  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

It  was  an  uneven  struggle.  Seven  thousand  Britons  shut  up  in 
a  small  village  with  its  water-way  of  fifteen  miles  completely  blocked 
by  French  ships,  and  a  force  of  nearly  twice  their  own  number  lay- 
ing siege  to  it,  commanded  by  General  Washington,  Major  General 
Lincoln,  General  Knox,  Baron  Steuben,  General  the  Count  Roch- 
ambeau,  and  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette. 

Early  morning  of  one  day  saw  redoubts  of  the  enemy  abandoned; 
early  morning  of  another  day  saw  American  redoubts  that  had  been 


WATEEBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION,  469 

thrown  up  by  night;  and  every  day,  while  cannonading  went  on 
from  the  town,  our  men  labored  in  the  trenches  and  spent  the  night 
in  creeping  nearer  the  enemy's  redoubts.  They  saw  the  York  nver 
strewn  with  horses,  for  which  Comwallis  had  no  forage;  they  met 
the  poor  negroes,  stricken  with  smallpox,  sent  out  by  Cornwallis; 
they  beheld,  when  the  batteries  were  ready  to  open  on  the  town, 
General  Washington  put  the  match  to  the  opening  gun  that  led  the 
way  for  the  five  days'  cannonading,  during  which  "  the  whole  penin- 
sula trembled  with  the  incessant  thunderings"  of  the  hundred 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance;  they  were  near  enough  to  see  the  awful 
havoc  made  on  Englishmen  who  manned  the  lines,  by  bursting 
shells;  they  had  part  in  the  bayonet  assaults  made  on  English 
redoubts,  where  Colonel  Hamilton  of  Connecticut  led  the  troops, 
and  a  Wallingford  man  (John  Mansfield),  led  the  "forlorn  hope" 
that  assaulted  the  redoubt  at  the  left  of  the  line,  while  Frenchmen 
attacked  that  at  the  right  (for  numbered  with  the  forces  were  Ward 
Peck,  and  Abel  Bachelor,  and  Edward  Warren) ;  they  watched  the 
enemy's  guns,  as  one  by  one  they  were  silenced;  they  saw  the  white 
flag  as  it  came  out  from  the  beleaguered  town;  they  formed  a  part 
of  the  right  line  of  Washington's  army  (not  very  neat,  not  all  in 
uniform),  as  it  stretched  itself  along  a  mile  of  roadway,  Washington 
at  its  head;  they  looked  across  the  roadway  at  that  other  line  of 
soldiers,  Frenchmen,  in  complete  uniform,  with  Count  Rochambeau 
at  its  head;  they  listened  to  the  music  of  the  band  (stirred  by  the 
soft  timbrel)  while  awaiting  the  advance  of  the  captive  army  of 
Cornwallis,  without  Cornwallis  at  its  head;  they  beheld  General 
O'Hara  in  his  place,  "followed  by  the  conquered  troops,  as  with 
slow  and  solemn  step,  with  shouldered  arms,  colors  cased,  and 
drums  beating  a  British  march,"  they  passed  between  the  combined 
armies  of  the  American  forces  and  the  French  troops  to  the  spa- 
cious field,  where  each  man  laid  down  his  arms;  they  looked  on, 
while,  divested  of  every  warlike  accoutrement,  the  veteran  and 
latewhile  victorious  army  of  seven  thousand,  two  hundred  and 
forty-seven  men  was  led  captive,  and  under  guard,  back  to  York- 
town. 

With  this  memorable  siege  and  surrender,  the  stirring  activities 
of  the  war  may  be  said  to  have  closed,  but  not  the  actual  and 
moving  woes  and  distresses  that  assailed  soldier  and  inhabitant 
everywhere  throughout  the  thirteen  states  while  awaiting  the 
evolution  of  the  perplexing  complications  that  arose  at  home,  and 
in  Europe,  before  peace  could  be  declared  on  a  satisfactory  basis. 
It  was  necessary  to  keep  up  the  army  through  two  weary  winters 
more,  and  to  add  recruits,  as  the  men,  from  inevitable  causes,  fell 


470  HI8T0ET  OF  WATERBUBY. 

away  from  the  ranks — this  condition  we  have  seen  exemplified  in 
the  desperate  endeavors  made  to  fill  WaterLury's  quota  in  the  later 
requisitions  made  by  Connecticut. 

It  is  with  regret  that  we  leave  this  list  of  soldiers  without  a 
record  of  acts  of  individual  heroism,  which  we  know  must  have 
taken  place  among  men — many  of  whom,  in  the  words  of  Washing- 
ton: Were  of  the  veterans  who  patiently  endured  hunger,  naked- 
ness and  cold;  who  suffered  and  bled  without  a  murmur,  and  who 
with  perfect  good  order  retired  to  their  homes  without  a  settlement 
of  their  accounts,  or  a  farthing  of  money  in  their  pockets. 

Of  the  six  hundred  and  eighty-nine  men  who  were  of  Waterbury 
and  in  the  war,  but  two,  so  far  as  known  to  the  writer,  left  upon 
record  their  individual  achievements.  The  two  men  were  Judah 
Frisbie  and  Josiah  Atkins. 

The  diary  of  Judah  Frisbie  may  be  found  in  Orcutt's  "  History  of 
Wolcott."  It  gives,  in  detail,  the  march  of  Captain  Phineas  Porter's 
Waterbury  company  to  New  York  in  1775.  The  company  met  on 
the  31st  of  May,  "and  had  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leavenworth.'^ 
It  marched  for  New  York  June  ist,  at  noon,  and  went  that  day 
thirteen  miles  "  to  the  stores  in  Derby."  Derby  (we  learn  by  this 
statement)  had  in  1775  military  stores  garnered  at  a  point  five  miles 
**  above  Derby  town,"  or,  the  "  Derby  stores  "must  have  dated  back 
to  the  French  and  Indian  war,  from  which  point,  the  second  day's 
march  was  to  Stratford.  After  a  stay  of  three  weeks  at  Fairfield, 
the  march  was  resumed.  Porter's  company  joined  its  regiment 
(General  Wooster's)  below  Greenwich,  and  Col.  Waterbury's  regi- 
ment also  being  there,  the  two  set  out  for  New  York.  Below  Rye, 
the  regiments  met  General  Washington,  "  who  passed  in  a  genteel 
manner  and  there  followed  him  a  band  of  music."  Washington, 
at  this  time,  must  have  been  on  his  way  to  take  command  of  the 
army  at  Boston,  for  this  meeting  was  June  27th,  and  he  arrived  at 
the  camp  in  Massachusetts,  July  2,  1775.  The  Waterbury  company 
"got  into  barns  in  the  Bowery,  it  being  very  stormy,"  June  28th. 
The  next  day  the  regiment  encamped  "a  little  back  of  New  York," 
where  it  remained  three  weeks.  It  was  then  ordered  to  Harlem. 
August  8th,  as  many  men  as  were  able  went  to  Long  Island  "  in 
pursuit  of  the  regulars  that  were  robbing  the  inhabitants  of  their 
cattle,  sheep,  etc.  They  were  at  Plumb  Island,  Shelter  Island  and 
at  East  Hampton,  for  three  weeks."  September  8th,  the  regiment 
received  orders  for  a  march  to  Canada.  Six  vessels  carried  the 
troops  up  the  river.  While  embarking,  a  young  man  named  Isaac 
Peck,  a  sergeant  of  Captain  Porter's  company,  was  drowned.  The 
regiment  landed  at  Albany  October  ist,  and  went  into  barracks, 


WATEBBUItT  IN  THE  BEVOLUTION.  471 

but  through  fear  of  small  pox,  removed  to  Greenbush;  October 
loth,  marched  through  Albany,  crossed  the  Mohawk  river  to  the 
Half  Moon,  thence  through  Saratoga  to  Fort  Edward  and  Lake 
George,  which  lake  was  crossed  to  Ticonderoga.  Late  in  October 
the  regiment  went  up  Lake  Champlain  to  Crown  Point,  marched 
six  miles  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  and  lodged  in  the  woods  one 
night,  the  next  night  on  an  island  forty  miles  above,  the  next  night 
in  the  woods  thirty-five  miles  further  north,  traveling  northwards 
still;  near  St.  Johns  (the  objective  point  of  the  expedition),  a  gun 
from  that  fort  wounded  one  man.  Miry  woods  next  bewildered 
the  regiment,  which  had  "heavy  pieces"  to  get  through,  but  at 
night,  by  the  help  of  "  the  French,"  the  river  "  Sorell "  was  crossed, 
and  an  encampment  arrived  at.  The  next  night,  the  regiment 
began  a  battery  within  about  sixty  rods  of  the  fort,  working  at  it 
two  days  and  three  nights,  during  which  time  a  "  considerable 
number  of  bombs,  cannon  balls  and  grape  shot"  were  fired  at  the 
builders,  but  not  a  man  was  killed  and  only  a  few  men  were  slightly 
wounded.  After  one  day's  firing  from  two  batteries,  during  which 
two  men  of  the  regfiment  were  killed  and  one  wounded,  the  fort 
capitulated,  and  three  days  later  the  regulars  marched  out  with 
their  arms,  the  artillerymen  going  out  first  with  a  field  piece,  and 
the  train  following  them.  "  They  paraded  and  laid  down  their  arms, 
our  people  taking  possession  of  them."  The  sixth  day  of  Novem- 
ber the  regiment  marched  for  Montreal.  Judah  Frisbie  remained 
at  the  "Half- Way  House,  to  take  care  of  a  sick  man,"  until  his 
company  returned  on  the  i8th  of  November,  when  the  journey  to 
the  southward  began.  They  rowed  on  the  lake  and  slept  in  the 
woods  four  days  and  nights,  when  the  ice  forced  them  "  to  leave  the 
lake  and  take  their  baggage  on  their  backs,"  in  which  plight  they 
arrived  at  Ticonderoga.  After  marching  every  day  for  fourteen 
days,  the  longest  march  in  any  one  day  being  twenty-two  miles, 
Norfolk,  Conn.,  was  reached  on  the  9th  of  December,  1775.  Captain 
Porter's  company  is,  by  the  above  diary,  made  to  givQ  an  account  of 
every  day  of  its  more  than  six  months*  absence  from  Waterbury, 
except  for  the  twelve  days  in  which  the  company  marched  to 
Montreal  and  returned  to  the  "  Half- Way  House  "  where  Frisbie 
again  joined  the  regiment. 

The  diary  of  Josiah  Atkins  should  be  left  to  make  its  own 
impression,  without  word  of  comment.  Any  town,  any  people, 
any  nation  might  hold  with  emotions  of  profound  consideration 
and  lofty  regard  the  man  who  wrote  it.  An  army  composed  of 
men  like  this  one  might  conquer  the  world  and  leave  no  foe  in  its 
pathway. 


472 


mSTOBT  OF  WATERBUBT. 


The  period  covered  by  the  diary  extends  from  the  5th  day  of 
April  to  Oct.  15th,  1781,  just  four  days  before  the  surrender  by  Lord 
Cornwallis.  Josiah  Atkins  received  from  Col.  Gimat,  at  the  Camp 
before  Yorktown,  on  Oct.  9th,  permission  to  pass  to  the  Highlands 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  His  last  words  were  written  six  days 
later.  The  following  are  extracts  from  the  diary  now  in  the  keep- 
ing of  the  "  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society." 

A  Journal  of  Josiah  Atkins,  Waterbur>%  Farmingbury  Society  in  Ye  State  of 
Connecticut,  N.  England.     Written  by  himself ,  A.  D.,  1781. 

January,  1781,  I  enlisted  in  the  Continental  service,  engaging  for  three  years. 
On  the  5th  day  of  April  following,  marched  to  join  the  army  at  the  Highlands  .  .  . 
arrived  at  the  camp  the  8th  of  sd.  month  where  I  was  joined  with  Col.  Sherman*s  reg- 
iment, in  Capt.  Benton's*  company.  Our  business  at  present  is  learning  the  military 
art.  Provisions — good  beef,  and  bread.  April  20th.  Tainted  meat,  which  continued 
to  the  28th.  In  the  meantime  our  allowance  is  shortened,  at  first  to  half,  then  to  a 
quarter,  and  sometimes  we  draw  nothing  through  the  whole  day.  May  5th,  Con- 
tinental Fast.  //  was  observed,  and  I  heard  a  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Baldwin, 
our  chaplain,  from  2  Chron.  20th,  latter  clause  of  the  15th  and  17th  verses.  It 
appeared  the  most  excellent  sermon  I  ever  heard  on  that  subject.  Plenty  of  pro- 
vision comes  again  from  Waterbury,  but  does  not  continue  long;  for  five  days,  little 
bread  and  no  meat. 

May  the  15th  I  set  out,  which  was  very  unexpected,  to  join  the  Infantry  down 
at  the  southward. 

He  was  one  "  of  a  guard  to  take  on  cloathing,  money  and  arms 
to  the  infantry."  He  was  ten  days  on  the  march  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  tarried  several  days  and  witnessed  three  men  executed  on 
Philadelphia  common  for  robbery,  and  the  pardon  of  three  more. 

They  appeared  to  be  somewhat  penitent  before  their  execution,  but  said  noth- 
ing to  the  spectators.  They  all  plead  guilty,  and  some  signed  their  own  death 
warrant.  O,  my  God!  teach  me  that  I  am  a  dying  man,  exposed  continually  to  the 
devouring  dart  of  the  King  of  terrors!  and,  if  it  be  consistent  with  thy  holy  will, 
keep  me  from  every  evil,  particularly  from  sudden  death;  but  above  all  things 
grant  that  I  may  continually  have  such  trust  and  confidence  in  Thee,  as  not  to  be 
surprised  by  death,  let  it  be  sudden  or  not,  sooner  or  later;  but,  whenever  it  shall 
come,  may  I  be  landed  safely  in  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest  and  peace.  May  27th 
we  left  Philadelphia  and  sailed  for  the  head  of  Elk. 

He  notes  every  point  of  interest  on   the  journey,   describing 
towns,  forts  and  battlefields. 

Rye  is  now  in  the  bloom  in  this  country.  The  small  pox  prevails  much  in  this 
town  [Newcastle,  where  he  landed  to  proceed  by  land].  Two  small  children  were 
inoculated  at  one  and  the  same  time,  died  at  the  same  time  and  were  buried 
together  at  the  time  we  landed,  about  ten  rods  from  the  place  we  lay.  But  thanks 
be  to  God,  I  have  not  taken  it  yet,  and  I  pray  Him  to  keep  me  from  it  till  a  conven- 
ient opportunity  to  have  it  to  advantage.  However,  may  I  have  an  htmible 
confidence  in  Him  at  all  times,  and  in  all  things. 


*  Selah  Benton  of  Stratford. 


WATERS URT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION,  473 

Passing  on  from  New  Castle  to  Christan,  the  head  of  Elk, 
Charlestown  in  Maryland,  the  Susquehannah  river  (which  "  it  took 
all  night  to  cross  with  the  men  and  wagons  ");  he  notes  the  strange 
trees  and  plants,  describing  and  contrasting  them  with  the  trees 
and  plants  of  Connecticut.  Reaching  Baltimore  on  Sunday,  June 
3d,  after  describing  the  town,  he  wrote: 

This  is  the  first  time  I  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  people  regard  the 
Sabbath  since  I  began  my  march.  How  affecting  the  consideration  that  I  am 
obliged  to  pass  by,  while  others  are  worshipping  in  the  courts  of  my  God.  This 
brings  fresh  to  my  mind  my  friends  at  home,  who  are  now  worshipping  God  in  his 
appointed  way.  And  behold  I  am  here!  How  lamentable  my  circumstances. 
Once  I  lived  in  peace  at  home,  rejoicing  in  the  divine  favour  and  smiles,  but  now  I 
am  in  the  field  of  war,  surrounded  with  circumstances  of  affliction  and  heartfelt 
disappointment.  Once  I  enjoyed  the  pleasant  company  of  many  friends,  but  now  I 
am  among  strangers  in  a  strange  land.*  Once  I  could  go  with  my  friends  to  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  but  now  I  spend  every  Sabbath  hastening  to  the  field  of  blood 
and  slaughter.  Once  I  could  take  delight  in  reading  and  hearing  the  word  of  the 
Lord  preached,  but  now  I  can  hear  little  or  nothing  besides  the  profaning  of  God's 
holy  name  and  Sabbath.  When  shall  I  again  be  suffered  to  stand  in  the  court  of 
my  Lord  and  my  God  ?  How  vastly  different  is  this  part  of  the  world  from  the 
ideas  I  used  to  have  of  it.  Instead  of  a  plain,  cleared  country  (as  I  used  to  think 
it),  I  find  it  covered  with  vast,  lonely  woods.  Sometimes  'tis  ten,  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  between  houses,  and  they  say  we  have  a  place  to  pass  that  is  thirty.  This  day 
(June  6th)  we  pass  General  Washington's  plantation,  which  is  of  large  extent. 
Some  men  in  these  parts,  they  tell  me,  own  30,000  acres  of  land  for  their  patrimony, 
and  many  have  two  or  three  hundred  negroes  to  work  on  it  as  slaves.  Alas  !  That 
persons  who  pretend  to  stand  for  the  rights  of  mankind ^  for  the  liberties  of  society,* 
can  delight  in  oppression  and  that  even  of  the  worst  kind.  Many  of  the  slaves  are 
without  clothing,  almost  without  provisions,  having  very  little  for  the  support  of 
nature.  What,  pray,  is  this  but  the  strikingly  inconsistent  character  pointed  out 
by  the  apostle:  While  they  promise  them  liberty,  they  themselves  are  the  ser- 
vants of  corruption.  But  when  I  speak  of  oppression  it  readily  brings  to  my  mind 
my  own  troubles  and  afflictions.  Am  not  I  oppressed,  as  being  obliged  to  leave  my 
own  state  of  peace  and  happiness,  friends  and  relations,  wife  and  child,  shop  and 
tools  and  customers,  against  my  mind  and  expectations,  and  come  these  hundreds 
of  miles  in  the  capacity  of  a  soldier  carrying  the  cruel  and  unwelcome  instruments  of 
war.  Alas !  My  heart  is  full !  But  I  forbid  my  pen.  Oh  !  That  I  were  as  great 
as  my  grief,  or  less  than  my  name  !  Oh  !  might  I  forget  what  I  have  been,  or  not 
remember  what  I  must  now  become  !  We  pass  his  Excellency's  house,  and  'tis  said 
we  march  ten  miles  on  his  land.  We  also  went  into  a  beautiful  church  and  saw 
his  pew.  We  came  to  Colchester  and  passed  the  ferry  where  the  river  will  let  up  a 
large  ship.  The  country  here  (and  in  Pennsylvania)  abounded  with  cotton,  growing 
on  a  small  bush,  planted  every  year  in  May,  and  ploughed  and  hoed  like  com.  The 
7th  we  pressed  a  negro  wagoner,  belonging  to  a  widow  who  had  900  slaves.  And, 
what  is  remarkable,  she,  according  to  this  negro,  keeps  them  all  victualed  and 
clothed.  This  I  think  worthy  to  be  noted.  The  8th  we  continued  our  march  in  a 
great  wdlderness  and  dined  on  the  ground.     We  expect  soon  to  join  the  Marquis, 

*  A  note  in  the  journal  adds:  The  inhabitants  chiefly  unfriendly. 


474 


HISTORY  OF  WATBBBUBT. 


who  is  pursuing  the  enemy.  The  9th  we  lodged  on  the  ground  the  Marquis 
marched  from  yesterday,  and  which  Gen.  Wayne  left  to-day  noon.  We  are  all  in 
pursuit  after  the  British  enemy. 

The  loth  we  came  up  with  the  baggage  belonging  to  the  Marquis.  This  is  a 
long  and  tedious  road,  thro'  a  wilderness  where  no  water  is  to  allay  our  parching 
thirst.  But  there  is  a  greater  drought  with  respect  to  hearing  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
Is  not  this  the  Holy  Sabbath?  But  where  am  I,  and  what  am  I  about?  O  Lord, 
forgive  my  sins,  for  though  I  am  here,  yet  my  heart  is  at  home  with  thy  worshipping 
people.  We  still  direct  our  course  through  this  lonesome  desert.  We  marched  not 
far  from  fifty  miles  without  finding  above  one  or  two  houses  and  as  little  water, 
finding  none  unless  in  swamps  or  mud  holes.  At  night  we  passed  Gen.  Wayne  and 
joined  the  infantry  at  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  nth,  after  a  long  and  tedious 
march  of  more  than  six  hundred  miles,  which  cost  us  near  a  month's  time,  together 
with  much  fatigue  and  great  hardships.  Gen.  Wayne  joined  soon  after,  and  the 
militia  are  coming  on.  We  march  at  2  o'clock  and  expect  to  come  up  with  the 
enemy  in  a  day  or  two.  Our  infantry  this  day  (except  those  who  came  with  me) 
had  dealt  out  to  them,  one  Holland  shirt,  one  lining  one,  one  frock  and  two  pair  of 
overalls.  At  revelle-beating  we  marched  off  the  ground  and  passed  along  a  solitary 
desert  where  we  were  in  great  strait  for  drink  (houses  being  as  seldom  as  colleges 
in  Connecticut,  and  wells  as  scarce  as  virtuous  pools).*  This  day  we  had  one 
month's  pay  in  hard  money.  ...  At  the  rising  of  the  sun  on  the  14th  we  marched 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  before  we  halted,  and,  though  the  last  night  was  so  severely 
cold  that  we  could  not  lie  warm  with  all  the  clothes  we  had,  yet,  after  the  sun  rose 
the  heat  increased  to  that  degree,  together  with  the  dust  and  want  of  water,  as  to 
render  the  air  almost  suffocating  .  .  .  for  we  found  not  a  drop  of  water  all  the 
way.  We  came  near  famishing  all.  Some  fainted,  while  others  dropped  with 
weary  legs  by  the  way,  and  this  was  only  a  forenoon's  march.      What  may  we  not 

expect  in  the  afternoon  and  what  must  be  our  fate  through  the  summer 

The  15th  we  lay,  'tis  said  within  four  miles  of  the  enemy,  who  retreated  all  the 
night  and  got  some  start  of  us.  The  next  day  we  began  our  route  at  break  of  day 
and  continued  it  till  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and  then  encamped  in  the  woods 
about  fifty  miles  from  Richmond. 

This  morning  we  had  our  General's  [Wayne]  applause  for  our  fortitude  to  bear 
hardships  with  patience  —  meat  being  out  and  our  bread  but  poor.  It  is  made 
chiefly  of  coarse  Indian  meal,  which  we  wet  and  bake  on  barks,  on  stones.  How- 
ever, we  not  being  used  to  such  bread,  nor  such  a  country,  the  day  being  intensely 
hot,  and  the  night  as  cold  (we  having  no  tents  to  cover  us),  our  march  long,  water 
unwholesome  and  rum  not  very  plenty,  and  the  great  and  unexpected  distance 
from  home — all  these  together  make  my  trials  almost  insupportable.  Among  the 
many  insects  that  trouble  us,  wood-ticks  are  not  the  least,  for  they  are  exceeding 
many  and  exceeding  troublesome.  There  is  also  a  most  venomous  spider,  and  a 
small  creature  that  afflicts  us  far  worse  than  wood-ticks.  Yea,  though  they  are  the 
smallest  living  things  I  ever  saw  (I  think  they  would  hardly  be  discerned  were  it 
not  for  their  colour,  which  is  scarlet  red),  they  go  through  one's  clothes,  creep  into 
the  pores  of  the  Skin,  where  they  cause  it  to  swell  to  the  degree  of  a  bee  sting  and 
are  exceeding  itching  and  smarting,  and  sometimes  dangerous.  They  have  a  shell 
like  a  tortoise.  The  inhabitants  call  them  Gigars,  and  they  comparatively  are  as 
thick  as  the  dust  of  the  earth. 

The  enemy  are  now  in  Richmond.  The  17th,  marched  fifteen  or  twenty  miles. 
O  Lord  God  our  fatigue  and  troubles  are  so  great  that  one  can  scarcely  attend 

♦See  Agur  Mallory. 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION.  475 

even  so  much  as  to  think  on  thy  Holy  Day!    Yea,  we  can  scarcely  attend  to  our 
necessary  food.    But  may  we  sooner  forget  what  to  eat  than  the  Sabbath  of  the 

Lord There  was  a  duel  fought  this  day  between  a  militia  officer  and 

Lieut.  Wheaton  of  the  Connecticut  line,  in  which  encounter  the  latter  was  killed, 
or  at  least  mortally  wounded.  He  was  our  brigade  quarter-master,  or  wagon- 
master  general.  The  i8th  we  lay  still;  sent  out  scouts,  and  took  some  pris- 
oners belonging  to  Tarlton's  light-horse.  When  we  went  after  Tarlton's  light- 
horse,  we  went  without  our  pieces  being  loaded  and  with  our  flints  taken  out,  that 
no  one  might  fire  a  gun.  General  Wayne,  whom  they  call  "Mad  Anthony"  and 
'*  Sword-in-hand,"  intended  to  have  put  them  all  to  the  bayonet.  About  dusk,  the 
Marquis  stole  a  march  on  the  enemy,  but  without  success.  [The  next  night  was 
spent  in  marching,  by  which  the  enemy's  camp  was  reached  at  sunrise,  but  the 
troops  were  fled,  **  perhaps  well  for  them."  Days  of  marching  (the  march  beginning 
at  I  o'clock  in  the  morning),  and  retreating;  to  and  past  Richmond — where  were 
large  stores  of  various  kinds,  much  private  property,  and  many  thousand  hogsheads 
of  tobacco— followed;  *•  the  troops  seldom  catching  more  than  two  hours  sleep 
in  twenty-four,"  not  taking  time  for  food,  and  exposed  daily  to  small  pox.  He 
writes:  on  June  23:]  I  must  shut  my  book  for  the  present.  The  drum  beats  for 
parading.  The  news,  the  enemy  are  upon  us!  On  this,  we  formed  a  solid  column 
in  order  to  receive  their  horse,  which  were  approaching  with  their  infantry,  whom 
they  preceded.  They  came  in  sight,  but  durst  not  give  us  battle.  They  retreated 
precipitately,  by  which  we  soon  understood  they  w^ere  a  rear  guard,  sent  back  to 
cause  us  to  make  a  halt,  that  our  foes  might  slip  away  with  their  main  body  and 
baggage.  Here  I  must  take  notice  of  some  villany.  Within  these  days  past  I  have 
marched  by  18  or  20  negroes  that  lay  dead  by  the  wayside,  putrifying  with  the 
small  pox.  How  such  a  thing  came  about,  appears  to  be  thus:  The  negroes  here 
being  much  disaffected  (arising  from  their  harsh  treatment),  flocked  in  great  num- 
bers to  Comwallis.  This  artful  general  takes  a  number  of  them  (several  hundreds) 
inoculates  them,  and  just  as  they  are  growing  sick,  he  sends  them  out  into  the 
country  where  our  people  had  to  pass  and  repass.  These  poor  creatures,  having 
no  care  taken  of  them,  many  crawled  into  the  bushes  about  and  died.  This  is  a 
piece  of  Cornwallisean  cruelty.  He  is  not  backward  to  own  that  he  has  inoculated 
4  or  500  in  order  to  spread  the  small  pox  through  the  country,  and  sent  them  out  for 
that  purpose,  which  is  another  piece  of  his  conduct  that  wants  a  name.  But  there 
is  a  King  far  above  the  British  King,  and  a  Lord  superior  to  their  lords.  .  .  . 
[Executions  for  desertion,  marching,  alarms  and  an  account  of  the  harvests  follow, 
and  then  an  enumeration  of  the  opposing  forces.  The  British  army,  according  to 
accounts,  was  about  5,000.  The  American  army  he  estimates,  by  supposition,  to 
be  2,500  regulars,  300  volunteer  light  horse,  300  rifles  on  horseback,  300  foot, 
besides  3  or  4,000  militia.  The  20th,  a  skirmish  ensued;  the  killed  on  the  enemy's 
side  amounted  it  was  said,  to  200.  They  were  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  main  body. 
.  .  .  .  On  the  6th  of  July  they  came  unexpectedly  upon  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy  all  paraded  in  a  line  of  battle.  The  inhabitants  had  declared  that  there 
was  no  enemy  within  six  miles.]  He  writes:  Our  officers  and  soldiers,  like  brave 
heroes,  began  the  attack  *  with,  at  first,  but  a  handful  of  men.  The  contest  began 
at  five  and  lasted  until  dark.  The  riflemen,  some  of  them,  'tis  said,  stayed  and 
scirmished  with  the  enemy  in  the  woods  all  night,  so  that  they  have  not  found  time 
nor  opportunity  to  pick  up  their  dead.  Our  party  consisted  only  of  the  brigade  of 
infantry  and  one  brigade  of  Pennsylvanians  (and  these  not  more  than  half  of  them 

*The  battle  of  Green  Spring. 


476  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 

engaged)  and  a  few  riflemen.  The  enemy  were  more  than  six  times  our  number. 
Our  loss  of  men  cannot  yet  be  ascertained.  The  enemy  gained  the  ground,  but 
have  no  cause  to  glory — their  dead  from  all  appearances  being  many.  We  retired 
five  miles  that  night  to  rest  and  get  some  refreshments  of  which  we  stood  in  much 
need.  [The  action  began  at  the  moment  the  infantry  had  halted  to  take  food 
after  a  long  march]  having  had  neither  victuals,  rum,  nor  water,  and  all  we  then 
had  was  one  gill  of  vinegar  to  4  men.  How  great  was  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  in  our 
deliverance!  The  like  was  hardly  ever  heard  of  !  Six  hundred  men  have  attacked 
and  stood  the  fire,  sword,  and  bayonet  of  the  force  of  an  army  of  5,000,  yea,  of  the 
whole  army  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  Where  we  were  often  broke,  often  formed; 
several  times  almost  surrounded;  and  yet  all  (as  I  may  say  in  comparison  of  what 
might  have  been  expected)  came  oflE  again  in  heart!  Wonderful  Providence!  Our 
general,  the  Marquis  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  yet  he  is  not  daunted.  He  is 
collecting  his  army  and  designs  to  have  another  action  immediately  if  the  enemy 
will.  O  Lord,  impress  my  heart  with  a  grateful  sence  of  thy  goodness  in  preserving 
me,  my  life  and  health.  While  so  many  of  my  acquaintances,  have  since  the  last 
Sabbath,  been  numbered  with  the  vast  congregation  of  the  dead.  O  Lord,  my 
God,  I  acknowledge,  that  though  thousands  should  fall  at  my  side,  and  ten 
thousand  at  my  right  hand,  yet  thou  canst  protect  me  ....  in  the  night  of 
the  arrows  of  death.  Thou  Lord  directest  every  ball,  that  none  can  wound  unless 
by  thy  permission. 

I  cannot  forget  this  memorable  action  !  So  few  as  a  1000  men  should  attack  the 
whole  British  force  and  lose  no  more,  even  when  we  were  several  times  cut  off  and 
scattered  to  and  fro.  The  fatigues  of  the  day  I  cant  describe,  and  being  weary 
before  we  began  !  Our  general  gave  us  great  applause.  He  assured  us  that  he 
himself  was  eye-witness  to  our  two  regiments  attacking  the  whole  army  with  spirit. 
Immediately  after  this  action,  Cornwallis  crossed  the  river  and  embarked  on  board 
his  shipping  with  the  greatest  precipitation,  leaving  a  large  number  of  beeves  half- 
dressed. 

[The  journal  next  relates — after  marches  and  a  day's  rest — a  description  of  a 
complete  gig-mill,  **  having  two  wheels  and  two  pair  of  stones,"  accompanied  by  a 
**  Draft  of  the  above  described  gig-mill  wheel."  This  is  followed  by  an  account  of 
the  bite  of  a  venomous  spider  on  the  shoulder  of  a  man,  for  whom  the  doctor  could 
do  nothing,  "the  victim  continually  rolling  over  and  screaming  out  horribly." 
Atkins  relieved  him  by  '*  opening  a  vein  "  and  "feeding  him  freely  with  salt  and 
water,  so  that  he  felt  some  immediate  ease  and  in  2  or  three  hours  was  comfortable." 
A  few  days  later  he  wrote  :] 

I  am  at  present  among  the  invalids  and  unfit  for  duty,  but  Providence  has  so 
ordered  it  as  to  make  me  instrumental  of  some  good  to  my  country,  at  least  to  my 
fellow  soldiers;  which  is,  by  letting  blood  and  drawing  teeth.  This  last  I  practice 
very  much,  there  being  not  another  tooth-drawer  in  the  whole  army,  and  the  other 
considerably — because  few  doctors  have  tools  to  let  blood.     .     .     . 

July  15th.  Marched  15  miles  to  James  river,  the  other  side  of  which  the  enemy 
are  landing  down  below  us.  Our  men  begin  to  sicken  already:  what  then,  alas  ! 
shall  we  see  when  dogdays  come  on?  Next  month  is  the  season  for  the  fever  and 
ague.  The  17th  we  lay  still  and  cleaned  our  arms  and  clothes.  The  i8th  three  men 
were  drowned  in  James  river,  swimming.  .  .  .  21st.  At  ten  o'clock  we  received 
intelligence  of  four  gun  boats  coming  up  the  river — supposed  to  be  in  order  to  catch 
our  general — the  Marquis,  who  quartered  near  the  river.  On  this,  about  500  of  us 
pressed  forward  with  two  field  pieces  to  scare  them  back  again.  We  marched  8 
miles  and  came  upon  them.     Our  engineer  directed  his  shot  so  well  as  to  strike 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION, 


477 


through  the  hull  and  cut  away  the  foremast  of  one  of  the  boats.  The  second  shot 
took  the  rudder,  and  what  our  other  28  shot  must  have  done,  it  appears  must  have 
been  considerable.  They  immediately  towed  down  the  river.  We  foUow^ed  them  4 
miles  but  could  get  no  more  shot  at  them.  We  retired  and  came  to  camp  that  even- 
ing, having  traveled  24  miles. 

[The  22d  was  Sunday.  The  recurrence  of  that  day  throughout  the  journal  bears 
witness  to  Josiah  Atkins's  firm  faith  and  devout  spirit,  and  evinces  a  remarkable  and 
genuinely  cordial  love  for  the  day  and  its  observances.]  This  day,  at  court  martial, 
2  corporals  were  tried  and  broke;  5  men  sentenced  to  receive  100  lashes  apiece,  and 
one  *]ofor  being  absent  at  roll- call.  Three  received  their  punishment.  The  others 
are  suspended  till  to-morrow— /^r^  not  being  time :  There  have  been  six  others 
punished  within  5  days  past.  [Is  it  surprising  that  it  was  difl&cult  to  persuade  men 
to  enlist  ?] 

23d.  Last  night  was  so  excessively  cold,  that  I  think  I  scarcely  ever  suffered  so 
much  with  it  in  one  night  in  my  life.  This  day,  I  went  to  the  hospital  to  recover  my 
health. 

25th.  A  man  was  executed  this  day  in  our  regiment  for  breaking  up  a  house, 
and  robbing  it. 

26th.  Thunder  and  rain  for  these  many  days.  Some  are  very  sick  in  the  hos- 
pital.   The  number  increases  both  here  and  in  camp.     .     .     . 

29th.  This  is  the  first  day  of  the  week:  But  alas  !  where  is  the  Sabbath  ?  Is 
there  any  in  Virginia?  Is  there  any  in  the  13  States  of  America?  True,  in  New 
England  they  pretend  to  keep  it.  But  do  even  they  keep  it  as  they  ought  ?  Do  they 
call  it  a  delight  ?  The  holy  of  the  Lord,  honorable  ?  Truly,  is  it  not  to  hQ  feared, 
that  for  the  most  part  this  is  only  a  bare  pretence  ?  The  fear  of  pimishment  is  the 
real  motive.    .     .     . 

31st,  One  of  our  regiments  has  crossed  the  river.  I  am  yet  in  the  flying  hos- 
pital, which  is  very  disagreeable.  We  marched  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.  and  encamped  2 
miles  out  of  Richmond. 

Aug.  3d.  We  marched  through  Richmond  (where  the  small  pox  is  very  plenty) 
and  encamped  6  miles  above.  Here  we  buried  one  of  our  number,  who  died  this 
day  on  the  road,  in  the  hospital  waggon.  We  buried  him  in  a  wood.  He  was  aged 
23  years.  His  name,  Rufus  Robins,  and  unmarried;  his  parents  live  in  Lyme  in 
Connecticut.  He  died  of  camp  distemper.  .  .  . 
The  5th.  This  morning  sun  has  blest  the  earth. 

It  hath  unsealed  my  eyes  : 
This  is  the  day  of  joy  and  mirth 
That  saw  our  Saviour  rise. 

[After  a  second  stanza,  the  day's  march  of  8  miles  began.  At  evening,  he  added 
three  more  stanzas.]  Gen.  Wayne  is  on  his  march  to  join  the  marquis;  the  enemy, 
'tis  said,  are  blocked  up  in  the  Bay  and  cant  get  out,  though  they  have  made  sev- 
eral attempts. 

The  6th.     It  is  reported  that  the  enemy  is  landing  down  against  York. 

The  7th.  We  lay  still  in  a  garden,  where  I  saw  some  rarities — viz.:  bean  trees, 
fig  trees  and  the  like. 

The  8th.  Our  troops  marched  down  towards  York;  the  sick  towards  Hanover 
and  I  among  the  sick. 

The  loth.  We  have  a  convenient  house  for  a  hospital  ....  We  have  a  supply 
of  some  fruit,  as  green  corn,  apples,  pears,  peaches  and  watermelons,  by  the 
negroes;  but,  at  a  dear  rate.  Apples,  pears,  and  peaches  cost  one  dollar  apiece 
(Continental  currency),  and  watermelons  30  dollars 


478  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT. 

The  1 8th.     General  Wayne  lyeth  at  Newcastle,  our  troops  at and  the 

enemy  at  York 

23d.  This  day  I  have  been  sent  for  two  ways.  A  man  sent  and  desired  to  hire 
me,  in  order  to  instruct  him  how  to  make  files,  gimblets,  knives  and  forks,  etc.  and 
the  doctor  sent  for  me  to  come  and  live  with  him,  in  order  to  assist  him  in  his 
hurry  of  business,  dealing  out  medicines,  dressing  wounds,  etc.  [Daily  arrivals 
from  the  army  were  taking  place  at  the  hospital  *' three  waggon  loads"  having 
arrived  from  the  brigade  the  day  before,]  I  am  at  a  loss  which  will  be  the  most 
profitable  invitation  to  me.  It  must  be  the  former,  I  being  best  acquainted  with 
that  work,  but  the  doctor  is  so  importunate,  that  I  promised  him  to  come  to- mor- 
row, if  I  should  be  no  worse. 

24th.  I  came  to  the  doctor's  assistance  and  as  far  as  I  knew,  gave  him  satisfac- 
tion. I  have  such  thirst  for  medical  knowledge,  that  were  I  capable  of  the  business 
in  which  I  am  now  engaged,  I  should  be  content  without  prospect  of  wages. 

27th.     The  number  of  our  sick  increases. 

28th.     We  have  some  of  whose  life  we  despair. 

29th.     We  are  out  of  hospital  stores  suitable  for  the  sick,  in  particular,  medicines. 

30th.     We  expect,  and  are  continually  waiting  for  the  medicines  to  come. 

31st.  [He  was  called  up  to  see  Henry  Evans,  thought  to  be  dying.  The  next 
day,  Pendleton  of  Penn.  died.  *•  They  buried  him  in  a  coffin,  which  was  purchased 
with  one  of  his  shirts."  His  descriptions  of  thunder  storms,  in  one  of  which  he  and 
others  received  a  shock,  are  vivid.  Occasionally,  a  man  died  *•  out  of  the  hospital " 
whose  name  is  not  given  and  the  "sick"  were  constantly  increasing,  which  ren- 
dered his  business  truly  fatiguing.  We  cannot  omit  the  following:]  In  the  morn- 
ing I  rise  at  daylight  and  go  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  wash;  then  comb  my  hair; 
and  then  I  recommend  myself  to  God.  After  this  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  sit 
down  to  dealing  out  and  putting  up  medicines  for  all  the  sick;  where  I  continue  till 
8  o'clock,  which  is  breakfast  time:  Which  done,  I  visit  the  hospitals  with  the  doc- 
tor, which  takes  us  till  10  o'clock.  From  that  time  till  dinner,  I  spend  among  the 
medicines:  Dinner  over,  I  have  to  carry  the  medicines  to  all  the  men  in  each  hos- 
pital— one,  is  half  a  mile  distant,  with  8  rooms  in  it.  From  this  I  come  directly 
back  and  visit  7  or  8  houses  more,  some  5,  some  7  rooms,  where  I  deal  to  every  man 
his  particular  portion.  Some  will  have  8,  some  6,  and  generally  they  have  4  in  a  day 
— which,  multiplied  by  300  (there  being  so  many,  or  more  sick)  will  amount  to  a  great 
many  [portions].  Besides,  I  have  to  give  particular  directions  to  every  one  (and 
sometimes  2  or  3  times  over,  by  reason  of  their  stupidity)  how  and  when  to  take 
them,  lest  they  should  do  wrong,  and  the  medicine  lose  its  effect.  All  this, 
together  with  the  feelings  nature  has  given  me  for  the  sick  and  wounded,,  give  me 
very  great  care,  trouble,  fatigue  and  anxiety  of  mind;  with  which,  I  return  home, 
the  day  being  spent,  take  a  little  supper,  enter  my  chamber,  close  the  door,  and 
after  recommending  myself  and  them  to  God,  and  my  friends  and  all  to  his  care 
<my  thoughts  being  in  a  great  measure  composed),  I  take  my  rest. 

*•  Then  with  my  tho'ts  composed  to  peace 

I  give  mine  eyes  to  sleep; 
Thy  hand  in  safety  keeps  my  days, 
And  will  my  slumbers  keep." 

— D.  W\ 

Sept.  4th.  Last  Sabbath  the  news  came  that  the  French  had  landed  a  number 
of  troops,  and  this  day  we  hear  our  men  are  gone  to  join  them.  I  hope  we  shall 
not  lose  all  this  fatigueing  summer  yet.  But  gracious  God,  spare  the  blood  !  No 
more  wounds,  nor  sudden  deaths,  if  it  consist  with  thy  blessed  will !      But  I  can 


WATERBUBT  IN  TEE  BEVOLUTION, 


479 


sing  of  mercies  as  well  as  judgement:  Yea,  the  Lord  is  my  song.  Providence 
has  called  me  from  home,  ....  into  this  distant  land,  where  is  no  man  I 
ever  knew  or  saw  before  (save  one),  yet  he  hath  given  me  friends.  I  am  eyed  with 
friendly  notice,  while  other  recruits  as  good  (perhaps  much  better),  are  treated  as 
strangers.  How  comes  this  about  ?  From  whom  comes  preferment  ?  And  whence 
the  favors  I  now  enjoy?  ....  Who  would  have  thought  that  I  should  be 
chosen  to  that  business  I  am  unacquainted  with  ....  while  others  are 
neglected,  who  by  long  practice  and  experience  have  proved  themselves   skillful 

in  it My    business    is    fatigueing   but  far  easier  for  me  than  the 

disaffected  camp,  and  the  loathsome  instruments  of  war.  I  have  as  good  provisions 
as  I  could  wish,  cooked  ready  to  my  desire.  I  have  as  beautiful  chamber  as  any  in 
Virginia  to  myself,  and  can  retire  when  I  please  from  the  notice  of  any  one  but 
God.  Add  to  this  a  good  state  of  health  and  I  am  as  happy  as  it  is  possible  for 
Virginia  to  make  me.  Yea,  since  my  coming  here,  I  have  almost  forgot  my  native 
home.  O  Lord,  fill  my  heart  with  a  sense  of  thy  goodness  ....  and  when  I 
enter  my  room,  whether  joyful  or  pensive,  may  this  strike  a  divine  calm  on  my 
soul — that  I  have  no  continuing  city  here  ....  and  may  this  turn  my 
thoughts  on  seeking  another  and  better,  even  an  heavenly  one,  whose  builder  and 
maker  is  God. 

The  5th  (September)  we  have  much  news  stirring  and  if  all  be  true,  we  shall 
soon  have  a  large  army  in  this  quarter.  His  Excellency,  'tis  said,  is  on  his  way  to 
join  us.  [Here  follow  matters  of  special  hospital  interest,  deaths,  the  illness  of 
the  "doctor,"  whereby  all  the  care  of  the  patients  fell  upon  Atkins  ;  which  together 
with  the  sudden  changes  from  heat  to  cold,  with  wet,  foggy  weather,  affected  his 
own  health.     Terrible  storms  with  thunder  and  lightning  arose,]  filling  the  minds 

of     all     with    almost     unsupportable    horror the     airy      heavens 

rending  o*er  our  heads  with  tremendous,  awful  claps  of  thunder,  that  seemed  to 
echo  from  pole  to  pole  !  and  the  earth  under  our  feet  appeared  all  glowing  with 
electrical  flames. 

The  13th.  Last  Saturday  the  2d  division  of  French  troops  joined  our  army  with 
5,000  men,  and  his  Excellency,  Gen.  Washington,  is  to  join  in  a  few  days,  and  the 
report  is  that  10,000  militia  are  to  be  in  readiness  to  take  the  field  immediately.* 

[The  17th  Josiah  Atkins  was  taken  ill  with  a  violent  pain  in  his  head.  The  19th 
he  wrote:]  My  headache  increases  and  medicine  cannot  remove  it  till  God  put  to 
his  hand.  It  continued  till  the  27th,  all  which  time  I  got  little  nourishment  and  no 
sleep,  but  what  I  obtained  by  the  help  of  anodyne  pills 

October  the  ist.     I  continue  better,  though  full  of  pain. 

The  2d.  This  day  I  made  application  for  a  pass  to  return  to  the  northward. 
But  I  find  that  I  cannot  obtain  it  without  going  120  miles  right  from  home,  and 
then  'tis  uncertain  whether  I  obtain  one  or  not — which  is  enough  to  discourage  one, 
being  sick  and  lame.     But  I  leave  the  affair  with  God  my  disposer. 

The  3d.     To-day  I  concluded  to  journey  to  the  regiment  [for  his  pass]. 

The  4th.    This  day  I  obtained  my  recommend  from  the  doctor,  about  10  o'clock. 

Hanover,  4th  October,  1781. 

Josiah  Atkins,  of  Capt.  Douglas's  company  in  Col.  Gimat's  regiment  laboring 
under  a  confirmed  rheumatism^  which  will  render  him  unfit  for  any  further  duty 
in  the  field  this  campaign,  is  hereby  recommended  for  leave  to  retire  into  the 
country  for  the  recovery  of  his  health.  John  Simpson.  Surgeon. 


*On  the  X5th  Josiah  Atkins's  son,  Josiah,  was  born  in  Waterbury.     He  died  at  the  age  of  x8  years. 


48o  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT, 

About  12  I  set  off,  feeble  and  faint  hearted ;  but  I  hope  God  will  go  with  me. 
Travelled  lo  miles. 

The  5th.  Was  overtaken  by  a  waggoner  from  Southington  (one  Thorp),  and  his 
waggon  being  chiefly  empty,  he  was  pleased  to  let  me  ride.  We  came  as  far  as  N. 
Kent  court  house  where  we  put  up.     This  is  about  20  miles  from  N.  Castle. 

The  6th.  This  is  the  Lord's  day.  It  is  something  stormy,  but  we  expect  to 
reach  Williamsburg,  which  is  15  or  16  miles.  I  concluded  to  tarry  here  over  the 
Sabbath,  (though  we  came  about  noon)  in  hopes  that  there  was  some  meeting  house 
in  this  place.  But  I  was  disappointed:  and  standing  about  in  the  cold  (there  being 
no  fire  for  soldiers),  I  took  the  fever  and  ague  to  my  great  sorrow. 

The  8  th.  I  set  out  on  foot  for  the  camp.  I  reached  it  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon.     Had  a  fit  of  the  ague. 

The  9th.  Completed  my  business  *  by  lo  o'clock,  and  set  off  for  Williamsburg, 
where  I  arrived  before  night — 12  miles.     Lodged  in  the  flying  Hospital. 

The  loth.  I  left  Williamsburg  and  continued  my  march  till  the  12th  at  night, 
when  I  reached  the  hospital  very  weak  and  low — having  the  ague  and  fever  every 
day. 

The  13th.  I  thank  thee,  O  Lord  for  the  prospect,  and  wilt  thou  hasten  the  time 
when  I  shall  again  stand  in  the  assembly  of  thy  people.  Though  thy  Sabbaths  are 
forgotten  almost  everywhere,  yet  I  have  reason  to  hope  that  'tis  not  entirely  neg- 
lected in  my  native  State. 

Oct.  the  15th.  I  recruit  but  very  slow;  my  ague  and  fever  is  very  severe  on  me 
at  present. 

The  diary  of  Josiah  Atkins  contains  on  its  opening  page  the  fol- 
lowing pathetic  entreaty.  It  is  without  date,  but  was  probably 
written  in  July,  or  August,  1781. 

My  Dear  Friends  and  Fellow  Soldiers: — As  we  are  engaged  in  a  bloody 
war,  the  fate  of  which  is  uncertain;  as  we  are  drawing  near  the  enemy  and  can 
expect  nothing  but  fighting;  as  in  any  action  some  may  fall;  and  as  my  life  is  as 
uncertain  as  any  others;  so  should  it  be  my  fate  to  drop  and  yours  to  survive,  you 
may  chance  to  light  on  this  book  and  its  contents,  with  the  other  things  I  may  hap- 
pen to  have  about  me,  which  'tis  probable  will  be  a  watch,  a  pair  of  silver  shoe 
buckleSy  knee  buckles,  stock  buckle,  brooch,  stone  sleeve-buttons,  and  perhaps 
some  money.  These,  I  will  freely  give  you.  Yea,  I  bid  you  welcome  to  them  on 
your  [en]  gaging  to  grant  me  this  request.  To  use  best  your  utmost  endeavor  to 
send  this  book  with  its  contents  to  my  dear  wife,  whom  [I]  have  left  at  home  to 
mourn  my  misfortune.  Should  this  fall  into  the  hands  of  our  [enemies]  I  have  no 
expectation  of  its  ever  reaching  [her].  But  should  any  of  you,  my  friends  and  fel- 
low soldiers,  take  this,  I  expect,  I  request.  Yea  I  [have]  reason  to  exact  it  at  your 
hands.  You  may  think  this  of  small  importance:  However,  You  must  suppose 
that  it  will  be  satisfactory  to  her  (on  whose  account  it  was  written)  to  hear  my  fate, 
You  may  think  the  matter  is  difficult;  but  I  assure  you  'tis  not.     If  you  convey  it  to 


*■  Josiah  Atkins  being  rendered  unfit  (by  sickness)  for  service  in  the  light  infantry — Has  permission  to 
pass  from  this  to  the  Highlands  in  the  State  of  New  York  to  rejoin  the  regiment  to  which  he  belongs. 

J.  GIMAT,  Li.  Co/.  Commandant, 
Camp  before  York,  8th  Oct.,  1781. 

The  commissaries  of  the  respective  Posts  are  requested  to  furnbh  the  above  Soldier  with  provision  as 
it  shall  become  due.  J.  GIMAT,  Lt.  Col,  Commandant, 

Camp  before  York,  8th  Oct.,  1781. 
This  was  the  day  the  American  forces  began  the  firing  on  Yorktown. 


WATEBBUBT  m  THE  BEVOLUTION,  481 

any  of  the  infantry  belonging  to  Waterbury  in  Connecticut  (my  wife  and  friends 
living  in  that  town),  or  to  any  who  belong  to  Woodbury  or  Watertown  or  any  of  the 
towns  adjacent,  it  will  hardly  fail  to  readi  my  house,  Josiah  Atkins  in  .Waterbury, 
or  in  the  Society  of  Farmingbury.  Give  them  some  ot  your  bounty  to  induce  them 
to  be  faithful  in  discharging  their  trust  in  delivering  this  to  my  wife.  This  is  a 
thing  I  so  anxiously  desire,  that  if  you  do  not  use  your  utmost  endeavor  for  this 
purpose,  I  cannot  forgive  you,  neither  will  God  (unless  by  bitter  repentance — but 
the  things  you  have  taken  will  rise  in  Judgment  against  you).  Thus  I  entreat  you 
by  these  powerful  inducements,  and  I  could  use  many  more — but  relying  on  your 
goodness,  generosity  and  benevolence,  I  shall  add  no  more;  assuring  you,  I  ever 
was  while  in  life,  the  friend  and  well-wisher  of  all  the  soldiers. 

JOSIAH  ATKINS. 

P.  S.  Shotdd  this  fall  into  the  hands  of  any  other  person  than  a  soldier,  I  do 
request  and  expect  the  same  kind  treatment  at  their  hands,  and  though  I  nor  mine 
should  not  be  able  to  reward  you,  yet  God  will. 

The  journal  also  contains  a  number  of  letters,  addressed  to 
his  wife,  in  one  of  which  he  makes  the  following  reference  to  his 
journal:  *'I  cannot  say  a  perfect  one,  as  some  things  were  left 
out  through  mistake,  and  many  more  on  purpose,  because  I  thought 
they  would  afflict  you  more  than  comfort — they  being  afflicting  to 
me."  He  also  makes  allusion  to  his  "full  disappointment  of  the 
business  that  induced  him  to  enlist  in  the  army  (which  alone  could 
give  him  content  in  the  service);"  refers  to  his  little  daughter  as 
"my  little  innocent,  my  heart's  delight,"  and  again,  as  "  Sally,  my 
babe,  my  darling !  who  is  the  delight  of  my  eyes."  There  is  one 
very  remarkable  letter,  in  which  he  pictures  the  physical  and  men- 
tal effects  of  his  trials  upon  himself,  until  he  was  obliged  to  banish 
thoughts  of  his  best  friends  from  his  mind,  as  though  they  had  been 
his  most  dangerous  foes.  The  letter  ends  with  the  words,  "I 
thought  I  could  not  be  contented  to  take  my  last  little  portion  of 
land  (though  but  my  length  and  breadth),  and  leave  my  lifeless 
lump  on  this  barren  soil !  However,  when  I  reflected  that  this  bar- 
ren soil  of  Virginia  must  be  enriched  with  the  rich  manure  of  Con- 
necticut; that  my  little  lump  was  no  dearer  to  me  than  another 
man's  to  him;  that  our  cause  is  just  and  must  be  supported,  and 
that  God  will  raise  the  dead  here  as  well  as  in  Connecticut — these 
thoughts  put  me  to  silence,  and  I  became  (I  hope)  in  some  measure 
resigned  to  God's  will." 

I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  in  what  manner  or  by  whose  hand 
the  diary  of  Josiah  Atkins  was  returned  to  his  wife.  It  seems 
probable  that  he  died  at  the  hospital  at  Hanover,  to  which  he  had 
returned  on  October  12th,  after  his  journey  of  120  miles  to  procure 
his  passport,  in  order  to  join  his  former  regiment  in  the  Highlands 
of  New  York.    In  a  letter  addressed  to  his    wife,  and  included  in 

31 


482  HI8T0BT  OF  WATEBBUBT, 

the  diary,  he  counsels  and  urges  her,  in  the  event  of  his  death,  to 
marry  again;  but  to  make  provision,  in  that  case,  for  his  daughter 
Sally. 

Josiah  Atkins  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Josiah 
Rogers,  Jan.  31,  1779.  His  daughter  Sally  was  bom  Nov.  20,  1780, 
and  became  the  wife  of  Asahel  Lewis.  His  son  Josiah,  born  Oct. 
15,  1781,  died  in  1799.  The  estate  of  Josiah  Atkins  was  in  the  Pro- 
bate court,  at  Waterbury,  in  February,  1782.  Mrs.  Atkins  married 
in  1790,  Amos  Culver.  A  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Culver 
remembers  how  tenderly  her  grandmother  (who  died  in  1845)  cher- 
ished the  little  book,  which  always  held  its  own  place  among  her 
treasures.  It  is  said  of  Mrs.  Culver  that  the  boys  of  the  neighbor- 
hood in  which  she  lived  would  leave  their  games  at  any  time  to 
hear  her  talk,  and  that  she  had  great  influence  over  them. 

That  this  valuable  and  unique  addition  to  the  history  and  the 
literature  of  the  war  should  be  presented  to  the  public  only  after 
the  lapse  of  more  than  a  century,  is  truly  surprising. 

Waterbury,  as  it  was  found  at  the  close  of  the  long,  the  desper- 
ate, the  demoralizing  struggle  for  freedom — when  the  soldiers 
returned  from  making  war,  to  make  for  a  time  but  indiflEerent  citi- 
zens— was,  in  many  of  its  aspects,  a  new  Waterbury.  Into  it  came 
a  new  impetus,  wrought  from  contact  with  the  outside  world. 
Men  could  not  mingle  for  so  long  a  time  with  the  army  from 
France  and  participate  in  the  scenes  that  marked  the  closing  year 
of  the  war,  and  not  with  their  return,  bring  a  new  spirit  into  the 
town. 

The  festival,  held  on  the  plain  at  West  Point,  in  honor  of  the 
birth  of  the  Dauphin  of  France,  in  May  of  1782,  was  not  without  its 
far-reaching  influence.  The  sight  of  a  thousand  men  working  for 
ten  days  to  erect  a  "curious  edifice,  six  hundred  feet  long,"  and 
supported  by  a  grand  colonade  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  pillars, 
made  of  the  trunks  of  trees;  the  adorning  of  it  with  "American 
and  French  military  colors,"  with  emblem,  device,  and  motto ;  the 
parading  of  the  whole  allied  army  "  on  the  contiguous  hills  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  forming  a  circle  of  several  miles  in  open  view  of 
the  public  edifice";  the  feasting  and  the  demonstrations  of  glad- 
ness that  followed,  were  not  in  vain. 

On  April  19th,  1783,  eight  years  from  the  19th  of  April,  1775, 
the  commander-in-chief  ordered  the  cessation  of  hostilities  between 
the  United  States  of  America  and  the  king  of  Great  Britain.  In 
May  of  1783  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was  formed.  Its  mem- 
bers were  all  oflicers  in  the  Continental  army.  Major  David  Smith, 
Captain  Nehemiah  Rice  (Royce),  Dr.  Ebenezer  Beardsley,  Major 


WATERS URT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION,  483 

Ezekiel  Scott  and  Isaac  Bronson,  (who  was  surgeon's  mate)  were 
the  Waterbury  members  of  the  Connecticut  Society;  Surgeon 
Nathan  Leavenworth,  of  the  Massachusetts  Society.  The  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed  September  23d.  On  November  2d,  Washington 
issued  his  "  farewell  orders  to  the  armies  of  the  United  States," 
concluding  with  the  words  :  "  And  being  now  to  conclude  these  his 
last  public  orders,  to  take  his  ultimate  leave  in  a  short  time  of  the 
military  character,  and  to  bid  adieu  to  the  armies  he  has  so  long 
had  the  honor  to  command,  he  can  only  again  offer  in  their  behalf 
his  recommendations  to  their  grateful  country,  and  his  prayers  to 
the  God  of  armies.  May  ample  justice  be  done  them  here,  and 
may  the  choicest  of  Heaven's  favors,  both  here  and  hereafter, 
attend  those  who,  under  the  divine  auspices,  have  secured  innum- 
erable blessings  for  others  !  With  these  wishes,  and  this  benedic- 
tion, the  commander-in-chief  is  about  to  retire  from  service.  The 
curtain  of  separation  will  soon  be  drawn,  and  the  military  scene  to 
him  will  be  closed  forever."  On  the  25th  of  November  the  British 
army  evacuated  New  York,  and  the  American  troops,  under  Gen- 
eral Knox,  took  possession  of  the  city.  This  event  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  the  public  entry  of  General  Washington  and  Governor 
Clinton.  The  scene  enacted  in  Francis'  tavern  soon  followed, 
when  Washington  not  with  words,  but  with  tears  and  kisses,  bade 
farewell  to  each  of  the  principal  officers  of  his  armies,  and  went 
out  in  silence  to  the  barge  that  lay  in  waiting  at  "  White  Hall,"  to 
convey  him  on  his  way  to  Annapolis,  whither  he  went  to  lay  before 
congress  the  commission  under  which,  as  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  he  had  led  armies  and  colonies  to 
honorable  independence  and  victorious  peace. 

Since  writing  the  above,  the  following  miscellaneous  facts  have 
been  gathered.  To  the  list  of  those  who  "  joined  the  enemy  "  have 
been  added  the  names  of  Samuel  Doolittle,  Thomas  Fenn,  Titus 
Finch,  Jesse  Hikcox,  Jared  Hikcox  and  Robert  Hotchkiss. 

Daniel  Finch  absconded  October  i,  1776.  He  deserted  the  enemy 
the  13th  of  August,  1779,  returned  home,  and  was  ordered  to  reside 
in  Hartford. 

Seth  Warner  deserted  in  December,  1776.  He  "made  his  escape 
at  the  risque  of  his  life  from  Newport,"  and  threw  himself  upon  the 
mercy  of  his  country.  He  was  allowed  to  return  to  Waterbury  and 
be  confined  within  the  bounds  thereof  under  the  care  of  the  select- 
men, if  the  town  was  willing  to  receive  him;  if  not  willing,  he  was 
to  go  to  Windsor. 

Richard  Miles  was  induced  to  repair  to  New  York,  where  he 
joined   the   enemy.     November   11,  1778,  he   escaped,  returned   to 


484  HEBTOBT  OF  WATBBBUBT. 

Waterbury  and  took  the  oath  of  fidelity.     He  was  restored  to  his 
rights  on  paying  the  cost  of  prosecution. 

Joseph  Mun  of  Waterbury,  a  ''poor  African  servant"  of  William 
Nichols,  petitioned  May  2,  1780,  for  his  liberty,  he  having  served  in 
the  war.  He  stated  that  he  "  was  sold  to  Thomas  Seymour,  Esq.,  of 
Hartford,  then  to  Daniel  Barber,  and  so  from  one  to  another  until 
he  came  into  the  hands  of  William  Nichols,  who,  on  condition  of 
his  faithful  service  for  three  years,  encouraged  him  with  his  free- 
dom," which  Nichols  refused  to  grant  at  the  end  of  three  years' 
service.  Mun  then  oflEered  to  enlist,  and  Nichols  consented.  Mun 
enlisted  in  Thaddeus  Cook's  regiment  in  1776,  and  continued  to 
serve  almost  continually  until  1780.  Before  Nichols  absconded  he 
gave  a  bill  of  sale  of  Mun  to  Thomas  Hikcox,  Jr.  Mun's  petition 
for  liberty  was  not  granted.  April  5,  1781,  he  was  discharged  (at 
the  Highlands)  from  service  by  Col.  Durkee,  on  account  of  a  broken 
arm  and  stiflE  knees.  Hikcox,  through  his  lawyer,  John  Trumbull, 
who  had  hitherto  contested  the  petition  for  emancipation,  now 
withdrew  his  opposition  (a  broken  -  armed,  stiff -kneed  slave  not 
being  profitable  to  a  master).  The  petition  was  finally  negatived 
in  1785. 

In  March,  1781,  Stephen  Matthews  petitioned  for  pay  for  fifty- 
five  tons  of  hay  which  he  had  bought  at  the  request  of  the  State 
Commissary  and  which  was  stored  in  Wallingford.  He  transported 
it  to  Waterbury,  but  no  receiver  had  been  appointed  for  it,  and  it 
was  exposed  all  winter.  "Sheldon's  whole  regiment  of  horse  fed 
upon  it  for  six  days  and  left  such  receipts  as  he  pleased." 

Dr.  Isaac  Baldwin,  physician,  was  employed  by  the  State  to 
attend  Ebenezer  Hibbert — a  soldier  in  Col.  Swift's  regiment — dur- 
ing his  sickness  in  Waterbury  in  October  and  November,  1778.  He 
paid  him  nineteen  visits,  for  which  he  charged  the  same  number  of 
pounds  and  shillings.  His  bill  for  medicines  was  appended. 
William  Rowley,  who  had  nursed  and  boarded  Hibbert,  had  received 
his  pay  in  1780,  but  no  bill  for  medical  services  had  been  paid.  Dr. 
Baldwin's  petition  was  denied. 

Col.  Angel's  regiment,  of  Rhode  Island,  passed  through  Water- 
bury in  September  of  1777.* 

Captain  Curtis,  of  Waterbury,  and  his  company  "belonging  to 
Col.  McClellan's  regiment  of  new-raised  troops,"  were  ordered  to 
march  immediately  to  New  Haven,  for  the  defence  of  that  place,  on 
August  28,  1778. 


*  See  also  **  Break  Neck  *'  in  the  Place-name  Chapter,  for  account  of  the  passage  of  the  French  army. 


WATEBBUBT  IN  THE  BEVOLUTION,  485 

To  the  list  of  Waterbury's  Revolutionary  soldiers  are  added  the 

following : 

Preelove  Blake,  Eldad  Hotchkiss,  Nathan  Page, 

Richard  Blake,  Medad  Hotchkiss,  Nathan  Piatt, 

Daniel  Brown,*  Reuben  Matthews,  Elisha  Stevens, 

Jonathan  Carter,  (died  August  2,  1779),  Benjamin  Terrill, 

Simeon  Cole,  Christopher  Merriam,  Jedediah  Turner, 

Mark  Hopkins,  Job  Oviat  or  "Uffit,"  Capt.  Samuel  Upson, 
(died  at  White  Plains), 

Among  the  errors  which,  of  necessity,  have  been  embodied  in 
the  "Adjutant  General's  report  of  Connecticut  Men  in  the  Revolu- 
tion **  (and  which  each  town  in  the  state  should  correct  while  such 
corrections  may  be  made),  perhaps  the  most  noticeable  one  in  our 
own  town  is  that  relating  to  Josiah  Atkins. f  There  were  two  men 
of  that  name,  both  from  Waterbury  and  cousins,  who  were  in  service 
at  the  same  time  in  1775. 

By  an  error,  the  name  of  Joseph  Atkins  has  been  placed  upon 
the  roll  on  page  354,  in  Captain  Douglass'  company — whereas,  it 
should  be  Josiah  Atkins.  If  we  needed  other  evidence  than  the 
diary  (of  his  service),  we  have  only  to  turn  to  page  351  and  find 
there  the  names  of  Henry  Evens — of  whom  Josiah  Atkins  has  told 
us:  "On  the  night  of  August  31,  1781,  I  was  called  up  to  see  Henry 
Evens,  thought  to  be  dying ; "  and  of  Ruf us  Robbins,  of  whom, 
August  3,  he  wrote:  "We  marched  through  Richmond  and 
encamped  six  miles  above.  Here  we  buried  one  of  our  number,  who 
died  this  day  on  ye  road  in  ye  hospital  waggon.  We  buried  him  in 
a  wood.  He  was  aged  twenty-three  years.  His  name,  Rufus  Rob- 
bins,  and  unmarried.     His  parents  live  in  Lyme,  Connecticut." 

It  may  also  be  mentioned  that  our  Lake  Potter  (so  named  from 
the  fact  that  Lake's  father,  Daniel  Potter,  was,  on  the  day  of  Lake's 
birth,  August  13,  1759,  on  Lake  George,  he  being  then  in  service  in 
the  French  and  Indian  war)  is  concealed  under  the  name  of  Lake 
Patten. 

Waterbury,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  found  herself  territorially 
reduced  by  the  towns  of  Watertown  and  Plymouth  of  a  large  sec- 


*  In  command  of  the  fort  at  Milford  in  1779.    Benjamin  Hine  was  associated  with  him. 
t  Josiah  Atkins,  whose  diary  has  been  given,  wrote  the  following  letter,  which,  having  been  carefully 
preserved,  lies  before  me: 

Camp  at  Stillwatbr,  Nov.  vb  ioth,  1777. 
Dkar  Sister— I  would  inform  you  that  I  am  well  at  present,  but  having  orders  to  march  immediately 
cannot  stay  to  write.    I  send  you  a  copy  of  our  affairs,  which  is  good  news  to  every  soul  that  loves  freedom. 
I  must  say  no  more.  Josiah  Atkins. 

P.  S.    I  may  have  mist  the  day  of  ye  month,  but  am  not  certain. 
Abigail  Atkins, 

At  Farmingbury. 
Josiah  Atkins  taught  school  in  Farmington  from  October,  1770,  to  April,  1772. 


486 


HISTORY  OF   WATBRBXTBY. 


tion  of  her  former  domain,  and  of  perhaps  fully  one-half  of  her 
wealth  and  population.  Nevertheless,  the  following  summary  of 
the  tax -list  for  the  year  1782  reveals  to  us  a  total  valuation  of  more 
than  ;;^2o,ooo,  and  an  enumeration  of  a  little  over  400  taxpayers — 
whereas,  the  estimate  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  when  the  town 
was  a  unit,  was  about  750  taxpayers. 
The  following  is : 

A  true  List  of  the  Polls  and  Estate  of  the  Town  of  Waterbury  ratable  by  Law 
on  the  20th  Day  of  August,  1782,  Errors  Excepted. 


No. 

326    Polls  from  21  to  70  years  of  age,    at  ;^  18 
76    Polls  from  16  to  21      "  "        *•        9 

459    Oxen,  &c.,         .  .  .        **       4 

929    Cows,  &c.   ...  "3 

424    Steers,  Heifers,  &c.,  of  2  years,       "        2 
386         "  •'  "         I  year,     . 

528    Horse  kind  of  i,  2  and  3  years  old,    . 
602    Swine,         ..... 
310    Dwelling  Houses, 
2816    Acres  of  Plow  Land, 

Upland,  Mowing  and  Pasture, 
Boggfy  Meadow,  mowed, 

**  •*  not  mowed, 

Meadow  Land, 
Bush  Pasture, 

Uninclosed  Land,  ist  Rate, 

2d 
3d 
Riding  Chair  with  open  top, 
Silver  and  other  Watches, 
Steel  and  Brass  Wheeled  Clocks, 
Wooden  Wheeled  Clock, 
Ounces  of  Silver  Plate, 
Additions  were  made  of  about    . 


4613 
212 

II 

556 

4721 

4074 

4935 
1982 

I 

13 

9 

I 

21 


i« 


«< 


i< 


(I 


<( 


(f 


It 


(( 


<i 


li 


K 


(( 


(< 


f  ( 


(( 


(< 


<( 


(< 


(( 


<« 


t( 


4( 


;f5.868 

.     684 

1836 

2787 

848 

386 

1894 

602 

242 

1405 
1845 

53 
I 

208 

472 

407 

246 

49 

3 

1.9 

27 
I 

600 


A  List  of  Persons  Assessed  for 
List  of  August,  1782. 

PHYSICIANS  AND   SURGEONS. 

Isaac  Baldwin, 
Preserved  Porter, 
Abel  Bronson, 

TRADER  OR   SHOPKEEPER. 

Irijah  Terril,    . 

TAVERN   KEEPERS. 

William  Leavenworth, 
Samuel  Judd,    . 
Jacob  Sperry, 
Isaac  Bronson,  Jr.,      . 
Thaddeus  Bronson, 
Thomas  Porter,  Jr.,    . 


Faculty,  with  the  several  sums  assessed  on  the 

BLACK    SMITHS. 

£  "^^   Samuel  Frost,  Jr.,  .            .            *  £   S 

•  12    Ephraim  Warner,        .            .  .12 
—   Ard  Wei  ton.                        .            .  12 

Dan.  Tuttle,      .            .            .  .10 

•  30    Jared  Byington,      ...  8 

Elijah  Sperry,  .           .            .  .5 
30 

25  TANNERS  AND   SHOEMAKERS. 

15    William  Adams,      ...  10 

.     20   Charles  Cook,   .                       ,  .5 

15    Isaac  Hopkins,        .            .            .  8 

.     15   William  Adams,  Jr.,    .  .5 


WATERBURT  IN  THE  REVOLUTION, 


487 


GOLD  SMITH 

Joseph  Hopkins,    . 

OWNERS  OF   MILLS. 

Col.  Jonathan  Baldwin, 
Lemuel  Hoadly, 
Sebe  Bronson, 
George  Nichols, 
Jobamah  Gunn, 


CLOTHIERS. 

£2%   William  Rowley,    . 
Elijah  Osborn, 

JOINER. 

25   David  Prichard, 

6  WHEEL  MAKER. 

.     10   David  Byington, 

^2  MALSTBR. 

.     18    Uri  Scott.     . 


Dated  Jan.  21st,  1783. 


John  Welton, 
Daniel  Byington, 
Simeon  Hopkins, 
JuDE  Hoadley, 
£u  Bronson, 
Noah  Baldwin, 
Stephen  Ives, 
Amos  Culver, 


;^5 
5 

5 

5 
5 


;^408 


Listers 

of 
Waterbury, 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

FROM    1783    TO    1825 — "the   critical    PERIOD    OF   AMERICAN   HISTORY" 

THE  QUIET  LIFE  OF  WATERBURY  IN  THOSE  STIRRING  TIMES  —  ITS 
LOSSES  OF  TERRITORY  BY  THE  WITHDRAWAL  OF  SEVERAL  TOWNS 
— ITS    LOCAL   GOVERNMENT — ITS    TOWN  MEETINGS    AND  THE  DUTIES 

OF     ITS    SELECTMEN — THE     STIMULUS     OF     THE     WAR    OF    l8l2 A 

SPIRIT  OF  ENTERPRISE  IN  TRADE  AND  MANUFACTURE  —  THE 
STRUGGLE  FOR  A  NEW  CONSTITUTION  AND  ITS  FINAL  SUCCESS — 
THE  DISESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCHES — 
AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GREAT  OHIO  MOVEMENT — THE  EXPERIENCES 
OF    SOME    WATERBURY    EMIGRANTS. 

THE  opening  years  of  the  period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived 
have  been  called  with  truth  "the  most  critical  period  in 
American  history."    The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  occurred 
October  19,  1781.     But  the  real  end  of  the  Revolutionary  war  dates 
from  Washington's  proclamation  of  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  April 

19,  1783- 

Often  as  the  story  has  been  told  in  these  modern  days,  the  full 

significance  of  the  crisis  that  followed  the  close  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war  is  still  far  from  being  popularly  appreciated.  The  jeal- 
ousies which  separated  state  from  state,  the  vast  distances  which 
divided  the  remoter  portions  of  the  country,  the  rude  facilities  for 
travel,  the  varying  views  inherited  and  developed  of  the  several 
sections,  and  the  natural  fear  shared  by  all  of  the  encroachments 
of  a  central  power  if  one  were  constituted,  combined  to  strengthen 
a  spirit  of  division  which  boded  ill  for  the  hopes  of  those  who,  like 
Washington,  cherished  the  dream  of  national  unity.  It  is  hard  for 
us  of  to-day  to  realize  the  actual  conditions  of  travel  at  that  time 
in  New  England  and  the  only  occasional  means  of  communication 
which  existed.  John  Fiske  tells  us  that  "in  1783, two  stage  coaches 
were  enough  for  all  the  travellers,  and  nearly  all  the  freight  be- 
sides, that  went  between  the  two  cities  of  Boston  and  New  York." 
Forty  miles  was  a  good  day's  journey,  starting  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  and  ending  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  **  if  the  roads 
were  in  good  condition."  Such  a  journey  was  not  only  tiresome 
and  slow,  but  hazardous  as  well.     Says  Mr.  Fiske  :  * 

♦  '*  The  Critical  Period  of  American  History,"  page  6i. 


AN  ERA  OF  BEC0N8TBU0TI0N,  489 

Broad  rivers  like  the  Connecticut  and  Housatonic  had  no  bridges.  To  drive 
across  them  in  winter,  when  they  were  solidly  frozen  over,  was  easy;  and  in  pleas- 
ant summer  weather  to  cross  in  a  row-boat  was  not  a  dangerous  undertaking.  But 
squalls  at  some  seasons  and  floating  ice  at  others  were  things  to  be  feared.  More 
than  one  instance  is  recorded  where  boats  were  crushed  and  passengers  drowned, 
or  saved  only  by  scrambling  upon  ice-floes. 

If  it  took  a  week  or  ten  days  to  make  a  journey  of  this  kind 
from  Boston  to  New  York,  the  means  of  postal  communication  were 
equally  slow  and  uncertain.  Says  Professor  Dexter  of  Yale  in  his 
paper  entitled  "  New  Haven  in  1784  *' : 

Post-riders  took  letters  twice  (or  in  severe  weather,  once)  a  week  to  New  York, 
doing  a  large  commission  business,  to  the  benefit  of  their  own  pockets,  by  the  way. 
The  return  mails  from  New  York  divided  at  New  Haven,  one  going  each  week  via 
New  Loudon  and  Providence  to  Boston,  the  other  taking  the  inland  route  to  the 
same  destination  by  Hartford  and  Springfield,  and  by  each  route  there  was  a 
return  mail  weekly. 

Professor  Dexter  notes  that  the  New  Haven  post-office  was  "  the 
receiving-office  for  all  the  inland  region  not  served  by  the  Hart- 
ford, New  York  and  New  London  offices."  He  adds  that  "  thus 
not  only  all  letters  for  such  near  points  as  Cheshire,  Wallingford, 
and  Waterbury,  but  all  for  towns  as  far  off  as  Litchfield  and  New 
Milford,  were  left  in  New  Haven  to  be  delivered  to  any  one  bound 
for  those  parts.'*  If  no  Waterbury  man  stopped  to  get  the  letters 
received  in  New  Haven  for  his  town,  for  example,  these  letters 
were  advertised  in  the  New  Haven  newspaper.  They  were  sent  to 
the  dead  letter  office  at  Philadelphia  if  the  advertisement  failed  in 
three  months  to  discover  those  to  whom  they  were  addressed. 

When  we  consider  how  uncertain  was  postal  communication 
at  this  period,  how  completely  out  of  touch  were  even  adjoining 
parts  of  the  country,  the  growth  of  the  influences  that  made  for 
disunion  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  It  is  perhaps  easy  to  understand 
the  hostility  between  Connecticut  and  New  York,  but  it  is  much 
more  difficult  to  understand  the  similar  hostility  between  Connecti- 
cut and  Massachusetts,  communities  derived  from  the  same  source 
and  governed  by  the  same  purpose.  New  York,  for  example,  laid  a 
duty  on  Connecticut  fire-wood,  a  business  which  brought  in  no 
small  income  to  the  thrifty  Yankees.  In  retaliation  the  business 
men  of  New  London,  in  mass-meeting  assembled,  unanimously 
agreed  to  suspend  all  commercial  intercourse  with  New  York.  On 
the  other  hand,  when  in  1785  the  other  three  New  England  states 
virtually  closed  their  ports  to  British  shipping,  Connecticut  not 
only  threw  hers  wide  open,  but  followed  this  up  by  laying  duties 
upon  imports  from  Massachusetts.     These  incidents  illustrate  how 


490 


mSTOBT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 


strong  was  the  feeling  of  hostility  of  state  toward  state  without 
regard  to  neighborhood  or,  as  in  the  case  of  Massachusetts,  simi- 
larity of  origin. 

Then  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  country  which  had  been 
drained  by  the  exhausting  war  had  very  generally  increased  the 
evils  of  poverty  by  the  experiment  of  inflation.  Connecticut  and 
Delaware  are  the  only  states  among  the  thirteen  that  escaped  the 
paper  money  craze  and  the  consequent  depression  after  it  was  over. 

Without  going  further  into  the  details  of  existing  conditions,  it 
may  be  interesting  to  sketch  hastily  the  remedy  which  was  found 
and  the  prominence  of  Connecticut  in  the  task  of  discovering  the 
remedy.  As  will  be  remembered  the  proposition  of  Washington 
for  a  convention  to  consider  means  for  improving  the  navigation  of 
the  Potomac  grew,  as  he  in  his  far-sightedness  had  anticipated  that 
it  might  and  hoped  that  it  would,  into  the  movement  which  led  to 
the  assembling  at  Philadelphia  in  May,  1787,  of  the  Federal  con- 
vention which  framed  the  constitution.  The  delegates  to  this  con- 
vention from  Connecticut  were  Oliver  Ellsworth,  afterward  chief- 
justice  of  the  United  States,  Roger  Sherman,  and  William  Johnson, 
afterward  president  of  Columbia  college  and  a  fellow  of  the  Royal 
society.  The  first  rock  upon  which  the  deliberations  of  the  conven- 
tion seemed  likely  to  split  was  the  question  whether  membership 
in  the  Federal  Congress  should  be  apportioned  according  to  popula- 
tion or  according  to  states.  Naturally  the  former  plan  was  favored 
by  the  larger  colonies,  and  the  latter  by  the  smaller.  When  things 
looked  darkest  Oliver  Ellsworth  and  Roger  Sherman  suggested 
what  is  known  as  **  the  Connecticut  compromise,"  which  was  finally 
adopted  in  substance.  Franklin's  pithy  comment  on  it  was  that 
"  when  a  joiner  wishes  to  fit  two  boards,  he  sometimes  pares  off  a 
bit  from  both."  By  this  compromise  it  was  decided  that  the  mem- 
bership of  the  lower  house  of  the  Congress  should  be  determined 
on  the  principle  of  population,  while  the  membership  of  the  upper 
house  should  be  determined  upon  the  principle  of  statehood.  With 
this  obstacle  to  harmony  removed  an  important  advance  was  made 
toward  the  possibility  of  union.  A  little  later,  when  the  question 
at  issue  was  the  method  of  electing  the  president,  Mr.  Ellsworth 
was  one  of  those  who  suggested  the  device  of  an  electoral  college. 
Still  again,  when  the  convention  was  at  a  loss  what  to  do  in  case  of 
a  failure  to  choose  a  president  by  the  electoral  college,  whether 
such  a  choice  should  be  given  to  the  Senate  representing  the  states 
or  to  the  House  representing  the  popular  vote,  Roger  Sherman  came 
forward  with  a  compromise,  which  was  carried,  to  this  effect,  that, 
in  such  a  case,  the  House  should  elect  the  president,  but  that  the 


AN  ERA.  OF  RECONSTRUCTION, 


491 


vote  in  the  House  should  be  taken  by  states,  and  not  by  a  simple 
counting  of  members.  The  device  of  the  Federal  Supreme  Court 
to  interpret  the  constitution,  the  distinguishing  feature  of  the 
American  system  of  government,  which  is  without  a  precedent  in 
history,  was  shaped  largely  in  a  committee  of  which  Mr.  Ellsworth 
was  a  leading  and  influential  member. 

From  this  hasty  review  we  are  able  to  appreciate  the  important 
part  played  by  the  representatives  of  Connecticut  in  framing  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States.  Connecticut  also  had  the  honor- 
able distinction  of  being  the  fifth  state  to  ratify  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  (by  a  vote  of  128  to  40),  the  ratifying  convention  being 
in  session  for  only  five  days.  It  would  be  gratifying  if  we  could 
find  traces  in  the  local  records  of  the  interest  taken  by  Waterbury 
in  the  exciting  events  and  important  discussions  which  were  the 
birth-throes  of  a  nation.  We  know  indeed  that  John  Hopkins  and 
John  Welton  were  the  delegates  from  Waterbury  to  the  convention 
which  did  its  business  so  rapidly  in  ratifying  the  new  Federal  con- 
stitution, over  which  the  conventions  in  many  other  states  wrangled 
with  much  tediousness  and  little  patriotism.  But  the  names  of 
these  delegates  constitute  almost  all  the  information  now  at  hand 
in  regard  to  this  important  matter. 

Indeed,  one  of  the  curious  things  in  studying  our  local  history 
is  the  absence  of  evidence  bearing  upon  the  relations  of  Waterbury 
to  the  general  trend  of  history-making  events.  Elsewhere  the  story 
is  told  of  the  contributions  of  Waterbury  to  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. But  when  we  search  for  local  testimony  of  the  local  effects  of 
the  war,  what  we  find  is  of  small  significance.  It  is  recorded  that 
on  December  8,  1783,  Col.  Phineas  Porter,  Michael  Bronson  and 
Dr.  Isaac  Baldwin  were  chosen  a  committee  to  '*  appertain  " — which 
probably  means  "  asqprtain  " — the  sum  paid  by  each  class  in  town 
"  for  raising  recruits  into  the  Continental  army  for  the  last  three 
years,"  and  to  report  to  the  next  meeting.  At  the  next  town  meet- 
ing Ira  Beebe  was  added  to  this  committee,  and  there  the  matter 
apparently  dropped.  There  is  also  reported  the  curious  case  of 
three  brothers,  Ozias,  Cyrus  and  Zibe  Norton,  who  were  fined  jQ$ 
apiece  for  failing  to  perform  a  tour  of  duty  when  drafted  into  the 
Continental  army.  The  town  ordered  a  discretionary  committee 
to  examine  these  five-pound  notes  to  see  whether  the  town  treas- 
urer would  be  justified  in  accepting  them.  He  probably  was,  as  no 
more  appears  about  the  matter.  On  April  12,  1784,  this  curious 
minute  appears  in  the  record: 

Voted:  That  the  selectmen  dispose  of  pots,  tents,  and  camp  equipage,  belonging 
to  the  town,  to  the  best  advantage  of  the  town,  at  their  discretion. 


492 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBUBT, 


These  insignificant,  even  puerile,  items  constitute  the  sum  total 
of  our  official  knowledge  of  the  effect  of  the  Revolution  upon 
Waterbury.  The  last  of  the  three,  that  concerning  the  disposition 
to  be  made  of  the  supplies  left  on  the  hands  of  the  town  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  illustrates  the  spirit  of  Yankee  thrift  which  dominated 
the  conduct  of  public  business  in  those  days.  This  may  perhaps  be 
called  significant,  as  it  shows  how  painstaking  was  the  economy 
then  practiced  in  public  affairs.  That  we  are  denied  any  larger 
view,  in  the  local  records,  of  the  relation  of  the  community  to  the 
world  outside  is  a  matter  of  no  small  regret. 

Turning  to  the  physical  conditions  of  Waterbury  at  the  begin- 
ning of  our  period  (1783)  it  may  be  described  as  a  town  thirteen 
miles  in  length,  with  a  population  of  over  2000  and  less  than  3000. 
The  process  of  disintegration  by  the  splitting  off  of  settlements 
within  its  borders  had  already  begun.  Three  years  before,  in  1780, 
Westbury  (now  Watertown)  had  been  set  off,  and  in  the  division 
Northbury  (now  Plymouth)  had  gone  with  Westbury.  Waterbury 
had  thus  been  deprived  of  more  than  half  of  her  population.  In 
1774  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  whole  town  was  3526.  This 
was  a  very  respectable  number  as  populations  were  reckoned  in 
those  days.  For  example,  Professor  Dexter  states  in  his  pamphlet, 
already  quoted,  that  in  1784  New  Haven  had  7960  inhabitants, 
and  the  number  must  have  been  considerably  smaller  ten  years 
earlier  when  the  Waterbury  figures  are  given  above.  This  shows  a 
closer  approximation  in  size  between  Waterbury  and  New  Haven 
than  one  would  have  supposed  to  be  probable.  In  1790  Waterbury 
had  2937  inhabitants  and  Watertown  3170,  a  total  of  6107.  This  is 
an  increase,  taking  Waterbury  and  Watertown  together,  of  2581 
inhabitants  in  sixteeu  years,  which  included  the  war  period;  or  an 
increase  of  seventy-three  per  cent.  The  larger  part  of  this  increase 
was  probably  in  Watertown. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  splitting  off  of  these  settlements 
from  the  original  centre  were  largely  ecclesiastical,  and  are  treated 
more  at  length  in  another  chapter.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
these  town  secessions  always  followed  the  same  order  of  process. 
First,  there  was  a  demand  for  what  were  called  ** winter  privileges;" 
next,  came  the  establishment  of  an  ecclesiastical  society;  then  at 
last  the  settlement,  of  which  the  church  was  the  centre,  became  an 
independent  town.  By  the  phrase  "winter  privileges"  was  meant 
the  privilege  of  having  an  independent  minister  in  a  particular  set- 
tlement during  the  winter  months.  The  inhabitants  of  such  a  set- 
tlement were  thus  relieved  from  going  a  longer  distance  to  church, 
and  of  paying  their  share  toward  the  support  of  the  minister  of  the 


AN  ERA  OF  BECONSTRUCTION.  493 

town — it  being  of  course  remembered  that  at  this  time  the  salaries 
of  Congregational  ministers  were  raised  by  assessing  members  of 
the  society  according  to  their  showing  in  the  grand  list,  their 
church  being  a  state  church.  As  the  greater  burden  was  thrown 
upon  the  rest  of  the  town  by  granting  "  winter  privileges  "  to  any 
special  settlement,  the  request  for  them  was  naturally  opposed  by 
the  town.  This  opposition  was  increased  when  the  settlement 
asked  for  the  privilege  of  supporting  its  own  minister  all  the  year 
round,  and  of  being  relieved  of  contributing  at  all  toward  the  sup- 
port of  the  town  minister.  The  last  step,  the  founding  of  an 
entirely  independent  town  as  distinct  from  an  ecclesiastical  society, 
of  course  threw  heavier  burdens  upon  the  original  town,  and  was 
still  more  strongly  opposed. 

The  first  settlement  to  follow  the  example  set  by  Watertown  was 
Farmingbury  (now  Wolcott).  Farmingbury  had  obtained  independ- 
ent church  rights,  that  is,  was  an  independent  ecclesiastical  society, 
as  early  as  1770.  It  was  seven  years  after  Watertown  obtained  its 
independence,  and  seventeen  years  after  it  had  itself  secured  its 
own  church  rights,  that  is,  on  December  26,  1787,  that  a  memorial 
was  presented  from  Farmingbury  asking  Waterbury  to  consent 
**  that  Farmingbury  make  application  to  the  next  General  Assembly 
to  be  made  into  a  distinct  town  and  awarded  to  one  county."  The 
memorial  adds : 

And  considering  that  nature  has  formed  said  parish  in  such  situation  as  makes 
it  very  inconvenient  for  us  to  be  annexed  to  any  other  town,  we  therefore  flatter 
ourselves  that  you  will  not  fail  to  grant  us  our  request. 

The  town  of  Waterbury  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  the 
memorial  of  Farmingbury,  which  that  committee  proceeded  to  do 
for  some  six  weeks.  On  February  5,  1788,  this  committee  found 
itself  in  doubt  "as  to  the  expediency  *'  of  granting  the  above  request 
"on  any  consideration  whatever."  This  was  rather  a  high-handed 
way  of  treating  the  would-be  seceding  town  and  must  have  been  so 
regarded  by  the  Farmingbury  people.  At  any  rate,  not  long  after 
this  a  memorial  was  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  by  Farm- 
ingbury asking  to  be  incorporated  as  a  town  "in  another  county." 
Something  more  than  four  years  after  the  first  Farmingbury 
request  was  made  of  Waterbury,  or  in  April,  1792,  the  selectmen 
appointed  a  committee  to  treat  with  a  Farmingbury  committee.  By 
the  next  October  the  town  voted  to  give  up  opposition  to  the  wish 
of  Framingbury,  but  on  these  conditions,  the  date  being  October  8  : 

I.  Society  of  Farmingbury  within  eight  days  to  give  to  the  rest  of  the  societies 
in  Waterbury  a  legal  acquittance  of  all  their  right  in  the  public,  ministerial  and 
school  moneys,  and  other  property. 


494  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

2.  Secure  to  the  remaining  societies  twenty  pounds  lawful  money  as  an  equiva- 
lent consideration  for  the  support  of  their  part  of  the  Great  Bridge  of  the  Great 
river  on  Woodbury  road  [what  is  now  the  West  Main  street  bridge]. 

3.  Become  bound  to  support  their  equal  proportion  to  the  grand  list  of  all  the 
town  poor,  or  that  may  be  such  at  the  time  their  memorial  shall  be  granted. 

4.  Become  bound  to  pay  their  proportion  according  to  list  of  all  debts  that  have 
occurred  during  their  continuance  with  us. 

Three  and  a  half  years  later,  or  in  the  spring  of  1796,  Farmingbury 
was  made  a  distinct  town  by  the  name  of  Wolcott,  and  Waterbury 
"  appointed  a  committee  to  settle  and  adjust  all  matters  and  con- 
cerns "  between  the  two  towns.* 

Oxford  was  the  next  settlement  to  secure  independence  of 
Waterbury.  It  won  its  victory  in  three  years  and  a  half,  while  the 
struggle  of  Wolcott  lasted  nearly  nine  years.  It  was  on  April  29,  1793, 
as  related  in  Bronson's  '*  History,"  that  Joseph  Hopkins,  as  agent  for 
Waterbury,  was  directed  to  oppose  the  application  of  the  society  of 
Oxford  to  the  General  Assembly  for  town  privileges.  Two  years 
and  a  half  later,  in  October,  1795,  Waterbury  again  voted  to  resist 
the  attempt  to  obtain  independence  which  had  been  renewed  by 
Oxford.  A  third  attempt  the  following  spring  was  met  by  similar 
resistance.  The  following  autumn,  in  October,  1796,  Oxford 
obtained  the  desired  act  of  incorporation. 

The  case  of  Middlebury,  which  follows  that  of  Oxford,  is  typical 
of  the  process  of  separation  already  described:  first,  "  winter  priv- 
ileges," then  an  independent  society,  then  an  independent  town. 
It  was  in  1786  that  these  winter  privileges  were  established  at  West 
Farms  (now  Middlebury),  an  agreement  having  been  reached  with 
the  Waterbury  ecclesiastical  society  to  allow  preaching  there  for 
eight  Sabbaths  of  that  winter.  The  next  winter  the  sum  of  jQg  was 
appropriated  for  paying  for  these  winter  privileges.  Three  years 
after,  or  in  1790,  West  Farms  and  the  adjoining  portions  of  Wood- 
bury and  Southbury  were  made  into  a  distinct  society  under  the 
name  of  Middlebury.  The  church  was  organized  in  1797.  Its  first 
pastor  was  the  Rev.  Ira  Hart,  who  was  installed  in  1798,  and  its  first 
deacons  were  Seth  Bronson  and  Nathan  Osborn.  Church  independ- 
ence having  thus  been  firmly  established,  town  independence  was 
naturally  next  desired.  In  1800,  or  three  years  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church,  the  society  of  Middlebury  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  for  an  act  of  town  incorporation.     Again  Waterbury 

*  On  the  west  side  of  Chestnut  hill  in  the  woods  by  the  side  of  what  appears  to  be  an  old  highway  or 
wood  road,  B.  F.  Howland  found  a  stone  marked  May  17,  17 — ,  an  'original  corner  (the  southwestern  comer) 
of  Farmingbury  society.  It  is  now  the  town  comer,  having  been  so  made  in  x8oi.  The  slab,  resembling  an 
old  gravestone,  is  supported  by  other  stones.  On  it  are  the  letters  R.  W.  for  Richard  Welton,  S.  R.  for 
Street  Richards,  and  A.  B.,  perhaps  for  Amasa  Beecher. 


AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION, 


495 


is  ready  with  its  futile  opposition.  On  May  22,  in  anticipation  of 
the  expected — the  Middlebury  petition  was  presented  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  June — "Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Richard 
Welton  "  were  authorized  by  the  town  to  secure  an  accurate  survey 
of  Waterbury  and  of  the  Waterbury  river  (its  length  through  the 
limits  of  the  town),  in  order  the  better  "  to  enter  a  defence  against 
the  petition  of  Middlebury."  At  the  same  time  that  these  gentle- 
men were  appointed,  Waterbury,  perhaps  learning  wisdom  by  expe- 
rience and  perhaps  not,  chose  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  Mid- 
dlebury memorialists  and  "hear  their  propositions."  This  com- 
mittee was  composed  of  Messrs.  Joseph  Hopkins,  Noah  Baldwin  and 
John  Kingsbury.  On  October  i,  1801,  Waterbury  again  voted  in 
town  meeting  to  oppose  Middlebury  in  her  petition.  On  September 
20,  1802,  special  agents  were  appointed  by  Waterbury  to  go  before 
the  legislature  and  press  the  opposing  argument  as  strongly  as  pos- 
sible. So  the  fight  went  on  with  varying  success  for  five  years 
until  October,  1807,  when  the  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained.  In 
the  following  November,  Waterbury  held  a  town  meeting  and 
appointed  a  committee  to  arrange  affairs  with  Middlebury  "  agree- 
ably to  the  act  of  incorportion."  At  this  town  meeting  Dr.  Nimrod 
Hull,  one  of  the  selectmen,  was  "  excused  "  and  withdrew.  This  is 
something  quite  unusual,  according  to  the  town  records,  and  prob- 
ably is  to  be  taken  as  an  indication  of  the  bad  feeling  engendered 
by  the  long  controversy,  which  very  likely  in  its  different  phases 
led  more  or  less  to  personal  disagreements.  The  last  record  closing 
up  the  Middlebury  chapter  reads  as  follows: 

Voted:  To  appropriate  the  moneys  awarded  by  the  state  committee  in  the  affair 
of  Waterbury  against  Middlebury  ($600)  as  a  perpetual  fund  for  supporting  a  bridge 
across  the  Waterbury  river. 

There  is  in  this  use  of  the  award  which  Middlebury  was  forced 
to  pay  a  suggestion  of  the  bitterness  which  had  been  stirred  up 
and  of  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  Waterbury  to  keep  that  bitter- 
ness alive. 

The  rights  of  Middlebury  in  the  case  are  well  set  forth  in  her 
petition  to  the  General  Assembly  of  May  5,  1807.  This  petition 
states  that  there  were  about  175  families  included  in  the  Middle- 
bury society.  Of  the  heads  of  these,  iii  signed  the  petition.  Out 
of  these  1 1 1  families,  eleven  had  the  name  of  Bronson  and  four  of 
Porter.  In  the  petition  it  is  stated  that  the  meeting-house  at  Mid- 
dlebury is  about  six  miles  from  the  centre  of  each  of  the  towns  of 
Waterbury,  Woodbury,  Watertown,  Oxford  and  Southbury.  It  is 
further  stated  that  Middlebury  is  separated  from  Waterbury  "  by  a 


496  HIBTORT  OF  WATBRBUR7. 

rough  and  uninhabitable  "  tract  of  country,  which  forms  a  natural 
obstacle,  making  travel  to  the  centre  of  the  town  inconvenient. 
According  to  the  petition,  the  length  of  the  Middlebury  society 
at  that  time  was  about  five  miles,  and  its  width  about  three  and 
three-quarters  miles.     Its  grand  list  was  estimated  to  be  $20,960.67. 

With  the  separation  of  Middlebury,  we  have  the  last  of  Water- 
bury 's  losses  from  the  incorporation  of  new  towns  during  the  period 
under  consideration.  It  is  true  that  Columbia  (now  Prospect)  had 
an  independent  ecclesiastical  society  in  1797,  but  it  did  not  become 
an  independent  town  until  1827.  In  Salem  (now  Naugatuck)  an 
ecclesiastical  society  was  organized  in  1773;  ^  church  was  organized 
in  1781;  an  edifice  was  built  in  1782,  and  its  first  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Abram  Fowler,  was  settled  in  1785.  But  the  town  of  Naugatuck 
was  not  incorporated  until  1844. 

Turning  from  the  physical  conditions  of  Waterbury  to  its  cor- 
porate structure,  if  that  phrase  is  allowable,  we  first  note  that  the 
town  authority  found  its  visible  embodiment  in  the  persons  of  its 
selectmen.  These,  acting  under  the  instructions  of  the  town  meet- 
ings, transacted  a  great  part  of  its  business.  One  of  the  principal 
things  entrusted  to  them  was  the  care  of  the  poor,  and  the  frequent 
litigation  which  grew  up  between  towns  over  conflicting  claims  in 
regard  to  public  duties  owed  to  the  poor  was  in  the  main  superin- 
tended by  them.  This  function  of  the  selectmen  has  been  de- 
scribed at  length  in  another  chapter.  So  we  will  pass  over  it  here 
simply  noting,  as  illustrating  one  curious  function  which  has  been 
entirely  lost  in  these  modem  days,  the  duty  imposed  upon  them  by 
the  town  meeting  of  December  12,  1785: 

Voted:  To  desire  the  selectmen  to  provide  for  Augur  Mallery  without  setting 
him  up  at  vendue  the  year  ensuing. 

This  means  that  the  services  of  the  unfortunate  pauper  were  not 
to  be  bid  off  at  public  auction  beside  the  whipping-post  at  the  end 
of  the  Green. 

Next  to  the  care  of  the  poor,  the  most  important  duty  devolving 
upon  the  selectmen  was  the  care  of  the  roads,  determining  their 
location  and  alterations  (of  course  under  the  direction  of  the  town 
meeting),  attending  to  cases  of  encroachment  and  to  giving  leases, 
taking  in  charge  suits  brought  for  damages — for  example,  the 
claim  of  John  Baxter  for  injuries  he  received  on  the  Mad  River 
bridge,  the  settling  of  which  was  referred  by  town  meeting  to  the 
selectmen,  December  16,  1790 — and  other  similar  matters  too  numer- 
ous to  mention.  The  selectmen  also  handled  the  public  money  and 
had  charge  of  the  odds  and  ends  of  town  business. 


AN  ERA  OF  REGONaTBVCTION.  497 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  the  names  of  the  selectmen  in 
Waterbury  at  the  beginning  of  our  period.  The  town  meeting  of 
December  8,  1783,  chose  five  selectmen:  Col.  Phineas  Porter,  Capt. 
Isaac  Bronson,  Capt.  James  Porter,  Charles  Upson  and  David 
Hotchkiss.  The  same  town  meeting  chose  Michael  Bronson  as 
town  clerk.  The  question  of  the  pay  the  selectmen  received  is  an 
interesting  one.  On  December  14,  1789,  the  town  meeting  voted 
"  to  desire  the  selectmen  to  do  the  business  of  selectmen,  except  in 
perambulating  and  surveying  the  highways,  gratis,  or  without  fee 
or  reward."  The  town  meeting  of  ten  days  later  voted  "  to  recon- 
sider the  vote  requesting  the  selectmen  to  do  the  business  of 
selectmen  gratis."  The  town  meeting  of  a  week  after  that  voted 
to  reconsider  this  last  vote  and  to  adhere  to  the  original,  or  "gratis," 
vote.  The  selectmen  evidently  objected  to  being  paid  simply  with 
honors  and  the  gratitude  of  the  town,  for  the  town  meeting  of  a 
year  after,  on  December  13,  1790,  voted  "to  give  the  selectmen  who 
have  served  the  town  the  year  past  three  shillings  for  each  day 
they  have  spent  in  the  service  of  the  town  during  that  time."  This 
rate  of  pay  continued  to  be  the  usual  allowance  to  selectmen  for 
years  afterward. 

Though  receiving  so  moderate  a  remuneration,  the  selectmen 
must  have  handled  a  large  revenue,  considering  the  size  of  Water- 
bury  and  the  general  amount  of  money  in  circulation.  They  raised 
a  rate  of  fivepence  on  the  pound  by  the  grand  list  of  1783,  which 
was  paid  in  wheat,  rye,  Indian  corn,  oats,  flax,  beef  and  pork,  at 
such  market  price  as  the  selectmen  deemed  it  right  to  accept  at  the 
time  of  payment.  A  rate  of  threepence  on  the  pound  by  the  list  of 
1788  was  payable  in  merchantable  goods,  such  as  wheat  at  six  shil- 
lings the  bushel;  rye,  three  shillings  and  sixpence  the  bushel; 
Indian  corn,  three  shillings  the  bushel;  buckwheat,  two  shillings 
and  fourpence  the  bushel;  oats,  one  shilling  and  twopence  the 
bushel;  flax,  fivepence  per  pound,  and  sheep's  wool  two  shillings 
per  pound. 

The  matter  of  bridges  comes  up  again  and  again  as  one  follows 
the  records  of  the  town  and  notes  the  duties  of  the  selectmen.  The 
principal  bridges  of  Waterbury  are  described  in  full  in  another 
chapter,  but  it  may  be  interesting  to  note  in  passing  a  contempora- 
neous description  of  the  river,  the  *•  Great  Bridge"  over  which  was 
the  cause  of  so  much  trouble,  to  be  found  in  President  Dwight's 
travels.     He  writes: 

The  Naugatuck  river  rises  in  the  Green  Mountains,  in  the  township  of  Norfolk, 
near  the  north  line  of  the  state.  Thence,  in  a  course  generally  south,  it  passes 
through  Winchester,  Torrington,  Harwinton,  Plymouth,  Waterbury  and  Oxford  to 

32 


498  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

Derby.  Its  length  is  about  forty  miles,  its  current  rapid,  and,  when  swollen  by 
freshets,  as  it  often  is  very  suddenly,  violent  and  destructive.  It  furnishes  a  great 
number  of  mill-seats,  and  is  in  many  places  lined  with  beautiful  intervals.  Not- 
withstanding the  roughness  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes,  its  bed  is  worn 
so  deep,  and  to  so  uniform  a  surface,  that  from  Waterbury  northward  one  of  the 
smoothest  and  most  level  turnpike  roads  in  the  state  has  been  formed  on  its  banks. 

It  may  be  also  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  that  during 
the  Revolution  the  road  leading  through  Waterbury  east  and  west 
was  a  fine  one,  much  used  in  army  movements. 

In  the  work  of  superintending  the  roads  the  principal  assistants 
to  the  selectmen  were  the  "surveyors."  The  term  is  not  used  in  its 
modern  sense,  but  means  simply  overseers,  or  as  we  should  say  in 
modern  phrase,  "bosses  of  the  job."  The  number  increases  as  we 
follow  the  records  down.  Thus,  in  a  record  of  a  town  meeting  held 
December  13,  1784,  we  find  that  thirty-nine  surveyors  were  chosen, 
while  at  a  town  meeting  held  December  9,  1793,  we  find  that  there 
were  fifty-nine  chosen.  This  increase  in  numbers  does  not  proba- 
bly mean  any  great  increase  in  the  number  of  roads,  but  simply 
that  the  work  of  road  making  and  road  mending  was  done  more 
carefully.  The  citizens  "  worked  out "  their  road  tax,  and  the  sur- 
veyors were  the  men  who  saw  that  it  was  properly  done.  At  the 
town  meeting  of  December  9,  1793,  above  referred  to,  some  reformer 
raised  the  question  whether  this  was  the  best  way  of  doing  it. 
A  motion  was  made  "  to  mend  the  highways  in  this  town  in 
future  by  a  tax,"  that  is,  presumably,  the  taxpayer  was  to  con- 
tribute money  instead  of  his  time  and  work.  The  consideration 
of  this  motion  was  postponed  and  it  was  rejected  at  the  following 
meeting. 

How  many  attended  these  town  meetings  ?  We  have  no  way  of 
forming  any  very  accurate  estimate.  At  the  annual  town  meeting 
held  the  second  Monday  in  December,  1800  (just  at  the  end  of  the 
century),  the  vote  on  the  proposed  road  from  the  centre  of  Water- 
bury to  Naugatuck  stood  sixty-two  in  the  affirmative  and  seven  in 
the  negative.  This  was  probably  a  full  meeting,  but  there  is  no 
means  of  determining  what  proportion  of  those  who  attended  voted. 

Where  were  the  town  meetings  held  ?  Almost  invariably  in  the 
meeting-house  of  the  Congregational  society.  But  between  1787 
and  1793  we  find  various  records  of  adjournments  to  the  "com- 
pany" school-house — owned  by  a  private  corporation — and  to  the 
house  of  Capt.  Samuel  Judd.  All  the  significance  that  attaches 
to  these  adjournments  is  probably  that  the  meeting-house  was 
undergoing  repairs,  or  for  some  other  reason  was  not  in  its  usual 
condition  to  accommodate  a  town  meeting. 


AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION,  499 

What  was  the  time  of  working  on  the  roads,  the  principal  busi- 
ness that  concerned  town  meetings  ?  There  is  a  record  that  on 
December  27, 1784,  the  town  meeting  voted  **to  desire  the  surveyors 
of  highways  to  call  out  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  work  in  the 
highways  four  days  in  the  year,  two  in  the  spring  and  two  in  the 
autumn,  but  not  later  than  the  last  of  October."  A  similar  vote 
four  years  after  adds  that  the  days  must  be  chosen  "  seasonably," 
and  the  surveyors  are  ordered  "  to  make  presentment  of  parts  of 
days  in  all  cases  where  people  shall  be  guilty  of  late  coming  or  mis- 
spending their  time."  It  is  very  evident  from  this  that  the  habit 
of  shirking  road  work  was  perceptibly  growing,  and  this  may 
account  for  the  increase  in  surveyors  already  referred  to. 

As  has  been  said  in  speaking  of  the  selectmen  generally,  a  not 
unimportant  part  of  their  duties  was  the  disposition  of  cases  of 
encroachment  upon  the  highway,  or  of  cases  where  the  use  of  the 
highway  was  granted  to  individuals  upon  certain  conditions.  Thus 
on  December  27,  1784,  we  find  Joseph  Hopkins  complaining  that 
Moses  Frost  has  erected  a  dwelling  house  in  the  highway  so  as  to 
prevent  the  complainant  from  using  his  only  convenient  lot  for 
building,  and  that  he  is  encouraged  in  this  by  some  of  his  neigh- 
bors. Hopkins,  the  complainant,  further  avers  that  Frost  will  thus 
secure  a  legal  title  to  the  part  of  the  highway  he  has  appropriated 
— which,  however,  would  have  been  next  to  impossible  in  law — and 
thus  perpetually  injure  the  value  of  his  own  lot.  The  town  meet- 
ing in  passing  upon  the  case  put  it  into  the  hands  of  the  selectmen, 
instructing  them  to  remove  the  house  and  other  encroachments,  or 
grant  relief  in  some  other  w^y.  A  few  weeks  later,  the  town  meet- 
ing received  a  memorial  from  Joseph  Boardman,  a  shoemaker,  who 
asked  permission  to  extend  his  house  on  to  the  highway,  as  it  would 
be  the  most  convenient  place  for  him  to  put  a  shoe-shop,  and  the 
town  meeting  granted  him  the  permission.  Two  years  later  was 
granted  the  petition  of  Ephraim  Warner,  John  Cossett,  Benjamin 
Upson  and  Noah  Baldwin,  to  obtain  the  lease  of  a  certain  public 
piece  of  ground  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  cider  mill  upon  it. 
Two  years  later,  in  1789,  the  town  meeting  referred  to  the  select- 
men the  petition  of  Widow  Martha  Welton  for  the  lease  of  a  certain 
piece  of  ground  near  the  meeting-house  for  her  use  as  a  garden, 
"desiring  them  to  do  what  appears  to  them  just  and  right," but  not 
to  lease  "said  ground  for  a  term  exceeding  ten  years."  A  few 
months  later  the  town  meeting  granted  a  lease  of  a  small  piece  of 
land  near  his  house  to  Noah  Candee  for  a  garden  spot,  but  for  a 
term  not  exceeding  five  years.  These  are  typical  cases  of  encroach- 
ments on  the  highway  which  came  up  for  disposition  before  the 


Soo 


HISTORY  OF  WATBBBURT, 


town  meeting,  and  which  were  often  referred  to  the  selectmen  for 
final  adjudication.  Their  decision  must  often  have  required  the 
exercise  of  unusual  good  judgment  to  keep  the  peace  and  to  pre- 
vent hard  feelings. 

In  this  connection,  as  it  concerns  highways,  it  may  be  noted 
that  the  question  of  allowing  swine  to  go  at  large  was  one  con- 
stantly before  the  town  meetings.  It  seems  to  have  been  largely 
a  question  of  the  size  of  the  swine.  Thus  one  town  meeting  in 
1788  voted  to  allow  all  swine  "  weighing  fifty  pounds  and  upwards" 
to  go  at  large,  while  a  town  meeting  in  1793  made  "free  common- 
ers "  of  all  swine  weighing  "  forty-five  pounds  and  upwards,"  and 
of  all  swine  under  forty-five  pounds,  provided  that  they  were  "well 
yoked." 

One  of  the  minor  duties  of  the  selectmen  included  the  charge  of 
the  less  important  articles  of  property  coming  into  the  possession 
of  the  town,  for  example,  books.  These  were  probably  Statutes 
such  as  are  distributed  to-day  by  the  General  Assembly,  or  such  as 
may  be  obtained  in  the  form  of  public  documents  through  congress- 
men from  Washington.  The  care  which  was  taken  in  distributing 
these  books,  to  see  that  they  passed  into  the  proper  hands,  illus- 
trates the  thrift  of  those  days  and  the  way  in  which  public  prop- 
erty was  guarded,  even  in  the  smallest  matters.  One  vote  may  be 
cited  as  typical  of  many  others,  that  of  the  town  meeting  of  Decem- 
ber 13,  1784  : 

Voted :  That  one  of  the  law  books  now  the  property  of  the  town  be  kept  in  the 
town  clerk's  office. 

Voted :  To  sell  the  remainder  of  the  law  books  at  public  vendue  to  the  highest 
bidder,  and  that  the  additional  Acts  which  shall  come  out  hereafter  will  belong  to 
the  purchasers  of  said  books  on  their  paying  one  penny  per  page,  the  money  to  be 
paid  into  the  town  treasury  for  the  use  of  said  town. 

This  public  auction  was,  by  the  way,  not  held  at  the  whipping- 
post, as  some  have  suggested,  but  at  any  convenient  place  chosen 
by  the  selectmen.  Auctions  at  the  whipping-post  were  almost  ex- 
clusively those  of  articles  seized  on  execution  and  disposed  of  by 
the  sheriff. 

It  may  be  worth  while  here  to  select  a  few  statistics  showing 
what  was  the  wealth  of  Waterbury  at  this  time,  thus  giving  some 
possible  idea  of  the  size  of  the  interests  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
selectmen.  The  grand  list  of  Waterbury  in  1779,  ^^^  year  before 
Watertown  secured  its  independence  and  took  away  probably  more 
than  half  of  the  population,  was  ;^  38,504.  In  1790,  ten  years  after 
the  secession  of  Watertown,  Waterbury 's  grand  list  was  £  19,722. 
In  1784,  Waterbury  is  reported  to  have  had  452  oxen,  11 22  cows  and 
heifers,  481  horses,  and  60  dogs.     In  1794  it  had  582  oxen,  1897  cows 


AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION.  501 

and  heifers,  and  635  horses.  These  figures  show  but  small  change 
in  the  totals,  and  indicate  that  the  town  was  increasing  very  little 
in  the  amount  of  its  live  stock. 

While,  however,  Waterbury  was  apparently  standing  still,  we 
find  indications  in  the  records  that  business  was  on  the  increase. 
The  town  meeting  of  December  29,  1788,  appointed  fence-viewers, 
sealers  of  weights  and  measures,  leather  sealers,  key  keepers  and 
cullers  of  timber.  Four  years  later  we  find  it  recorded  that  James 
Smith,  Cyrus  Lewis  and  David  Norton  were  chosen  packers.  Still 
later  there  is  a  minute  that  the  county  courts  "  may  appoint  suitable 
persons,  not  to  exceed  three,  to  be  inspectors  and  packers  of  beef,  pork, 
butter  and  lard;  also  to  inspect  lumber,  onions,  hay,  pot  and  pearl 
ashes  and  fish."  The  appointment  of  these  new  kinds  of  officials, 
the  introduction  into  Waterbury  public  life  of  new  functions,  shows 
that  the  town  is  feeling  the  stirring  of  new  business  ambitions  and 
is  making  ventures  in  the  direction  of  outside  trade.  The  exporta- 
tion of  pork  and  beef,  if  one  may  use  so  large  and  Chicago-like  a 
word  as  exportation,  for  whose  quality  these  official  inspectors 
were  held  to  be  responsible,  was  a  business  which  was  promoted 
largely  through  the  push  and  enterprise  of  Col.  William  Leaven- 
worth (see  Volume  II,  page  235),  always  a  public-spirited  citizen. 
The  potash  trade,  too,  was  not  inconsiderable,  and  'Squire  Ezra 
Bronson  had  a  potash  yard  near  the  present  site  of  St.  John's 
church.  The  "  cullers "  of  timber  above  mentioned  had  to  put 
their  official  seals  on  the  hoops  and  barrel  staves  which  were 
packed  in  "  shooks "  and  shipped  to  the  West  Indies.  Thus  it  is 
seen  there  were  possibilities  for  foreign  trade  here  in  Waterbury 
even  before  its  great  manufacturing  boom  had  set  in. 

And  this  reminds  us  that  we  are  approaching  a  period,  the  begin- 
ning of  the  new  century,  which  early  developed  those  great  inter- 
ests that  have  since  given  to  Waterbury  so  conspicuous  a  position  as 
a  New  England  manufacturing  centre.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
know,  if  we  only  had  the  information  at  hand,  what  effect,  if  any, 
was  produced  here  by  the  great  events  which  were  changing  the 
world's  history,  the  French  Revolution,  the  rise  of  Napoleon,  and 
the  wars  which  altered  the  map  of  Europe.  But  in  regard  to  all 
this  we  are  left  to  individual  speculation.  We  do  know,  however, 
of  the  general  effect  upon  the  country  and  on  its  trade  of  these 
events,  producing  results  of  local  interest.  The  general  situation 
is  thus  sketched  by  Professor  Taussig,  in  his  "  Tariff  History  of  the 
United  States": 

The  industrial  situation  changed  abruptl)'  in  1808.  The  complications  with  Eng- 
land and  France  led  to  a  series  of  measures  which  mark  a  turning-point  in  the 
industrial  history  of  the  country.     The  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  of  Napoleon,  and 


502  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

the  English  Orders  in  Council,  led  in  December,  1807,  to  the  Embargo.  The  Non-In- 
tercourse Act  followed  in  1809.  War  with  England  was  declared  in  18 12.  During  the 
war,  intercourse  with  England  was  prohibited,  and  all  import  duties  were  doubled. 
The  last  mentioned  act  was  adopted  in  the  hope  of  increasing  the  revenue,  but  had 
little  effect,  for  foreign  trade  practically  ceased  to  exist.  This  series  of  restrictive 
tneasures  blocked  the  accustomed  channels  of  exchange  and  production,  and  gave 
an  enormous  stimulus  to  those  branches  of  industry  whose  products  had  before  been 
imported.  Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  woollen  cloths, 
iron,  glass,  pottery  and  other  articles  sprang  up  with  a  mushroom  growth.  .  .  . 
The  restrictive  legislation  of  1808-15  was,  for  the  time  being,  equivalent  to  extreme 
protection.  The  consequent  rise  of  a  considerable  class  of  manufacturers,  whose 
success  depended  largely  on  the  continuance  of  protection,  formed  the  basis  of  a 
strong  movement  for  more  decided  limitation  of  foreign  competition. 

Here  then  we  have  the  real  beginnings  of  that  tariff  controversy 
which  has  so  long  formed  an  exciting  issue,  more  pronounced  at 
some  times  than  at  others,  between  the  two  parties  in  the  United 
States.  Into  this  controversy  it  would  of  course  be  out  of  place  to 
enter  here,  but  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  it  started  from  this 
"war  boom,"  thus  giving  an  opportunity  for  the  development  of 
a  race  of  mechanics  who  have  since  made  New  England  manufac- 
turing what  it  has  become,  the  marvel  of  the  country  if  not  of  the 
world.  The  history  of  the  birth  and  growth  of  Waterbury's  manu- 
facturing interests  is  told  in  full  in  our  second  volume.  Suffice  it 
to  say  here  that  Waterbury  felt  the  stimulus  which  was  being 
applied  generally  to  the  thriving  towns  of  Connecticut  and  New 
England.  It  had  its  woollen  mill  (which,  however,  ended  in  failure) 
and  five  clock  factories  at  one  time,  besides  a  largely  increased 
trade  in  buttons.  In  his  sermon  entitled  **  Three-quarters  of  a  Cen- 
tury; a  Historical  Retrospect,"  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Anderson  says : 

■ 

In  1783,  according  to  the  grand  list,  there  were  in  the  town  of  Waterbury  four 
steel  and  brass  clocks,  one  wooden  clock,  seven  watches,  one  '*  riding-chair,"  twenty 
ounces  and  ten  pennyweights  of  silver  plate  and  money  at  interest  to  the  amount 
of  £33'    Judged  by  these  various  tests,  the  condition  of  our  town  was  low.* 

But  just  at  the  opening  of  the  century,  a  few  enterprising  men  began  the  busi- 
ness of  clock-making,  and  in  1802  Abel  Porter  &  Co.  entered  upon  the  manufacture 
of  gilt  buttons.  These  industries,  as  you  are  well  awai'e,  increased  rapidly  in 
strength  and  importance;  the  war  of  1812  gave  to  the  button  trade,  especially  a  new 
impulse;  machinery  was  invented  for  the  more  rapid  production  of  wares  for  which 
a  market  stood  open,  and  in  due  time  wealth  began  to  flow  in.  With  increasing 
pecuniary  ability,  and  increasing  intelligence,  came  in  the  luxuries  of  a  modern 
civilization.  As  one  reform  after  another  was  accomplished  in  the  world  without, 
Waterbury  felt  the  effect  of  it;  and  as  one  invention  or  discovery  after  another  was 


*  But  does  not  the  fact  that  the  Company  school-house  or  Academy  was  built  in  1784,  and  that  the  con- 
tracts for  two  new  churches  were  given  out  in  1794,  prove  that  Waterbury  was,  on  the  whole,  prosperous,  and 
had  not  felt  greatly  the  effects  of  the  hard  times  and  the  drain  of  the  war  which  are  reported  elsewhere  ? 


AN  ERA  OF  BECONSTBUGTION. 


503 


appropriated  by  society  at  large,  it  found  its  way  to  this  provincial  village,  estab- 
lishing a  new  bond  between  the  mother-town  of  the  Naugatuck  valley  and  the  great 
outside  world. 

But  not  only  was  it  a  time,  as  Dr.  Anderson  has  described  it,  of 
increased  trade  and  manufacturing,  of  increased  inventions — it  was 
in  1793  that  Whitney  invented  the  cotton-gin — ^but  it  was  also  a 
time  of  increased  enterprise  in  the  way  of  pushing  goods  out  per- 
sonally into  distant  markets.  In  short,  the  day  of  the  "drummer" 
was  at  hand,  or,  as  he  was  then  known,  the  peddler.  President 
Dwight,  in  his  "Travels  in  New  England  and  New  York,"  has 
given  a  graphic  account  of  the  progress  of  the  peddler,  the  fore- 
runner of  the  modern  drummer : 

The  peddler's  load  is  composed  of  tinware,  pins,  needles,  scissors,  combs,  but- 
tons, children's  books,  cotton  stuffs,  a  smaller  or  larger  assortment  to  offer  to  his 
customers.  A  number  set  out  with  large  wagons,  loaded  with  dry-goods,  hats  and 
shoes,  together  with  tinware  and  the  small  articles  already  mentioned.  These 
loads  will  frequently  cost  the  proprietor  from  one  to  two  thousand  dollars,  and  are 
intended  exclusively  for  the  Southern  and  Western  States.  It  is  frequently  the  fact 
that  from  twenty  to  thirty  persons  are  employed  by  a  single  house  in  manufactur- 
ing and  selling  tinware  and  other  articles.  The  workmen,  furnished  with  a  suf- 
ficient quantity  of  the  raw  material  to  employ  them  for  six  months,  are  sent  by 
water  in  the  autumn  to  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  They 
station  themselves  at  some  town  in  the  interior,  where  the  employer  or  agent  has  a 
store,  well-furnished  with  such  articles  as  the  peddlers  require.  As  the  stock  of 
each  peddler  is  exhausted,  he  repairs  to  the  store  for  a  supply.  In  this  way  a  large 
amount  of  goods  are  vended  during  the  six  or  eight  months  they  are  absent. 

In  commenting  on  the  above,  A.  Bronson  Alcott,  who  was  him- 
self a  native  of  Wolcott  and  lived  there  until  he  was  nineteen,  notes 
that  "not  less  than  ten  peddlers  from  Wolcott  often  went  south 
during  several  seasons.  These  were  mostly  employed  by  a  house  in 
Southington."  There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  this  constant  out- 
going of  peddlers  from  hereabouts  to  the  south  and  west  had  an 
important  though  probably  unnoticed  influence  on  the  social  char- 
acter of  Waterbury  and  its  vicinity.  It  is  Shakespeare  who  says 
that  "  home-keeping  youths  have  ever  homely  wits."  Experiences 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  contact  with  different  customs 
and  modes  of  thought,  even  though  it  were  a  rude,  pioneer  way  of 
seeing  the  world,  must  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  enlarging 
the  horizon  and  increasing  the  broadness  of  those  early  drummers 
or  peddlers.  And  the  ideas  which  they  brought  home  must  have 
proved  stimulating  to  those  whom  they  left  behind  in  the  quiet  New 
England  environment. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  jealousies  and  rivalries  between 
states  which  even  went  to  the  extent  of  hostile  tariffs  before  the 


504  HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT. 

adoption  of  the  Federal  constitution,  and  to  the  Embargo  act, 
which  in  the  end  proved  so  strong  a  stimulus  to  home  manufac- 
tures, and  we  cannot  leave  the  period  of  the  war  of  1812  without  a 
passing  allusion  to  the  Hartford  Convention  with  its  famous  quasi- 
endorsement  of  secession  as  a  remedy  in  an  extreme  case.  The 
general  hatred  of  Jefferson  in  New  England,  because  of  his  adop- 
tion of  French  philosophy,  and  the  (unjust)  belief  that  he  favored 
France  rather  than  England  (largely  on  account  of  his  hostility  to 
England's  Christianity),  the  acquisition  of  Louisiana,  with  its  addi- 
tion to  the  strength  of  the  Southern  section  overbalancing  New 
England,  and  the  tremendous  damage  inflicted  on  New  England  com- 
merce by  the  Embargo  act,  all  combined  to  bring  about  the  Conven- 
tion, which  was  held  in  Hartford  between  December  15,  1814,  and 
January  5,  1815.  It  was  called  to  consider  the  interests  of  the  New 
England  states  in  relation  to  the  war  with  Great  Britain.  It  con- 
sisted of  twelve  delegates  frem  Massachusetts,  seven  from  Connec- 
ticut, three  from  Rhode  Island,  two  from  New  Hampshire  and  one 
from  Vermont,  the  delegates  from  the  last  two  states  representing 
counties.  The  president  of  the  convention  was  George  Cabot  of 
Massachusetts,  and  the  secretary  was  Theodore  Dwight  of  Connec- 
ticut. Besides  endorsing  various  demands  on  Congress  the  report 
which  the  Convention  issued  denied  "  any  present  intention  to  dis- 
solve the  Union,"  but  admitted  that  "if  a  dissolution  should  become 
necessary  by  reason  of  the  multiplied  abuses  of  bad  administration, 
it  should,  if  possible,  be  the  work  of  peaceful  times  and  deliberate 
consent."  Although  the  declaration  and  demands  of  the  Convention 
accomplished  nothing  beyond  their  endorsement  by  the  legisla- 
tures of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  for  the  consideration  of  Con- 
gress, they  have  often  been  quoted  as  proving  that  the  spirit  of 
secession  did  not  originate  in  the  South.  It  was  the  taunt  of  Sen- 
ator Hayne  of  South  Carolina,  regarding  the  Hartford  Convention 
and  the  part  in  it  which  was  taken  by  Nathan  Dane,  that  called 
forth  perhaps  the  most  eloquent  passage  of  Daniel  Webster's  cele- 
brated reply  to  Hayne. 

A  subject  not  second  in  importance  to  the  effect  of  the  war  of 
181 2  on  the  business  life  of  the  state  and  of  the  town  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  new  constitution.  The  position  of  Connecticut  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  an  anomalous  one.  Her  consti- 
tution still  continued  to  be,  despite  her  separation  from  the  British 
Crown,  the  charter  granted  by  Charles  II.  in  1662.  This  charter, 
although  nominally  proceeding  from  the  throne,  really  proceeded 
from  the  people  of  Connecticut.  Its  first  draft  was,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  prepared  by  the  General  Court  in  Hartford.     The  king  was 


AN  ERA  OF  BEC0N8TBVGTI0N. 


505 


petitioned  to  bestow  his  royal  favor  and  grace  "  according  to  the 
tenor  of  a  draft  or  instrument  "  that  the  General  Court  submitted 
for  his  formal  approval,  as  is  stated  in  the  petition  for  it.  And,  as 
is  held  in  Swift's  "  System  of  the  Laws  of  Connecticut,"  **  the  appli- 
cation of  the  people  for  the  charter  and  their  voluntary  acceptance 
of  it  gave  efficiency  to  the  government  it  constituted — and  not  the 
royal  signature."  Previous  to  the  granting  of  the  charter,  the  guar- 
antee of  government  rested  on  the  compact  which  had  been  entered 
into  between  the  towns  originating  the  colony,  and  under  whose 
authority  the  General  Court  had  been  constituted.  The  fact  of 
separation  from  Great  Britain  and  of  the  establishment  of  an  inde- 
pendent government  did  not  change  the  status  of  the  charter  as 
the  constitution  of  the  state.  The  General  Assembly  in  October, 
1776,  after  endorsing  the  Declaration  of  Independence  of  July  4, 
made  this  additional  declaration: 

That  the  form  of  civil  government  in  this  state  shall  continue  to  be  as  estab- 
lished by  charter  received  from  Charles  II,  King  of  England,  so  far  as  an  adher- 
ence to  the  same  will  be  consistent  with  an  absolute  independence  of  this  state  on 
the  Crown  of  Great  Britain. 

In  the  revision  of  the  laws  of  1784,  in  an  act  containing  a  decla- 
ration of  popular  rights,  it  is  again  declared  that  "  the  ancient  form 
of  civil  government  contained  in  the  charter  from  Charles  II,  King 
England,  and  adopted  by  the  people  of  this  state,  shall  be  and 
remain  the  civil  constitution  of  this  state  under  the  sole  authority 
of  the  people  thereof."  These  declarations  by  the  General  Assembly 
show  that  recognition  of  the  charter  as  a  true  constitution  was  as 
solemnly  affirmed  by  the  authoritative  representative  body  of  the 
state  as  it  was  possible  to  affirm  it.  Still,  there  were  those  who 
called  in  question  its  validity  as  a  constitution.  As  early  as  1782, 
says  J.  Hammond  Trumbull  in  his  **  Historical  Notes  on  the  Con- 
stitution of  Connecticut,"  to  which  we  are  largely  indebted  for  the 
facts  here  used,  there  appeared  a  pamphleteer  who  propounded  "  A 
Modest  and  Decent  Inquiry,"  whether  Connecticut  had  "strictly 
and  properly  speaking,  any  civil  constitution."  This  pamphleteer 
stated  that  the  declaration  made  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1776 
was  "  looked  upon  by  the  more  thinking  and  judicious  only  as  a 
temporary  thing,  until  our  troubles  should  be  over  and  our  inde- 
pendence acknowleged."  When,  in  1786,  a  bill  was  offered  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  to  reduce  the  number  of  its  members,  and 
objection  was  made  that  a  constitutional  question  was  thus  raised 
which  the  General  Assembly  was  incompetent  to  decide,  Mr.  James 
Davenport,  the  author  of  the  bill,  declared  during  the  debate:  "We 
have  no  constitution  but  the  laws  of  the  state.     The  charter  is  not 


5o6  HISTORT  OF  WATERS UR J. 

the  constitution.  By  the  Revolution  that  was  abrogated."  Mr. 
Trumbull  says,  however,  that  "prior  to  1800  the  number  of  those 
who  denied  the  validity  of  the  act  of  1776  and  maintained  the  neces- 
sity or  the  propriety  of  calling  a  convention  to  frame  a  new  con- 
stitution was  very  small." 

This  question  became  soon  an  issue  of  politics.  The  Federalists 
upheld  the  doctrine  that  the  Charter  was  a  valid  constitution.  The 
Anti-Federalists,  or  the  "  Republicans  "  as  they  called  themselves, 
or  the  **  Democrats "  as  their  opponents  called  them,  maintained 
that  the  Charter  was  not  a  valid  constitution.  The  Anti-Federal- 
ists, or  Democrats,  by  which  name  we  shall  hereafter  call  them,  as 
they  thus  soon  came  to  be  historically  known,  date  their  existence 
as  a  separate  party,  according  to  Mr.  Trumbull,  from  the  *^  Middle- 
town  Convention,"  of  September  30,  1783.  This  was  called  to 
oppose  the  "Commutation  act"  by  which  Congress  granted  five 
years'  full  pay  to  the  officers  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  in  lieu  of 
half-pay  for  life.  The  adjourned  meeting  of  this  convention,  which 
presented  a  remonstrance  to  the  General  Assembly  against  the 
Commutation  act,  contained  representatives  from  about  fifty 
towns,  a  majority  of  all  the  towns  in  the  state.  This  shows  that 
from  its  very  beginning  the  new  party  had  at  least  a  respectable 
basis  for  its  existence.  On  the  question  of  ratifying  the  Federal 
constitution  in  the  convention  of  1788,  ratification  was  carried  by 
about  a  three -fourths  vote,  128  to  40.  "This,"  says  Mr.  Trumbull, 
"  nearly  represents  the  relative  strength  of  the  two  parties  in  Con- 
necticut at  this  time  and  for  some  years  afterwards."  Mr.  Trum- 
bull gives  a  list  of  the  prominent  Democratic  leaders  of  this  period, 
including,  as  he  says,  "  distinguished  patriots  of  the  Revolution  and 
men  of  influence  in  the  General  Assembly."  In  this  list  are  Wil 
liam  Williams  of  Lebanon,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, Gen.  James  Wads  worth  of  Durham,  Gen.  Erastus  Wolcott 
of  East  Windsor,  and  (a  name  that  is  of  special  interest  to  readers 
of  this  history)  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  of  Waterbury. 

A  curious  feature  of  the  struggle  now  beginning  is  to  be  found 
in  the  sneers  levelled  at  Connecticut  conservatism.  The  fact  that 
Connecticut  was  so  "  slow-going  "  as  to  rest  satisfied  with  a  consti- 
tution which  was  a  relic  of  monarchy  afforded  infinite  opportunity 
for  jest  to  Democratic  editors,  pamphleteers  and  orators.  ^These 
sneers  were  by  no  means  confined  to  the  state.  Mr.  Trumbull 
quotes  Cheetham's  paper,  the  Republican  Watch- Tower  of  New  York, 
as  saying  in  its  issue  of  June  17,  1801: 

The  sentiments  of  the  state  [Connecticut]  have  been  marked,  as  well  while  a 
colony  as  now,  with  a  steadiness  that  excludes  both  retrogradation  and  advance- 
ment.    Like  an  isthmus,   inanimate  and  immovable,   she  bids  defiance  to  the 


AK  ERA  OF  REGONaTRUGTION, 


507 


meliorating  progression  made  on  both  sides  of  her.  The  advancement  of  political 
science  generated  by  our  Revolution  has  neither  changed  her  constitution  nor 
affected  her  steady  habits.  ...  A  fanatic  veneration  for  a  pampered,  deluding 
and  anti-Christian  priesthood,  renders  [her  people]  the  dupes  of  their  cunning,  and 
subservient  to  their  power.  .  .  .  And  the  citizens,  really  honest,  but  enveloped 
in  superstition,  are  converted  into  instruments  by  the  cunning  of  their  priestly  rul- 
ers, to  debase  themselves  and  to  exalt  their  oppressors. 

In  the  last  clauses  of  this  remarkable  tirade  the  really  sensitive 
spot  in  the  workings  of  the  state  government  under  the  charter  is 
at  last  touched.  That  tender  spot  was  the  irritation  over  the  posi- 
tion as  an  established  church  which  was  held  by  the  Congregational 
body.  The  agitation  against  the  established  church,  which  finally 
aroused  the  Episcopalians  and  the  other  non-conformists — how 
odd  it  seems  to  apply  the  term  "  non-conformist  **  to  the  Episco- 
pal church;  but  that  was  its  exact  status  in  Connecticut  for  many 
years — became  in  the  end  strong  enough,  in  conjunction  with  the 
issue  made  against  the  charter  by  the  Democrats  as  a  party,  to 
overthrow  it  and  bring  about  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of 
1818.  But  this  is  some  years  in  advance  of  the  publication  of  the 
squib  from  Cheetham's  paper  above  quoted.  In  the  spring  election 
of  1805  the  principal  issue  was  a  new  constitution,  but  the  Federal- 
ists and  supporters  of  "  steady  habits  "  easily  carried  the  day.  Soon 
came  the  events  which  led  to  the  war  of  18 12  and  the  inauguration 
of  new  industries,  already  described,  and  for  a  time  the  thoughts  of 
the  people  were  diverted  from  the  question  of  Charter  versus  con- 
stitution. The  agitation  was  renewed  in  18 16,  and  reached  success 
the  following  year.  The  conditions  which  led  to  the  agitation 
against  the  established  church,  resulting  in  its  overthrow,  are  thus 
sketched  by  Mr.  Trumbull: 

By  a  colony  law  of  May,  1697,  every  town  and  society  was  required  to  provide 
annually  for  the  maintenance  of  their  minister  in  accordance  with  the  agreement 
made  at  settlement,  by  a  tax  levied  "  on  the  several  inhabitants  according  to  their 
respective  estates."  A  minister  settled  by  the  major  part  of  the  householders  of  a 
town  or  society  was,  by  a  law  passed  in  1699,  to  be  accounted  the  lawful  minister 
of  such  town  or  society,  and  the  agreement  made  with  him  was  declared  to  be  bind- 
ing on  "  all  of  such  towns."  And  when  in  1708  the  General  Assembly,  by  an  act 
"for  the  ease  of  such  as  soberly  dissent  from  the  way  of  worship  and  ministry 
established  by  the  ancient  laws  of  this  government  and  still  continuing,"  extended 
to  all  qualified  dissenters  in  the  colony  the  same  liberty  and  privileges  granted  by 
the  toleration  act  of  William  and  Mary,  it  was  with  the  special  proviso  that  this 
should  not  be  construed  "  to  the  excusing  of  any  person  from  paying  any  such 
minister  or  town  dues  as  are  now  or  shall  be  hereafter  due  from  them." 

In  1727  an  act  was  passed  directing  that  all  taxes  collected  for  support  of  the 
ministry  from  members  of  the  Church  of  England  should  be  paid  to  the  settled 
minister  of  that  church;  and  if,  in  any  parish,  the  amount  so  paid  should  be  insuf- 


5o8  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

ficient  to  support  the  minister,  the  members  of  his  church  were  authorized  to  tax 
themselves  for  the  deficiency.  Two  years  afterward,  similar  privileges  were  granted 
to  Quakers  and  Baptists.  At  the  revision  of  the  laws  in  1784  [the  period  which  we 
have  under  consideration]  the  act  of  1708,  recognizing  "  established  churches,"  was 
omitted;  and  in  October,  1791,  the  General  Assembly  passed  '*an  act  securing 
equal  rights  and  privileges  to  Christians  of  every  denomination  in  this  state.*' 
Every  dissenter  [meaning  Episcopalians,  Quakers,  Baptists,  and  others  not  Congre- 
gationalists],  who  should  lodge  with  the  clerk  of  an  ecclesiastical  society  a  certifi- 
cate of  his  having  joined  himself  to  any  other  than  the  established  denomination 
was,  "  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  ordinarily  to  attend  on  the  worship  and  ministry 
in  the  church  or  congregation  to  which  he  has  chosen  to  belong,"  exempted  from 
the  payment  of  society  taxes  for  the  support  of  public  worship  or  the  ministry. 
And  all  churches  and  congregations  of  dissenters  so  formed  were  empowered  to 
tax  themselves  for  maintaining  their  ministers,  building  meeting-houses,  etc 

This,  it  would  at  first  seem,  was  a  sufficient  recognition  of  inde- 
pendence to  satisfy  the  Episcopalians,  Quakers,  Baptists  and  other 
dissenters.  But  the  mere  fact  that  they  had  to  lodge  their  certifi- 
cates with  the  clerk  of  a  Congregational  church  in  order  to  escape 
taxation  was  regarded  by  these  dissenters  as  a  badge  of  inferiority 
and  was  resented.  On  the  other  hand,  those  who  did  not  belong  to 
any  church,  and  did  not  care  to  connect  themselves  nominally  with 
any,  were  under  the  law  still  liable  to  be  taxed  for  the  support  of 
the  established  Congregational  churches.  Episcopalians  also  had 
another  grievance.  The  legislature's  refusal  to  grant  the  powers 
and  privileges  of  a  college  to  the  Episcopal  academy  at  Cheshire, 
or  to  grant  a  charter  for  a  new  Episcopal  college  in  Connecticut, 
especially  when  contrasted  with  the  generosity  of  the  General 
Assembly  to  Yale,  made  the  members  of  that  communion  feel  very 
sore  toward  the  existing  regime.  A  measure  of  conciliation  was 
passed  in  October,  i8t6,  by  which  the  balances  due  the  state  from 
the  United  States,  on  account  of  disbursements  for  the  general 
defence  in  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  were  divided  up  between 
the  different  denominations,  the  established  church  getting  a 
third,  the  Episcopal  Bishop's  fund  a  seventh,  and  Yale  college 
a  seventh.  But  this  division  pleased  nobody  and  the  irritation 
was  not  allayed.  In  1794,  the  Episcopal  society  here  in  Water- 
bury  was  strong  enough  to  give  out  contracts  for  the  building  of  a 
new  church.  The  questions,  then,  which  agitated  the  Episcopalians 
and  other  dissenters  in  the  rest  in  the  state  must  have  aroused 
no  little  feeling  here  in  Waterbury. 

The  final  triumph  of  the  champions  of  a  new  constitution  was 
effected  by  an  alliance  made  in  181 6  between  the  Democrats  and 
the  Episcopalians.  In  that  year,  a  "  toleration "  ticket  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  opposition  to  the  Federalists.     At  its  head  was  placed 


AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION,  509 

Oliver  Wolcott,  formerly  a  strong  Federalist,  but  one  who  had 
opposed  the  re-nomination  of  John  Adams,  and  who  had  for  the 
last  eight  or  ten  years  approved  in  a  general  way  the  course  of  the 
Democrats  under  President  Madison,  successor  of  JeflEerson.  For 
lieutenant-governor,  Jonathan  IngersoU  of  New  Haven  was  nomi- 
nated. He  was  a  Federalist  in  good  standing,  but  a  prominent 
Episcopalian  and  senior  trustee  of  the  Bishop's  fund.  When  the 
votes  were  counted  it  was  found  that  Mr.  Wolcott  was  defeated, 
but  that  Mr.  IngersoU  was  elected,  he  having  polled  a  considerable 
Federalist  vote.  In  April,  1818,  the  same  ticket  was  re-nominated 
and  Wolcott  and  IngersoU  were  both  elected,  the  anti-Federalists 
also  carrying  the  majority  of  the  Assistants  and  the  majority  of  the 
House.  This  settled  the  fate  of  the  old  charter  which  had  come 
down  from  the  days  of  Charles  II.  The  Democrats  and  Toleration- 
ists  were  united  in  favor  of  the  new  constitution,  while  the  Feder- 
alists were  divided,  the  agitation  having  become  so  strong  that  in 
a  number  of  towns  the  Federal  representatives  were  instructed  to 
vote  for  a  new  constitution.  When  the  General  Assembly  met  in 
May,  i8i8,  Governor  Wolcott  said  in  his  message: 

If  I  correctly  apprehend  the  wishes  which  have  been  expressed  by  a  portion  of 
our  fellow  citizens,  they  are  now  desirous,  as  the  sources  of  apprehension  from  exter- 
nal causes  are  at  present  happily  closed,  that  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judi- 
cial authorities  of  their  own  government  may  be  more  precisely  defined  and  limited, 
and  the  rights  of  the  people  declared  and  acknowledged.  It  is  your  province  to 
dispose  of  this  important  subject  in  such  manner  as  will  best  promote  general  satis- 
faction and  tranquillity. 

The  House  appointed  a  special  committee  to  report  appropriate 
resolutions  under  which  a  convention  could  be  called  for  consider- 
ing a  new  constitution.  By  this  report  the  Fourth  of  July  was 
chosen  as  the  day  when  the  freemen  of  the  towns  should  elect 
delegates  to  the  convention.  Objection  was  raised  to  the  choice  of 
so  patriotic  a  day  for  so  patriotic  an  object  on  the  curious  ground 
that  it  was  too  much  of  a  holiday.  The  animus  of  this  objection 
was  shown  in  the  answer  to  it  made  by  Col.  John  McClellan  of 
Woodstock,  who  said  that,  although  "  he  knew  the  Fourth  of  July 
was  a  merry  day,"  he  yet  thought  that  "  if  the  people  began  early 
in  the  morning  they  would  be  able  to  get  through  before  they  were 
disqualified  to  vote."  Evidently  in  those  days  the  **  merriment"  of 
Fourth  of  July  consisted  largely  of  a  literal  stimulating  of  patriot- 
ism. At  any  rate,  the  elections  of  delegates  to  the  constitutional 
convention  were  held  on  July  4,  181 8,  and  as  a  result  the  Tolera- 
tionists  controlled  the  convention  by  a  considerable  majority.  The 
delegates  from  Waterbury  to  this  convention  were  Timon  Miles  and 


5IO  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUBT. 

Andrew  Adams,  the  latter  a  Salem  (or  Naugatuck)  man.  It  met 
August  26  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Hartford, 
and  Governor  Wolcott  was  elected  president. 

The  question  of  the  establishment  was  disposed  of  in  the  seventh 
article  of  the  new  constitution — the  article  "Of  Religion."  Says 
Mr.  Trumbull: 

The  Federalists  contested  its  passage  at  every  point,  and  succeded  in  modifying 
in  important  particulars  the  draft  of  the  committee,  but  they  could  not  prevent  the 
complete  severance  of  Church  and  State,  the  constitutional  guarantee  of  the  rights 
of  conscience,  or  the  recognition  of  the  absolute  equality  before  the  law  of  all 
Christian  denominations. 

The  constitution  as  finally  accepted  was  approved  by  a  vote  of 
134  to  61.  It  was  then  referred  back  to  the  towns  to  be  voted  upon 
at  the  town  meetings  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  October. 
Mr.  Trumbull  says  that  "  ratification  by  the  people  was  for  some 
time  doubtful."  It  was,  in  its  final  shape,  more  or  less  of  a  com- 
promise and  was  in  some  respects  distasteful  to  the  Democrats, 
and  might,  in  Mr.  Trumbuirs  opinion,  have  failed  of  ratification 
but  for  the  fact  that  many  Federalist  votes  were  given  for  it.  Elias 
Ford  was  the  presiding  officer  of  the  town  meeting  in  Waterbury 
which  decided  the  important  matter  of  ratification.  The  ballots 
were  written,  containing  simply  the  word  "  Yes "  or  "  No."  The 
result  is  thus  recorded  by  the  presiding  officer: 

This  certifies  that  at  a  town  meeting  legally  warned  and  held  at  Waterbury  on 
the  first  Monday  of  October,  1818,  according  to  the  edict  of  the  General  Assembly, 
May  last,  for  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  formed  by  the  Convention,  the 
votes  in  said  town  were  in  the  affirmative  191,  in  the  negative  103. 

There  was  one  other  movement  which  belongs  to  this  period  in 
which  Connecticut  bore  a  prominent  and  honorable  share.  That 
movement  was  the  great  emigration  to  Ohio  by  which  a  new  terri- 
tory was  peopled  with  New  Englanders,  carrying  with  them  to  the 
then  remote  west  their  own  traditions  and  ideals  of  popular  govern- 
ment. The  territory  which  thus  received  the  best  that  New  Eng- 
land had  to  give  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Federal  government 
by  the  voluntary  cession  of  their  claims  by  New  York  and  Connec- 
ticut. Everything  to  which  the  latter  state  laid  claim  was  included 
in  this  cession  of  1780  except  3,230,000  acres  on  the  southern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie  reserved  for  educational  purposes.  The  fund  derived 
from  this  tract  was  thus  applied,  and  is  to-day,  and  in  1800  Connec- 
ticut surrendered  all  rights  in  this  territory  to  the  United  States. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam  of  Massa- 
chusetts formed  a  plan  for  settling  in  these  ceded  lands  the  penni- 


Alf  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION. 


511 


less  soldiers  of  the  war,  Congress  to  sell  them  the  lands  at  a  nomi- 
nal price.  Congress  would  thus  obtain  an  income  and  make  to  them 
some  substantial  return  for  their  services  which,  with  the  treasury 
depleted  as  it  was,  it  was  impossible  to  make  in  any  other  way. 
The  matter  was  formally  taken  up  by  Holden  Parsons  of  Connecti- 
cut and  Rufus  Putnam,  Manasseh  Cutler,  Winthrop  Sargent  and 
others  of  Massachusetts.  They  formed  a  joint  stock  company  for 
the  purchase  of  lands  on  the  Ohio  river  and  for  the  settlement 
there  of  impecunious  veterans  of  good  character.  Before  this  com- 
pany could  carry  out  its  purpose,  it  was  necessary  for  Congress — it 
should  be  remembered  that  this  was  in  1787  and  that  the  constitu- 
tion was  not  adopted  until  1789 — to  formulate  general  principles 
for  the  government  of  the  northwestern  territory.  The  man  who 
was  most  prominent  in  obtaining  from  Congress  the  necessary  leg- 
islation was  Dr.  Manasseh  Cutler,  then  forty-five  years  of  age  and 
a  graduate  of  Yale.  After  graduation  he  had  taken  degrees  in  the 
three  learned  professions  of  divinity,  law  and  medicine,  and  had 
gained  as  well  a  considerable  reputation  as  a  man  of  science.  In 
addition  to  these  advantages,  he  was  gifted  with  a  charm  of  man- 
ner and  knowledge  of  men  that  made  him  a  true  diplomat  in  his 
skill  in  dealing  with  the  members  of  a  legislative  body.  The  ordi- 
nance of  1787  which  defined  the  principles  of  government  in  the 
northwestern  territory — a  remarkable  assumption  of  Federal 
authority  by  a  body  so  generally  pusillanimous  as  was  Congress 
then — and  which  in  Daniel  Webster's  opinion  produced  "  effects  of 
more  distinct,  marked,  and  lasting  character"  than  probably  any 
other  single  law  by  any  law-giver,  was  in  the  main  the  work  of 
Manasseh  Cutler.  Under  this  ordinance  of  1787  the  territory  was 
governed  by  officers  appointed  by  Congress,  there  was  unqualified 
freedom  of  public  worship  with  no  religious  tests  for  any  public 
officials,  and  slavery  was  not  permitted,  although  slave-owners  were 
allowed  to  reclaim  runaway  slaves  who  escaped  into  the  territory. 

Connecticut  had  already  shown  that  alertness  of  spirit  which 
finds  a  natural  outlet  in  emigration,  as  attested  by  her  settlements 
in  the  Genesee  region  and  in  the  Wyoming  valley,  which  last  had 
<:aused  her  many  bloody  controversies  with  Pennsylvania.  It  was, 
then,  what  one  would  have  anticipated,  to  find  Connecticut  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  initial  Ohio  movement.  One  of  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany's first  bands  of  pioneers  left  Danvers,  Mass.,  in  December, 
1787.  The  second  band  followed  from  Hartford  in  the  following 
January  under  the  leadership  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Sproat.  They 
encountered  obstacles  that  would  have  proved  insurmountable  to 
less  determined  men.     The  Alleghanies  were  almost   impassible. 


512 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 


Gen.  Rufus  Putnam  says  in  his  journal  that  they  "found  nothing- 
had  crossed  the  mountains  since  the  great  snow,  and  the  old  snow, 
twelve  inches  deep,  nothing  but  pack-horses."  Gen.  Putnam  adds  : 
"Our  only  resource  was  to  build  sleds  and  harness  our  horses  to 
them  tandem,  and  in  this  way,  with  four  sleds  and  men  marching  in 
front,  we  set  forward."  After  overcoming  such  obstacles  as  these, 
the  expedition  finally  arrived  in  April  at  what  is  now  Marietta. 
They  built,  for  protection  against  Indians,  a  substantial  stockade 
containing  a  building  with  seventy-two  rooms,  where  in  case  of 
necessity  nine  hundred  people  could  be  accommodated.  It  was 
classically  christened  "Campus  Martins." 

The  experiment  thus  auspiciously  begun,  and  favored  by  Wash- 
ington and  other  leading  men  not  interested  in  the  company,  did 
not  prosper  as  was  at  first  anticipated.  Indian  wars,  besides  the 
direct  loss  of  valuable  lives,  prevented  the  material  success  of  the 
farmers  and  for  a  time  frightened  others  from  joining  them.  The 
whole  movement  was  exposed  to  a  merciless  fire  of  ridicule  in  New 
England,  which,  though  unwarranted,  no  doubt  proved  a  strong 
deterrent  to  emigration.  When  at  last  Marietta  had  fought  its  way 
to  an  assured  existence,  the  settlement  at  Cincinnati  and  the  gen- 
eral opening  up  of  the  Western  Reserve  region  (Connecticut's  own 
peculiar  domain)  had  proved  formidable  rivals.  At  last  the  special 
Ohio  emigration  movement  is  merged,  as  the  end  of  our  period 
approaches,  in  the  general  emigration  movement  to  the  entire  tract 
included  in  the  Northwest. 

The  closeness  of  tie  binding  Connecticut  to  the  Ohio  settlements 
is  well  stated  by  Alfred  Matthews  in  his  article,  "The  Earliest  Set- 
tlement in  Ohio,"  contributed  to  Harper's  Magazine  for  September, 
1885.     Mr.  Matthews  says: 

The  Western  Reserve  as  a  whole  is  essentially  a  reproduction  of  Connecticut — 
a  copy  in  which  the  colors  of  the  prototjrpe  appear  at  once  faded  and  freshened; 
but  Marietta  is  a  brilliant,  faithfully  exact  miniature  of  New  England — a  picture  in 
which  not  only  the  outward  form  of  resemblance,  but  the  very  spirit  of  likeness,  is 
presented.  .  .  .  The  traveller  from  Massachusetts  or  Connecticut,  who  feels  a 
most  uncomfortable  stranger  within  the  gates  of  almost  any  other  town  along  the 
Ohio,  finds  himself  at  home  in  Marietta.  If  he  sojourns  there  a  few  days,  he  dis- 
covers that  the  names  of  the  people  whom  he  meets  are  familiar  ones  in  his  native 
state.  It  requires  no  stretch  of  imagination  to  detect  resemblances  to  New  Eng- 
land facial  types,  to  New  England  manners  and  to  New  England  speech.  The  sub- 
stantial dwellings  have  a  comfortable,  thrifty  appearance,  a  homely  dignity  of 
expression  which  recalls  those  of  the  older  Eastern  States.  The  stately  elms  which 
shade  the  streets  and  spacious  door  yards  offer  a  pleasant  suggestion  of  a  New  Eng- 
land village;  the  surrounding  landscape  seems  but  to  sustain  the  illusion;  and  even 
the  little  steamboats  upon  the  Muskingum  are  like  those  which  ply  upon  the  Con- 
necticut river  far  up  in  Massachusetts. 


AN  ERA  OF  BEC0N8TBU0TI0N,  513 

Mr.  Matthews  also  notes  that  in  the  year  1800  the  Muskingum 
academy  was  opened  at  Marietta,  the  first  advanced  school  in  the 
state  of  Ohio.  It  was  presided  over  by  David  Putnam,  a  graduate 
of  Yale  and  a  grandson  of  Gen.  Israel  Putnam. 

Waterbury  had  its  share  in  this  noble  pioneer  enterprise  which 
laid  deep  and  strong  the  foundations  of  New  England  life  in  what 
was  then  a  wilderness.  A  number  from  this  vicinity  joined  the 
Ohio  emigration  movement,  encountering  hardships  which  it  is 
difficult  to-day  to  realise  in  establishing  their  new  homes  in  the 
forest.  Among  those  of  whose  removal  to  Ohio  we  have  reliable 
data — furnished  by  the  late  Mrs.  Caroline  A.  Barnes  of  Tallmadge, 
O. — is  Esther  Upson,  who  was  born  in  Waterbury  in  1799,  married 
Amadeus  Sperry,  united  with  the  First  church  under  the  preaching 
of  the  evangelist  Dr.  Asahel  Nettleton,  and  set  out  in  July,  1819, 
with  her  family  in  an  ox  team  for  Tallmadge,  arriving  there  the 
following  September.  Another  Waterbury  woman  whose  home  was 
in  Tallmadge,  was  Mrs.  Jane  Saxton.  She  died  there  in  her  ninety- 
ninth  year,  the  oldest  resident  of  the  place.  Two  Waterbury  broth- 
ers, Lucius  and  Abner  Hitchcock,  removed  to  Tallmadge  in  the 
spring  of  1822.  Abner's  wife  was  a  Waterbury  woman,  Emma,  daugh- 
ter of  Reuben  Upson,  and  it  is  related  that  they  began  their  house- 
keeping in  a  log  house  like  the  rest  of  their  neighbors.  Still  another 
Waterbury  woman,  Mrs.  Emeline  Fenn,  who  removed  with  her 
father's  family  to  Tallmadge  in  1820,  made  the  journey  from  Con- 
necticut to  Ohio  in  an  ox  team.  Of  Ebenezer  Richardson,  who  was 
a  native  of  Middlebury,  and  who  removed  to  Tallmadge  in  Febru- 
ary, 181 9,  it  is  related  that  he  made  four  journeys  to  Connecticut  on 
foot  to  pay  visits  to  his  old  friends,  and  also  returned  on  foot.  On 
one  of  these  journeys  he  started  in  company  with  a  man  who  trav- 
elled on  horseback.  So  good  a  pedestrian  was  Mr.  Richardson  that 
he  reached  Waterbury  two  days  in  advance  of  the  man  who  had  a 
horse  to  ride. 

These  little  incidents,  more  or  less  trivial  in  themselves,  throw 
a  strong  light  on  the  perils  which  they  had  to  endure  who  tried  the 
hazard  of  new  fortunes  in  the  days  of  the  Ohio  emigration.  It 
gives  us  of  these  modern  days  a  certain  sense  of  appreciative  near- 
ness to  their  noble  struggles  and  achievements  to  find  among  them 
those  who  can  lay  claim  to  an  original  home  here  in  Waterbury. 

With  this  inadequate  sketch  of  the  Ohio  movement,  we  bring 
the  history  of  the  period  to  an  appropriate  close.  It  was  in  many 
respects  the  most  remarkable  period  in  our  country's  history.  It 
saw  the  adoption  of  a  new  constitutipn,  which  has  been  the  admira- 
tion of  the  world,  and  the  successful  launching  of  an  experiment 

33 


5U 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATEHBUR7, 


in  popular  government  hitherto  untried  on  any  immense  scale. 
It  was  a  period  which  included  great  changes  in  the  life  of  Europe 
through  the  French  Revolution  and  the  rise  of  Napoleon,  and  by 
those  changes  the  life  of  our  own  country  was  affected  to  no  incon- 
siderable degree.  It  was  a  period  that  saw  the  new  nation  hold 
equal  contest  with  the  mother  country,  and  attain  to  an  unexpected 
supremacy  on  the  sea.  It  was  a  period  in  which  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise and  business  adventure  led  to  results  which  are  only  now 
beginning  to  be  appreciated.  It  was  a  period  in  which  the  initial 
wave  of  immigration  first  invaded  the  great  west.  It  was  a  period 
which  gave  to  Connecticut  a  new  constitution  and  forever  abolished 
hateful  church  distinctions  before  the  law.  During  all  the  upheav- 
als of  the  times,  the  life  of  rural  Waterbury  went  on  in  quiet 
remoteness,  yet  not  in  separation,  from  the  great  events  which 
made  the  world  over. 

SOME    PROMINENT    MEN    OF    THE    PERIOD. 

Lieutenant  Josiah  Bronson,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Morgan) 
Bronson,  was  bom  in  Waterbury,  at  Breakneck,  in  June,  17 13.  He 
was  a  man  of  robust  constitution,  cheerful  disposition  and  iron  will, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  religious,  social  and  military  life 
of  the  town.  He  belonged  to  a  family,  several  members  of  which 
were  Revolutionary  officers. 

On  July  23,  1735,  ^®  married  Dinah,  daughter  of  John  Sutliff, 
who  died  the  following  year.  He  married  his  second  wife,  Sarah, 
the  widow  of  David  Leavenworth  of  Woodbury,  May  15,  1740.  She 
lived  until  August  28,  1767,  and  was  the  mother  of  seven  of  his  chil- 
dren. A  few  months  after  her  death,  that  is,  on  December  23,  1767, 
he  took  to  wife  Rebekah,  relict  of  Joseph  Hurlburt  of  Woodbury. 
After  thirty  years  of  married  bliss  she  passed  away  on  June  5,  1797, 
and  one  year  later  (June  12,  1798)  he  married  Mrs.  Huldah  Williams, 
who  survived  him.  He  died,  February  20,  1804,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
ninety.     (For  his  children  see  Ap.  p.  26.) 

Captain  John  Welton,  the  eldest  son  of  Richard  and  Anna 
(Fen ton)  Welton,  was  born  January  6,  1726-7.  He  was  a  farmer  of 
Bucks  Hill,  and  had  only  the  ordinary  advantages  of  an  English 
education.  From  an  early  period  he  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Episcopal  society  and  held  the  office  of  senior  warden.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
colonies,  became  a  moderate  Whig  and  was  confided  in  by  the 
friends  of  colonial  independence.  In  1784  he  was  appointed  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  the  same  year  was  elected  to  the  legislature, 
of  which  he  was  a  useful  and  much  respected  member  for  fifteen 


AN  ERA  OF  RBC0N8TRVCTI0N. 


sn 


sessions.  It  is  said  that  few  men  were  listened  to  with  more  defer- 
ence than  he.  He  died  January  22,  1816.  (For  his  children  see  Ap, 
p.  151.  A  sketch  of  his  son  Richard  isg^iven  in  Volume  II,  page  238.) 
Captain  Amos  Bronson,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Comfort 
(Baldwin)  Bronson,  was  born  February  3,  1730-1,  at  Mount  Jericho 
near  the   Naugatuck  river.     He  fitted   for  college  with  the  Rev. 


John  Trumbull  of  Westbury,  and  graduated  from  Yale  in  1786.  He 
married  Anna  Blakeslec  of  Plymouth,  and  having  become  through 
her  influence  an  Episcopalian,  educated  his  family  in  that  faith.  He 
named  his  eldest  son  Tillotson,  after  the  distinguished  Church  of 
England  divine  of  that  name. 


5i6  BISTORT  OF  WATBRBURT, 

Captain  Bronson  built  the  turnpike  road  extending  along  the 
banks  of  the  Naugatuck  from  Jericho  to  Salem  bridge,  which  in 
those  days  was  considered  an  achievement  of  no  ordinary  kind. 
The  new  road  obviated  the  necessity  which  had  before  existed  of 
fording  the  stream  six  times,  and  removing  twenty-five  or  thirty 
sets  of  bars  in  journeying  between  the  two  places  which  it  con- 
nected. He  died  in  September,  1819.  (For  his  children  see  Ap.  p.  23. 
A.  Bronson  Alcott,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  in  the  chapter  on 
literature,  was  his  grandson  and  namesake.) 

Deacon  Thomas  Fenn,  the  son  of  Thomas  Fenn  of  Wallingford, 
was  bom  in  that  town  in  1733,  and  while  still  quite  young  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Westbury.  On  April  19,  1760,  he  married 
Abiah,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Anna  (Fenton)  Welton.  He  served 
as  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  a  representative 
first  of  Waterbury,  and  afterward  of  Watertown,  in  the  legisla- 
ture. It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  for  thirty-five  sessions,  beginning  in  1778.  He  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  the  office  of  deacon  in  the  Watertown 
Congregational  church  for  many  years.  Throughout  his  long  life 
he  was  an  influential  citizen,  much  respected  by  his  fellow-towns- 
men. He  died  August  i,  1818.  (For  a  list  of  his  children  see 
Ap.  p.  50.) 

Lieutenant  Jared  Hill  was  born  in  North  Haven  in  1735.  He 
married  Eunice  Tuttle,  who  was  bom  in  the  same  town  in  1737. 
Both  were  descended  from  the  first  colonists  of  New  Haven,  Eunice 
Tuttle  being  a  direct  descendant  of  William  Tuttle.  They  removed 
to  Waterbury  in  1784,  and  purchased  a  farm  on  East  Mountain. 
They  had  twelve  children,  all  of  whom,  except  Samuel,  were  born 
in  North  Haven.  Jared  Hill  was  a  private  in  the  French  and 
Indian  war  and  a  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  good  soldier.     He  died  April  20,  18 16. 

Samuel  Hill,  the  youngest  son  of  Lieutenant  Jared  Hill,  was 
born  in  Waterbury,  September  4,  1784.  In  1807  he  married  Polly 
Brackett,  eldest  daughter  of  Giles  and  Sarah  Brackett,  who  was 
born  in  North  Haven,  November  17,  1786.  He  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  summer  during  his  life,  but  taught  school  in  winter.  He 
was  a  fine  musician  and  served  in  the  capacity  of  fife  major  in  the 
Second  regiment  from  1807  to  18 18.  In  the  chapter  on  literature 
he  appears  also  as  a  poet.  He  died  April  26,  1834.  After  his  death 
the  family  removed  to  Naugatuck,  where  his  wife  died  October  8, 
1853.  Both  were  buried  in  the  Grand  street  cemetery,  and  their 
remains  were  afterward  removed  to    Riverside.      For  their  first 


AN  ERA  OF  REGONBTBUCTION.  517 

four  children  see  Ap.  p.  65.  Besides  these  there  were  two  others, 
Ellen  Maria  and  Robert  Wakeman.  (For  R.  W.  Hill  see  under 
"Architecture"  in  the  second  volume.) 

Lieutenant  Aaron  Benedict,  the  son  of  Captain  Daniel  and 
Sarah  (Hickok)  Benedict,  was  born  in  Danbury,  January  17,  i745- 
In  1770  he  removed  to  Waterbury,  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of 
what  is  now  Middlebury.  He  was  a  leading  man  of  the  town,  and 
represented  it  in  the  legislature  of  1809-10.  He  served  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  and  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Mr.  Benedict  was  a  true  type  of  the  old-time,  strong- 
minded,  public-spirited  man.  He  was  possessed  of  much  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  and  was  the  builder  as  well  as  an  owner  to  a  large 
extent  of  the  Straits  turnpike,  in  the  days  when  turnpikes  held 
the  same  relation  to  the  country  at  large  as  railroads  do  at  the 
present  time.  On  December  13,  1769,  he  married  Esther  Trow- 
bridge, and  died  December  16,  1841.     (See  Ap.  p.  i8.) 

Giles  Brackett  (written  also  Brockett)  was  born  in  North 
Haven,  April  30,  1761.  On  November  17,  1785,  he  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Stephen  Smith  of  East  Haven.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  descendants  of  the  first  New  Haven  colonists,  and  his 
mother  was  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Rev.  James  Pierpont.  He 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  was  bred  a  farmer,  enlisted 
and  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  at  its  close  returned  to 
his  farm  in  New  Haven.  In  1800  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Waterbury.  He  lived  first  at  East  Farms,  and  afterwards  bought  a 
farm  on  what  is  now  Dublin  street.  He  was  a  representative  in 
the  General  Assembly  in  1809.  He  and  his  wife  were  for  many 
years  members  of  the  First  church.  They  were  persons  of  a  happy 
temperament,  very  courteous  in  demeanor,  generous  and  thought- 
ful of  the  happiness  of  others,  honored  and  beloved  by  their  family 
and  friends.  Mr.  Brackett  died  June  2,  1842,  and  his  wife  Novem- 
ber 27,  1841. 

Ethel  Bronson  was  born  in  Waterbury,  West  Farms  (now 
Middlebury),  July  22,  1765.  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Brocket)  Bronson,  and  a  younger  brother  of  Dr.  Isaac  Bronson 
(Vol.  II,  p.  861).  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  town,  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  a  member  of  the  legislature  for  six  sessions.  In 
May,  1804,  he  removed  to  Rutland,  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
became  the  agent  of  his  brother  Isaac  for  the  sale  of  lands.  He 
was  three  times  elected  to  the  New  York  legislature,  was  judge  of 
the  county  court  in  1813,  and  was  president  of  the  Jefferson  County 
bank.  On  December  30,  1787,  he  married  Hepzibah,  daughter  of 
Joseph   Hopkins,  and   died   in  1825.     "He  was   not  ambitious  for 


5i8  HIBTOBY  OF  WATERBURT. 

public  office,  but  in  those  qualties  that  make  a  good  citizen,  a  kind 
neighbor  and  a  valued  friend,  he  was  preeminent.  He  was  kind 
and  liberal  almost  to  a  fault,  yet  public  spirited  and  enterprising, 
and  possessed  a  character  marked  by  the  strictest  integrity,"  (See 
Ap.  p.  ZS-) 


Giles  Ives  was  born  at  North  Haven,  April  25,  1774.  On  October 
9,  1799,  he  married  Abigail  Gilbert  of  Hamden,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  Waterbury.  He  lived  on  West  Main  street,  a  little  west 
of  State  street.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  a  quiet  man.  but  greatly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.     He  owned  land  near  his  home  on 


AN  ERA  OF  RECONSTRUCTION. 


519 


West  Main  street,  and  State  street  was  opened  through  his  prop- 
erty.    (For  his  children  see  Ap.  p.  76.) 

The  Hon.  Alvin  Bronson,  second  son  of  Josiah  and  Tabitha 
(Tuttle)  Bronson,  and  grandson  of  Lieutenant  Josiah  Bronson,  was 
born  May  19,  1783.  He  attended  the  district  school  in  winter  and 
worked  at  farming  in  summer  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  spent  twelve  months  in  the  family  of  Captain  Isaac 
Bronson,  being  engaged  as  an  errand  boy  in  a  small  country  store. 
For  the  next  three  years  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  store  of 
Irijah  Tyrrel,  in  Salem  society.  Afterwards  for  one  quarter  he 
attended  the  well  known  school  of  James  Morris,  Litchfield  South 
Farms,  and  completed  his  education  by  spending  a  year  with  the 
Middlebury  pastor,  the  Rev.  Ira  Hart.  Thus  qualified,  and  before 
the  age  of  seventeen,  he  taught  a  district  school  in  Woodbridge. 

After  serving  again  as  a  clerk  for  a  year  and  half,  he  went  into 
business  as  a  merchant  on  Long  Wharf,  New  Haven,  and  for  four 
years  conducted  a  successful  trade  with  the  West  Indies.  He  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  coasting  trade  on  the  great  lakes,  and  with 
his  partners  conducted  the  larger  part  of  the  commerce  of  the 
lakes  for  the  two  years  preceding  the  war  of  1812.  They  established 
a  store  at  Oswego — which  afterwards  became  his  home — and 
another  at  Lewiston.  During  the  war  he  was  appointed  military 
and  naval  storekeeper,  and  was  captured  with  the  remnant  of 
stores  on  hand.  After  the  war  the  business  was  resumed,  and  car- 
ried on  until  1822.  In  1822  he  was  elected  to  the  New  York  state 
senate,  and  in  1829  was  returned  again  and  placed  on  the  finance 
committee,  upon  which  he  served  for  three  years.  As  chairman  of 
that  committee  he  prepared  an  elaborate  report  on  capital,  cur- 
rency, banking  and  interest,  which  was  published  as  **  Senate  Docu- 
ment, No.  106,  April  12,  1833,"  and  attracted  much  attention. 

He  furnished  to  Dr.  Bronson's  History  of  Waterbury  an  inter- 
esting autobiography  which  fills  pages  450  to  455. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  LIFE  OF  THE  PEOPLE  FROM  1783  TO  1825 — THEIR  MANNER  OF  DRESS 
AND  THEIR  CUSTOMS — THEIR  HOLIDAYS  AND  HOW  THEY  OBSERVED 
THEM — THE  WAY  IN  WHICH  THEY  LIGHTENED  THEIR  TOIL  BY 
MAKING  PLAY  OF  WORK — THEIR  OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SABBATH — 
SOME  DISTINCTIONS  IN  EARLY  MORALS — THEIR  AMUSEMENTS  PURE 
AND  SIMPLE — SOME  OF  THE  PROMINENT  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE 
"AGE    OF   HOMESPUN." 

IN  the  chapter  preceding  this  we  have  considered  the  principal 
events  which  belong  to  the  period  from  1783  to  1825,  both 
national,  state  and  local.  We  may  now  turn  from  the  things 
which  the  people  did  and  the  things  which  happened  to  them,  to 
the  people  themselves,  the  manner  of  their  life,  how  they  dressed, 
their  interests,  amusements  and  customs.  As  we  all  know  in  a 
general  way,  the  inhabitants  of  Waterbury  early  in  the  century  did 
not  fret  greatly  about  the  fashions,  although  they  looked  to  France 
for  them  in  those  days  just  as  we  do  to-day.  The  men  wore  broad- 
brimmed  hats,  broad-tailed  coats  with  huge  pockets,  long  waistcoats, 
breeches  and  worsted  socks.  The  socks,  except  those  of  the  parson 
and  the  doctor,  which  were  silk,  were  knit  at  home  by  the  wives. 
The  women  had  small  pinched  bonnets,*  linen  short-gowns  for  work, 
and  dresses  with  the  waist  as  abrupt  as  possible  and  the  skirt  very 
scant.  Pretty  girls,  however,  never  looked  prettier  than  they  did 
in  those  days,  with  muslin  "Vandykes"  over  their  shoulders.  The 
house-mothers  had  small  shawls  worn  in  the  same  way.  Their 
garb,  uncouth  as  it  may  seem  to  us  to-day,  was  suited  to  their  needs, 
and,  being  home-made,  endured  "to  the  third  and  fourth  genera- 
tion." Almost  every  woman  possessed  one  good  silk  gown  brought 
from  over  the  sea,  carefully  laid  away  in  lavender  in  her  chest  of 
drawers,  to  be  looked  at  on  stated  occasions,  smoothed  with  a  lov- 
ing hand  and  put  by  again  with  a  half -sigh  for  memory's  dear  sake. 
Portraits  taken  at  this  date,  showing  the  styles  abroad,  give  dresses 


*  In  z8o8,  at  the  New  England  Methodist  Conference  in  New  London,  the  women  had  donned  these 
*'  mode'*  bonnets  as  the  proper  head-gear  for  this  solemn  occasion.  During  the  week  before,  the  one  mil- 
liner of  the  town  had  made  seventeen  of  these,  each  one  a  little  more  **  pinched  "  than  the  preceding;  a 
minute  model  for  them  having  been  brought  by  a  circuit  preacher  from  Middletown  in  a  snuff-box !  The 
reader  will  remember  how  the  elderly  maiden  in  Longfellow's  "  Hyperion,"  having  but  a  scant  supply  of 
ribbon,  as  she  sat  on  the  left  side  of  the  aisle,  charged  her  milliner  to  "  put  the  bow  on  the  meetin'-house 
side  of  the  bunnit." 


LIFE  IN  THE  '*  AGE  OF  HOMESPUN," 


S2I 


much  like  the  recent  popular  "  princess "  robe.     One  of  these  pic- 
tured ladies,  in  a  toilet  worn  at  Madam  Washington's  first  reception, 
has  on  a  huge  brown  hat  flaring  at  the  crown,  with  a  heavy  cord  and 
tassel  knotted  round  it  above  the  brim.     In  1811  a  woman  looked  as 
if  clothed  in   a  long,  scant,  loose  gown,  corded  at  the  waist  with 
many  frogs  d  la  militaire  down  the  front.     The  bonnet  was  as  much 
like  a  coal-scuttle  as  anything  to  which  we  can  compare  it,  with  an 
amazing  knot  of  feathers  over  the  edge,  the  hair  bunched  above  the 
eyes  and  curled  down  on  the  cheeks  like  "Crazy  Jane."     By  1815 
the  brim  had  spread,  the  crown  in  style  like  a  two-quart  measure 
rose  with  a  mass  of  plumes  on  one  side,  and  a  military  cape,  much 
trimmed,  covered  the  shoulders.     Altogether  madam  looked  like  a 
female  trooper.     In  1820  the  huge-brimmed  hat  came  into  vogue 
and  feathers  galore  topped  it  off.*    The  waists  were  now   "indi- 
cated," the  sleeves  being  high  on  the  shoulders  and  puffed  to  the 
wrist.    A  turnover  collar,  a  knotted  scarf  and  a  heavy,  brilliant 
long  shawl  with  embossed  borders  were  "all  the  go."    The  hair  was 
parted  in  the  middle  and  much  be-crimped.     By  1828  the  milliners 
had  changed  the  bonnet  to  a  flaring  hat,  with  huge  puffs  of  hair  on 
each  side  of   the  head  and  portentous  bows  wherever  they  could 
stick  them.    An  over-dress,  with  huge  sleeves,  pointed  cuffs,  collars 
reaching  out  beyond  the  shoulders  and  opening  over  an  embroidered 
skirt,  made,  strange  to  say,  a  very  pretty  costume.     The  military 
style  of  181 1  and  1815  had  passed  away  with  the  war,  and  a  really 
lady-like  garb  was  coming  in.     Does  one  think  that  these  changes 
affected   Waterbury  ?    A  writer  speaking  of  New  London,  which 
was  a  maritime  town  with  vessels  constantly  going  and  coming, 
and  thus  keeping  constantly  in  touch  with  the  outside  world,  says 
that  in  1820  the  women  still  clung  to  the  funny  little  close  bonnet 
fastened  on  with  long  pins,  the  plain  linen  cap  with  close  border, 
and  the  short  red  cloak  with  the  hood  falling  back.     The  men  still 
wore  enormous  steel  shoe-buckles  and  vast  checkered  pocket-hand- 
kerchiefs.f    Would  not  the  little  inland  towns  pattern  their  style 
of  dress  after  one  which  knew  "  what  was  what "  in  the  great  out- 
side world,  because  it  was  constantly  "  trading  "  with  it  ? 

We  think  of  those  days,  and  rightly,  as  simple  days,  when  pomp 
and  show  and  vanity  of  -dress  were  but  little  esteemed  as  compared 
with  the  importance  in  which  they  are  held  to-day.  But  do  we  not 
exaggerate  the  simplicity  of  those  earlier  days  ?  At  any  rate,  when 
the  rank  and  fashion  of  the  colonial  time,  and  even  of  the  time 


♦  Ooe»  considered  the  height  of  perfection,  worn  by  a  young  belle  on  her  first  visit  to  the  capital,  would 
have  held  in  its  crown  two  volumes  of  the  Waterbury  History, 
f  Miss  Calkins'  History  of  New  London. 


522 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 


following  the  inauguration  of  the  Republic,  appeared  in  their  finest 
on  some  day  of  state,  the  effect  was  artistically  brilliant  much 
beyond  any  ordinary  gathering  of  our  own  time.  It  must  have 
aroused  a  spirit  of  pride  in  mere  externals  that  savors  very  much 
of  the  same  devotion  to  fashion  which  we  moderns  deplore.  For 
example,  Edmund  Quincy,  in  his  chapter  on  Commencement  day 
contributed  to  the  "  Harvard  Book,"  thus  describes  the  scene: 

The  old  meeting-house,  which  was  admirably  constructed  to  display  an  audi- 
ence, must  have  had  a  gorgeous  effect  in  the  days  of  gold  lace  and  embroidered 
waistcoats  and  peach-bloom  coats,  of  silver- hil ted  rapiers,  of  brocades,  of  the 
"wide  circumference  of  hoops  and  the  towering  altitude  of  crape  cushions."  I 
recollect  a  venerable  lady  telling  me  how  she  sat  up  ail  night  in  an  elbow  chair  the 
night  before  Commencement  in  1753,  for  fear  of  disturbing  the  arrangement  of  her 
hair,  which  had  to  be  dressed  then  or  not  at  all,  such  was  the  demand  for  the  ser- 
vices of  the  fashionable  coiffeur  of  the  time. 

From  this  last  little  incident  it  is  evident  that  the  minor  vanities 
held  strong  sway  then  in  the  feminine  bosom,  and  it  is  not  probable 
that  they  lost  any  of  their  seductive  charm  with  the  passing  of  the 
years. 

But  to  return  from  a  state  occasion  at  New  England's  princi- 
pal capital  to  the  ordinary  life  of  humbler  Waterbury.  We  have 
spoken  of  materials  for  clothing  as  being  raised  at  home.  An  itin- 
erant weaver  *  dressed  other  people's  cloth,  put  up  his  loom  and 
tossed  his  shuttle,  in  nearly  every  household.  He  was  followed  by 
the  tailor,  who  twice  a  year  made  up  the  various  garments  of  the 
various  families.  It  may  be  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection 
the  cost  of  these  humble  services.  We  have  the  bill  of  a  tailor  who 
followed  his  craft  here  in  Waterbury,  for  the  years  1818-20,  for  the 
board  and  other  expenses  of  John  Morse,  son  of  Josiah  Morse,  who 
began  boarding,  so  the  bill  states,  with  the  man  who  presented  it, 
December  17,  1818.    The  items  are  as  follows: 

1818. 

Oct.  28.       To  making  pantelloons,     .                        .  .      $      '33 

To  footing  stockings,  .  .  .25 
1819. 

Jan.  14.       To  making  vest,  .            .              .42 

To  silk  and  twist  for  vest,                                ,  .12 

April  30.    To  cloth  pan telloons  and  making  the  same,  .            2.50 


♦"  To  the  Promoters  of  American  MaDufacture":  William  Russell,  Stocking  Weaver,  "is  positive  that  if 
furnished  with  good  yam— slack-twisted — he  can  turn  out  in  hb  loom  gloves  and  stockings  preferable  to  the 
imported." — Litchfield  Monitor  of  March  6,  //Q?. 

James  Sutton,  one  of  the  first  Irishmen  who  came  to  Waterbury  to  live,  was  a  weaver.  In  18x3  he  worked 
for  Austin  Steele.  Tommy  Hood  of  the  same  trade  fled  to  Waterbury,  having  got  into  trouble  with  the  gov- 
emment. 


LIFE  m  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUNS 


523 


June  8.       To  four  yards  of  cotton  shirting,  33  cents  per  yard,  1.32 

To  making  two  cotton  shirts,  .  .  .  .  .60 
To  one  yard  and  a  half  of  striped  linnen  and  making  the 

same,    .            .            .            .           .            .            .  .75 

To  two  yards  of  woollen  cloth,  one  dollar  and  33  cents 

per  yard,          ......  2.66 

To  trimings  and  making  pantelloons,            .            .  .33 

To  one  pair  of  woollen  stockings,            .            .            .  .50 

To  two  yard  and  quarter  of  woollen  cloth,              .  3.95 

To  making  coat ,    ......  1.50 

To  14  gilt  buttons,        .....  .50 

To  silk  twist  and  thread  for  coat,            .            .            .  .20 

To  cloth  for  pantelloons  and  making,            .            .  1.50 
June  8.       To  two  yards  and  half  of  linnen  cloth,  thread  and  making 

the  same,          ......  i.oo 

To  four  yards  of  cotton  cloth,  thread  and  making,  1.75 

To  triming  and  making  vest,       .            .            .            .  .33 


Nov.  10. 


1820. 
Jan.  12. 
Mays. 


$  20.50 
To  board  and  schooling  at  ten  shilling  per  week  two 

years  ending  Sept.  17,  1820,  .  .  .        173.33 

To  boots  and  shoes  found  by  Andrew  Bryan,         .  10.00 


Total, 


$203.83 


To  provide  shoes  for  the  household,  every  hide  was  saved  and  sent 
to  the  tanner,  being  returned  in  assorted  leather.  The  ambulating 
son  of  Crispin  arrived  at  set  seasons  with  his  lapstone  and  awls, 
and  did  not  leave  until  every  foot  was  shod.  We  have  said  that  the 
woollen  stockings  were  knit  by  "  women-folk  *'  at  evening.  Light 
was  expensive  in  the  remote  days  of  which  we  write,  and  farmers 
and  farmers'  wives  were  too  tired,  even  if  they  had  the  desire,  to 
sit  up  very  late.  Generally,  linless  in  case  of  illness  or  death,  small 
towns  like  Waterbury  were  darkened  ere  daylight  had  fairly  fled. 
As  for  knitting,  however,  experts  could  "set  on,"  or  "bind  off,"  or 
"  round  a  heel,"  by  the  sense  of  touch  alone.  The  tallow  "  dips," 
which  were  the  sole  dependence  for  lighting,  were  expensive, 
although  they  were  home-made.  The  smallest  odds  and  ends  were 
therefore  preserved  and  burnt  out  on  sharp  points  provided  for  the 
purpose,  set  on  a  spring  in  the  handsoitie  brass  candlesticks  which 
had  a  place  in  so  many  households,  heirlooms  from  beyond  the  sea. 
Flax  was  raised  and  put  through  the  various  processes  of  rotting, 
hackling,  dressing,  and  last  of  all,  spinning.  The  little  wheel  was 
a  familiar  friend,  and  ladies  of  wealth  and  position  did  not  scorn  to 
produce  the  finer  kinds  of  thread,  though  in  large  families  the  burden 


524  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT, 

of  this  work  was  generally  borne  by  some  itinerant  spinner.*  The 
women  of  those  days  also  had  the  sensible  habit  of  finding  pleasure 
in  work.  The  girls  of  the  period  were  often  accustomed  to  take 
their  wheels  with  them  when  they  went  to  pay  a  visit,  and  thus  for 
a  day  or  two,  perhaps  longer,  hostess  and  guests  would  pass  the 
hours  of  spinning  in  social  chat. 

Cotton,  that  is,  raw  cotton,  was  as  yet  a  curiosity,  and  it  was  not 
known  whether  it  grew  on  a  plant  or  on  an  animal.f  Every  farmer 
(and  Waterbury  folk  were  principally  agricultural  at  this  time)  pos- 
sessed a  few  sheep,  and  the  wool  from  these  was  spun  at  home. 
Merinos  had  become  a  craze  and  fortunes  were  made  and  lost  in  a 
day.  A  ram  was  sold  for  $1000  and  a  ewe  for  $100.  Col.  Humphrey 
of  Humphreysville  (now  Seymour)  imported  300  in  1810.  The 
Hon.  N.  B.  Smith  of  Woodbury  won  a  fine  gold  medal  as  a  prize 
for  a  ram  exhibited  at  one  of  the  annual  cattle  fairs  of  that  day  at 
Brookline,  Mass.  These  fairs  would  be  counted  remarkable  even 
to-day.  The  cattle  shown  were  often  of  the  finest  breeds  and  came 
from  remote  parts  of  the  several  states.  Returning  from  the  sheep 
to  the  spinning  of  their  wool  in  the  household,  we  find  that  the 
most  ordinary  sight,  as  one  entered,  was  the  dye-tub  which  stood  in 
the  deep  chimney  corner,  well  covered  over.  On  cold  winter  nights 
it  formed  a  most  desirable,  cosy  seat,  which  was  well  appreciated 
by  the  young  people.     S.  G.  Goodrich  tells  us  : 

When  the  night  had  come  and  the  rest  of  the  family  had  gone  to  bed— they  did 
not  "retire"  in  those  days— the  dye-tub  became  the  anxious  seatf  of  some  lover 
whose  lady  fair  sat  demurely  in  the  opposite  corner.  Some  of  the  •'  first  families 
in  Connecticut "  can  tell  of  such  courtships. 

As  was  natural,  the  houses  of  those  days  were  as  unpretentious 
as  the  manner  of  living.  Once  in  a  while  we  find  a  house  which 
might  be  called  a  **  mansion,"  and  contained  a  ball  room,  but  resi- 
dences of  this  class  were  conspicuous  for  their  rarity.  Perhaps  as 
good  a  type  as  any  of  the  better  class  of  houses  was  that  of  Mr.  John 
Nichols.    Afterward  remodelled  it  became  the  residence  of  the  late 

*  John  McCloud,  the  first  ScotchmaD  to  locate  in  Waterbury,'earl/  in  the  century,  was  a  flax-draper. 

It  is  pleasant  to  record  the  fact  that  she  who  did  the  spinning  with  such  amazing  skill  in  the  New 
England  cottage  at  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia  in  1876,  and  also  at  the  *■*■  Wayside  Inn  "  at  the  World*8 
Fair  of  1893  in  Chicago,  is  a  resident  of  Waterbary.  She  was  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes  at  both  those  great 
exhibitions.  People  who  meet  her  to-day,  when  her  spinning-wheel  is  not  in  Bight,  are  surprised  to  find  her 
anything  but  aged  and  snow-white  of  hair.  With  flying  flngers  and  swift  feet  she  makes  the  **  big  wheel" 
sing  and  whirl  merrily.  Those  who  have  the  good  fortune  to  stand  near  her  on  such  an  occasion  have  the 
chance  of  beholding  the  very  "  poetry  of  motion  "  in  the  active  person  of  Miss  Mary  L.  Tower. 

t  In  1894  we  raised  67-zooths  of  the  world's  production  of  cotton  for  that  year. 

X  No  chaperone  was  required  then  or  dreamed  of,  unless,  perchance,  the  coming  in  of  the  '^  father"  to 
wind  up  the  clock  might,  as  it  creaked  aggravatingly,  be  considered  a  suggestion  of  watchfulness  over  a 
pretty  daughter.  Within  the  dye-tub  itself,  associated  with  so  many  possibilities  of  romance,  was  the  "blue" 
for  the  linsey-woolsey  short-gowns,  aprons  and  mixed  stockings. 


LIFE  IN  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN," 


525 


Dr,  James  Brown  and  stood  on  the  site  selected  for  the  new  High 
school.*  This  house,  it  is  said,  as  well  as  several  other  houses  of 
the  class,  was  copied  from  an  old  house  in  Farmington,  built  by  an 
officer  in  Burgoyne's  army  who  was  quartered  there  after  the  sur- 
render.f  There  were  few  wealthy  people  in  Waterbury  at  this 
period,  although  the  story  is  probably  apocryphal  that  but  one  man 
in  the  town  could  get  his  note  discounted  at  the  New  Haven  bank. 
Those  were  the  days  when  $20,000  was  looked  upon  as  a  fortune. 
Socially  speaking,  Farmingbury  (now  Wolcott),  West  Farms  (now 
Middlebury),  and  Westbury  (now  Watertown),  were  probably  in 
advance  of  Waterbury.  They  were  conceded  to  have  greater 
wealth.  A  curious  evidence  of  this  fact  is  found  in  the  superiority 
of  the  Watertown  stores,  for  it  was  generally  customary,  at  least  in 
the  earlier  part  of  our  period,  for  people  here  to  go  to  Watertown 
to  do  their  shopping.  It  took  v«ery  little,  judging  by  our  standard, 
to  make  one  "  well  off.*'  The  family  of  the  widow  Tamar  Hotch- 
kiss,  living  on  East  Mountain,  is  instanced.  This  family  had  money 
at  interest — the  widow  having  received  a  pension  for  her  husband, 
who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution — owned  the  only  cider 
mill  in  the  neighborhood,  and  bought  wheat  flour  by  the  barrel. 
The  "general  run"  of  people  at  this  time  were  satisfied  with  rye 
flour  and  corn  meal  and  an  occasional  ten  pounds  of  wheat,  bought 
for  some  special  occasion,  such  as  Thanksgiving.  This  illustrates, 
in  a  homely  way,  how  little  it  then  took  to  live  in  comparative 
luxury.  Carriages  of  any  sort  were  very  rare  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  There  was  but  one  wheeled  gig  in  Water- 
bury for  a  long  time.  Pleasure  coaches  were  all  imported.  When 
Pierpont  Edwards  drove  through  the  state  in  1798  in  a  four-wheeled 
chariot,  he  attracted  more  attention  than  would  a  coaching  party 
of  New  York  "swells'*  in  a  very  remote  country  village  to-day. 
Most  of  the  travel  that  was  not  on  foot  was  on  horseback,  the 
women,  as  a  rule,  using  pillions  and  riding  behind.  A  little 
later,  the  "riding-cloth**  came  in.  This  was  a  large  piece  of  cloth 
attached  to  the  back  of  the  saddle.  When  in  use  it  was  spread  out 
on  the  horse's  back  and  the  extra  rider  sat  on  it,  facing  the  animal's 
tail.  When  not  in  use  it  was  rolled  up  at  the  back  of  the  saddle. 
Whole  families  went  to  church  on  horseback,  "ride  and  tie,*'  as  it 
was  called.  The  father  and  older  children  started  ahead,  the  mother 
and  the  smaller  ones  following  on  the  back  of  the  family  horse. 
When  the  latter  overtook  the  pedestrians  there  was  often  an  ex- 


♦  See  Vol.  II,  page  346. 

t  There  was  a  pretty  one  and  a  half  story  house  with  a  veranda — something  of  an  exception — with 
dormer  windows,  where  the  building  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  association  now  stands,  as  noted  by  Mr. 
Kingsbury. 


526  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUUY. 

change,  the  mother  taking  her  turn  at  walking.     There  were  few 
social  distinctions  in  those  days,  at  least  in  this  part  of  New  Eng- 
land.  In  Massachusetts  and  in  New  York,  as  well  as  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  lines  were  drawn  more  strictly.    The  minister  was  the 
most  conspicuous  social  figure  in  the  ordinary  New  England  town. 
When  he  jogged  by  in  decorous  fashion  on  horseback,  the  children 
were  expected  to  form  in  line  and  make  their  "  obeisance."    His 
pastoral  calls  were  events,  and  his  word  was  largely  law  in  many  of 
the  more  important  affairs  of  the  town.     He  often  stayed  in  the  one 
parish  during  his  life  and  commanded  general  respect,  mingled 
sometimes  with  more  or  less  of  awe.    The  descriptive  phrase  "a 
pope  in  his  parish "  is  not  without  literal  truth  when  applied  to 
this  period.    The  other  two  learned  professions  had  a  prestige  then 
which  they  have  almost  entirely  lost  to-day.     A  man  who  repre- 
sented a  college  education  stood  for  social  superiority  because  of 
that  fact — something  which  we  no  longer  accord  to  mere  learning. 
This  is  in  its  way  a  tribute  to  the  place  which  "brains"  held  in  the 
general  esteem  at  that  time.     If  one  were  to  assign  a  social  rank  to 
the  three  professions,   the  minister  must  come  first,  the  lawyer 
second,  and  the  doctor  third.    All,  as  a  rule,  were  more  or  less 
farmers,  especially  the  minister,  who  eked  out  his  narrow  income 
by  cultivating  his  land.     It  is  stated  that  one  country  clergyman 
of  this  period,  whose  salary  was  only  $500  a  year,  started   suc- 
cessfully in   the  world  a  family  of  two  sons  and  six  daughters, 
giving  each  daughter  $500  as  a  dowry  when   she  married.     This 
was  accomplished  by  thrift,  by  prudent  management  of  the  farm, 
and  by  taking  boys  to  board  and  fitting  them  for  college.     This 
case  is  typical   of  many  other  clergymen  of  this  period.    When 
the  minister  travelled,  the  houses  of  his  brother  ministers  were 
always  thrown   hospitably  open   to   him,   and   the   drain    on  his 
resources  was   small.     The  doctor,  nearer  the  end   of  the  period 
under  review,  made  his  rounds  in  a  two-wheeled  sulky,  a  vehicle 
which  had  room  for  himself  alone  and  for  his  supplies  of  medicine 
Life  was  not  then,  any  more  than  now,  a  ceaseless  round  of  routine 
toil.     There  was  the  occasional  break,  looked  forward  to  no  doubt 
with  anticipation,  as  the  seasons  brought  around  the  great  func- 
tions of  the  year.     Such  were,  in  homely  phrase,  butchering-time, 
candle-dipping  day,   soft-soap  boiling,   "  sugaring-oflE,"   and   other 
similar  opportunities   of  fun   and   frolic.    These  were  important 
events  in  every  small  town  and  every  household.     Small  families 
would  club  together  and  share  one  "beef  critter"  among  them.* 


*  The  itinerant  butchers  would  only  do  their  work  at  certain  phases  of  the  moon.    Otherwise  the  meat 
**  would  shrink  in  the  pot.*' 


LIFE  IN  THE  '*  AQE  OF  HOMESPUN." 


527 


Other  families  would  each  own  a  whole  one,  as  their  means  per- 
mitted.     The   larger    farmers    who    had    outside    "help"    would 
often  hang  one  to  freeze  solid  "for  fresh."   It  would  remain  so  all 
winter.     On  occasion  the  axe  was  resorted  to,  literally  to  hack  out  a 
dinner  or  so.     A  second  one  would  be  "  salted  down."   In  midwinter 
the  hogs  were  "prime  "  for  slaughter,  if  there  was  a  good  body  of 
clean  dry  snow  *  on  the  ground.    On  a  certain  day  by  early  dawn  the 
work  was  begun.     By  nightfall  the  bodies  were  hanging  in  the  out- 
buildings to  cool  off.     The  next  day  they  were  cut  up  and  salted, 
certain  portions  being  set  apart  for  the  toothsome  sausage,  others 
for  head-cheese,  souse,  ribs  and  roasts,  and  the  tails  for  the  young- 
sters to  cook  in  the  ashes.     Such  hams  are  not  known  nowadays  ! 
They  were  rubbed  three  times,  at  intervals  of  two  weeks,  with  a 
mixture  of  salt,  sugar  and  spices  in  exact  proportion,  resting  be- 
tween times  in  a  large  cask,  the  drippings  that  oozed  from  them 
being  poured  over  them  every  day.     When  such  ceremonies  were 
to  take  place,  huge  fires  were  lighted  early  in  the  big  out-kitchens. 
Heavy  brass  kettles  were  hung  on  the  long-armed  and  many-hooked 
cranes,f  and  an  immense  boiler  sent  up  volumes  of  steam,  which 
froze  on  the  rough-hewn  beams,  despite  the  roaring  flames.     On 
butchering  day,  ghostly  carcasses  hanging  to  the  beams  in  their 
pink  beauty  were  all  that  remained  by  nightfall   to   tell  of  the 
tragedy  of  the  past  twenty-four  hours.     All  the  year  round,  a  huge 
open  cask,  raised  above  the  ground,  stood  full  to  the  brim  of  wood 
ashes,  with  several  spouts  at  the  base.     The  soft  rains  of  heaven 
fell  upon  the  ashes  and  formed  the  leach  used  in  making  the  soap 
of  our  ancestors.     In  the  soap-making  season,  this  product  of  ashes 
and  rain  and  clear  brook  water  was  poured  into  the  big  kettles  to 
do  its  work.     That  work  consisted  in  eating  up  to  the   smallest 
morsel  the  grease  that  had  been  saved  and  clarified  throughout  the 
previous  year  for  this  special  purpose.     The  work  having  begun, 
you  can  see  in  the  whirling  mass  that  the  grease  is  proving  non- 
resistant.     Over  and  over  it  turns.     After  a  certain  point  is  passed, 
it  thickens  into  a  marble-like  brown  mass.     An  expert  stands  by  to 
watch  it,  for  it  is  evident  that  the  "soap  is  comin'."    The  skilled 
eye  and  the  quick  hand  know  what  to  do — to  add  more  leach,  to 
boil  further,  or  at  the  proper  moment  to  dash  in  cold  water  and  give 
the  mass  a  sudden  chill.     See  how  it  feels  this  !     It  whirls  and 
whirls,  hesitates,  gives  one  last  long  gasp,  and  the  year's  supply  of 
soap  has  "come." 

*  Spareribs  and  certaia  other  cuts  were  packed  in  snow  in  barrels,  and  set  where  they  would  keep  frozen 
for  weeks,  a  first-class  **  cold  storage  "  being  thus  provided, 
t  See  Longfellow's  "  Hanging  of  the  Crane." 


528  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

Candle-dipping  day  was  an  equally  busy  one  in  the  late  fall.  A 
monster  brass  kettle  received  the  tallow,  which  was  put  through 
two  scaldings  and  skimmings.  When  strained,  this  was  lifted  oflE 
the  fire  and  placed  in  two  deep  vessels  one-third  full  of  water.  The 
wicks  were  prepared  the  evening  before,  men,  women  and  children 
making  merry  over  the  work.  They  cut  the  wicking  into  lengths 
and  twisted  these  sharply  one  way,  then  slid  them,  doubled,  over 
the  long,  slender  candle-rods,  when  they  themselves  twisted  readily 
in  the  opposite  direction.  With  the  two  rods  between  the  fingers 
of  each  hand,  the  solemn  process  of  dipping  began.  Down  into 
the  melted  tallow  and  up  into  the  air  went  the  wicks.  At  first  very 
little  tallow  adhered,  but  soon,  dip  following  dip,  one  began  to  see 
that  candles  were  forming.  "  Six  to  a  pound  '*  and  long  and  thick! 
Before  a  great  while  others  must  be  dipped.  New  workers  took 
hold  and  gave  the  first  a  chance  to  rest  their  aching  arms.  When 
all  this  was  over,  long  racks  of  rods  hung  heavily  laden  with  candles 
between  rails  raised  on  bricks.  The  end  had  been  reached  and  the 
supply  of  light,  such  as  it  was,  had  been  produced  for  the  ensuing 
year.    The  new  "  dips  "  were  now  ready  for  use. 

When  the  days  grew  longer,  and  it  "  froze  o'  nights  and  thawed 
daytimes,"  they  watched  the  maple  trees  as  they  began  to  drip  from 
the  point  of  every  little  twig.  Then  the  elder  spouts,  which  the 
boys  had  whittled  out  in  the  evenings  by  the  blaze  of  the  big  fire, 
were  taken  out,  examined  and  made  ready.  Every  farmer  had  at 
least  a  few  maple  trees,  and  those  of  a  certain  age  were  tapped,  sev- 
eral auger  holes  being  bored,  above  and  below,  four  or  five  feet 
from  the  ground.  If  the  trees  were  of  generous  girth,  a  second  line 
of  holes  was  usually  made  at  the  base.  Into  these  the  elder  spouts 
were  inserted  and  pails  were  hung  beneath  them.  In  warmer  days 
the  pails  filled  fast.  Every  passer-by  was  privileged,  even  expected, 
to  stop  and  take  a  drink.  All  day,  until  the  evening  chill  checked 
the  running,  the  men  and  boys  of  the  farm  carried  in  the  flowing 
pails,  and  emptied  them  into  barrels,  where  by  nightfall  there  was 
usually  a  sufficient  supply  for  boiling  down.  Then  merry  groups 
gathered  in  the  big  out-kitchens  where,  since  mid -afternoon,  fires 
had  been  roaring  under  the  hugh  brass  kettles.  These  were  no 
ordinary  fires,  for  into  them  went  the  selected  odds  and  ends  of  the 
wood-pile,  seasoned  for  the  purpose.  There  were  moments  of  diver- 
sion from  the  work  in  hand.  Potatoes  and  corn  were  roasted, 
apples  toasted,  and   prophetic  nuts*  were  placed  on  the  andirons. 


*The  prophetic  nuts  were  placed  on  the  andirons  in  pairs  and  were  anxiously  watched.  Some  of  these 
couples  hopped  apart,  some  burst  apart,  some  would  jump  into  the  fire  together.  Rarely,  one  would  pop 
out  on  to  the  bare  floor,  its  mate  following  quicicly  after.   This  wa<t  considered  an  omen  of  future  marriage. 


LIFE  IN  TEE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN,"  529 

Presently  there  was  a  hush.  The  chief  of  ceremonies  holds  up  his 
hand.  The  exciting  moment  has  come  when  the  syrup  is  ready  for 
"  stirring  off."  Four  stalwart  men  lift  off  the  big  kettles  and  set 
them  on  bricks  placed  on  the  floor.  With  long,  paddle-shaped 
sticks,  they  stir  the  seething,  ropy  mass.  Slower  and  slower  move 
the  paddles,  as  the  resistance  of  the  syrup  increases.  This  marks 
the  end  of  the  process  of  granulation,  and  sugar-making  labors  for 
this  season  are  over.  If  "sugaring  off"  proved  a  merry  time  in 
the  spring,  "  commoning  day  "  in  the  fall  was  looked  forward  to 
with  eagerness,  at  least  by  the  small  boys.  This  was  the  time  after 
the  grass  had  been  cut  and  the  crops  removed  from  the  common 
field,  when  it  was  the  custom  to  turn  in  the  cattle,  horses  and 
sheep,  for  pasture.  This  description  of  it  is  given  in  Bronson's 
"  History  "  : 

It  was  the  practice  to  name  the  day  on  which  the  fields  should  be  *•  cleared  "  and 
when  the  people  might  turn  in  their  cattle,  etc.,  "commoning  day."  This  was 
late  in  September  or  early  in  October.  At  the  appointed  time,  early  in  the  morning 
or  immediately  after  sundown,  the  whole  town  was  astir.  All  the  four-footed 
beasts  that  lived  by  grazing  were  brought  out.  driven  in  long  procession  to  the 
meadow  gates,  and  '*  turned  in  "  to  crop  the  fresh  herbage.  There  they  remained, 
luxuriating  and  gathering  fatness,  till  the  late  autumnal  frosts,  The  writer's  recol- 
lection, extending  forty  years  back  (the  period  referred  to  is  about  181 5),  furnishes 
him  with  some  refreshing  scenes  connected  with  the  opening  of  the  common  field. 
Boys  who  used  to  drive  the  cows  a  mile  to  pasture  hailed  the  time  with  lively 
feelings. 

One  of  the  occasions  of  general  work  and  fun  which  should  not 
be  overlooked  was  the  **  raising."  It  was  enjoyed  with  all  the  more 
zest  because  it  came  only  at  rare  intervals.  In  long  lines,  the 
neighbors  who  gathered  handled  the  immense  beams  and  their 
tackle  of  heavy  ropes,  while  the  small  boys  stood  around  ready  with 
their  baskets  of  pins.  Well  built  were  the  houses  of  those  days  and 
long  did  they  last,  as  a  survivor,  scattered  here  and  there  over  our 
New  England,  testifies  even  to  this  day.  Of  course,  there  were 
refreshments  served,  consisting  principally  of  doughnuts  and  cider 
and  the  women  enjoyed  the  occasion  perhaps  as  much  as  the  men. 
They  often  sang  at  their  work,  some  person  being  appointed  to 
** deacon  off"  the  lines.  When  it  was  a  church  raising,  this  singing 
was  an  important  part  of  the  services,  if  such  they  may  be  called. 
They  tell  a  story  of  Pierpont  Edwards,  the  unsanctified  relative  of 
the  saintly  Jonathan  Edwards,  which  shows  that  exuberant  spirits 
in  those  days  were  not  held  as  completely  in  check  as  is  now  popu- 
larly supposed.  A  certain  country  parish  in  Connecticut  started  to 
build  a  new  church.  The  structure  got  as  far  as  the  roofing,  when 
the  money  gave  out  and  the  work  stopped.     What  was  to  have  been 

34 


530  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT. 

a  sanctuary  stood  some  years  in  its  bare  framework,  when  finally  it 
tumbled  down.  This  was  regarded  as  disgraceful  and  a  new  efifort 
was  put  forth  to  build  the  meeting-house.  Pierpont  Edwards  was 
appointed  to  "  deacon  oflE "  the  hymn  at  the  raising.  They  sang 
with  a  will  the  first  two  lines  which  he  gave  them: 

Except  the  Lord  doth  build  the  house 
The  workmen  toil  in  vain; 

but  they  were  somewhat  startled  when   he  gave  them  the  next 

two  lines:  Except  the  Lord  doth  shingle  it, 

'Twill  tumble  down  again. 

Our  ancestors — to  return  to  the  every-day  round  of  ordinary 
life — were  not  dependent  for  their  meat  on  the  pork  barrel, 
important  as  it  was,  or  on  the  salted  and  "hung"  beef. 
Although  mutton  was  rare,  there  was  always  plenty  of  poultry. 
Geese  *  and  turkeys  abounded  in  every  barn-yard  of  any  size.  The 
ganders  were  plucked  twice  a  year.  The  turkeys,  as  a  rule,  were 
fine  specimens.  The  breed  was  constantly  improved  by  the  big 
wild  birds.  "  Spoiling  for  a  fight,"  they  paid  frequent  visits  in  the 
spring  to  the  barn-yard  fowls.  Immense  flocks  of  pigeons  f  fairly 
darkened  the  air  as  they  flew  over  in  September  and  October. 
They  fell  victims  by  the  thousands  to  nets,  decoy  birds  and  hun- 
dreds of  old  muskets.  There  were  also  not  a  few  vegetables  in  those 
days  to  give  variety  to  the  diet.  These  included  potatoes,  onions, 
squashes,  beets  and  turnips  principally.  The  usual  bread  was  a 
mixture  of  rye  and  Indian  meal.  Wheat  bread  was  scarce  and  only 
brought  out  for  company  or  used  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper.  The  table  of  the  plain  people  was  generously  spread,  the 
whole  household,  including  the  "help,"  as  a  rule  sitting  down 
together.  The  menu  included  often,  in  addition  to  what  has  been 
mentioned,  hash  served  with  cresses,  mustard  and  horse-radish,  hot 
cakes  and  maple  syrup,  apple  butter,  J  honey,  doughnuts,  pickles, 
ginger  cakes,  and  pies  of  every  kind  and  variety.  In  Waterbury, 
that  still  popular  favorite,  turkey   and  cranberry  sauce,  was  evi- 

*  Flocks  of  wild  geese,  fiying  south,  sometimes  dropped  an  exhausted  or  wounded  bird.  This  stranger 
would  remain  contentedly  with  the  barn-yard  fowls  until  spring.  In  a  case  known  to  the  writer,  the  mate  of 
the  deserting  bird  left  the  flock,  too,  and  joined  it.  The  next  year,  after  several  flocks  had  gone  northward, 
the  pair  recognized  the  cry  of  their  own  flock,  the  last  that  season.  They  gave  an  answering  **  honk,*'  rose 
into  air,  and  flew  away  with  their  companions  from  whom  they  had  been  so  long  separated. 

t  A  traveller  by  the  name  of  Bennett,  writing  of  New  England  in  1740,  speaks  of  the  immense  quantities 
of  these  wild  pigeons.  He  says:  **  They  are  larger  and  finer  than  any  we  can  procure  in  London,  and  of 
a  deliciously  wild,  gamy  flavor.    They  sell  for  18  pence  a  dozen. " 

t  This  was  a  sauce  of  apple  and  quince,  put  down  in  the  fall  to  freeze  for  winter  use;  or  a  sauce  made 
of  sweet  apples  and  boiled  cider,  preserved  in  the  same  way. 


LIFE  m  THE  *'AQE  OF  HOMESPUN." 


531 


dently  a  favorite  then.  In  proof  of  this  may  be  mentioned  the 
significant  fact  that  two  frolicsome  brooks  were  named  Turkey 
and  Cranberry  brooks,  respectively — brooks  that  never  failed  to 
remind  people  of  their  existence  at  every  flood  time. 

A  great  addition  to  the  comfort  of  the  home  was  the  wood-pile. 
Before  the  crops  were  planted  in  the  spring,  and  after  they  had 
been  harvested  in  the  autumn,  several  weeks  were  given  up  to 
tramps  in  the  forests,  to  procure  the  year's  supply  of  wood.  This 
was  not  an  insignificant  task.  In  addition  to  the  actual  labor, 
thought  had  to  be  given  to  the  selection  of  the  diflEerent  kinds 
needed,  to  the  various  supplies  wanted,  and  to  the  matter  of  cutting 
the  different  sizes.  First  the  trees  must  be  "blazed,  "  that  is,  those 
to  be  chosen  for  firewood  had  to  be  marked  in  advance.  Back  logs 
for  the  kitchen  fire-place,  usually  five  feet  by  three,  required  at 
least  two  hundred  huge  hickory  or  walnut  trunks  four  feet  long 
and  twenty-four  inches  in  girth.  The  second  logs  were  much 
smaller  and  shorter  than  the  back  logs.  After  these  came  the  fore- 
sticks,  and  hundreds  on  hundreds  of  others,  fire  building  in  those 
days  being  an  art  on  which  much  depended  and  which  required 
just  the  right  assortment  of  wood.  All  these  varieties,  as  soon  as 
the  snow  came,  were  sledded  to  the  wood-yard.  The  custom  of 
turning  work  into  fun  and  promoting  sociability  by  community  of 
labor,  of  which  we  have  had  so  many  instances  in  these  pages, 
found  fresh  illustration  in  the  *'  wood  spells,  "  which  lightened  the 
toil  of  these  expeditions.  These  were  commonest  when  the  parson- 
age was  to  be  supplied.  The  spoils  of  the  forest  being  at  last 
safely  landed  in  the  back  yard,  the  long,  slim,  snapping  chestnut 
sticks  were  selected  for  the  brick  oven.  When  they  had  been 
reduced  to  coals,  the  latter  were  taken  out  with  a  long  handled 
shovel  called  a  "  peel."  Then  the  oven  was  brushed  out  free  from 
dust  and  great  pans  of  bread  were  put  in  to  bake.  Even  after  these 
had  been  "drawn,"  there  was  still  sufficient  heat  to  bake  the 
numerous  pies  waiting  their  turn.  After  the  pies  came  the  pork 
and  beans,  which  were  left  in  the  oven  all  night.  By  morning  they 
were  thoroughly  cooked  and  ready  for  the  breakfast  table.  Baking- 
day  was  usually  Saturday,  and  perhaps  to  this  fact  may  be  attrib- 
uted the  New  England  habit  of  making  the  Sunday  breakfast  of 
pork  and  beans.  While  chestnut  was  the  wood  for  the  brick  oven, 
only  hickory  and  oak  were  used  in  the  fire-places.  Other  woods 
were  too  dangerously  apt  to  snap  out  into  the  room,  and  against 
this  there  was  little  protection,  as  fenders  were  then  almost 
unknown.  Ash  was  hardly  used  at  all.  It  was  so  full  of  sap  ♦  that 
. — _ ■  ■  ■      ■  . 

*Ash  sap  ^^boilias  *'  was  regarded  as  a  sovereign  cure  for  ear-ache. 


532  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY, 

it  would  put  out  a  small  fire.  After  they  were  once  started  for  the 
season,  fires  were  built  to  last  all  the  year  round.  It  was  no  small 
misfortune  if  the  sparks  were  smothered  after  the  fire  had  been 
banked  with  ashes  for  a  winter's  night.  This  meant  that  a  tin  box 
of  blazing  coals  must  be  borrowed  from  the  nearest  neighbor,  who 
might  live  even  a  mile  away.  Of  course  these  coals  must  be 
brought  back  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  this  in  turn  meant  that  the 
person  who  carried  them  must  go  at  top  speed.  Hence  arose  the 
old  saying,  "Have  you  come  after  fire?"  when  a  neighbor  made  a 
noticeably  short  call.  As  friction  matches  were  unknown  at  this 
time,  the  only  recourse,  if  no  blazing  coals  could  be  borrowed,  was 
the  flint  and  steel.  To  use  these  required  skill.  When  the  flint, 
struck  sharply  against  the  steel,  threw  out  a  spark  or  two,  the 
manipulator  must  catch  these  on  some  scorched  linen  or  punk,  and 
quickly  nurse  them  into  a  flame.  As  the  flint  might  be  dull  or  the 
tinder  damp  and  refuse  to  light,  the  process  was  often  a  tedious 
one,  very  trying  to  the  temper.  Pine  wood  was  used  largely  for 
common  furniture  and  coffins.  "  White  wood  "  provided  the  lining 
for  bureau  and  table  drawers.  Curled  maple  was  greatly  sought 
after  by  cabinet  makers  in  the  city  for  elegant  bedroom  sets.  Oak 
was  largely  used  for  beams  and  rafters.  Big  and  dangerous — from 
our  point  of  view — as  were  the  fires  of  those  days,  it  is  curious  to 
note  that  until  the  day  of  air-tight  stoves  few  of  those  old-fashioned 
houses  burned  down.  That  so  many  of  them  afterward  succumbed 
is  thus  explained:  Up  against  the  broad  back  of  the  ancient  chim- 
ney sparks  climbed  out  in  safety.  When  such  a  chimney  was 
boarded  up  and  a  pipe-hole  was  made  for  the  stove,  the  pipe  rested, 
all  unknown,  against  a  coating  of  mortar.  In  process  of  time  this, 
dried  and  fell,  and  a  vast  chestnut  beam  was  exposed.  A  hun- 
dred times  probably,  when  the  pipe  was  red  hot,  the  beam  smoul- 
dered a  trifle  and  went  out.  But  the  hundred  and  first  time  it  was 
prime  for  a  conflagration,  and  the  grand  old  home  was  gone  forever. 
We  have  touched  upon  the  ordinary  routine  of  life  and  also  upon 
some  of  the  ways  in  which  our  ancestors  lightened  their  toil.  This 
is  the  "  reverse  "  of  the  picture  of  those  days  which  is  so  often  held 
up  to  us,  reproducing  the  sternness  which  seemed  to  dominate  their* 
life.  From  some  points  of  view  it  appears  impossible  to  exagger- 
ate the  dark  colors  of  the  picture.  That  was  a  time  when  the 
expression  of  emotion  and  tenderness  was,  as  a  rule,  suppressed,  as 
unworthy  of  a  spirit  which  was  to  conquer  human  nature  in  its 
devotion  to  religious  duty,  and  outward  nature  in  its  devotion  to  the 
necessity  of  an  environment  of  hardship.  The  watchword  of  this 
doubly  determined  life  was  "discipline,"  and  in  the  family  the  rule 


LIFE  IN  THE  '^  AQE  OF  HOMESPUN."  533 

of  this  discipline  was  cast-iron.  Lullaby  songs  were  rare.  Babies 
of  the  household  were  often  put  to  bed  in  the  dark,  and  left  to 
whimper  themselves  to  sleep.  Says  Nathaniel  Smith,  the  first 
Chief  Justice  of  Connecticut: 

I  never  remember  that  my  mother  took  me  upon  her  knee  or  kissed  me.  Birth- 
days were  passed  by  in  silence,  as  though  seasons  to  regret,  and  no  tender  gifts  or 
mementoes  were  ever  exchanged  between  parent  and  child. 

This  is  the  dark  side  of  the  picture.  It  is  the  side,  as  has  been 
said,  which  has  been  so  often  held  up  to  us  that  we  have  forgotten 
that  there  is  another.  But  that  other  side  certainly  existed.  Not  only 
did  our  ancestors  find  amusement  in  their  work,  but  they  also  had 
amusements  in  which  they  indulged  merely  for  the  sake  of  amuse- 
ment. Says  Professor  Dexter  of  Yale,  in  his  monograph,  '*  New 
Haven  in  1784,"  read  before  the  New  Haven  Historical  society 
(from  which  we  have  quoted  in  the  preceding  chapter) : 

I  have  not  time  to  dwell  on  details  of  the  social  life  of  a  century  ago;  if  it  was 
not  the  hurried  and  feverish  life  of  the  present,  no  more  was  it  the  ascetic  and  con- 
strained life  of  a  century  earlier;  there  was  abundance  of  gayety  of  a  simple  sort; 
and  the  shopkeeper  published  prompt  advertisements  of  the  arrival  of  fresh 
invoices  of  "gentlemen  and  ladies'  dancing  gloves  for  the  City  Assembly,"  of 
*•  chip-hats  of  the  newest  taste,"  of  '*  new  figured,  fashionable  cotton,  chintz  and 
calicoes,  proper  for  ladies' winter  dress,"  of  "elegant  figured  shauls,"  of  "ladies' 
tiffany  balloon  hats,"  and  so  on  ad  infinitum^ — showing  that  human  nature  had  the 
same  kind  of  interest  then  as  now. 

As  one  part  of  their  social  life,  we  must  remember  this  as  the  time  when  domes- 
tic slavery  was  general  in  New  Haven.  The  importing  of  slaves  was  forbidden 
since  1774,  but  the  papers  have  ocasional,  not  frequent,  advertisements  for  the  sale 
of  likely  negroes,  or  it  may  be  a  famil}"  of  negroes,  in  respect  to  whom  "  a  good 
title  will  be  given  ";  sometimes  it  is  for  a  term  of  years  (perhaps  till  the  attainment 
of  legal  majority,  when  by  the  will  of  some  former  owner,  freedom  was  to  be 
given),  and  sometimes  it  is  noted  that,  in  the  lack  of  ready  money,  rum  and  sugar 
will  be  taken  in  part  payment.  The  relations  of  masters  and  slaves  were  in  most 
cases  here  the  best  possible;  yet  sensible  men  were  uneasy  under  the  inconsistency 
of  the  system,  and  President  Stiles  writes  in  his  diary  in  December,  1783:  "The 
constant  annual  importation  of  negroes  into  America  and  the  West  Indies  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  of  late  years  about  60,000.  Is  it  possible  to  think  of  this  with- 
out horror  ? " 

This  gives  us  a  sketch  in  outline  of  the  reverse  of  the  picture  to 
which  we  have  referred.  We  pass,  then,  to  some  of  the  relaxations 
and  amusements  during  the  later  years  of  the  eighteenth  century 
and  the  opening  years  of  the  nineteenth,  in  which  our  ancestors 
indulged  distinctly  for  the  sake  of  being  amused.  To  begin  with 
boyhood,  every  lad  could  whittle,  and  whittling  was  a  source  of  infin- 
ite diversion  in  grown-up  years  as  well  as  in  boyhood.  To  the  habit 
of  whittling  we  no  doubt  owe,  in  large  part,  the  development  of  that 


534 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 


Yankee  ingenuity  which  made  him  a  "Jack-of-all- trades."  The  typi- 
cal Yankee,  as  readers  of  Mrs.  Stowe's  stories  will  remember,  is 
always  represented  as  busily  whittling  when  thinking,  talk- 
ing or  simply  idling.  Those  Yankees  had  good  tools  to  whittle 
with,  fine  steel  jack-knives  of  England's  best  make.  In  the  garret 
on  rainy  afternoons  much  of  the  whittling  was  done,  and  it  added 
many  useful  "helps  "  for  the  mother.  These  "helps"  included  such 
articles  as  wooden  spoons,  simple  frames,  reels  for  clothes  lines, 
and  boxes  that  were  wired  together  and  ornamented  with  an  etch- 
ing burnt  in  on  the  cover.  As  Daniel  Webster  well  says:  **  The  boy's 
knife  educated  the  nation  of  skilled  mechanics  and  inventors." 
This  whittling  was,  in  a  way,  more  or  less  aesthetic.  "  The  first 
whistle  my  brother  made  for  me  from  the  gnarled  old  willow  by 
the  brook,"  says  the  Hon.  S.  G.  Goodrich,  "had  music  in  it  for  me 
such  as  has  never  been  equalled  since."  Wrestling  was  a  natural 
result  of  the  superabundant  bodily  strength  characterizing  the  men 
of  those  days.  Robust  by  birth,  toughened  by  their  out-of-door 
life,  as  a  matter  of  course  they  often  matched  strength  with 
strength,  and  delighted  in  pitting  their  local  athletic  champions 
one  against  the  other.  Meetine:  around  a  camp-fire,  the  match  was 
opened  by  the  second-rate  wrestlers.  When  one  of  these  had  been 
"  downed,"  the  defeated  champion  would  call  upon  another  from 
his  side  to  resume  the  contest.  The  purpose  was,  of  course,  to  tire 
out  and  vanquish  the  victor.  The  matches  between  the  Waterbury 
and  Westbury  boys  were  famous.  It  was  during  one  of  these 
matches  that  the  Rev.  John  Trumbull,  the  Westbury  pastor,  threw 
a  braggart  stranger  (as  related  in  full  elsewhere)  into  the  fire. 
''Coasting"  was  a  natural  and  favorite  winter  sport,  and  the  happy 
voices  in  some  more  lonely  spot  made  the  night  musical  with 
shouts  and  laughter.  A  favorite  coasting  place  in  Waterbury  was 
the  hill  along  whose  ridge  Hillside  avenue  now  runs.  The  momen- 
tum was  sufficient  to  carry  the  coasters  across  "  Bushell's  bay  "  (the 
frog  pond  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  Waterbury  Green), 
and  land  them  where  the  City  hall  now  stands.  This  reminds  us, 
in  passing, that  this  frog  pond  offered  "no  end  of  fun"  to  the  small 
boys  in  stoning  its  numerous  occupants.  Hunting  was  then  as  pop- 
ular a  sport  as  it  is  to-day,  and  much  more  generally  practiced. 
Every  household  was  possessed  of  some  kind  of  a  musket  or 
"queen's  arm."  Every  boy  could  shoot  and  shoot  to  kill.  At  one 
time  many  beavers  were  to  be  found  in  Waterbury  itself.  In  the 
neighboring  woods  squirrels  were  numerous.  In  autumn  pigeons 
were  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  and  there  were  thrushes  in  the  larger 
trees.     Bobolinks  tempted   the  hunter  from  the  tops  of   the  tall 


LIFE  IN  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN."  535 

weeds,  and  the  doves  in  the  bushes  were  an  easy  prey.  The  red 
foxes  were  a  nobler  game;  coon  hunts  were  as  popular  then  as  now, 
and  the  woodchuck  was  the  special  prey  of  the  small  boy. 

Of  all  the  principal  occasions  of  the  year,  perhaps  "  training-day" 
should  be  mentioned  first.  "  Going  to  muster"  was  the  grand  annual 
frolic.  Every  town  which  had  sixty-four  soldiers — only  able- 
bodied  men  were  soldiers — and  a  sufficient  number  besides  for  offi- 
cers, formed  a  foot  company.  The  officers  were  elected  by  the  men, 
and  two  drums  were  allowed  to  each  company.  In  smaller  towns, 
which  lacked  the  required  quota,  only  the  sergeants  and  inferior  offi- 
cers were  elected  by  the  soldiers.  These  train-bands  were  by  no 
means  merely  carpet  soldiers.  In  King  Philip's  war  they  were 
called  out  more  than  once.  In  1675  their  efficiency  was  severely 
tested,  and  the  very  existence  of  the  colonies  at  this  crisis  depended 
in  no  small  degree  on  their  thorough  training.  In  more  recent 
times  special  volunteer  companies,  formed  by  men  of  tried  military 
experience,  did  on  the  whole  better  service  than  the  train-bands, 
and  were  more  generally  depended  upon.  On  **  training-days  "  the 
children  were  as  much  **  in  evidence  "  as  their  elders.  The  booths, 
containing  generous  supplies  of  gingerbread,  were  the  especial 
delight  of  the  youngsters,  and  gave  them  a  chance  for  extravagance 
for  which  long  preparation  had  been  previously  made  in  the  hoard- 
ing of  stray  pennies.  This  gingerbread  was  baked  in  large  sheets, 
and  the  question  of  how  much,  broken  off  from  one  of  these  sheets, 
constituted  a  **  penny's  worth  "  was  a  most  important  one.  Another 
day,  dear  to  the  youthful  heart,  was  "Independence  day,"  to  use 
the  old-fashioned  name.  Then,  as  now,  it  was  a  day  devoted  to 
noise.  Its  culmination  was  reached  when  some  musty  old  cannon 
was  dragged  forth  from  its  hiding-place,  loaded  to  its  limit  and  dis- 
charged to  the  infinite  risk  of  life  to  all  in  the  vicinity.  Another 
holiday  of  wide-spread  popularity,  which  has  now  become  simply  a 
local  institution,  was  "  Commencement  day."  Edmund  Quincy,  in 
the  "  Harvard  Book  "  (already  quoted  in  this  chapter),  thus  describes 
its  observance: 

The  whole  population  of  Boston  seemed  to  precipitate  itself  upon  Cambridge. 
The  road  was  covered  with  carriages  and  vehicles  of  every  description,  with  horse- 
men and  footmen  going  and  returning.  The  common  near  the  college,  then  unin- 
closed,  was  covered  with  booths  in  regular  streets,  which,  for  days  before  and  after, 
were  the  scenes  of  riot  and  debauchery.  The  village  indeed  had  the  look  of  a  fair 
with  its  shows  and  crowds  and  various  devices  for  extracting  money  from  the 
unwary. 

What  is  true  of  the  popular  recognition  of  Harvard's  Commence- 
ment in  Massachusetts  applies  equally  to  Yale's  Commencement  in 
Connecticut.     Every  town  sent  its  delegation  of  representatives  to 


536  HI8T0B7  OF  WATERBURT. 

take  part  in  the  festivities  at  New  Haven.  Ordinary  people  used 
Commencement  as  a  date  to  reckon  by,  as  we  use  the  Fourth  of  July 
or  Christmas.  An  amusing  last  century  story  is  told  by  the  Hon. 
F.  J.  Kingsbury,  of  a  woman  living  on  a  farm  in  this  vicinity  who 
complained  one  year  that  her  hops  were  undersized.  "  But,"  ex- 
plained a  neighbor,  "  you  picked  them  too  soon.  It  isn't  time  to 
pick  hops  yet."  "  I  always  pick  my  hops  on  Commencement  day," 
she  replied.  "  But,"  returned  the  neighbor,  "  they  have  changed 
Commencement.  It  came  earlier  this  year," — something  which  the 
woman  could  hardly  believe  possible,  so  sacredly  immutable  was 
the  festival.  Among  other  stated  occasions  which  permitted  relax- 
ation and  social  enjoyment,  Thanksgiving  day  comes  first  in  im- 
portance. Originally,  of  course,  it  was  a  purely  religious  institu- 
tion. But  when  it  came  to  take  the  place  of  Christmas,  its  original 
character  was  gradually  modified  and  a  large  part  of  the  day  was 
given  up  to  hilarity  and  social  mirth.  Fast  day,  on  the  other  hand, 
retained  its  original  character  for  a  much  longer  period.  Never- 
theless, there  is  evidence  extant  that  it  was  not  entirely  devoted  by 
everybody  to  prayer  and  fasting  solely.  Election  day,  at  first 
appointed  for  inaugurating  the  governor  in  his  office,  came  in  time, 
as  Professor  William  C.  Fowler  of  Amherst  says  (in  his  "  Notes  "  to 
the  Centennial  papers  prepared  some  years  ago  for  the  Congrega- 
tional Conference  in  this  state),  **  faintly  to  resemble  Coronation 
day  in  England."  On  that  day  election-cake  was  to  be  found  on 
every  tea-table,  and  election  balls  were  fashionable  in  the  evening. 

Passing  from  special  days  to  general  forms  of  amusement,  it  is 
to  be  noted  that  singing  schools  were  a  popular  diversion  with  the 
young  people.  In  this  vicinity  they  were  often  held  on  Sunday 
evenings.  Singing  seemed  a  safe  and  appropriate  outlet  for  pent-up 
spirits  which  had  been  held  under  the  strictest  control  from  sun- 
down of  the  Saturday  evening  before.  It  is  said  of  those  who  con- 
ducted these  singing  schools  here  in  Waterbury  that  they  were 
more  than  usually  successful  teachers.  Corn  huskings — at  which 
finding  a  red  ear  carried  with  it  the  privilege  of  a  kiss — occasional 
barbecues  and  clam-bakes  in  the  forest  or  by  the  sea-shore,  sleigh- 
riding  in  the  winter,  when  frequently  from  ten  to  fifty  sleighs  were 
brought  into  requisition,  kite-fiying  in  the  spring  and  ball-playing 
in  the  autumn  complete  the  list  of  the  principal  minor  diversions. 

There  were  certain  institutions  of  those  days  which  might  pos- 
sibly, from  one  point  of  view,  be  classed  among  the  amusements, 
although  amusement  was  not  properly  their  object.  The  **  vendue" 
was  one  of  these,  that  is  to  say,  the  public  auction  of  goods  and 
chattels  taken  out  on  writs  of  execution  and  sold  at  public  sale  by 


LIFE  IN  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN."  537 

the  sherifiE  at  the  whipping-post,  where  they  had  been  previously 
advertised.  It  is  seldom  at  any  time,  or  under  any  circumstances, 
that  a  public  auction  fails  to  draw  a  crowd.  In  these  earlier  days, 
in  a  village  as  quiet  as  was  Waterbury  then,  the  tap  of  the  drum 
which  summoned  would-be  purchasers  and  mere  on-lookers  to  the 
scene  of  the  auction  must  have  met  with  a  general  response.  The 
whipping-post  is  another  institution  which  certainly  filled  the  place 
of  a  public  amusement,  if  it  did  not  actually  constitute  such  an 
amusement.*  It  is  a  creditable  statement  to  make  that  only  at  rare 
intervals  was  any  one  found  deserving  of  this  debasing  punishment. 
But  now  and  then  there  were  cases  where  culprits  were  sentenced 
to  receive  a  half-dozen  lashes  on  the  bare  back.  As  late  as  1805  it 
is  recorded  that  on  one  occasion  the  school  was  "  let  out "  that  the 
scholars  might  witness  the  whipping,  and  learn  for  themselves 
what  petty  thieving,  lying  and  brawling  led  to.  The  last  man  who 
was  publicly  whipped  in  Waterbury  was  Walter  Whelan.  The 
whipping- post  was  abolished  by  1820,  and  by  1830  all  reference  to 
it  disappears  from  the  statute-book.  Some  may  be  disposed  to  won- 
der that  public  whipping  should  have  lasted  here  in  Connecticut 
into  the  present  century.  But  when  we  consider  that  objections 
against  public  executions  have  only  recently  received  anything  like 
a  general  recognition,  one  perhaps  is  led  to  wonder  rather  that  the 
whipping-post  was  abolished  as  soon  as  it  was.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  in  this  connection  that  the  whip  for  wife-beaters  and  other 
brutal  criminals  has  its  advocates  to-day  among  some  of  the  most 
advanced  poenologists,  and  that  in  the  most  successful  institution 
of  the  kind  in  the  world,  the  Elmira  (N.  Y.)  reformatory,  corporal 
punishment  is  a  most  efiEective  part  of  the  system,  and  is  recognized 
as  such  by  students  of  high  standing. 

In  the  category  of  such  semi-amusements  as  we  have  been  consid- 
ering, it  may  not  be  unfair  to  include  "  going  to  funerals."  When  we 
consider  how  many  people  in  modern  life,  especially  in  the  smaller 
places,  find  a  strange  satisfaction  in  attending  obsequies,  it  is  per- 
haps no  marvel  that  at  this  older  period  the  custom  had  so  univer- 
sal a  vogue  as  almost  to  entitle  it  to  be  classed  as  an  entertainment. 
The  scene  at  a  country  funeral  can  easily  be  pictured  to  him- 
self by  any  one  who  is  at  all  acquainted  with  rural  New  England 
to-day,  so  persistently  does  the  custom  survive.  In  summer  the 
women  crowded  the  house  of  mourning  in  decorous  silence,  while 
the  men  were  gathered  about  the  doorsteps  in  small  groups,  and 
some  few  sat  upon  the  grass  at  a  little  distance  or  leaned  against 
the  fence.    The  eulogy  of  the  departed  at  times  occupied  an  hour 

*  See  further,  Vol*  II,  p.  6a. 


538 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


in  its  delivery,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  included  a  detailed  per- 
sonal obituary.* 

It  must  be  noted  before  we  leave  the  amusements  of  this  period 
that  it  was  at  the  very  end  of  it  that  the  travelling  circus  first  made 
its  appearance.  It  was  of  course  a  circus  without  a  menagerie,  but 
included  a  clown  and  an  exhibition  of  minstrels.  The  main  part  of 
the  programme  was  devoted  to  feats  of  strength  and  agility,  and 
the  band  played  as  noisily  then  as  now  when  the  performer  made 
his  bow  to  the  audience  after  the  successful  performance  of  his 
"act." 

In  passing  next  to  the  more  formal  life  of  the  people,  it  may  be 
said,  perhaps  to  the  surprise  of  some,  that  dancing  was  an  amuse- 


[ 


C^uarttr  S^aiL 


M^^ 


^iSe//nM     ^'^^idyrrutrri^^ 


Is  rc^pectfullfj  solicited  to  attend  a  Bull  at  jB. 
Ih Udell's  Ball  Hi om  on  JVediiesdai/^  Feb.  Stlu, 
m2,at2o\'l^c!:,P.M. 

II.  c  ./OK,  >  JMana*  C  a-  smith. 


ment  not  tabooed,  even  by  the  more  strictly  religious,  until  the 
latter  part  of  our  period.  The  balls  were  usually  held  in  the  state 
room  of  the  tavern,  at  least  in  the  smaller  towns,  but  the  larger 
residences  often  contained  ball-rooms.  This  was  true  of  the  resi- 
dence of  David  Hayden,  Esq.,  which  stood  on  East  Main  street 
where  the  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  now  stands.  We 
give,  in  fac-simile,  an  invitation  to  a  ball  at  Mr.  Hayden's  residence, 
the  original  being  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  S.  E.  Harrison. 
The  dances  in  which  our  ancestors  indulged  were,  of  course, 
square   dances    and   contra-dances,   these   last   being  such  as  the 


*  Funeral  reform  was  not  unheard  of  X30  years  ago.  The  first  number  of  the  Conntcticut  Courant^ 
dated  at  Hartford,  October  99,  1764,  says :  "  It  is  now  out  of  fashion  to  put  on  mourning  at  the  funeral  of 
the  nearest  relation,  which  will  make  a  saving  to  this  town  of  ;^9o,ooo  sterling  per  annum.  " 


LIFE  IN  THE  '' AOE  OF  HOMESPUN/'  539 

Virginia  reel  and  "money  musk" — " straight  figures,"  as  they  were 
called.  The  change  in  public  opinion  in  regard  to  the  propriety  of 
dancing  among  religious  people  of  the  stricter  view  dates  probably 
from  the  revival  conducted  here  in  Waterbury  in  1817-18  by  the 
Rev.  Asahel  Nettleton,  the  celebrated  revivalist.  As  related  in 
another  chapter,  Dr.  Nettleton  labored  in  Waterbury  for  some 
two  years,  and  he  produced  a  strong  impression  upon  the  religious 
views  of  those  who  came  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence.  It  is 
rather  curious  to  note  in  this  connection  that  Dr.  Nettleton  himself 
first  felt  what  the  old  theologians  called  "  conviction  of  sin  "  after 
attending  a  ball  on  Thanksgiving  night  in  1800.  This  was  at  North 
Killingworth,  when  Nettleton  was  a  farmer's  lad  just  about  old 
enough  to  go  to  balls.  His  young  companions  at  this  time  were 
making  arrangements  to  establish  a  dancing  school  and  naturally 
expected  his  cooperation.  This  he  would  not  give  them,  although 
he  refused  to  tell  the  reason.  When  later  in  life  he  became  a  revi- 
valist, his  views  on  the  subject  of  the  sacrifice  that  Christians 
should  make  were  so  intense  and  severe  that  it  is  not  remarkable 
that  they  led  to  a  very  general  abandonmeut  of  dancing  in  those 
parts  of  New  England  where  he  preached.  Here  is  a  typical  extract 
from  one  of  his  sermons: 

For  what  does  the  sinner  sell  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel?  Not  for  value 
received,  but  for  mere  trifles — one  morsel  of  meat — a  momentary  gratiflcation — 
for  these  he  parts  with  the  joys  of  Heaven.  It  may  be  for  the  sake  of  present  ease 
— or  for  a  title  of  worldly  honor — a  puff  of  noisy  breath — or  perhaps  for  the  sake  of 
obliging  a  conipanion,  who  is  the  enemy  of  God — or  for  the  sake  of  indulging  some 
beloved  lust.  In  the  indulgence  of  these  pleasures,  the  conduct  of  the  sinner  may 
be  attended  by  the  stings  of  conscience.  It  is  true  no  one  expects  to  complete  the 
bargain.     But  many  do  it.    Temptation  comes  and  conviction  goes. 

The  change  of  view  during  this  period  in  regard  to  dancing  is  thus 

summarized    by   Professor  Fowler    of    Durham   in  his   "  Notes, " 

already  quoted  in  this  chapter: 

Dancing  was  for  a  period  a  frequent  amusement  among  the  young  people  in 
most  of  the  towns  in  the  commonwealth  of  Connecticut.  The  people  learned  good 
manners,  first  from  the  district  schools,  secondly  from  public  worship,  thirdly  from 
the  military,  and  fourthly  from  dancing.  But  in  time  there  grew  up  an  opposition 
to  dancing  among  certain  religious  people  of  the  Congregational  order.  So  great 
was  the  opposition  that  in  some  places  it  led  to  church  censures.  In  one  case,  a 
deacon,  an  excellent  man,  at  the  marriage  of  his  son  took  one  or  two  dancing  steps 
in  passing  through  the  room  where  they  were  dancing,  to  obtain  his  hat.  For  this 
he  was  brought  before  the  church  to  make  his  confession.  This  he  refused  to  do, 
declaring  that  he  could  not  see  any  wrong  in  what  he  had  done,  but  was  willing  to 
say  that  he  was  sorry  that  he  had  grieved  any  of  the  brethren. 

Professor  Fowler  mentions  a  number  of  similar  cases.  One  was 
that  of  a  young  lady,  highly  educated  and  of  excellent  character, 


540  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT, 

who  was  also  a  member  of  the  church,  and  who  had  attended 
a  ball  with  the  approval  of  her  father  and  mother,  they,  too, 
being  church  members.  One  of  the  deacons  of  the  church 
requested  the  pastor  to  commence  proceedings  of  church  disci- 
pline, but  to  his  credit  be  it  recorded  that  he  refused  to  do  it. 
Another  is  the  case  of  a  young  man  who  was  excommunicated  for 
attending  a  ball  which  he  had  been  admonished  not  to  attend  by 
some  of  his  fellow  church  members.     Professor  Fowler  adds: 

Dancing  masters  were  employed  and  dancing  schools  patronized  by  the  people, 
though  some  had  conscientious  scruples  concerning  the  practice.  These  scruples 
were  in  some  cases,  however,  ingeniously  put  at  rest.  A  miss  of  twelve  from  the 
country,  spending  the  winter  in  New  Haven,  was  sent  by  her  friends  in  that  city  to 
a  dancing  school.  This  fact  became  known  in  due  time  to  her  neighbors  in  the 
country,  one  of  whom  said  to  her  mother,  while  in  company:  **  I  hear  that  your 
daughter  attends  dancing  school  in  New  Haven."  The  mother  evasively  replied: 
*•  She  attends  a  '  manner  school.' "  '*  Oh,  is  that  all  ?*'  rejoined  the  neighbor;  "  it  is 
a  good  thing  to  attend  a  manner  school. " 

Professor  Fowler  also  notes  that  dancing  was  not  uncommon  at 

weddings,  and  that  the  mirth  was  often  uproarious.    He  makes  this 

quotation    from    Mrs.   Emma    Willard's    sprightly    poem    entitled 

"Bride  Stealing": 

Next  creaked  the  tuning  violin, 
Signal  for  dancing  to  begin — 
And  goodly  fathers  thought  no  sin. 
When  priest  was  by,  and  at  a  wedding, 
Peggy  and  Molly  to  be  treading. 
Nay — spriest  himself,  in  cushion  dance, 
At  marriage  feast  would  often  prance. 
The  pair  of  course  led  up  the  ball, 
But  Isaac  likdd  it  not  at  all. 
Shuffle  and  cut  he  would  not  do. 
Just  bent  his  form  the  time  to  show, 
As  beaux  and  ladies  all  do  now; 
And  when  the  first  eight-reel  was  o'er. 
Stood  back  to  wall  and  danced  no  more; 
But  watched  the  rest  above  them  rising, 
Now  chatting — then  thus  criticising: 
**  When  Christian  fathers  play  the  fool, 
Fast  learn  the  children  at  such  school; 
Better  it  were  to  mind  the  soul, 
And  make  the  half-way  covenant  whole; 
And  priest,  when  son  like  that  he  sees, 
Were  best  at  home  and  on  his  knees." 

In  the  early  part  of  the  period,  in  remote  rural  communities 
(a  description  which  fits  Waterbury  at  that  time)  the  dancing  was 
characterized  by  a  simplicity  that  now  seems  almost  incredible- 


LIFE  IN  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN."  541 

Unoccupied  houses  were  often  chosen  as  the  scene  of  the  dances, 
and  the  only  refreshment  was  well  water,  which  had  to  be  drawn 
with  an  old-fashioned  sweep.  The  girls  of  that  time  were  not  infre- 
quently accustomed  to  dance  in  iheiv  bona  fide  hsiTQ  feet.  It  is  always 
a  subject  of  curious  study  to  note  the  moral  distinctions  of  any 
given  period.  At  the  very  time  when  dancing  came  under  the  ban, 
when  Sabbath-breaking  was  thought  to  be  almost  as  heinous  as 
house-breaking,  and  when  card-playing  was  looked  upon  as  wicked 
in  the  extreme,  taking  chances  in  a  lottery  was  considered  a  per- 
fectly legitimate  form  of  speculation.  During  the  agitation  against 
the  established  Congregational  body,  when  the  Episcopal  church  was 
so  justly  indignant  at  the  few  privileges  granted  to  it  (a  subject 
which  has  been  reviewed  at  length  in  the  preceding  chapter),  license 
was  granted  to  that  body  to  "run  a  lottery'*  to  increase  the  bishop's 
fund.  In  discussing  this  subject,  in  his  address  as  president  of  the 
American  Social  Science  association  (1894),  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury 
says: 

There  certainly  is  what  may  be  called  a  fashion  in  morality.  I  had  occasion  not 
long  since  to  examine  the  papers  of  a  lawyer  and  judge  who  held  a  deservedly  high 
social  position  in  the  community  where  he  lived  a  hundred  years  ago.  I  was  some- 
what startled,  I  might  almost  say  shocked,  at  finding  among  them  a  great  number 
of  lottery  tickets.  But  when  I  came  to  see  the  purpose  to  which  the  proceeds  of  the 
lotteries  were  to  be  applied,  and  remembered  the  history  of  the  times,  I  was 
relieved.  A  hundred  years  ago  the  lottery  was  the  popular  form  of  benevolence.  I 
found  tickets  in  lotteries  for  building  churches,  endowing  colleges  and  schools, 
building  bridges,  augmenting  a  fund  for  the  support  of  a  bishop— for  almost  every 
form  of  worthy  and  commendable  public  enterprise.  In  the  same  receptacle,  side 
by  side  with  the  lottery  tickets,  I  found  the  record  of  a  public  prosecution  against 
an  individual  for  permitting  a  game  of  cards  to  be  played  in  a  private  house.  And 
I  said,  **  Who  are  the  righteous,  and  where  are  the  foundations?"  Like  Mrs.  Peter- 
kin,  I  sat  down  and  thought,  but  with  the  same  result  that  attended  Sam  Lawson's 
cogitations  as  described  in  *'  Oldtown  Folks."  *'  Sometimes,"  said  Sam,  "  I  think — 
and  then  again — I  don't  know." 

Consideration  of  the  varying  moral  standards  which  obtain  in 
difiEerent  communities  and  at  different  times  suggests  naturally 
the  different  view  of  drinking  and  of  drunkenness  which  then  pre- 
vailed. The  great  temperance  reform  had  its  beginning  in  the  ear- 
lier part  of  the  century  and  belongs  to  the  period  of  which  we  are 
writing.  The  main  facts  of  that  early  agitation  may  be  found  in 
the  chapter  devoted  to  philanthropy  and  reforms.  The  extent 
of  the  drinking  habit  was  such  that  one  wonders  why  the  reform 
did  not  find  an  earlier  beginning.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the 
under  cupboard  in  almost  every  household  was  well  stocked 
with  various  kinds  of  liquors.  Cider  was  the  universal  table  bev- 
erage, and  West  India  rum  was  in  general  use.     Every  laborer  had 


542  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

his  half-pint  per  day,  especially  in  summer  weather,  and  to  neglect 
to  offer  a  drink  to  a  friend  was  a  confession  of  poverty  few  were 
williiig  to  make.  The  ever  present  demijohn  filled  with  mm  stood 
always  at  hand  for  hospitality  or  for  private  use,  and  the  morning 
dram  was  almost  as  regularly  taken — by  the  men  at  least — as  was 
the  breakfast.  At  installations  and  at  funerals  alike  the  hospitable 
glass  was  passed  frequently  and  potently.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Todd  of  Pittsfield  has  testified  to  the  fact  that  he  once  actually  saw 
toddy  mixed  on  the  lid  of  the  coffin.  The  following  description 
of  the  Rev.  Noah  Benedict  of  Woodbury  is  representative  of  the 
period: 

On  general  trainings,  the  band,  with  beating  of  drum  and  squealing  of  fife, 
formed  in  two  lines  before  the  parsonage.  At  this  signal,  the  reverend  clergyman 
proceeded  to  the  making  of  a  most  bewildering  mixture  consisting  of  rum,  and 
eggs,  and  sugar,  and  boiling  water.  Two  huge  handled  glass  mugs,  daintily 
engraved  in  Old  England,  now  received  their  fill  of  the  drink  of  New  England. 
The  gentleman,  in  his  long  silken  robe  of  ceremony,  with  cocked  hat,  silk  stockings 
and  silver  shoe-buckles,  made  ready  to  go  out  and  greet  the  band.  One  last  cere- 
mony, one  important  touch,  was  given  when  with  a  red-hot  iron  he  stirred  up  rap- 
idly that  which  now  became  flip!  He  bowed  to  the  delighted  men,  took  a  swallow 
from  each  mug,  and  then  passed  them  around  until  all  had  had  a  taste.  Heading 
the  procession,  he  next  led  them  to  the  tavern,  where  he  presided  at  dinner. 

A  curious  text  on  which  the  preachers  of  that  day,  had  they  so  de- 
sired, might  have  delivered  a  sermon  on  the  evils  of  the  social  glass, 
is  to  be  found  in  this  extract  from  the  Litchfield  Monitor  of  May,  1793: 

Died  at  Waterbury  of  intoxication,  on  the  eve  of  the  21st,  a  smart,  active  negro 
girl  of  about  nine  years  old,  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Nicholls,  at  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  with  whom  she  lived.  Mrs.  Hart  was  abroad,  and  Mr.  Hart,  quitting 
the  house  for  a  short  time,  to  attend  on  some  labor  in  a  lot  adjoining,  inadvertently 
left  a  bottle  of  spirits  uncorked  in  a  closet  to  which  she  had  access.  On  their 
return  they  found  her  inebriated  to  a  very  considerable  degree,  though  not  past 
speaking,  and  she  disgorged,  as  they  supposed,  most  of  the  stuff  she  had  swallowed. 
She  appeared  out  of  danger  and  was  permitted  to  sleep,  but  was  soon  lifeless.  A 
physician  could  ncrt  restore  her.  This  unusual  accident  is  a  serious  admonition  to 
parents  and  masters  of  children  not  to  leave  this  more  than  common  poison  within 
their  reach. 

Such  a  nalive  comment  as  this  on  so  shocking  a  fatality  well  illus- 
trates the  point  of  view  of  that  day  in  regard  to  the  practice  of 
drinking.  Spirits  are  actually  called  "poison,"  but  the  only  caution 
suggested  in  regard  to  them  is  not  to  leave  them  where  children  can 
reach  them.  The  popular  drinks  of  that  period,  when  something 
more  elaborate  was  desired  than  cider  or  rum,  were  "  Huxham's 
tincture,"  tansy  bitters,  and  "Hopkins's  elixir."  French  brandy 
was  the  luxury  of  the  rich  and  wine  was  used  for  the  sacrament 
alone.     Every  family  made  gallons  of  "  elixir  proprietatis,"  a  dis- 


LIFE  IN  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN:'  543 

gusting  concoction  for  the  more  sensitive  stomachs  of  to-day.  The 
cupboard  was  adorned  with  beautifully  engraved  decanters,  and 
beside  them  stood  tall  glass  mugs,  delicately  etched,  and  slender- 
legged  drinking  cups.  Usually,  the  most  elegant  piece  of  furni- 
ture in  an  ordinary  home  was  this  corner  cupboard.  The  upper 
shelf  was  devoted  to  teacups  and  saucers  of  rare  old  china,  by  the 
side  of  which  were  the  wine  glasses,  clear  as  crystal.  Beneath  were 
the  quart  and  pint  glass  measures  to  hold  flip  and  cider,  many  of 
them  richly  engraved,  sometimes  with  a  coat  of  arms.  A  piece  or 
two  of  silver  and  some  extra  fine  pewter  filled  the  remaining  space. 
In  addition  to  what  seems  to  us  their  shocking  drinking  habits,  our 
ancestors  made  use  of  various  semi-drugs  in  a  manner  no  less 
shocking  to  our  more  aesthetic  tastes.  These  included  "camphire," 
"  sal  volatile,"  and  rhubarb  root — this  last  carried  in  every  pocket 
and  constantly  nibbled  at,  and  sometimes  scraped  off  and  roasted 
on  a  "peel"  as  a  remedy  for  children  with  digestive  ailments; 
also  hartshorn  and  lavender  for  "  the  nerves."  This  list  probably 
looks  no  more  peculiar  to  us  than  will  a  list  of  many  of  the  things 
we  commonly  use  to-day  to  our  remoter  descendants. 

The  one  conspicuous  feature  in  the  life  of  the  period  was  the 
meeting-house.  That  life  centered, in  the  church  to  a  degree  that 
it  is  now  hard  to  understand.  As  we  have  seen,  it  was  the  prelim- 
inary settlement  which  formed  a  new  ecclesiastical  society  that  led 
in  the  end  to  the  independent  town,  and  it  was  largely  the  agita- 
tion over  church  distinctions  which  brought  about  the  adoption  of 
a  new  constitution  here  in  Connecticut.  Devotion  to  the  church 
found  expression  in  the  sacredness  attached  to  Sunday  observance, 
which  is  so  marked  a  characteristic  of  the  period.  Custom  founded 
on  a  strong  public  opinion  kept  those  who  might  have  otherwise 
protested  against  the  exactions  of  the  Sabbath  from  openly  express- 
ing their  views  or  acting  upon  them.  What  was  called  "desecra- 
tion of  the  Lord's  Day  "  seldom  occurred.  Bronson's  "  History  " 
gives  the  curious  case  of  Isaac  Bronson,  a  leading  man  here  in 
Waterbury,  who  was  convicted  of  doing  "servile  labor,"  before 
Timothy  Hopkins,  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr.  Bronson's  sister  had 
been  ill  at  the  mother's,  four  miles  out  of  town.  She  lived  with 
him,  and  asked  him  to  take  her  home  on  a  pillion  one  Sabbath 
evening,  which  he  did,  as  he  declared,  "without  thought  of  harm." 
For  this  he  was  fined  and  debarred  from  the  sacrament.  He  appealed 
the  case,  but  the  decision  of  the  justice  was  sustained.  This 
occurred  in  1737,  but  the  law  which  Bronson  was  convicted  of 
breaking  was  still  on  the  statute  book  in  the  earlier  part  of  our 
period.    This  illustrates  the  extent  to  which  the  observance  of  the 


544  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 

Sabbath  could  be  legally  enforced.  A  vivid  picture  of  the  country- 
church  of  that  day  is  given  by  A.  Bronson  Alcott,  a  native  of  Wol- 
cott,  in  his  "New  Connecticut": 

The  meeting-house  (Wolcott)  was  a  plain  building  without  a  steeple.  The  pews 
below  were  old-fashioned  box  or  square  pews,  numbered  on  the  doors,  and  the  seat- 
ing of  the  members  was  according  to  their  age,  the  elderly  nearest  the  pulpit,  the 
aisles  leading  to  it  being  swept  and  sanded.  The  pulpit  was  very  high,  and  beneath 
it,  extending  in  front,  w^ere  the  seats  for  the  deacons.  The  front  galleries  extended 
around  three  sides  with  raised  seats  behind  and  at  the  south  end.  Between  the 
stairways  were  high  seats  for  the  young  people^who  preferred  them. 

The  scene  in  one  of  these  churches  is  easy  to  be  recalled:  the  older 
members  of  the  congregation  listening  with  strictest  attention  to  the 
long  prayer  and  the  longer  sermon — except  where  nature  was  too 
strong  to  be  overcome  and  the  drowsiness  of  rest  after  hard  toil 
asserted  its  supremacy — and  the  "  tithing-men  "  preserving  order 
among  the  more  irreverent  youngsters.  The  spirit  of  fun  was  not 
wholly  to  be  suppressed  even  under  their  system  of  discipline. 
The  story  was  told  even  then  with  relish  of  how  John  Trumbull, 
the  author  of  "  McFingal,"  whose  father  was  the  pastor  at  Water- 
town,  tied  a  wig  of  his  father's  on  the  head  of  the  family  dog  and 
sent  the  animal  to  church.  The  dog  stationed  himself  on  the  pul- 
pit stairs,  out  of  the  preacher's  sight,  where,  however,  he  convulsed 
the  congregation.  When  at  last  the  preacher  discovered  the  cause  of 
the  unseemly  outbreak  he  simply  shook  his  head,  saying,  in  an  aside: 
"That's  some  of  John's  work,"  and  went  on  with  his  discourse.  But 
an  incident  of  this  kind  was  so  startlingly  exceptional  as  to  deserve 
quoting  simply  for  that  reason.  Rarely  did  anything  humorous 
break  in  to  disturb  the  solemnity  of  a  service  in  a  New  England 
meeting-house.  The  discomforts  which  were  endured  by  attend- 
ants on  worship  at  that  time  required  a  true  Spartan  spirit.  In  the 
winter,  especially,  the  cold  was  intense  in  the  unwarmed  meeting- 
house and  the  worshippers  sat  through  the  long  services,  half  be- 
numbed, although  their  sufferings  were  somewhat  mitigated  by  the 
general  use  of  foot-stoves.  In  summer  there  were  touches  to  the 
scene  which  have  now  been  almost  forgotten,  the  long  turkey- 
feather  fans  whose  constant  "  swish  "  added  new  vigor  to  drowsi- 
ness, and  the  little  pieces  of  fennel,  dill  and  caraway,  which  were 
held  in  the  mouth  and  called '"  meetin'-seed."  As  the  hour  for  ser- 
vice arrived,  the  pastor  entered  the  pulpit,  clambering  up  a  steep 
stairway  and  shutting  himself  in  with  small  half-doors,  under  a 
gfreat  sounding-board  that  looked  like  a  giant  extinguisher.  The 
congregation  remained  standing  until  the  preacher  reached  his 
desk.     After  his  acknowledgment  they  re-seated  themselves,  and 


LIFE  m  THE  ''AGE  OF  HOMESPUN."  545 

he  gathered  his  silken  robe  about  him,  and  with  dignity  took  his 
own  seat.  The  singing  would  seem  remarkable  to  modern  ears. 
The  hymns  were  mainly  "  deaconed  off,"  two  lines  at  a  time — only 
a  few  in  the  congregation  having  hymn-books  of  their  own.  The 
choir  was  divided  into  four  parts,  being  ranged  on  three  sides  of 
the  gallery.  The  key-note  was  given  by  striking  the  tuning-fork 
on  the  choir  rail  or  by  a  pitch-pipe.  There  were  two  services,  one 
in  the  morning  and  one  in  thle  afternoon,  with  an  hour  between. 
The  ordinary  luncheon  consisted  of  doughnuts  and  cheese  and  hot 
spiced  cider.  With  this  short  interval  for  relief  from  the  strain, 
the  average  New  England  household  devoted  hours  in  succession 
on  Sunday  to  the  cultivation  of  religious  fervor  and  theological 
lore. 

It  was  indeed  a  "land  of  steady  habits"  which  thus  comes  to 
view.  And  the  correctness  of  the  familiar  characterization  is 
emphasized  by  the  account  of  the  state  of  society  toward  the  close 
of  the  century,  furnished  in  the  following  extract  from  the  unpub- 
lished journal  of  Samuel  Miles  Hopkins,  LL.  D.  (whose  biography 
is  given  in  Volume  II,  pages  823-825): 

Farewell,  Litchfield  and  Goshen,  a  country  of  storm  and  winter  and  frightful  cold 
and  snow,  and  of  hardy,  active,  reading,  thinking,  intelligent  men,  who  may  prob- 
ably be  set  forth  as  the  finest  commonalty  upon  earth. 

As  an  example  take  a  glance  at  the  state  of  society  in  Goshen.  In  that  town  of 
1200  people  there  w^as  no  such  thing  as  a  poor  or  dependent  family;  no  tenant,  no 
rich  man,  except  a  single  merchant.  Every  farmer  tilled  his  100  or  200  acres  of 
land,  chiefly  with  the  labor  of  his  own  or  his  sons*  hands.  Until  I  left  Connecticut 
I  had  never  seen  a  person,  male  or  female,  of  competent  age  to  read  and  write,  who 
could  not  do  both.  In  different  parts  of  the  town  were  library  associations,  as  is 
common  in  New  England,  and  that  in  our  neighborhood  contained  the  most  popu- 
lar works  of  history,  many  of  the  works  of  Addison  and  Pope,  and  some  of  Johnson, 
Hume,  Blair.  Beattie,  etc.,  and  they  were  much  read. 

I  have  attended  an  election  there,  and  the  decorum  and  order  were  not  less  than 
appears  in  divine  service.  No  such  thing  as  party  was  perceptible,  even  if  there 
was  a  feeling  of  it.  The  man  who  should  in  any  way,  direct  or  indirect,  by  himself 
or  his  friends,  have  intimated  a  desire  for  office  would  by  that  very  fact  lose  it.  I 
remember  hearing  my  father  say  of  such  a  man  that  he  "shook  hands  rather  too 
much  "  and  seemed  to  be  fishing  for  popularity.  If  he  had  not  shaken  hands  so  much 
my  father  might  have  voted  for  him. 

These  habits  produced  a  wise  and  stable  government  and  a  most  perfect  obedi- 
ence to  the  laws  The  admirable  form  of  the  old  constitution  of  Connecticut  was 
adapted  to  bring  men  forward  slowly  into  public  life  and  to  keep  them  much  under 
public  view.  When  long  approved,  they  held  their  seats  very  firmly;  and  the  upper 
house  (the  senate)  of  that  state  has  at  times  braced  itself  against  the  whole  of  pub- 
lic opinion  and  of  the  popular  branch,  and  defeated  an  unwise  but  momentarily 
popular  measure.  It  contained  twelve  men.  My  great-uncle,  Joseph  Hopkins  of 
Waterbury,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  seventy  consecutive  times,  that 
is,  twice  a  year  for  upwards  of  thirty-five  years  (and  my  impression  is,  for  thirty-six 

35 


546 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


or  thirty-eight  years).  George  Wyllis  of  Hartford,  the  third  of  that  family  who  was 
secretary  of  state,  was  elected  to  that  ofEce  by  the  governor  and  council  a  little 
before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  on  the  death  of  his  father.  But  the  election 
of  secretary  of  state  belonged  to  the  people  except  in  cases  of  vacancy  ad-tntertm. 
The  people  then,  by  a  general  vote  of  the  whole  state,  elected  him  to  the  same  office 
sixty  (or  one  or  two  more  than  sixty)  successive  years,  and  he  died  in  office  at  upwards 
of  eighty.  Such  were  the  habits  of  a  people  whose  government  was  the  most  dem- 
ocratic of  any  on  earth,  except  that  of  San  Marino. 

It  is  a  homely  rustic  picture  whose  outlines  have  been  roughly 
sketched  in  the  foregoing  pages.  It  is  startling,  when  one  stops  to 
think  of  it,  that  it  is  a  picture  of  life  only  a  comparatively  few 
short  years  ago,  belonging  to  the  early  part  of  our  own  century.  It 
is  not  a  life  that  any  of  us  would  go  back  to,  and  yet,  if  it  had  not 
been  lived  here  in  New  England,  in  all  its  God-fearing  strictness 
and  rigorous  simplicity,  this  America  of  to-day  could  not  have  been 
what  it  is.  There  are  certain  things  about  it  that  we  cannot  recall 
without  a  sense  of  loss  and  a  regret  that  they  have  ceased  to  be. 
There  are  certain  picturesque  touches  which  refine  it,  and  in  its 
quaintness  it  appeals  to  us  even  aesthetically.  As  Horace  Bushnell 
said,  in  his  discourse  at  the  centennial  celebration  of  Litchfield 
county  on  August  13  and  14,  1851: 

A  hundred  years  from  now,  everything  that  was  most  distinctive  will  have 
passed  away.  The  spinning  wheels  of  wool  and  flax  that  used  to  buzz  so  familiarly 
in  the  childish  ears  of  some  of  us  will  be  heard  no  more  forever — seen  no  more,  in 
fact,  save  in  the  halls  of  the  antiquarian  societies,  where  the  delicate  daughters  will 
be  asking  what  these  strange  machines  are  and  how  they  were  made  to  go.  The 
huge  hewn  timber  looms  that  used  to  occupy  a  room  by  themselves  in  the  farm 
houses  will  be  gone,  cut  up  for  firewood,  and  their  heavy  thwack,  beating  up  the 
woof,  will  be  heard  no  more  by  the  passer-by — not  even  the  antiquarian  halls  will 
find  room  to  harbor  a  specimen.  The  long  strips  of  linen,  bleaching  on  the  grass, 
and  tended  by  a  sturdy  maiden  sprinkling  them  each  hour  from  her  water-can 
under  a  broiling  sun — thus  to  prepare  the  Sunday  linen  for  her  brothers  and  her 
own  wedding  outfit — will  have  disappeared,  save  as  they  return  to  fill  a  picture  in 
some  novel  or  ballad  of  the  old  time.  The  heavy  Sunday  coats  that  grew  on  sheep 
individually  remembered,  more  comfortably  carried  in  warm  weather  on  the  arm, 
and  the  specially  fine  striped  blue-and-white  pantaloons  of  linen  just  from  the  loom, 
will  no  longer  be  conspicuous  on  processions  of  footmen  going  to  meeting,  but  will 
have  given  placc/to  showy  carriages  filled  with  gentlemen  in  broadcloth,  festooned 
with  chains  jj^^alifornia  gold,  and  delicate  ladies  holding  perfumed  sunshades. 
The  churches,  too,  that  used  to  be  simple  brown  meeting-houses  covered  with  rived 
clapboards  of  oak,  will  have  come  down  mostly  from  the  bleak  hill  tops  into  the 
close  villages  and  populous  towns  that  crowd  the  waterfalls  and  the  railroads;  and 
the  old  burial  places  where  the  fathers  sleep  will  be  left  to  their  lonely  altitude — 
token,  shall  we  say,  of  an  age  that  lived  as  much  nearer  to  heaven  and  as  much 
less  under  the  world.     The  change  will  be  complete. 

A  little  further  on  Dr.  Bushnell  draws  a  picture  of  some  neigh- 
borhood gathering,  when  a  sleigh  full  of  old  and  young  had  joined 


LIFE  IN  THE  '*  AQB  OF  H0ME8PUN:' 


547 


a  merry  party  in  some  friendly  home — noting  in  passing  that  "  if 
those  ancestors  of  ours  undertook  a  formal  entertainment  of  any 
kind  it  was  commonly  stiff  and  quite  unsuccessful " — the  fire  blaz- 
ing high  with  a  new  stick  for  every  guest,  and  no  restraint  and  no 
affectation.     Dr.  Bushnell  continues: 

They  tell  stories,  they  laugh,  they  sing.  They  are  serious  and  gay  by  turns. 
The  young  folks  go  on  with  some  play,  while  the  fathers  and  mothers  are  discussing 
some  hard  point  of  theology  in  the  minister*s  last  Sunday's  sermon;  or  perhaps  the 
great  danger  coming  to  sound  morals  from  the  multiplication  of  turnpikes  and 
newspapers  !  Meantime  the  good  housewife  brings  out  her  choice  stock  of  home- 
grown exotics,  gathered  from  three  realms,  doughnuts  from  the  pantry,  hickory  nuts 
from  the  chamber,  and  the  nicest,  smoothest  apples  in  the  cellar;  all  which,  includ- 
ing, I  suppose  I  must  add,  the  rather  unpoetic  beverage  that  gave  its  acid  smack 
to  the  ancient  hospitality,  are  discussed  as  freely,  with  no  fear  of  consequences. 
And  then,  as  the  tall  clock  in  the  corner  of  the  room  ticks  on  majestically  toward 
nine,  the  conversation  takes,  it  may  be,  a  little  more  serious  turn,  and  it  is  sug- 
gested that  a  very  happy  evening  may  fitly  be  ended  with  a  prayer.  Whereupon 
the  circle  breaks  up  with  a  reverent,  congratulative  look  on  every  face,  which  is 
itself  the  truest  language  of  a  social  nature  blest  in  human  fellowship. 

With  this  picture,  so  graphically  drawn,  it  is  well  to  close  the 
chapter.  In  it  the  nobler  side  of  the  "age  of  homespun,"  as  Dr. 
Bushnell  felicitously  calls  it,  is  drawn  with  an  artist's  hand,  the 
homely  details  being  neither  exaggerated  nor  idealized.  It  is  a 
picture  all  the  pleasanter  for  the  eye  to  rest  upon  because  of  the 
ruggedness  that  frames  it  in,  and  the  bleakness  just  outside  the 
farmhouse  door  that  forms  its  background. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

FIRST  HIGHWAY  IN  CONNECTICUT — COUNTRY  ROADS  OR  KING's  HIGHWAYS 
— ROADS  TO  FARMINGTON  —  TO  NEW  HAVEN  —  TO  WOODBURY  — 
THROUGHOUT  THE  TOWNSHIP — VILLAGE  HIGHWAYS — RE-SURVEVS 
AND    ALTERATIONS — TURNPIKE    ROADS — THE    PLANK    ROAD. 

THE  first    highway  made  in  Connecticut  was  from  Hartford 
to  Windsor.     It  was  to  be  for  cart  and  horse  and  was  made 
upon  the  uplands.     It  was  not  ordered  until  April  of  1638,  or 
more  than  two  years  after  the  settlements  began. 

What  more  conclusive  proof  than  the  above  do  we  need  of  the 
correctness  of  the  statements  of  the  earliest  historians  and  letter 
writers,  when  they  tell  us  that  the  so  called  wilderness  of  New 
England  was,  to  a  considerable  extent,  an  open  forest,  "kept  so,  by 
being  burned  over  twice  a  year  by  the  Indians"  as  well  as  by  the 
large  trees  which  shaded  out  the  undergrowth. 

To  the  open  forests  were  added  the  natural  openings  along  the 
streams,  known  as  meadows.  The  term  "  meadows  "  was  not  then 
restricted,  as  now,  to  grass  or  mowing  lands,  but  was  applied  to  any 
naturally  cultivable  land,  and  the  same  early  writers  tell  us  that 
cattle  could  find  ample  pasturage  in  the  woods,  and  considerable 
hay  could  be  cut  in  the  open  places  without  breaking  ground  or 
sowing  seed.*  The  Indian's  hard  and  plain  paths  ran  where  there 
were  objective  points  of  interest,  and  these  the  white  man  naturally 
followed  in  going  from  place  to  place,  or  in  exploring  the  country — 
the  chief  trouble  being  to  learn  the  best  route  to  take  to  reach  a 
desired  point  without  being  misled  to  follow  deviations  of  a  local  or 
special  character,  foreign  to  the  object  in  view.  It  was  from  the 
very  multiplicity  of  these  trails  that  the  necessity  arose  for  mark- 
ing or  blazing  the  trees  when  any  highway  or  recognized  route  was 
sought  to  be  established,  and  this  method,  for  a  time,  answered 
very  well. 

As  land  began  to  be  laid  out  along  the  travelled  path,  and  cart 
roads  became  necessary  to  move  crops  and  goods  from  place  to 


*  The  elder  Winthrop,  after  having  been  a  short  time  in  Massachusetts,  wrote,  in  1630:  Here  is  as  good 
and  as  I  have  seen  in  England,  but  none  so  bad  as  there.  Here  is  sweet  air,  fair  rivers,  plenty  of  springs, 
and  the  water  better  than  in  England. 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  he  wrote :  My  dear  wife :  We  are  here  in  a  paradise.  Though  we  have 
not  beef  or  mutton,  yet,  God  be  praised,  we  want  them  not^our  Indian  corn  answers  for  all.  Vet  we  have 
fowl  and  fish  in  great  plenty. 


OLD  HIQHWATa  AND  STBBETS.  549 

place,  the  future  need  of  recognized  highways  dawned — and  so  to 
preserve  space  enough  to  allow  of  choice  of  road-bed  on  convenient 
and  satisfactory  ground,  without  the  removal  of  large  rocks  or 
stumps,  and,  to  exempt  it  from  intrusion  by  layers  out  of  lands, 
highways  were  prepared  for;  —  sometimes  a  number  of  years  in 
advance  of  their  actual  use,  by  placing  heaps  of  stones,  called  mon- 
uments, at  the  corners  or  angles,  and  at  convenient  distances 
between,  to  designate  the  lines  of  the  highway  as  against  the  claims 
of  adjoining  land-owners.  A  little  later,  as  the  need  of  future 
highways  grew  imminent,  lands  were  granted,  or  divided,  subject 
to  the  same — the  expression  in  the  conveyance  being:  "without 
prejudicing  highways." 

In  process  of  time  the  marks  on  the  trees  became  obliterated  or 
indistinct.  The  trees  themselves  disappeared.  The  heaps  of  stones 
became  displaced  or  confused  with  similar  heaps,  used  to  denote 
other  land  boundaries,  and  the  custom  was  made  legal  of  entering 
upon  record  a  description  of  the  course  of  the  highway,  the  dis- 
tances and  directions  between  boundaries,  with  the  mention  of  any 
distinctive  objects  along  the  route,  or  of  guiding  facts  to  help  in 
recovering  lost  lines,  and  fixing  in  the  minds  of  surveyors  salient 
points  when  laying  out  adjoining  lands. 

At  first,  only  some  of  the  most  important  highways  were 
recorded,  a  re-survey  or  new  layout  being  necessary  to  obtain  a 
proper  description  of  them;  but  at  length,  by  degrees,  all  highways 
came  to  be  reviewed  and  placed  on  record,  except  a  scattered  few — 
and  these — either  because  they  were  too  well  known  to  admit  of 
question,  or  because  they  were  unimportant — seem  never  to  have 
been  recorded. 

For  the  above  reasons,  in  following  the  records  of  highways  we 
are  not  taken  back  to  the  beginning  of  travelled  ways,  but  are  intro- 
duced to  them  at  a  comparatively  remote  and  transitional  period, 
and  become  acquainted  with  them  by  degrees  and  installments — 
the  laying  out  of  new  city  streets  denotes  the  intended  develop- 
ment of  a  section,  the  record  of  the  old  time  highways  development 
accomplished. 

When  Waterbury  was  settled,  there  was  a  road  from  Hartford 
to  New  Haven,  one  from  Milford  to  Farmington,  and  Wallingford 
also  had  her  connections  with  the  outside  world.  In  1643  each  town 
was  ordered  to  choose  two  surveyors  yearly.  The  surveyors  had 
power  to  call  out  every  team,  and  person  (from  sixteen  to  sixty 
years)  fit  for  labor,  one  day  in  each  year  to  mend  the  highways,  and 
were  enjoined  to  have  special  regard  to  those  "Common  wayes" 
which  were   betwixt  town  and  town.     In  May  of  1679  the  roads 


SSo 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATEBBUB7. 


"from  plantation  to  plantation"  were  "reputed  the  Country  roads  or 
King's  highways,"  and  it  was  recommended  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  various  towns  should  first  clear  such  roads  "at  least  one  rod 
wide."  Five  years  later,  in  1684,  complaints  were  made  of  the 
"wayes  between  towne  and  towne"  that  they  "were  encum- 
bered with  dirty  slowes,  bushes,  trees  and  stones,"  and  the  Court 
ordered  that  forthwith  the  highways  should  be  well  amended  from 
their  defects,  and  so  kept.  The  surveyors  in  each  town  were 
enjoined  to  do  their  duty,  and  the  Surveyor's  oath  was  promulgated 
as  an  inducement  to  action. 

In  preparing  a  village  site  for  Waterbury  in  1677,  it  seems  to  have 
been  the  duty  of  the  Colonial  committee  to  lay  out  the  village  high- 
ways, and  also  to  indicate  what  should  be  the  official  highway  con- 
necting the  new  town  with  Farmington,  and  thus  with  Hartford. 
Accordingly,  we  find  that  the  authorized  highway  of  1677,  which 
was  perpetually  sequestered  by  act  of  the  "  Grand  Committee  "  in 
1679;  which  was  further  reserved  and  encroachments  upon  forbid- 
den by  the  proprietors  in  1722;  which  was  re-surveyed  and  formally 
entered  on  record  in  1754  was  substantially  East  Main  street,  the  old 
Cheshire  road  to  East  Farms  school-house,  thence  up  the  hill  in  the 
line  of  the  present  road  until  past  the  Austin  Pierpont  place,  when 
it  turned  northeastward  across  the  present  pasture  lot  where  the 
old  road-bed  may  still  be  seen,  and  came  into  the  Meriden  road  a 
little  westward  of  the  old  Farmington  corner — now  a  corner  of 
Wolcott  and  Waterbury.  From  there  the  road  ran  eastward  on  the 
south  line  of  Farmington  nearly  where  the  Meriden  road  now  is, 
until  the  brow  of  the  mountain  was  reached,  when  it  went  down 
by  the  present  peach  orchards  of  Barns  &  Piatt  into  the  Quinnipiac 
valley,  and  there  joined  the  early  road  between  Milford  and  Farm- 
ington. Grants  of  land  at  East  Farms  and  on  the  way  thither  in 
1686  and  later;  layouts  of  land  near  the  Meriden  road  in  the 
extreme  eastern  part  of  the  township  in  1722;  conveyances  of  land 
on  the  route  scattered  along  through  many  decades,  confirm  beyond 
question  the  location  of  this  road  as  "  the  road  to  Farmington.* 

For  the  line  of  the  Indian  highway,  see  page  220.  Besides  this 
King's  highway  to  Farmington,  there  were  two  recognized  roads 
leading  to  the  same  town.  Just  before  Mattatuck  was  settled,  the 
southerly  and  westerly  portions  of  Farmington  township  were  laid 
out  in  "long  lots,"  many  of  which  were  owned  by  our  planters. 
Between  these  long  lots,  highways  and  cross-highways  were  plotted, 

*  About  three  miles  from  the  centre  on  this  road,  in  1749,  Joseph  Beach  and  Cornelias  Johnson  were 
granted  liberty  to  advance  three  rods  into  the  highway,  for  thirty  rods.  Two  years  later  the  town  conferred 
the  land  upon  them,  they  having  built  their  houses  there. 


OLD  HIGHWAT8  AND  STREETS.  551 

if  not  laid  out,  and  these  probably  served  as  avenues  through  which 
some  of  these  wandering  paths  reached  Farmington. 

The  second  recognized  road  to  Farmington  (see  page  218),  re- 
ferred to  as  "the  new  road  as  we  go  to  Farmington"  in  1686,  is 
found  by  record  passing  between  the  Hog  Field  hill  south  of 
Woodtick,  and  Woodtick.  It  probably  connected  with  and  entered 
Waterbury  by  the  way  of  the  very  early  path  over  Long  hill  from 
Bronson's  meadow.  On  its  eastward  way,  it  probably  joined  one  of 
the  Farmington  highways  that  were  plotted  through  her  long  lots 
before  Waterbury  was — that  is,  after  the  road  left  the  bounds  of 
our  township. 

An  early  Waterbury  path,  mentioned  in  1696  on  the  Farmington 
records  as  in  Poland,  ran  through  Bristol,  and  doubtless  is  the  foun- 
dation for  the  tradition,  faithfully  adhered  to  by  many  persons,  that 
the  first  road  from  Farmington  came  over  Fall  mountain.  Spindle 
hill,  along  the  west  side  of  Ash  swamp,  west  of  Chestnut  hill,  along 
the  western  side  of  Long  hill  to  Walnut  street  and  so  on  down  to 
East  Main  street.    The  "  Chestnut  hill  path  "  is  mentioned  in  1686. 

In  1724  we  again  find  mention  of  another  "new  road  to  Farming- 
ton."  At  Spindle  hill  this  road  left  the  hill,  apparently  near  the 
school-house,  turned  northeastwardly  to  Mad  river  and  then  east- 
ward to  the  line  of  Farmington,  and  there  it  is  reasonably  certain, 
if  not  established,  that  it  met  the  Alcox  road  of  present  Wolcott.  It 
passed  through  Wolcott  north  of  the  centre,  across  roads  now  known 
as  Plumb  and  East  streets,  and  down  the  mountain  into  Southing- 
ton  valley.  These  roads  of  1686  and  1724,  as  mentioned,  were  prob- 
ably but  new  sections  of  road  connecting  former  highways  or  trails 
on  the  Waterbury  side  with  those  on  the  Farmington  side. 

Before  1720  we  have  few  recorded  highways.  It  must  not,  how- 
ever, be  taken  for  granted  that  the  highways  about  the  town,  and 
even  the  more  distant  ones  were  not  formallv  laid  out  at  a  much 
earlier  period  than  we  find  them  on  record.  Many  of  them  make 
their  first  appearance  as  re-surveys.  Many  are  recorded  as  laid  out 
at  a  certain  time,  when  we  know  that  the  highway  in  question  had 
been  in  use  for  a  number  of  years. 

As  an  instance  of  the  delay  to  make  record,  is  the  statement  of 
Benjamin  Barnes  and  Stephen  Upson  in  1720 — that  they  had  been 
appointed  with  "  Leftenante  Judd  "  to  lay  out  highways  to  the  mill. 
They  then  state  what  they  had  done  at  least  eighteen  years  before 
that  time — for  Lieut.  Judd  died  in  1702. 

The  earliest  date  of  a  highway  accompanied  by  a  layout  that  is 
on  record  is  Grand  street,  from  Bank  street  to  Union  square,  and 
that  was  the  date  of  the  re-opening  of  the  street,  at  which  time  we 


552  HI3T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

assume  that  it  was  much  narrower  than  in  Samuel  Steel's  original 
layout  of  the  village  plot.  In  17 12  it  was  3  rods  wide  at  Bank  street 
and  5  rods  at  Union  square. 

In  1716  Sergt.  Stephen  Upson  and  Abraham  Andrews  laid  out 
"the  Country  road  to  the  corner,  of  New  Haven  bounds."  They 
began  "at  the  mouth  of  the  mill  trench"  on  the  east  side  of  Mad 
river  (they  call  it  Mill  river).  It  ran  to  Horse  Pasture  bridge,  to 
Smug  Swamp  brook  (where  the  path  then  went  over)  to  Thomas 
Hickcox's  land,  to  a  rock  on  the  east  side  of  the  Country  road^  to  a  cart 
way  newly  made  over  a  stony  swamp,  to  a  black  oak  stadle  on  the 
west  side  of  tfie  Country  road  on  the  hill  against  Sergt.  Upson's  land, 
through  Daniel  Warner's  8  acre  lot,  to  the  Fulling  Mill  brook,  to 
Doctor  Porter's  land,  under  the  hill  to  the  Great  Hollow  (between 
the  Hill  Side  cemetery  and  that  of  the  Roman  Catholics),  up  the 
hollow  to  a  plain  that  leads  toward  the  Burying  Yard  (Pine  Hill), 
eastward  to  Samuel  Hikcox's  plowing  land,  to  the  west  side  of 
Hikcox's  house,  over  the  plain  to  the  brook  that  runs  to  the  river, 
under  a  hill  and  over  a  brook,  to  Thomas  Richards's  house,  to 
Obadiah  Scott's  house  (beyond  which  it  turned  eastward),  to  the 
cart  way  that  Judd's  Meadow  folks  use  eastward  toward  New 
Haven,  "and  so  to  the  end  of  the  bounds  as  we  suppose."  This 
road  was  4  rods  wide  its  entire  length. 

The  repeated  reference  in  the  above  to  the  former  Country  road 
to  New  Haven  evidently  refers  to  the  first  one  laid  out,  or  ordered, 
in  1686. 

The  next  year,  Dec.  15th,  a  highway  was  laid  out  "The  west 
side  The  River,"  down  to  Joseph  Lewis's  house  lot.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  passages  or  ways  twenty  feet  wide  were  very 
early  laid  out  through  the  Common  Field  meadows,  and  this  highway 
began  on  one  of  those  passages  at  the  Long  meadow  bars  and  ran 
across  a  comer  of  Doctor  Porter's  plain  which  lay  west  of  Pine 
Island,  turned  west  under  the  hill  to  the  west  side  of  Carrington's 
8  acre  lot,  then  a  west  line  up  the  hill  to  the  north  end  of  Samuel 
Barnes's  land,  then  southwest  the  west  side  of  Bronson's  8  acre  lot, 
over  a  little  brook,  then  "whealing"  southward  down  to  and  west 
through  John  Barnes's  land,  to  Hop  brook,  down  the  brook,  across  a 
part  of  Abraham  Andrews's  Judd's  meadow  lot,  over  the  brook, 
west  to  the  Great  hill  (Gunn  hill,  a  portion  of  which  is  now  known 
as  the  Terraces),  southwest  of  John  Barnes's  farm,  southwest  past 
a  corner  of  a  lot  of  Benjamin  Richards  (deceased),  southwest  down 
to  Butler's  brook,  down  the  brook  on  the  north  side  to  Samuel 
Warner's  land,  and  over  the  brook  to  Joseph  Lewis's  25  acre  house 
lot.     His  house  was  a  little  west  of  Ward  street. 


OLD  HIGH  WATS  AND  STREETS. 


553 


The  next  day,  and  it  was  December  weather,  two  of  the  survey- 
ors, Thomas  Hikcox  and  John  Bronson,  laid  out  a  4  rod  highway  to 
Thomas  Andrews's  land  at  Turkey  Hill.  This  was,  in  part,  the  same 
Prospect  road  that  now  passes  in  sight  of  the  Turkey  Hill  reser- 
voir. It  is  described  as  beginning  at  East  Main  street  (they  call  it 
the  Country  road),  and  at  "the  highway  that  lies  between  Daniel 
Porter's  land  and  Jeremiah  Peck's  land"  (believed  to  be  originally 
Ne well's  Cart  way),  or  the  way  that  once  answered  to  present  Dub- 
lin street,  although  running  at  a  different  angle.  This  road  ran 
south  over  the  Mad  river,  up  along  the  south  side  the  river  to  the 
east  end  of  William  Hikcox's  land  against  Gaylord's  plain.  The 
original  plain  is  where  Rogers  &  Brother's  mill  is.  The  upper 
Gaylord's  plain  is  where  Silver  street  begins. 

The  road  then  ran  east  over  the  river,  by  the  river  to  the  end  of 
the  plain,  then  crossed  the  river  and  ran  southwardly  to  the  north 
side  of  Samuel  Hikcox's  field  (a  part  of  it  was  probably  in  St. 
Joseph's  Cemetery),  thence  east,  and  eastwardly  up  the  East  moun- 
tain where  the  road  now  isy  across  one  corner  of  Samuel  Porter's  farm, 
south  by  the  east  side  of  it,  and  along  the  west  end  of  Thomas 
Andrews's  land. 

The  same  day  they  laid  out  a  4  rod  highway  from  the  New 
Haven  road  across  the  south  end  of  the  "  Abrigado  "  to  the  above 
East  Mountain  road. 

Without  date,  two  roads  are  recorded,  one  from  Buck's  Hill  to 
the  vicinity  of  Wheaton's  station,  or  the  ancient  "  Hancox  Brook 
meadows"  above  Greystone;  the  other,  from  Buck's  Hill  to  Wel- 
ton's  ice  pond. 

THE  EARLY  WOODBURY  ROADS. 

There  were  three  early  roads  to  Woodbury.  The  first  one  is 
mentioned  in  1687  and  at  that  date  ran  over  Break  Neck  hill.  A 
lower  road  is  mentioned  in  17 18  and  earlier.  An  upper  road  is  found 
about  the  same  time.  It  is  not  until  1720  that  a  lay-out  of  the  road 
of  1687  appears  upon  record.  At  that  time,  it  comes  duly  labelled 
as:  "A  road  towards  Woodbury  so  far  as  our  bounds  went." 
Isaac  Bronson,  Timothy  Standly  and  Thomas  Judd  laid  it  out. 
They  began  on  West  Side  hill,  where  Highland  avenue  is.  They 
called  the  place  "our  west  bars."  The  bars  were  in  the  common  fence. 
The  first  course  of  the  road  ran  to  the  west  side  of  the  old  Bunker 
Hill  road  and  was  twenty  rods  wide  to  that  point.  From  thence 
the  road  was  to  be  ten  rods  wide.  It  took  the  course  of  the  pres- 
ent Middlebury  road  to  the  Park  road,  up  the  Park  road  to  the  foot 
of  the  first  hill  (Richards,  so  named  from  the  first  Obadiah  Rich- 
ards's  2  acre  lot),  where  it  entered  the  "  lower  way."    It  then  turned 


554 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY, 


southward  and  ran  along  the  east  side  of  the  hill  crossing  its  south - 
em  point,  and  came  out  into  the  present  road  opposite  the  Oronoke 
road  which  it  followed  to  Oronoke  hill,  where  it  diverged  from  the 
lower  way  and  ran  over  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Oronoke 
range.  The  old  road  is  still  used,  and  there  is  a  house  on  it  which 
was  long  occupied  by  the  Umberfields.  It  unites  with  the  present 
Middlebury  road  near  Pine  rock — a  well  known  point  in  the  Water- 
bury  and  Middlebury  line.  It  followed  the  present  road  by  the 
south  end  of  Mount  Fair,  then  went  northwestward  down  its  west 
side  in  the  course  of  the  present  road  to  the  ancient  Richardson 
place  at  Bronson's  meadow,  where  Ebenezer  Bronson  lived  in  1729, 
and  Ebenezer  Richardson  in  1750,  and  his  son  Nathaniel  kept 
tavern  in  Revolutionary  days.* 

From  the  Richardson  house  the  road  ran  to  the  west  side  of  the 
big  meadow  anciently  called  Race  plain,  over  the  top  of  Three  Mile 
hill,  past  Prime's  land,  about  Isaac  Bronson's  farm  (where  it  was 
already  6  rods  wide),  then  "  to  run  whereabouts  the  path  now  runs  " 
10  rods  wide  through  Isaac  Bronson's  land  and  to  the  end  of  the 
bounds.  It  met  the  road  from  Woodbury  at  the  Woodbury  line,  "  at 
the  going  down  of  Wolf  Pit  hill  to  the  Brids  brook  in  Woodbury 
bounds."     This  is  called  "the  Country  road  to  Woodbury"  in  1735. 

The  "upper  road  to  Woodbury"  connected  with  the  meadow  pas- 
sage of  20  feet  which  began  near  present  Mattatuck  street,  ran 
along  the  east  side  of  Manhan  meadow  to  Brown's  bridge  over  the 
Manhan  canal,  across  a  corner  of  the  meadow,  to  and  across  the  river, 
through  Steel's  meadow  to  Steel's  plain,  and  up  the  plain  to  the  point 
where  the  early  roads  to  Watertown  and  to  Plymouth  began. 

The  upper  Woodbury  road  left  this  meadow  passage  a  little 
below  the  Almshouse,  followed  the  course  of  Jedediah's  brook  to 
Isaac's  meadow  bars,  not  far  from  where  the  Bunker  Hill  road  joins 
a  cross  road  from  Watertown.  It  followed  substantially  the  pres- 
ent Bunker  Hill  road,  and  Poverty  street  to  the  Woodbury  line. 

The  "  lower  road  to  Woodbury  "  we  find  nowhere  laid  out  as  a  con- 
tinuous road.  It  was  in  use  in  17 15,  if  not  earlier.  It  diverged  from 
the  road  of  1720  at  Oronoke  hill,  went  by  the  present  clay  hole, 
through  Hop  Swamp,  over  Bedlam  hill  and  through  Bedlam. 

THE    day's    work    OF    DR.    EPHRAIM    WARNER    AND    JOHN    BRONSON. 

April  5,  1724,  the  highways  of  the  northeastern  section  received 
attention.     One  was  laid  out  to  Buck's  Hill.     It  began  at  the  clay 


*  Here,  tradition  tells  us,  that  General  Washing^ton  dined  on  one  occasion,  his  horse,  meanwhile,  bein^: 
made  fast  to  an  enormous  elm  tree,  lately  standing,  in  front  of  the  inn.  And  here  is  repeated  the  same  story 
that  Dr.  Bronson  gives  us  concerning  General  Washington  and  Esquire  Hopkins,  with  Nathaniel  Richardson 
as  the  "  decidedly  inquisitive  "  questioner. 


OLD  HLQEWATS  AND  STREETS, 


555 


pits  (vicinity  of  Grove  and  Bishop  streets)  and  continued  to  about 
Division  street  (Edmund  Scott's  pasture)  6  rods  wide,  was  then 
increased  to  20  rods,  which  width  continued  as  far  as  Mrs.  Pear- 
sall*s  house  (the  layout  says,  Obadiah  Scott's  house).  From  there, 
it  continued  in  the  path  by  the  east  end  of  Buck's  Hill,  unto  Richard 
Welton's  house.  From  Welton's  house  it  ran  northward  "  in  a  path 
to  Handcox  Brook  meadow  at  Warner's  and  Welton's  land." 

The  same  day,  they  marked  a  road  or  highway  from  Obadiah 
Scott's  house  lot  on  the  East  side  of  Wigwam  Swamp  brook  to  the 
Pine  Hole  bars,  4  rods  wide  (Buck's  Hill  road  to  Waterville). 

On  the  same  day,  they  began  at  the  east  end  of  Buck's  Hill  and 
ran  east,  northeast,  to  a  great  white  oak  tree  that  stood  at  the  south 
end  of  Benjamin  Warner's  house  lot,  and  east  and  north  to  Ash 
Swamp  brook.  It  then  ran  to  the  "  New  Road  to  Farmington  " 
until  they  got  over  the  Mad  river  to  Farmington  bounds,  which 
point  was  then  marked  by  "a  tree  with  two  branches,  and  a  stone 
in  the  crotch." 

The  same  day,  these  industrious  men  laid  out  a  highway  from 
"  Sergt.  Welton's  Israel's  field,"  that  ran  south,  down  Barnes's  plain, 
"  and  so  to  run  south  and  by  west  through  the  Chestnut  Hill  Rocks, 
and  through  Mantoe's  House  Rocks,  and  then  on  the  west  side  of 
Lewis's  meadow  to  the  north  end  of  Edmund's  pasture." 

In  1727  the  already  existing  highways  leading  to  and  about 
present  Watertown  were  formally  laid  out  by  two  John  Bronsons 
and  Thomas  Hickcox.  One  of  these  began  on  Steel's  brook  a  little 
above  Isaac  Castle's  house  (southward  of  Joseph  Baird's  house), 
between  the  brook  and  the  path.  It  was  8  rods  wide  to  Spruce 
brook  (above  Oakville  station).  From  John  Warner's  line  (the  Oak- 
ville  Pin  company's  dam  is  about  the  north  end  of  his  line)  it  was 
to  hold  so  wide  to  Jeremiah's  brook  and  to  Steel's  brook.  It  was 
"to  run  up  against  Ebenezer  Richardson's  house"  (the  James 
Brown,  John  Merrill,  Esquire  Buckingham  and  Davis  house).  From 
that  place  it  was  6  rods  wide  to  Samuel  Thommus's  corner  (near  the 
late  Cande  place),  then  4  rods  wide  for  15  rods,  then  8  rods  to  Cran- 
berry brook,  from  thence  4  rods  to  the  village  line — just  on  the 
western  side  of  Watertown  village. 

The  same  day,  they  laid  out  a  road  from  the  Richardson  house 
above,  to  Jonathan  Scott's  mill. 

In  1729  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the  Farmington  road  to  Timothy 
Hopkins's  Hog-field.  Beginning  at  the  old  saw-mill  path  (where  the  old 
Cheshire  and  the  Meriden  roads  diverge),  it  continued  in  the  path 
that  goes  to  said  Hopkins's  to  Si  little  this  side  of  Spruce  Swamp,  west 
side  of  the  swamp  to  Jeremy's  brook  that  comes  out  of  Upson's 


556  HISTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 

meadow,  and  continued  the  highway  in  that  path  to  said  Hopkins's 
barn,*  12  rods  wide  all  the  way.  This  old  path,  here  laid  out,  was 
probably  the  old  second  road  to  Farmington. 

From  Hopkins's  barn  it  took  its  way  over  the  brook,  and  up  the 
hill,  and  "along  by  the  path  that  now  is,  to  the  Samuel  Hikcox  land 
and  north  of  it  over  the  Mad  river,  and  then  came  to  the  said  path 
and  then  kept  the  path  almost  all  the  way  to  the  Hogfield  and  then  go 
eastwardly  to  said  (Hopkins's)  hog-field."  From  Hopkins's  barn  f  the 
road  was  but  6  rods  to  the  top  of  the  hill  beyond  it.  From  that 
point  12  rods.  May  29,  1729,  a  highway  was  laid  out  over  Burnt 
hill  to  Buck's  Hill  path.  It  was  in  an  old  path.  It  ran  up  Cook 
street  to  Pine  street,  out  Pine  street  to  Burnt  hill,  up  Burnt  hill  and 
on  in  the  old  cart  path  to  the  north  end  of  the  hill  and  down  east- 
ward to  Buck's  Hill  path. 

In  1729  three  highways  were  laid  out  at  Judd's  meadow,  one  of 
them  through  Oak  and  Maple  streets  to  the  river,  down  the  river 
on  the  east  side  to  Ward's  island,  across  the  island  to  the  west  side 
the  river,  down  the  river  to  the  Straits  mountain  or  near  it,  across 
the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Beacon  Hill  brook.  Another  one  left  the 
New  Haven  road  near  the  bend  below  the  Great  hill  (a  portion  of 
Mulberry  hill)  and  went  winding  down  into  the  valley  at  Grove 
cemetery,  and  on  down  the  river  side  to  Beacon  Hill  brook.  In  the 
same  year,  near  Thanksgiving  time,  Stephen  Hopkins  and  Joseph 
Lewis  laid  out  the  road  that  still  is  known  as  the  Hopkins  road.  It 
began  at  the  south  side  of  the  Fulling  Mill  brook  and  ran  to  the 
New  Haven  road  west  of  Straitsville. 

The  first  Hopkins  road  connected  Stephen  Hopkins's  original 
home-farm  on  his  hill  with  James  Baldwin's  grist  mill  at  the  old 
Fulling  Mill  site  on  Fulling  Mill  brook  to  the  northward,  and,  with 
the  New  Haven  road  at  Thomas  Richards's  house  in  the  other  direc- 
tion. The  road  was  in  the  form  of  an  ox-bow,  with  the  lane  lead- 
ing to  the  Hopkins  house  through  the  lots  at  the  apex.  The  lane 
crossed  the  valley  of  the  brook  on  which  we  think  Stephen's  saw- 
mill stood  in  1734,  and  went  up  the  hill  eastward  to  his  house.  The 
second  one  (that  ran  to  Straitsville)  was  known  as  the  New  Haven 
road,  being  adopted  as  a  route  from  Waterbury  to  that  city,  by  way 


*  The  Elijah  Frisbte  house,  now  gone,  occupied  the  site,  and  was,  with  little  doubt,  built  by  Timothy 
Hopkins  before  1718,  at  which  date  his  house,  at  this  locality,  is  mentioned.  It  may  have  been  merely  his 
farm  house,  and  he,  with  his  family,  may  have  been  living  in  the  one  half  of  his  father's  house  in  town  at 
the  time  his  illustrious  son  Samuel  was  born — but  the  mention  of  this  house  in  17x8  makes  the  place  of 
Samuel's  birth  (in  1720)  uncertain.  The  wbe  men  of  Waterbury  in  the  eighteenth  century,  came,  notably, 
from  the  East. 

t  In  1739  we  find  this  one  referred  to  as  '*the  highway  that  goes  from  Capt.  Hopkins's  Farm  house  to 
town." 


OLD  HIQHWAT8  AND  STREETS. 


557 


of  Pearl  lakes  (called  in  the  layout  of  it  "  Spectacle  ponds  ")  and 
the  Potter  cemetery,  and  many  persons  thought  this  was  the  orig- 
inal route. 

The  road  "from  Woodbury  road  towards  Litchfield,"  began 
almost  at  the  point  where  the  middle  road  to  Woodbury  began  in 
1720.  It  was  laid  out  in  1729.  It  ran  from  West  Side  hill  to  the 
rear  of  Westwood,  to  Richards's  house  on  the  Bunker  Hill  road, 
along  by  the  west  fence  of  the  Common  field  to  the  gate  at  the 
upper  end  of  Ben*s  meadow,  then  to  James  Williams's  house,  then  to 
George  Welton's  house  on  the  hill  between  Steel's  brook  and  Tur- 
key brook  near  lower  Oakville,  then  up  over  Patteroon  hill  and 
Hickcox  mountain,  lengthwise  of  both,  and  on  over  Scott's  moun- 
tain to  the  northwestward,  and  at  last  reached  Obadiah's  brook 
north  of  Watertown  centre. 

In  1729  and  in  1730  the  particular  and  private  highways  through 
the  northern  meadows  beginning  at  Steel's  meadow  and  extending 
to  Buck's  Meadow  field  were  laid  out,  also  other  meadow  passages. 
Some  of  these  were  pent  roads,  "  the  proprietors  of  the  Common 
field  having  liberty  to  keep  up  their  fence,  maintaining  a  Gate  or 
Bars." 

The  upper  road  to  Woodbury  was  laid  out  in  1730  by  William 
Judd  and  James  Porter.  It  is  the  first  highway  that  we  have  where 
the  length  of  the  courses  is  given.  It  began  at  Isaac's  meadow  bars 
and  ran  one  mile  and  56  rods  to  Joseph  Nichols's  corner,  but,  after 
running  five  courses  (215  rods)  beyond  the  corner,  the  surveyors 
gave  it  up  and  continued  to  Woodbury  bounds  in  the  old  and  easy 
way. 

In  1732  a  highway  ran  along  about  where  South  Main  street  runs 
below  the  Mad  River  bridge  to  City  Corners.  It  is  described  as 
"  going  through  Mad  meadow." 

As  early  as  1735  began  the  exchange  of  highways.  Perhaps 
the  first  one  was  that  through  Manhan,  Steel's  and  the  Hancox 
meadows. 

The  same  year,  a  highway  a  third  of  a  mile  long  was  laid  out  at 
"John  AUcox  across  his  land,"  and  another  highway  northward 
from  this,  "beginning  a  little  east  of  Allcox  barn  and  running  north 
80  rods." 

"  For  the  more  convenient  passing  and  re-passing  of  the  people 
that  live  upon  Waterbury  River  north  and  others,"  a  highway  was 
laid  out  from  the  spring  at  Buck's  Meadow  mountain.  This  road 
ran  in  a  general  direction  southward  and  was  intended  to  relieve 
the  general  discontent  of  the  northern  people  at  having  such  a  hard 
road  to  travel  to  reach  the  meeting-house  on  Waterbury  Green.     It 


558  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT. 

ran  through  the  notch  of  Buck's  Meadow  mountain,  through  the 
Capt.  William  Hikcox  and  the  Samuel  Hikcox  farms  (about  a  rod 
west  of  Samuel's  house),  to  Joseph  Bronson's  land,  where  it  came 
upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  down  to  Hikcox  island,  and  south  to 
the  upper  end  of  Steel's  meadow  into  the  highway  which  was  the 
universal  passage  up  the  meadows. 

Henry  Cook  and  others  at  the  northward  as  early  as  1731  had 
petitioned  for  and  obtained  a  highway  "  from  the  (northern)  extent 
of  the  bounds  to  Henry  Cook's  farm,  and  from  thence  to  the  high- 
way that  goes  by  George  Welton's  house."  This  road  began  at  "the 
head  of  the  bounds,"  ran  down  along  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
but  not  bounding  on  it  except  in  two  60  rod  runs — the  first  where 
it  began,  and  the  second  near  it.  It  crossed  the  West  Branch  and 
came  down  across  Scott's  Mountain  where  it  touched  Scovill's 
northwest  corner  and  ran  104  rods  to  his  southwest  corner.  Below, 
it  joined  the  highway  that  John  Bronson  and  John  Scovill  had  laid 
out  two  years  before,  beginning  on  West  Side  hill  at  the  Woodbury 
road  and  running  "towards  Litchfield."  Thus  we  have  the  Litch- 
field road  of  1729  finished  in  1731  by  this  union  on  Scott's  Moun- 
tain. The  people  managed  to  get  along  with  it  for  seven  years, 
and  then  William  Judd  and  George  Welton,  who  had  been  appointed 
**  to  lay  out  highways  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  bounds  and 
alter  others  if  need  be,"  changed  its  course  along  Scovill's  land  on 
the  mountain  and  reduced  its  width  from  fourteen  to  four  feet  at 
that  place.  The  distance  from  the  head  of  the  bounds  to  the  point 
of  union  was  about  six  miles. 

In  1737  a  highway  began  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  bounds 
and  followed  the  Woodbury  line  down,  and  then  ran  southwest 
from  village  lot  in  one  tier  to  village  lot  in  the  next  tier,  until  it 
reached  Watertown.  This  was  laid  out  as  a  Country  road  to  Litch- 
field. It  cannot  be  found  in  its  former  haunts  to-day,  so  many  have 
been  the  changes. 

From  this  point  onward  the  highways  become  too  numerous  for 
mention  even.  The  era  for  agricultural  development  was  come, 
and  Waterbury  lands  at  the  village,  and  elsewhere,  were  in  active 
demand.  The  history  of  highways  now  became,  in  a  measure,  the 
history  of  the  town.  From  and  including  1730  to  1741  more  than 
fifty  highways  were  laid  out.  One  began  at  Capt.  Hopkins'  Round 
Hill  lot,  ran  up  that  hill  and  across  the  Long  hill  to  the  highway 
on  the  Saw  Mill  plain;  and  another  one  ran  from  the  highway  over 
Long  and  Chestnut  hills  to  Mantoe's  rocks.  It  began  at  the  bottom 
of  the  Long  hill,  ran  northward  and  northeastward  up  the  hill  to 
the  upper  end  of  John  Bronson's  Chestnut  Hill  land  (about  a  mile 


OLD  HIQHWA78  AND  STREETS, 


559 


and  three-quarters),  when  it  turned  northwestward  72  rods  into  the 
same  highway  from  which  it  started. 

The  highways  or  streets  in  and  about  the  city  have  been  intro- 
duced in  the  narrative  history  to  such  an  extent  that  their  re-men- 
tion here  is,  perhaps,  unnecessary,  but  it  may  be  well  to  repeat 
that  in  the  original  village  plot  present  Linden  and  Bank  streets 
were  one  street,  although  not  precisely  in  their  present  lines. 
Ancient  Cook  street  came  winding  down  the  hill  and  probably 
joined  this  highway  at  Grove  street;  it  was  anticipated  and  provis- 
ion made  for  it,  which  appears  in  the  record  of  a  grant  of  1686, 
which  grant  was  of  land  near  the  head  of  Little  brook  (which  rises 
on  Drum  hill).  In  1687,  or  about  that  date,  the  highway  is  recog- 
nized as  in  existence.  About  1708  Cook  street,  from  Grove  down 
to  North  Main,  was  substituted  for  the  original  Linden  street  route. 
In  1708  North  Main  street  which  is  the  final  result  of  this  ancient 
highway  was  turned  farther  eastward. 

In  1729  there  was  a  formal  layout  of  Cook  street  from  Grove  to 
Pine,  and  from  Pine  eastwardly  and  on  over  Burnt  hill,  which  lay- 
out has  been  given  elsewhere.  Four  years  later,  in  1733,  Cook  street 
was  formally  laid  out  from  Pine  northwardly.  In  1737  Pine  street 
was  laid  out  from  Willow  street  to  Cook  street.  It  had  been  in 
existence  as  abundantly  proved  by  grants  and  lay-outs  of  land 
from  1687  on  down  to  1737,  at  which  last  date  it  joined  Cook  street 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  its  present  junction.  The  change 
to  the  new  union  took  place  about  181 2.  Bank  street  to  Grand  was 
in  the  original  plan.  During  its  history  it  has  been  known  as  the 
"  Road  to  Beaver  meadows,"  the  **  Road  to  Thomas  Porters,"  and,  in 
a  few  instances  as  "the  Road  to  Judds  meadows,"  for  the  reason 
that  somewhere  above  present  Meadow  street  the  road  divided,  one 
branch  turning  eastward,  crossing  Great  brook,  going  down  about 
in  the  direction  of  South  Main  street,  only  farther  to  the  westward. 
Somewhere  about  present  Liberty  street,  it  met  with  a  highway 
that  started  on  Mill  plain  near  Union  square.  This  highway  ran 
southwesterly  to  the  point  of  meeting,  and  the  two  proceeded 
together  as  a  "  Road  to  Judds  Meadow,"  and  went  on  through  Mad 
meadow. 

The  other  branch  of  Bank  street  (still  remembered  as  a  low, 
sandy  way  from  Meadow  street  to  the  river,  and  over  which  the 
alder,  pussy  willow  and  hazel-nut  bushes  presided,  nodding  their 
consent  to  the  passage  of  an  ordinary  vehicle,  but  covering  their 
garments  with  fringes  of  hay  as  often  as  the  venturesome  owner  of 
a  load  dared  to  risk  his  tons  down  the  overgrown  passage)  went  on 
in  about  its  present  course,  passing  close  to  the  eastern  terminus  of 


560  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 

the  now  absent  Hop  Meadow  hill,  crossed  the  river,  threaded  the 
sand  hills  as  best  it  could  until  it  came  to  Meadow  lane  near  the 
school-house,  through  which  it  wandered  and  wound  to  Town  Plot 
height.  Bank  street  on-the-hill  was  not  laid  out  until  1780.  The 
very  earliest  way  up  Town  Plot  was,  it  is  thought,  up  the  border  of 
Sled  Hall  brook. 

The  present  road  from  Town  Plot  to  Piatt's  mills,  or  its  repre- 
sentative, was  laid  out  in  1740,  and  is  described  as  beginning  "4 
rods  west  of  James  Hull's  comer  at  the  south  end  of  the  old  Town 
Plot  lot,"  and  running  south  generally  to  the  **  southeast  corner  of 
Silas  Johnson's  house  lot,"  where  it  met  the  west-side  Judd's 
Meadow  road.  In  1740,  a  short  highway  was  made  in  Northbury, 
which  began:  "Att  A  highway  that  Goes  Northward  and  South- 
ward by  the  house  they  meet  in  A  Saboth  dayes  and  we  Run  East- 
ward About  fourty  three  Rods  to  the  River."  The  above  highway 
began  "between  the  sd  meeting  house  and  John  How's  then  dwel- 
ling." 

The  earliest  Town-Line  road  noticed  was  made  about  the  time 
that  the  duties  of  the  perambulator  became  burdensome.  It  began 
"at  the  lower  corner  of  our  bounds  joining  to  Wallingford  bounds" 
and  ran  the  length  of  the  township  at  that  side,  and  up  to  the 
Farmington  road.  It  met  this  road  by  Shelton  Hitchcock's  house. 
A  stone  still  marks  the  place  of  meeting.  In  its  2  rod  course  it 
passed  through  lands  of  Mr.  Turney,  Gideon  Hotchkiss,*  "  Hickcox 
land,"  Mr.  Southmayd's,  Mr.  Hall's,  and  common  lands. 

The  road  from  Watertown  to  Middlebury,  as  originally  laid  out, 
w^as  surveyed  in  1741.  It  began  at  the  Woodbury  road  at  Break 
Neck  hill,  ran  a  little  west  of  Josiah  Bronson's  house,  through  Isaac 
Bronson's  farm,  to  the  northwest  comer  of  "Prince's  alias  John- 
son's farm,"  to  the  southeast  corner  of  and  through  Stephen  Up- 
son's, Capt.  Judd's,  Thomas  Upson's  and  Tuttle's  farms,  through 


*  The  following  letter,  written  by  Gideon  Hotchkiss,  when  in  service  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  to 
his  son  Jesse,  also  in  service  at  '*  No.  4,"  has  josi  been  found,  and  will  be  of  interest: 

Saratoga,  August  x6,  1757. 

After  my  tender  regards  to  you,  hoping  that  these  lines  may  find  you  in  good  health  as  I  am  at  present 

and  so  was  your  mother  and  brothers  and  sisters,  and  all  your  and  our  friends  when  I  came  from  home.    You 

will  hear  the  melancholy  news  of  our  upper  fort.    I  understand  you  was  well  the  last  I  heard  from  you.     I 

am  glad  to  hear  from  you  and  of  the  welfare  of  all  our  friends.  Give  my  love  to  Lieut.  Beebe  and  to  Cor. Weed, 

and  lell  Cor.  Weed  that  I  would  not  have  him  send  any  letter  to  me  but  what  he  is  willing  every  one  should 

see,  for  they  break  almost  all  open  that  comes.    You  will  hear  the  reason  of  our  being  here.    I  have  not  time 

to  write  for  the  men  are  now  agoing  and  so  I  must  conclude  with  a  word  of  advice  to  you  beseeching  of  you 

to  seek  to  him  that  is  able  to  deliver  you  and  to  sanctify  and  cleanse  you  from  all  sin.  O  my  son  I  beg  of  God 

to  fit  you  for  a  dying  hour,  this  is  the  only  time,  now  while  you  are  in  health. 

Gideon  Hotchkiss. 

Jesse,  the  then  young  soldier  of  19  years,  lived  to  return  from  that  war,  but  lost  his  life  in  the  later  war» 
dying,  "with  the  army,"  September  29,  1776. 


OLD  HIGHWAYS  AND  STREETS.  561 

Stephen  Upson's  30  acre  farm  to  the  notch  of  Jeremiah's  hill  (where 
a  road  is  to-day).  Beyond  the  notch  it  was  laid  out  through 
lands  of  Stephen  Scott  and  Richard  "  Saymour "  before  it  joined 
the  Litchfield  road  just  west  of  Watertown  village.  In  the  same 
year  there  was  a  lower  road  from  Westbury  to  Woodbury. 

The  Westbury  meeting-house  is  mentioned  in  connection  with 
a  highway  in  1742,  and  the  "Parish  Meeting-House  '*  at  Northbury 

in  1743- 

In  1744,  among  the  highways  laid  out,  was  the  one  at  Thomas- 
ton,  from  the  river  to  the  last  monument  at  Farmington  bounds. 
This  road  was  8  rods  wide  where  it  ran  through  common  land. 
A  road  was  run  up  from  Shelton's  orchard  on  Buck's  Hill  to  meet 
this  Thomaston  road  to  Farmington;  one  was  laid  out  from  Walling- 
ford  bounds  to  **a  place  called  Hog  Pound  brook"  on  the  Farm- 
ington road,  and  one  on  Twelve-Mile  Hill. 

In  1745,  there  was  one  from  Edmund  Tompkins's  saw-mill  to  the 
road  at  the  West  Side  bars;  from  the, north  end  of  Jeremiah's  hill, 
to  Woodbury  bounds;  from  the  country  road  to  Litchfield,  to  Wood- 
bury bounds;  from  Break  Neck,  to  a  highway  between  the  houses 
of  Gunn  and  John  Weed.  A  number  of  highways  in  the  south- 
west quarter  were  also  laid  out. 

In  1745,  Stephen  Kelsey  was  living  on  the  old  New  Haven  road 
on  the  farm  lands  lately  owned  by  Charles  Lounsbury,  and  a  road 
(now  perhaps  represented  by  Lounsbury  or  Glen  street)  was  laid 
out,  described  as  "  from  the  south  end  of  Mad  meadow  to  the  high- 
way that  goes  by  Stephen  Kelsey's  house." 

In  1746  the  village  highways  and  cross  highways  were  laid 
out.  In  Northbury  parish,  1747-1748  were  the  harvest  years  for 
highways.  They  grew  in  a  day  and  "sprang  into  being  on  all 
sides. 

In  1748  the  line  between  Waterbury  and  Farmington  was  ad- 
justed on  the  15th  of  April,  and  on  the  25th,  Samuel  Hickcox, 
Thomas  Porter  and  Daniel  Southmayd  met  three  men  of  Farming- 
ton  at  the  southwest  corner  of  that  town  (south  of  our  Farmington 
road)  and  amicably  perambulated  north  on  the  line  to  the  Eight- 
mile  white-oak  tree,  and  "with  good  agreement  renewed  each 
monument."  The  above  point  had  been  a  disturbing  one  to  the 
proprietors  for  some  twelve  years — the  controversy  having  been 
between  them  and  the  proprietors  of  the  Hartford  and  Windsor 
west  lands. 

During  the  summer  of  1748,  and  for  the  entire  year  of  1749,  not 
a  highway  was  laid  out  or  altered;  probably  owing  to  the  "great 
sickness  "  of  those  years. 

36 


56^ 


HISTORT  OF  WATSRBURT. 


In  1750,  Mr.  Southmayd  records  that  a  highway  was  for- 
merly laid  out  to  Meshadock  and  not  finished  (perhaps  inter- 
rupted by  the  death  of  a  member  of  the  committee),  and  he 
then  records  the  unfinished  portion  of  it,  and  ten  more  high- 
ways. Of  the  number,  was  one  from  Ebenezer  Richardson's  house 
on  the  Woodbury  road  to  the  road  from  Hop  Swamp  to  town;  a 
new  one  to  Derby  bounds;  one  from  the  highway  a  little  north 
of  Eliakim  Welton's  house  to  Farmington  bounds  (about  two  miles) ; 
also  one  of  100  rods  in  length  and  4  rods  wide,  described  as 
"  from  the  highway  that  lyeth  upon  the  old  Town  Plot  up  to  Sled 
Hall  brook,  beginning  on  the  north  side  of  the  brook  and  running 
northward  between  Nichols's  and  Southmayd's  and  Bronson's  land 
to  the  twenty  rod  highway." 

One  may  be  pardoned  tor  leaving  highways  for  a  moment  to  say  that  this  land 
of  Southmayd's  was  sold  in  1773  by  John  Southmayd,  his  grandson,  of  East  Had- 

dam,  to  William 
Adams,  who  un- 
doubtedly built  the 
house  here  pictured 
at  some  time  be- 
tween 1773  and  1781, 
for  William  deeded 
it  to  his  son  John  in 
1781  (15  acres  with 
a.  house  on  it),  and 

tioned  when  he 
bought  the  twenty- 
six  acres.  Adams 
owned  four  of  the 
Town  Plot  lots  and 
all  the  way  to  tbe  broolc.  John  bought  nut  the  other  heirs  and  in  one  of  his  pw- 
chases  from  them  mention  is  made  of  the  old  saw-mill  dam,  on  Sled  Hall  brook — 
possibly  of  1674,  certainly  of  a  later  day,  for  the  Adams  family  owned  rights  in  a 
saw-mill  there  a  century  later.  Early  in  the  present  century  John  Adams  sold  his 
60  acre  farm,  with  house,  barn  and  cider-mill,  to  Edward  and  Levi  G.  Porter.  In 
iSii  they  sold  it  to  Eli  Terry  of  Plymouth.  In  1813  Eli  Terry  sold  it  to  Samuel 
Chipman.  and  the  proposed  cloclt  factory  t>ecame  a  bark  mill.  The  house  built  by 
William  Adams  is  standing  in  iS^;. 

In  and  after  1750  the  records  are  burdened  with  numerous  alter- 
ations and  changes  made  to  accommodate  individuals.  As  an 
instance,  Mr.  Southmayd  desired  Cook  street,  on  the  west  side  of 
his  Little  Brook  pasture,  to  be  altered,  and  it  was  done  to  suit  his 
wishes.  His  pasture  lay  along  Little  brook  above  Grove  street. 
The  same  day  Grove,  west  to  Willow  street,  was  re-stated.  At  this 
date,   William  Adams   owned   the  St.   Margaret   property  and   its 


OLD  HI0HWAT8  AND  STREETS,  563 

vicinity.  Robert  Johnson,  whose  house  figures  extensively  in  high- 
ways, lived  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Cook  and  Pine  streets,  and 
Sergt.  Thomas  Barnes  was  living  in  the  old  Johnson  house  of  1890. 
Likewise,  the  highway  on  the  old  Town  Plot  against  the  south  bars 
was  changed  from  the  north  to  the  south  side  of  Lieut.  Thomas 
Bronson's  and  Stephen  Upson's  lots,  at  their  desire,  and — occasionally 
it  happened  that  after  a  highway  was  laid  out  past  a  man's  farm,  if 
he  bought  land  across  the  road,  the  highway  would,  at  his  request, 
slip  around  to  the  other  side  of  his  new  land  in  the  most  accommo- 
dating manner.  In  a  few  instances,  after  the  laying  out  of  a  high- 
way, the  bounds  became  lost  and  the  work  was  all  gone  over  again. 
This  occurred  notably  in  a  Scott's  Mountain  road.* 

In  1753,  **Upon  the  Desire  of  Lieut.  Jacob  Blackslee  and  many 
other  of  the  Neighbours,"  a  highway  that  went  up  Twich  Grass 
brook  was  altered,  because  where  it  was  laid  **  some  part  of  the  way 
was  so  bad  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  make  It  Feazable  to  Travill 
In."  In  the  alterations  made  "the  town  was  put  to  no  charge,  for 
the  inhabitants  that  requested  it  bore  the  charge  of  it."  That  part 
of  the  highway  to  Derby  the  west  side  or  Twelve  Mile  hill  was  also 
"found  to  be  unpassable"  and  a  new  one  laid  out  from  Hawkins's 
corner  to  the  east  side  of  Toantic  brook,  to  Derby  bounds.  Where 
new  highways  were  laid  out  through  a  man's  land  in  alteration  of 
an  old  one,  the  old  highway  was  given  to  him  in  exchange.  See 
"  The  Town  and  Tompkins's  Agreement,  Vol.  I,  of  Highways,  p.  122. 
The  simple  acknowledgment  of  this  exchange  on  the  highway 
records,  signed  by  land  owner  and  the  selectmen,  was  sufficient 
evidence  of  title  for  town  or  individual.  From  1750  onward,  these 
changes  in  highways  are  so  numerous  that  to  follow  them  is  im- 
practicable.    One  meets  agreements  like  the  following,  in  1754: 

We  have  agreed  that  the  highway  laid  across  our  farms  shall  run  by  Daniel 
Sanford's  door  between  his  house  and  barn  straight  across  to  Ezekiel  Sanford's 
house,  from  thence  to  Samuel  Peck's  house  on  the  west  side,  and  from  thence  south 
about  forty  rods,  and  from  thence  west  to  the  highway  between  Mr.  Hall's  and  my 
land.  Samuel  Peck, 

Ezekiel  Sanford, 
Daniel  Sanford. 

Our  Watertown  road  of  to-day  dates  from  Nov.  27th,  1753,  begin- 
ning at  the  bridge,  and  running  to  the  upper  Woodbury  road,  above 
the  present  school-house.  The  rest  of  the  way  was  laid  out  later  and 
went  through  Edmund  Tompkins*s  land  by  way  of  an  exchange  for 
an  older  highway.     The  last  highway  that  Mr.  Southmayd  recorded 


*  See  Vol.  I,  pages  1x7  and  xxS,  Waterbury  Highways. 


564  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

was  laid  out  May  8th,  1755,  and  recorded  May  loth,  and  is,  I  think, 
the  only  one  to  which  he  failed  to  append  his  name.  The  highway 
was  from  Dr.  Powers's  corner  to  a  former  highway  at  Timothy 
Porter's  corner.    It  ran  from  Bedlam  (in  present  Middlebury). 

The  first  one  recorded  by  Thomas  Clark  was  the  formal  layout 
of  the  Farmington  road  from  Farmington  bounds  to  Willow  street, 
in  1754.  From  the  southwest  comer  of  George  Nichols's  house  lot 
(on  which  the  new  High  School  building  will  stand),  across  to  Mr. 
Jonathan  Baldwin's  line  on  East  Main  street,  was  nine  rods. 
From  Baldwin's  land  on  the  south  side,  the  line  of  the  street  was 
run  to  Center  Square  on  Ebenezer  "VVakelee's"  land;  on  the  north 
side  of  the  street  on  Thomas  Bronson's  and  James  Nichols's  land  to 
the  same  point  "Through  the  Town  street"  to  Willow  street,  it  was 
laid  the  same  breadth  as  it  then  was,  "  butting  on  each  side  on  the 
ends  of  each  man's  house  lot,  as  it  was  then  fenced,"  and  the  bound- 
aries were  set  at  the  corner  of  each  man's  lot  by  Thomas  Clark, 
John  Scovill,  John  Judd  and  Thomas  Porter,  until  they  came  to 
Ebenezer  Bronson's  and  John  Scovill's  corners,  or  to  the  long-time 
Judge  Kingsbury  and  Judge  Bronson  corners — now  belonging  to 
Frederick  Nuhn  and  F.  H.  Humphrey. 

The  first  money  paid  by  the  town  for  land  for  a  highway  appears 
in  the  case  of  Isaac  Castle,  who  at  the  time  had  gone  to  Northbury 
to  live.  The  highway  eastward  from  Northbury  bridge  was  turned 
through  his  land,  and  he  accepted  the  old  highway  and  nine  shil- 
lings in  money.  By  1758,  highways  began  to  receive  their  third 
alteration,  or  layout.  At  this  time  the  surveyors  were  giving 
much  attention  and  time  to  the  requirements  in  the  southwest 
quarter.  In  1759,  the  selectmen  of  Waterbury  and  Litchfield  having 
met  and  perambulated  the  town  line  and  agreed  on  the  placing  of 
the  monuments,  they  discharged  each  other  from  service  for  three 
years. 

When  we  find  in  the  year  1762,  about  twenty  highways  laid 
out,  or  re-surveyed  with  alterations,  in  a  single  neighborhood,  the 
effort  to  catch  even  glimpses  of  the  swift  changes  taking  place  in 
the  township  and  condensing  them  in  a  single  chapter  seems  futile, 
and  the  question  of  where  the  men  were  found  to  work  them  is  a 
serious  one,  although  one  day's  work  in  the  year  for  each  man,  had, 
perhaps,  been  increased  to  four  days  at  that  period. 

In  1765  a  re-survey  of  that  part  of  the  Country  road  to  New 
Haven  was  made  "from  Gideon  Hikcox  to  town."  It  began  at  his 
house  (the  late  Josiah  Culver's  last  homestead)  in  Naugatuck,  and 
retraced  the  old  route  down  the  hollow  between  the  cemeteries  (at 
that  point  connecting  with  the  road  that  led  to  the  old  first  bridge — 


OLD  HIQHWAT8  AND  STREETS,  565 

where  the  dam  now  is)  and  ran  by  Beebe's  land,  by  or  through 
Capt.  Thomas  Porter's  land,  by  Beebe's  house,  on  the  west  side  of 
William  Hoadley's  mill,  and  between  Tinker's  house  and  Thomas 
Porter's  house  (given  to  Thomas,  by  his  father,  Capt.  Thomas,  thir- 
teen days  before).  This  survey  places  this  old  house,  still  standing, 
within  fourteen  rods  of  Hoadley's  mill,  on  the  bank  of  the  brook, 
thus  giving  us  information  concerning  its  removal  since  that  date, 
which  tradition  confirms.  One  leaf  of  this  survey  is  missing,  also  a 
leaf  from  the  re-survey  in  177 1  of  the  Hopkins  road  of  1729,  which 
ran  from  James  Baldwin's  mill,  Hoadley's  in  1765,  east  to  Hopkins' 
farm,  and  southwest  to  the  New  Haven  road. 

In  1776,  The  town  and  proprieters  chose  a  committee  for  the  pur- 
pose of  re-surveying  "the  Highway  that  goeth  to  Woodbury." 
They  began  on  Christmas  Day.  Hitherto,  the  surveys  to  Wood- 
bury had  been  made  by  starting  from  the  top  of  West  Side  hill. 
This  time,  they  began  at  Mr.  Andrew  Bronson's  corner  by  his  house 
(Judge  Kingsbury's),  and  ran  across  West  Main  street  4  rods  and 
II  feet  for  the  breadth  of  the  street  and  ran  west  15°  50' north 
43  rods,  where  the  width  of  the  road  was  reduced  to  68  feet.  When 
it  reached  the  bridge  the  road  was  three  rods  wide.  The  old 
crossing  place  of  the  river  had  been  8  rods  below  where  this  survey 
placed  it,  so  the  road  was  widened  at  the  river  to  11  rods,  by 
turning  down  the  river  8  rods,  which  added  to  the  3  made  it  11,  in 
order  to  meet  the  old  path.  The  west  side  the  river,  it  started  11 
rods  wide,  and  wound  up  the  hill  in  various  widths  until  it  came 
to  the  old  20  rod  highway  where  the  layout  of  1720  started,  from 
which  point  onward  it  followed  for  the  greater  part  of  the  way 
the  first  survey,  and  its  intermediate  alterations. 

THE   ERA    OF    TURNPIKE    ROADS    AND    STAGE    COACHES. 

During  the  war  the  task  of  maintaining  the  highways  became^ 
especially  burdensome  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  many  of  the 
young  workers.  One  by  one  the  towns  of  the  State  applied  to  the 
General  Assembly  that  the  roads  might  be  cared  for  by  taxation. 
The  river  roads  were  the  most  difficult  to  keep  in  order,  being 
washed  by  freshets,  and  from  1740  onward  the  work  of  building 
bridges  had  been  unending — therefore,  when  the  era  of  turnpike 
roads  arrived,  the  people  stood  apparently  willing  to  receive  all  the 
good  it  might  bring  to  them.  It  would  cost  too  much  money  for 
the  taxpayers  to  convert  existing  roads  into  "dug -roads"  and 
"turnpikes"  and  so  capital — which  came  to  bless  and  to  antagonize 
the  people — received  a  welcome. 


566  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

Toll  was  first  taken  in  this  state  in  1792.  It  was  where  the  high- 
way ran  through  the  Mohegan  reservation  between  New  London 
and  Norwich,  and  was  collected  three  years  before  the  turnpike  road 
between  New  London  and  Norwich  was  incorporated.  A  little  later, 
toll  was  taken  on  the  "Stage  Road**  through  Greenwich,  and  in 
1794  a  "toll  gate*'  was  established  on  the  "Post  Road'*  from  Nor- 
wich to  Providence. 

The  first  turnpike  company  incorporated  in  the  state  was  the 
Oxford  company.  It  ran  its  stage-coaches  through  Litchfield  to 
Massachusetts. 

In  1797  came  The  Straits  Turnpike  Co.  It  was  established  to 
build  a  turnpike  road  from  New  Haven  court  house  to  the  court 
house  in  Litchfield.  The  first  meeting  of  the  company  was  at  the 
house  of  Irijah  Terril  in  Waterbury  (Salem  Society),  in  Nov.,  1797. 
Three  turnpikes  were  to  be  erected  on  this  road — one  at  some 
proper  place  between  the  house  of  Elihu  Harrison  in  Litchfield  and 
the  house  of  John  Foot  in  Watertown;  one  between  the  house  of 
Joseph  Nettleton  in  Watertown  and  Salem  Bridge  in  Waterbury, 
and  the  other  between  the  place  in  the  highway  called  The  Straits 
(of  Beacon  Hill  brook)  in  Woodbridge  and  the  school  house  north 
of  Noadiah  Carrington*s  house  in  that  town. 

This  road,  in  its  day,  engendered  much  bitterness  and  strife.  The 
people  of  Waterbury  centre  wanted  to  have  it  pass  through  the  vil- 
lage, which  was  by  many  persons  considered  the  natural  way  for 
it.  Aaron  Benedict  was  one  of  the  incorporators,  and  his  influence 
with  the  other  directors,  it  is  said,  prevailed  with  them  to  have  the 
road  pass  his  house,  on  the  plea  that  that  was  the  most  direct  route. 
Waterbury  centre  was  side-tracked  and  dissatisfied,  while  Water- 
town  and  Salem  Bridge  grew  apace.  It  became  an  accepted  route 
between  New  Haven  and  Albany  and  during  busy  seasons  a  pro- 
cession of  teams  was  passing  over  it  night  and  day.  One  is  not 
surprised  that  Waterbury  grew  restless  and  longed  for  the  quieting 
influence  of  "  stage  *'  horn  and  wheels. 

At  length  the  bridge  at  Salem  needed  repairing,  and  the  Turn- 
pike company  for  its  own  convenience,  apparently,  made  some  slight 
repairs,  which  Waterbury  refused  to  pay  for.  Finally,  a  freshet 
took  away  the  bridge  and  the  town  proposed  to  make  the  company 
replace  it,  but  the  company  sued  the  town  for  a  new  one  and  suc- 
ceeded in  showing  that  their  layout  did  not  include  the  bridge. 
Just  above  the  bridge,  across  the  low  land  bordering  the  river,  the 
company  built  a  dyke  to  protect  the  road  from  overflow  during 
freshets,  which,  it  was  claimed,  turned  the  water  under  the  bridge 
with  so  much  force  as  to  undermine  one  of  the  abutments  and  let 


OLD  HIGHWATa  AND  STREETS.  567 

fall  the  new  bridge  that  the  company  had  compelled  the  town  to 
build.  The  town  sued  the  company  for  damages,  but  obtained  no 
redress. 

This  was,  perhaps,  the  first  contest  between  the  Corporation  and 
the  People  of  Connecticut.  The  contest  has  gone  on  at  large  from 
that  time  to  the  present — and  has  ended  at  last,  it  is  said,  in  the 
State  being  completely  and  comfortably  swallowed  by  a  railroad 
company. 

After  Waterbury  centre  was  thoroughly  beaten  in  trying  to  do 
anything  with  The  Straits  Turnpike  Co.,  the  people  resolved  to  have 
a  turnpike  road  of  their  own,  and  in  October,  1801,  *'The  Waterbury 
River  Turnpike  Company  "  was  incorporated.  It  was  to  run  from 
a  point  near  the  center  of  Naugatuck,  about  forty  miles,  to  the 
north  line  of  the  state.  Among  the  incorporators  were  Noah  M. 
Bronson  of  Waterbury  and  Asher  Blakeslee  of  Plymouth.  The  dam- 
ages to  individuals  for  land  taken,  were  to  be  paid  by  the  town 
wherein  such  land  lay  before  May  i,  1802.  Four  turnpikes  or  gates 
for  the  collection  of  toll  were  allowed — one  in  Colebrook,  in  Tor- 
rington,  at  the  bridge  place  across  Waterbury  river  by  Samuel  Rey- 
yolds'  house  in  Plymouth  (whereby  we  have  the  name  Reynolds 
Bridge),  "and  one  other  at  or  near  the  house  of  Jared  Byington,  Esq., 
in  Waterbury  (Salem)."  "Reynolds*  bridge"  was  to  be  built  and 
kept  in  repair  by  the  company.  Other  bridges,  that  the  towns  had 
been  liable  by  law  to  build  and  maintain,  were  still  left  to  the  towns. 
The  stock  consisted  of  1680  shares — the  value  of  a  share  not  stated. 

At  each  of  the  four  turnpikes  the  fares  were  4  cents  for  each 
person  or  horse — for  each  chaise  with  one  horse  and  passengers, 
i2j^  cents — for  each  four-wheeled  pleasure  carriage  or  stage-coach 
25  cents.  No  animal  was  allowed  to  pass  the  gate  without  the  pay- 
ment of  one-half  a  cent.  Exceptions  were  made.  If  a  man  were 
going  to  church,  or  to  a  society  meeting,  to  a  funeral,  to  a  town  or 
freeman's  meeting,  or  to  a  gristmill,  to  military  duty,  or,  if  he  lived 
within  two  miles  of  the  gate  and  went  not  more  than  two  miles 
beyond  it  on  his  farming  business,  he  paid  no  toll.  Four  years  later, 
another  gate  was  permitted,  and  in  1822  there  was  one  provided  for, 
south  of  the  point  where  Spruce  brook  comes  to  the  river  (above 
Waterville). 

As  the  Straits  Turnpike  Company  was  the  first  to  inaugurate 
the  War  of  Corporations  versus  The  People,  so  the  Waterbury  River 
Turnpike  Company  was  the  first  to  wound  the  community  by  dese- 
crating the  graves  of  the  fathers — its  road  being  built  along  the  east 
side  of  the  river  above  Salem  Bridge,  between  the  cemetery  and  the 
river,  on  land  properly  belonging  to  the  cemetery.     The  work  was 


568  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT. 

carried  on  by  digging  into  the  bank  and  undermining  the  graves, 
without  any  support  being  furnished,  so  that  some  of  the  earliest 
buried  and  principal  of  the  forefathers  had  their  bones  exposed  by 
the  action  of  the  elements  and  were  left  sliding  down  and  scattered 
about  for  the  gaze  of  the  indifferent  passer-by.  This  action  was 
seconded  by  the  Derby  railroad,  which  was  built  through  an  Indian 
burying  ground  and  the  ancient  bones  and  buried  implements  were 
shoveled  out  like  rubbish. 

The  era  of  turnpikes  brought  the  era  of  taverns  on  a  large  scale. 
Many  of  them  became  notable.  On  the  New  Haven  and  Litchfield 
route  were  Bishop's  tavern  at  Watertown,*  Selah  Scovill's  a  mile 
north,  Simeon  Smith's  at  Morris,  Daniel  Beecher's  and  Irijah 
Terril's  at  Naugatuck,  Ahira  Collins's  at  Straitsville,  and  on  the 
Plymouth  route  Samuel  Judd's  held  its  own  at  least  to  1816,  in 
which  year,  the  inn-keepers  were  Daniel  Beecher  (Salem),  Samuel 
Judd,  and  Stiles  Thompson  (Middlebury). 

It  was  said  that  at  a  certain  date  the  stock  of  the  Waterbury 
River  Turnpike  Co.,  was  "  all  owned  "  or  at  least  controlled  by  two 
men,  Victory  Tomlinson,  and  one  of  the  Bronsons  at  Waterville. 
The  story  is  also  told  that  Tomlinson  owned  all  the  turnpike  from 
his  neighborhood  (Mount  Tobe)  to  New  Haven,  and,  that  he,  not 
being  known,  was  arrested  as  a  vagrant  as  he  sat  one  day  by  the 
wayside  eating  his  dinner.  He  defended  himself  by  saying  that 
he  was  on  his  own  property.  Being  asked  to  explain,  he  replied 
that  he  "  owned  all  the  turnpike."  It  was  said  to  be  his  ambition 
to  own  all  the  land  between  Mount  Tobe  and  New  Haven. 

It  often  occurred,  at  about  that  time,  that  capitalists  made  them- 
selves conspicuous  by  their  shabbiness  and  coarse  manners,  and 
were  mistaken  for  suspicious  characters.  Indifference  to  public 
opinion  in  the  matter  of  dress  and  social  observances  on  the  part 
of  those  who  were  rich  and  thought  themselves  above  criticism,  led 
to  strange  complications,  and  furnished  abundant  and  abiding  anec- 
dotes for  the  story  teller. 

The  Naugatuck  valley  was  a  centre  of  the  turnpike  interest,  it 
being  not  only  the  home  of  the  earliest  turnpike  road  in  the  state, 
but  was  itself  traversed  about  1820  by  the  Humphreysville  and 
vSalem  road,  which  was  cut  into  the  foundations  of  the  hills  along 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  It  was  also  the  starting  point  of  other 
roads.  In  1812,  came  the  Southington  and  Waterbury  turnpike 
road,  which  is  now  called  the  Meriden  road.  The  western  gate  was 
within  two  hundred  rods  of  the  house  of  Reuben  Lewis,  in  Wolcott. 


*  There  were  several  others  less  conspicuous — in  fact  on  all  much  travelled  roads  a  tavern  sign  was  to 
be  seen  every  two  or  three  miles— learasters  had  their  favorite  stopping  places,  and  in  this  way  farmers  found 

a  market  for  hay  and  grain.  F.  J.  K. 


OLD  HIGHWAYS  AND  STREETS, 


569 


In  1823,  the  Woodbury  and  Waterbury  Turnpike  road  was  pro- 
jected and  probably  accomplished. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Waterbury  centre  was  not  on  the 
main  turnpike  road  from  New  Haven  to  Litchfield,  it  steadily  grew 
in  numbers,  and  its  activities  were  increased,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  "Assessments  on  Mechanics,  &c.,  in  Waterbury  in  1816  ": 


ATTORNEYS. 

Legrand  Bancroft, 
Bennet  Bronson, 
Cyrus  Clark, 
Samuel  Frisbie. 

PHYSICIANS  AND   SURGEONS. 

Edward  Field, 
Joseph  Porter, 
Nimrod  Hull, 
Jesse  Porter. 

INN   KEEPERS. 

Daniel  Beecher, 
Samuel  Judd, 
Stiles  Thompson. 

TRADERS. 

Burton  &  Leavenworth, 
Lampson  &  Clark, 
E.  &  A.  Spencer. 

GRIST  MILLS. 

Leavenworth,  Hay  den  &  Scovill, 
Lois  Pajme, 
Jobamah  Gunn, 
Jesse  Wooster. 

SAW   MILLS. 

Eli  Adams  &  Co. , 
N.  Piatt, 
Levi  Wooster, 
Benj.  Farrel. 
Asa  Hoadley, 
Elias  Clark  &  Co., 
David  Downs. 

CARDING   MACHINES. 

Herman  Payne, 
Alfred  Piatt  &  Co. 

CLOCK   MAKERS. 

Clark,  Cook  &  Co. 

BUTTON    MAKERS. 

Leavenworth,  Hayden  &  Scovill, 
Amasa  Goodyear, 
Grilley  &  Wooster, 
Scott  &  Beebe. 


BELL  FOUNDER. 

Erastus  Lew^is. 

WOOLLEN   FACTORY. 

Scovill,  Lampson  &  Co. 

FLAX  MILL. 

Smith,  Piatt  &  Co. 

TANNERS   AND   SHOEMAKERS. 

Ashbel  Stevens. 
Andrew  Bryan, 
Culpepper  Hoadley. 

CLOTHIERS. 

Daniel  Steele, 
Leveritt  Candee. 

TAILOH. 

Asahel  Adams. 

SADDLER. 

Moylen  Northrop. 

HATTER. 

Elijah  Hotchkiss. 

COOPER. 

Anson  Sperry. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

James  Brown, 
Martin  Stephens, 
David  Stephens, 
Lyman  Hitchcox, 
Obed  Tuttle, 
Jesse  Scott, 
Thaddeus  Hotchkiss, 
Elisha  Smith. 

CARPENTERS   AND   JOINERS, 

Lemuel  Porter, 
John  Downs, 
Samuel  Root, 
Chauncey  Root, 
David  Prichard,  Jr. 
Dyer  Hotchkiss, 
William  Hoadley,  Jr., 
Richard  Ward, 
Nathaniel  Carroll, 
Eliel  Mann. 


570 


HI8T0RF  OF  WATERS URT. 


During  the  period  between  1797  and  1826,  some  one  hundred 
and  twenty  turnpike  roads  were  constructed.  The  Waterbury  road 
was  annulled  in  1862,  but  before  that  date  the  road  had  been  given 
up,  except  for  about  eight  miles  of  its  southernmost  portion ^ 
whereon  it  kept  a  toll-gate  between  Waterbury  and  Naugatuck. 

In  185 1  Plank  roads  came  into  repute.  Seven  were  constructed 
in  three  years.  The  Waterbury  and  Cheshire  Plank  Road  Co.  was 
incorporated  in  1852.  Three  Waterbury  men  were  among  the  incor- 
porators, William  H.  Scovill,  John  P.  Elton  and  Arad  Welton.  The 
capital  stock  was  $20,000.  Shares  $50  each.  The  toll-gates  were  at 
least  three  miles  asunder,  with  a  toll  not  exceeding  three  cents  a 
mile  for  any  vehicle  drawn  by  two  animals. 

As  this  is  written  the  last  turnpike  road  in  Connecticut  passes 
out  of  existence,  the  committee  of  the  superior  court,  Judge  Brew- 
ster, F.  J.  Kingsbury  and  C.  S.  Davidson  having  made  their  report 
on  the  "  Derby  turnpike  " — which  report  values  the  franchise  at 
eight  thousand  dollars,  upon  the  payment  of  which  sum  the  road 
passes  to  the  towns  through  which  it  runs,  New  Haven,  Orange, 
and  Derby. 

The  following  interesting  history  of  the  "  Bury  Road  "  is  given 
by  Mr.  Kingsbury: 

THE    BURY    ROAD. 

About  1840  Silas  Hoadley,  who  lived  at  Greystone,  tried  to  per- 
suade the  town  of  Waterbury  to  build  a  road  from  Downs*s  saw 
mill,  half  a  mile  above  Waterville  on  the  Hancock  brook,  to  the 
Plymouth  line  a  little  below  his  house.  The  distance  was  not 
much  over  a  mile,  but  it  was  very  rocky.  The  Waterbury  authori- 
ties did  not  think  the  convenience  of  the  road  warranted  the 
expense  and  declined  to  build  it  Then  Hoadley  brought  a  petition 
to  the  County  commissioners,  and  after  a  long  hearing  with  able 
counsel  and  a  cloud  of  witnesses  the  commissioners  ordered  the 
town  to  build  the  road.  In  the  testimony  a  great  deal  was  said 
about  its  being  a  better  way  than  we  had  heretofore  of  reaching 
Plymouth  Hill  and  Bristol — also  that  it  shortened  the  distance 
from  the  Waterbury  factories  to  large  tracts  of  woodland,  etc.,  etc. 
The  road  was  built  at  a  cost,  I  think,  of  about  $1700.  It  made  a 
very  picturesque  drive  along  the  valley  of  the  Hancock  brook  and 
some  one  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Bury  "  road,  which  it  retained* as 
long  as  it  existed.  The  road  crossed  the  brook  near  Downs's  saw 
mill,  and  went  the  rest  of  the  way  to  Hoadley's  on  the  east  side. 
In  1853  or  4,  the  Hartford,  Providence  and  Fishkill  R.  R.  was  laid 
out  taking  this  road  from  the  bridge  north  and  entirely  destroying 
it.     Suits  were  brought  against  the  railroad  to  get  damages  or  a 


OLD  HIGHWAT8  AND  STREETS,  571 

new  road,  and  I  think  the  case  went  to  the  Supreme  court,  but 
through  some  legal  technicality  nothing  was  accomplished.  Then 
Mr.  Hoadley  began  another  long  and  expensive  fight  to  compel  the 
town  to  build  a  road  on  the  west  side  of  the  brook.  A  road  was 
built  there,  but  I  have  the  impression  that  Mr.  Hoadley  failed  in 
his  suit  and  built  the  road  at  his  own  expense.  After  a  few  years 
Mr.  Hoadley  died — a  freshet  carried  away  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  road  and  it  has  now  been  impassable  for  several  years.  It  is 
a  great  saving  in  distance — and  would  make  a  very  pretty  drive  and 
really  ought  to  be  rebuilt — although  perhaps  the  mere  economic 
use  would  hardly  justify  it.  Mr.  Hoadley  had  acquired  a  competence 
in  the  manufacture  of  clocks,  but  his  fortune  was  seriously  impaired 
by  his  expenses  in  connection  with  this  bit  of  road.  Probably  if  he 
had  built  it  entirely  himself  in  the  first  instance  it  would  have  been 
much  more  economical. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

THE  WATER-POWERS  OF  WATERBURY — FIRST  THE  GRIST  MILL  AND  THEN 
THE  SAW  MILL — SOME  OF  THE  BEGINNINGS  OF  LARGE  MANUFAC- 
TORIES— OTHER  ENTERPRISES  THAT  HAVE  BEEN  FORGOTTEN — A 
CLASSIFICATION    ACCORDING    TO    STREAMS. 

THE  Story  of  Waterbury's  industrial  development  is  in  its 
beginning  the  story  of  Waterbury's  water-powers,  and  these 
next  demand  our  attention.  If  in  these  days  of  steam  and 
electricity  we  are  tempted  to  forget  how  largely  industrial  devel- 
opment owes  its  initiative  to  the  water-power,  we  are  reminded,  by 
the  latest  engineering  feat,  that  progress  often  doubles  on  itself. 
The  discarded  water-power  of  yesterday  finds  its  vindication  in  the 
harnessing  of  Niagara  to-day,  and  the  transmission  of  its  power  to 
places  of  manufacture  many  miles  distant.  Along  the  track  of  the 
most  matter-of-fact  narrative,  a  chronicle  of  Waterbury's  water- 
powers  for  example,  lie  curious  suggestions,  if  one  but  looks  for 
them.    These,  however,  can  be  only  hinted  at  in  this  general  way. 

GRAIN  MILLS. 

As  Mattatuck  was  twenty  miles  from  Farmington,  the  site  of  the 
nearest,*  or  at  any  rate  the  most  accessible,  mill  for  grinding  grain, 
and  as  there  was  no  road  but  a  cart  path  over  the  mountain,  one  of 
the  obvious  needs  of  the  new  settlement  was  a  "grist  mill."  The 
Grand  committee  under  date  of  November  27,  1679,  either  of  their 
own  motion  or  at  the  suggestion  of  the  townspeople,  advised  the 
inhabitants  to  build  a  sufficient  corn  mill  (doubtless  meaning  by 
"corn"  grain  of  all  kinds),  and  said  further: 

And  for  encouragement  we  grant  such  persons  [builders  of  the  mill]  shall  have 
thirty  acres  of  land  laid  out,  and  shall  be  and  remain  to  them  and  their  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  he  or  they  maintaining  the  said  grist  mill  as  aforesaid  forever. 


*  According  to  Davis's  '*  History  '*  a  mill  was  built  at  Yalesville  in  1677,  and  there  was  another  on 
Wharton's  brook  in  the  lower  part  of  Walling^ford,  bailt  in  1674.  Either  of  these  was  nearer  than  Farming- 
ton,  but  probably  there  was  no  practicable  road  in  that  direction.  There  is  mention  in  a  layout  of  land  in 
x686,  near  the  junction  of  Beaver  pond  brook  with  Mad  river,  of  the  place  "  where  the  mill  stones  were  brought 
over."  They  would  hardly  have  been  brought  from  Farmington  by  this  route,  and  it  may  be  that  the  stones 
from  the  Wharton  brook  mill,  which  seems  to  have  been  replaced  by  the  one  at  Yalesville,  were  brought 
over  to  do  duty  here,  as  this  would  be  a  natural  route,  but  evidently  not  at  this  time  an  easy  one,  or  the  fact 
would  not  have  made  sufficient  impression  to  be  so  noted.    They  may  have  come  this  way  from  New  Haven. 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES.  573 

Stephen  Hopkins,  who  was  the  owner  of  a  mill  in  Hartford,  accepted 
the  proposal,  built  a  mill  and  sent  his  son  John  to  run  it,  but  did  not 
come  here  himself  or  remove  his  family  hither.  The  mill  and  the 
land  allotment  attached  to  it  became  the  property  of  John.  He  was 
from  the  beginning  of  his  settling  here  a  prominent  citizen,  and  his 
descendants  have  perhaps  furnished  more  men  of  distinction  than 
any  other  family  to  be  found  in  the  town's  history.  The  mill  was 
built  soon  after  the  committee's  vote  of  advice.  It  was  perhaps 
already  arranged  for,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  satisfactory,  as  on 
February  5,  1680,  the  record  of  the  committee  says: 

It  is  further  concluded  that  Stephen  Hopkins,  who  hath  built  a  mill  at  that 
plantation,  shall  have  the  thirty  acres  appointed  and  entailed  in  a  former  order  to 
such  as  shall  erect  a  mill  there,  and  so  much  more  land  added  to  the  said  thirty  acres 
as  may  advance  the  same  to  be  in  value  of  ;^ioo  allotment.  There  is  also  a  house 
lot  containing  in  estimation  two  acres  granted  to  Stephen  Hopkins  as  conveniently 
as  may  be  to  suit  the  mill,  and  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Judd  and  John  Stanley  and 
the  present  townsmen  [are]  to  lay  it  out  to  him,  and  also  a  three  acre  lot,  according 
as  the  other  inhabitants  have  granted  to  be  laid  out  [to  them  ?]  by  these  same  per- 
sons for  him. 

The  mill  was  built  on  Mad  river  (sometimes  called  "  Mill  river  " 
from  this  fact)  where  the  Scovill  Manufacturing  company's  factory 
now  stands.*  The  dam  was  placed  across  the  narrowest  point, 
where  the  two  hills  approach  each  other,  very  near  the  north  end 
of  the  present  south  rolling  mill.  The  mill  stood  immediately 
south  of  the  dam,  the  north  end  of  it  resting  in  part  on  the  wall  of 
the  dam.  It  had  a  fall  of  about  eight  feet.  Portions  of  the  lower 
timbers  of  the  old  dam,  or  its  immediate  representative,  remained 
in  place  until  about  1876,  when  they  were  finally  torn  out  in  the 
progress  of  improvement.  The  mill  dam  was  open  to  the  road  for 
a  short  distance  above  the  mill.  It  was  utilized  sixty  years  ago  as 
a  place  to  water  horses  and  to  wash  wagons,  as  a  bathing  place  for 
boys,  and  also  for  baptism  by  immersion.  The  writer  remembers 
on  one  occasion  having  seen  the  ice  broken  away  for  this  last 
named  purpose. 

The  accompanying  illustration  shows  the  situation  of  the  mill  f 
with  reference  to  the  pond,  probably  as  it  was  from  the  beginning, 
although  the  building  here  pictured  was  not  very  old.  The  mill 
was  in  the  north  end  of  the  building  next  to  the  pond,  and  the  mill 


*  When  the  mill  was  built  the  name  of  the  river  was  ''^Roaring-  river."     After  the  building  of  the  mill 
the  name  was  changed  to  "  Mill  river."     Because  the  mill  dam  sent  the  water  back  on  Daniel  Porter's  three- 
acre  lot,  the  town  allowed  him  a  part  of  the  highway  on  Grand  street,  near  the  corner  of  Bank. 

t  This  cut  appears  again  in  Vol.  II,  p.  277.  The  original  sketch  was  made  by  Lucien  I.  Bisbee,  book- 
keeper in  1835  for  J.  M.  L.  &  W.  H.  Scovill.  In  the  cut  in  Vol.  II,  p.  278,  dated  1858,  the  building  in  the 
foreground  is  the  office,  and  stands  on  the  site  of  the  miller's  house. 


574 


niSTOBT  OF  WATERBURT. 


door  is  seen  near  the  north  end  of  the  building,  looking  in  the  cut 
more  like  a  long  window  than  a  door.  The  south  end  of  the  build- 
ing is  the  rolling  mill.  The  building  on  the  extreme  right  is  the 
button  factory,  built  in  1830  to  take  the  place  of  one  on  the  same 
site  which  was  burned.  The  miller's  house  at  this  date  stood  in 
front  of  the  mil!  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The  house  lot 
of  two  acres  was  at  the  corner  of  Ea.st  Main  street  and  Exchange 
place,  the  property  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  William  Brown, 
It  extended  east  to  Great  brook,  and  the  house  stood  fifty  or  sixty 
feet  westward  from  the  brook.  Later  it  became  the  property  of 
Ephraim  Warner  and  for  many  years  prior  to  its  demolition,  some- 
where about  1840,  was  known  as  the  Ephraim  Warner  house.  At 
one  time  it  was  a  hotel.*  John  Hopkips  had  also  another  house  near 
the  mill,  probably  for  the 
miller.  A  portion  of  the 
thirty  acres  was  laid  out 
to    him    south    of     Union 

E[  street,  running  down  to, 
and  perhaps  below.  Liberty 
street.  This  whole  tract 
was  known  for  many  years 
as  Mill  plain.  It  is  some- 
times called  on  the  records  "  Hopkins's  Mill  plain,"  and  sometimes 
"Hopkins's  plain."  This  is  to  be  distinguished  from  "Sawmill 
plain,"  at  the  east  end  of  Waterbury.  Several  pieces  were  given  in 
different  parts  of  the  town  to  complete  the  thirty-acre  grant.  To 
carry  out  the  agreement  in  regard  to  the  ^100  propriety  the  for- 
feited allotment  of  Deacon  Langton  was  granted  to  Hopkins,  the 
provision  being  made  that  one-half  the  allotment  should  be  entailed 
to  the  mill,  as  were  the  thirty  acres  in  case  the  committee  "granted 
the  same."  On  February  16,  1682-3,  the  committee  ratified  the 
action,  naming  John  Hopkins  as  grantee.     This  is  the  record: 

In  reference  to  what  lands  are  granted  by  the  inbabitants  of  Mattatuck  to  John 
Hopkins  the  present  miller  we  do  well  approve  of.  and  in  case  they  shall  see  cause 
to  ease  the  entail  of  any  part  ot  the  ^ftoo  allotment  we  shall  not  object  against  it 

Occasional  troubles  between  the  town  and  the  miller  arose  which 
gave  rise  to  several  modifications  of  the  original  agreement,  and  a 
removal  by  vote  of  the  town  of  the  entail  from  some  part  of  the 
land.  On  January  17,  1732-3,  Stephen  and  Timothy,  sons  of  John 
Hopkins  and  executors  of  his  will,  conveyed  their  interest  in  the 
mill  and  the  thirty  acres  to  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jr.,  of  Milford  (who 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES. 


575 


was,  however,  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Sr.,  of  Waterbury,  as  he  had  a  son 
known  as  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jr.,  also  frequently  as  Colonel  Bald- 
win). Jonathan  Baldwin  died  in  1761,  and  the  mill  property  passed 
to  his  heirs,  and  finally  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Phineas  Porter, 
who  married  Mr.  Baldwin's  granddaughter.  In  1783  Phineas  Porter 
conveyed  it  to  Lieutenant  Aaron  Benedict  and  Captain  Benjamin 
Upson,  and  thereafter  for  some  years  the  mill  is  referred  to  on  the 
record  as  "  Benedict  &  Upson's  mill."  In  1805  Aaron  Benedict  sold 
his  half  to  Lemuel  Harrison,  who,  apparently,  also  acquired 
Upson's  half.  In  1808  Lemuel  Harrison  sold  his  interest  to  Abel 
Porter,  David  Hayden,  Daniel  Clark  and  Silas  Grilley,  who  con- 
stituted the  firm  of  Abel  Porter  &  Co.,  Waterbury's  first  gilt  button 
makers.  They  purchased  the  property  for  the  button  business. 
The  firm  afterward  became  Leavenworth,  Hayden  &  Scovill,  then 
J.  M.  L.  &  W.  H.  Scovill,  and  finally  the  Scovill  Manufacturing  com- 
pany, as  related  in  Volume  II. 

The  mill  remained  a  mill  long  after  there  ceased  to  be  any  use 
for  it.  At  last  it  got  out  of  repair  from  lack  of  use.  About  1850 
scfme  men  of  no  influence  or  standing  attempted  to  raise  the  ques- 
tion whether  the  mill  lands  had  not  been  forfeited  by  failure  to  keep 
up  the  mill.  These  lands  for  the  most  part  had  long  before  been  sep- 
arated from  the  mill  and  sold  to  various  persons.  The  equities  were 
so  evidently  in  favor  of  these  holders  that  the  ancient  proprietors 
(as  many  as  could  be  found)  met  and  voted  to  release  any  supposed 
interest  they  might  have  under  the  mill  grant.  Dr.  Bronson*  has 
quite  a  full  history  of  the  matter,  and  seems  inclined  to  the  opinion 
that  the  proprietors  acted  without  due  authority.  He  apparently 
does  not  bear  in  mind  the  vote  of  the  committee  of  February  6,  1682, 
giving  the  proprietor  inhabitants  the  right  to  ease  any  part  of  the 
entail  that  they  should  see  fit  to,  which  right  was  certainly  acted 
upon  once,  if  only  once. 

One  would  hardly  expect  that  Mattatuck  would  remain  depend- 
ent upon  one  grist  mill  for  fifty  years.  But  the  present  writer  can 
find  no  allusion  to  any  other  in  the  records  until  November  25, 
1729,  when  John  Warner  deeded  to  James  Williams  a  piece  of  land 
near  "the  new  mill."  This  was  at  the  mouth  of  Spruce  brook,  a 
small  stream  running  into  Steel's  brook  on  the  west  side,  from  the 
north  end  of  Bunker  hill,  the  spot  where  now  is  the  old  dam  of 
the  Oakville  company.  The  road  at  that  time  seems  to  have  fol- 
lowed the  stream  more  closely  than  at  present,  and  to  have  passed 
by  the  mill.  The  following  year  (1730)  John  Sutliff  from  Branford 
built  a  grist  mill  at  the  falls  of  the  Naugatuck  about  two  miles 

♦  See  his  History  of  Waterbury,  pp.  83-90. 


576  HI8T0RT  OF  WATEHBUR7, 

below  Thomaston,  where  Henry  Terry  afterwards  had  a  woollen 
mill  and  where  there  is  now  a  knife  factory.  A  few  years  later 
there  was  a  grist  mill  on  Fulling  Mill  brook  (p.  350).  By  this  time 
grist  mills  had  ceased  to  be  a  novelty  and  were  built  where  and 
when  they  were  wanted.  Some  of  them  will  be  alluded  to  as  we 
follow  up  the  history  of  the  various  streams. 


SAW  MILLS. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  grist  mill  as  a  necessity  for  the  set- 
tlers of  Mattatuck,  if  not  before  it,  comes  the  saw  mill.  Naturally 
then  we  find  that  the  two  were  started  practically  at  the  same  time. 
The  first  reference  to  the  saw  mill  comes  only  three  years  after  the 
vote  to  encourage  the  building  of  the  grist  mill — that  is,  accepting 
the  reference  (quoted  below)  as  establishing  the  fact  that  the  saw 
mill  was  in  operation  at  that  time.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  first  saw 
mill  was  situated  on  the  Mad  river  at  Sawmill  plain,  and  probably 
where  the  leather  factory  now  is — some  thirty  rods  south  of  the 
Meriden  turnpike.  Reference  has  been  made  (p.  218)  to  a  piece 
of  land  laid  out  to  Samuel  Hickox,  Jr.,  "  three  acres  at  the  Pine 
swamp  by  the  path  that  leads  to  the  saw  mill."  This  was  on  Jan- 
uary 3,  1686.  Dr.  Bronson  (page  90)  thought  this  might  refer  to  the 
place  where  the  clock  factory  now  stands,  a  little  south  of  Cherry 
street,  and  where  it  is  known  that  there  was  an  early  saw  mill.  But 
Pine  swamp,  when  Dr.  Bronson  wrote,  had  not  been  located,  as  it 
has  been  since.  It  is  the  swamp  on  the  north  side  of  the  Meriden 
turnpike,  just  on  the  edge  of  the  Sawmill  Plain  school  district. 
Carrington  brook  runs  through  it,  and  it  has  been  sometimes  called, 
from  that  fact,  "  Carrington's  swamp."  So  this  seems  to  locate  the 
early  saw  mill  beyond  a  doubt.  It  is  clear  from  the  report  of  the 
committee*  that  they  had  clapboards  there  as  early  as  1682.  They 
may  have  been  "riven"  like  shingles  and  finished  with  broad-axe  and 
draw-knife  (they  were  sometimes  made  that  way),  and  they  may- 
have  been  dragged  over  the  mountain  from  Farmington.  But 
boards  would  be  wanted  for  many  purposes,  and  in  the  excuses  for 
delays  in  finishing  buildings  nothing  appears  about  any  difficulty 
in  getting  lumber.  It  looks,  therefore,  very  much  as  if  this  saw 
mill  might  then  have  been  in  working  order  as  early  as  1682.  There 
appears  to  have  been  a  grant  of  thirty  acres  of  land  to  encourage 
the  building  of  this  mill,  as  there  was  in  the  case  of  the  grist  mill. 
The  original  record  of  this  grant  is  probably  on  one  of  the  lost 


♦  See  page  179. 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES, 


577 


leaves.  At  any  rate  nothing  appears  of  it  in  the  records  until 
November  28,  1722,*  when  the  proprietors  by  vote 

agree  that  the  grant  of  thirty  acres  to  the  old  saw  mill  proprietors  shall  stand  good, 
only  they  shall  be  obliged  to  take  it  in  the  undivided  land  in  one  piece,  or  every 
one  to  take  his  part  of  the  thirty  acres  by  his  own  land. 

On  April  15,  1723,  we  find  this: 

There  was  laid  out  to  Edmund  Scott  two  acres  wanting  ten  rods,  at  a  place 
called  Cotton  Wool  meadow,  which  land  came  to  him  by  being  a  partner  in  the 
old  saw  mill. 

Why  this  delay  was  permitted  when  the  early  settlers  seemed 
so  avaricious  of  land,  is  not  easy  to  imagine.  One  Macy  (McKinney, 
Makenny,  Mackey,  or  something  idem  sonans,  the  spelling  varying 
greatly),  had  a  ten  acre  grant  near  the  first  mill,  and  may  have 
been  the  man  in  charge.     He  soon  disappears. 

At  a  town  meeting  on  January  6,  1698-9,  liberty  is  given  to  set 
up  a  saw  mill  by  the  corn  mill,  on  certain  conditions.  But  at  a 
meeting  held  in  February,  1699-1700,  this  vote  was  cancelled,  and 
leave  was  given  to  Sergeant  Bronson,  Deacon  Judd,  John  Hopkins^ 
Samuel  Hickox  and  John  Richardson,  to  set  up  a  saw  mill  at  the 
corn  mill,  they  making  and  maintaining  two  rods  of  the  dam  from 
the  corn  mill  east.  Whether  anything  was  done  under  this  vote 
there  is  no  e\4dence,  unless  it  be  a  vote  passed  March  18,  1701,  by 
which  Stephen  Upson  and  Benjamin  Barns  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  lay  out  the  mill  lot  at  the  mill  and  what  highways  are 
needful  for  the  '^  mils.''  This  is  distinctly  written  in  the  plural. 
The  fact  that  it  was  necessary  to  lay  out  the  highways  about  the 
mills  more  than  ten  years  after  the  corn  mill  had  been  in  use  is 
significant.  If  there  was  a  mill  there  it  was  probably  on  the  bank 
near  where  the  button  factory  afterwards  stood.  The  owners  of 
the  mill  at  one  time  had  a  saw  mill  some  distance  lower  down  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  but  nothing  appears  in  regard  to  this 
until  many  years  later.  On  January  30,  1 699-1 700,  the  town  gave 
liberty  "to  them  men  that  see  cause  for  to  set  up  a  saw  mill  at  the 
north  end  of  the  long  hill,  the  liberty  of  the  streeme  and  conven- 
iency  of  pounding  [ponding?]"  and  the  right  to  improve  the  land 
they  needed  to  set  the  mill  on  and  to  lay  logs  and  the  like,  the 
land  to  be  their  own  so  long  as  they  maintained  a  saw  mill  at 
that  place.  No  further  trace  of  this  mill  is  to  be  found.  It  may 
be  added  that  after  about  1720  saw  mills  increased  in  number 
rapidly. 


♦  Vol.  I,  Highways,  page  413. 
37 


578  EI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 

FULLING  MILLS. 

The  conditions  of  life  in  the  "  Age  of  Homespun  *' — as  described 
in  a  preceding  chapter — included  the  process  by  which  the  wool 
from  the  back  of  a  particular  sheep  became  a  coat  on  the  back  of  a 
particular  member  of  the  family  to  whose  flock  that  sheep  belonged. 
It  is  not  strange  then  to  find  indications  that,  in  the  fourteen 
years  since  the  settlement  of  the  town,  there  had  been  consider- 
able progress  in  sheep-raising,  as  attested  by  the  record  of  January 
20,  1692  (page  330),  that  "there  was  sequestered  the  Great  brook 
from  Edmund  Scott's  lot  down  to  Samuel  Hickox,  Jr.'s,  lot,  for  to 
build  a  fulling  mill."  As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  this  sequester 
covers  the  ground  at  present  occupied  by  the  Waterbury  Manufac- 
turing company,  or  possibly  also  the  next  privilege  below,  near 
where  Nathan  Prindle  had  a  fulling  mill  some  forty  years  later. 
Whether  there  was  any  fulling  mill  built  at  the  time  of  the  sequester 
is  uncertain,  but  this  same  Samuel  Hickox,  Jr.,  went  to  Fulling  Mill 
brook  at  Judd's  meadow  about  ten  years  later  than  this,  and  in  1709 
had  a  fulling  mill  there  which  gave  the  brook  its  name, — the  first 
regarding  which  we  have  positive  evidence  (see  p.  347).  A  fulling 
mill  was  not  an  elaborate  structure.  It  is  quite  possible  that  Hickox 
may  have  had  one  on  Great  brook,  and  that  there  were  others  also. 
By  a  record  of  January  10,  1705,  we  find  that  two  acres  were  granted 
to  Dr.  Daniel  Porter  at  the  south  end  of  his  land  "for  the  conven- 
iency  of  setting  up  a  fulling  mill  on  Carrington  brook,"  where  he 
may  have  had  one.  By  a  record  in  April,  1737,  we  find  that  Nathan 
Prindle  sold  to  Nathaniel  Arnold  a  fulling  mill  which  was  near  the 
corner  of  North  Main  and  Cherry  streets.  Dr.  Bronson  thinks  this 
mill  was  built  about  1728.  Not  long  after  this,  Nathan  Beard  built 
one  on  the  Naugatuck  at  the  mouth  of  Hancock  brook.  From  this 
time  we  find  frequent  references  to  fulling  mills  until  about  1835, 
when  the  manufacture  of  domestic  woollen  cloth  mostly  ceased.  By 
that  time  it  was  cheaper  to  buy  than  to  manufacture  it. 


WATER-POWERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE    NAUGATUCK. 

Persons  who  are  unfamiliar  with  the  early  history  of  Waterbury 
have  probably — and  naturally — the  impression  that  the  foundation 
of  the  manufacturing  business  here  is  the  water-power  of  the 
Naugatuck  river.  Such  persons  will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  in  a  hun- 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES,  ^79 

dred  years,  from  (about)  1750  to  1849,  there  was  but  one  place  within 
the  boundaries  of  the  present  town  where  the  power  of  the  Nauga- 
tuck  river  was  used,  namely,  at  Platfs  mills,  about  three  miles 
south  from  the  centre.  It  was  the  smaller  affluents  of  the  Nauga- 
tuck  which  furnished  most  of  the  power.  Perhaps  a  brief  notice  of 
the  mill  sites  on  the  various  streams  in  their  geographical  order  is 
as  simple  a  method  as  any  of  giving  some  account  of  the  industries 
assisted  by  water-power.  It  is  well  nigh  impossible,  however,  to 
make  such  a  list  exhaustive,  so  many  very  small  streams  having  at 
various  times  been  utilized.  In  many  of  these  cases  all  memory 
and  trace  of  the  work  itself  and  the  people  who  did  it  have 
disappeared.  A  considerable  number  also  known  to  exist  have  not 
been  definitely  located. 

Beginning  at  the  lower  end  of  the  ancient  town,  and  proceeding 
northward,  the  first  power  is  Ward's,  about  a  mile  below  Naugatuck. 
This  was  established  by  Richard  Ward  about  1835  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  clocks.  It  has  remained  in  the  family  and  is  still  used 
for  the  manufacture  of  small  brass  goods.  A  power  (2)  lately 
abandoned  and  united  with  the  one  next  above  was  last  used  by  the 
Goodyear  Metallic  Rubber  Shoe  company, — before  that  by  the 
Tuttle  Manufacturing  company.  It  was  taken  from  the  one  above 
by  extending  the  canal  in  1847,  and  reunited  in  1892.  The  old  power 
(3)  at  Naugatuck  centre  (which  appears  first  on  the  record  in  1824) 
was  used  by  Silas  Grilley  and  Chauncey  Lewis  (Milo  Lewis  was 
with  them  later)  in  the  manufacture  of  buttons.*  The  Platts  mills 
property  (4)  was  purchased  by  Lemuel  Hoadley  of  Ezekiel  Upson 
in  1772.  There  is  no  mention  of  a  mill  in  the  deed,  but  there  is  a 
reference  to  it  as  a  landmark  in  a  deed  a  few  years  later.  The 
natural  inference  then  is  that  Lemuel  Hoadley  built  the  mill  soon 
after  purchasing  the  property.  About  1800  Jesse  Hopkins  had  a 
nail  factory  on  a  portion  of  the  property.  The  road  to  it  was  over 
the  hill  almost  west  from  the  turnpike  passing  near  Elijah  Nettle- 
ton's  house.  The  mill  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  present  road, 
which  was  opened  about  fifty  years  ago.  A  canal  ran  parallel  with 
and  near  to,  the  river  along  the  west  side  of  the  present  road. 
Between  this  and  the  river  were  several  small  shops,  including 
a  saw  mill,  a  flax  breaker  and  a  wire  bench.  There  were  various 
other  industries  pursued  here,  mostly  in  a  small  way.  About  1849 
the  Benedict  &  Burnham  Manufacturing  company  (5)  put  in  a  tur- 


*  J.  M.  L.  &  W.  H.  Scovill  used  the  factory  while  rebuilding  theirs,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1830. 
In  183 1  it  was  sold  to  Sylvester  Clark,  who  manufactured  eight-day  brass  clocks;  but  about  1835  it  was  sold  to 
John  Tillou,  who  manufactured  spinning  machinery  for  some  years.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  Goodyear  India 
Rubber  Glove  company. 


58o  HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBY. 

bine  wheel  at  their  factory  which  was  turned  by  water  from  the 
Naugatuck.  The  fall  was  obtained  by  a  deep  tail-race  running  to  a 
point  known  as  "  Long  meadow  bars "  at  the  foot  of  "Nichols's 
meadow,"  and  draining  a  small  pool  known  as  "Nichols's  pond." 
This  gave  a  fall  of  about  nine  feet,  but  it  was  abandoned  about  1885. 
In  1848  a  company  called  the  Waterbury  Water  Power  company 
was  formed  to  utilize  the  power  in  the  Naugatuck  opposite  the 
borough  (6).  By  an  arrangement  with  the  Naugatuck  Railroad 
company  the  canal  was  formed  by  building  a  raised  track  for  the 
road.  This  privilege  was  first  used  by  the  Manhan  Manufacturing 
company  for  making  felt  cloth;  afterward  by  the  American  Flask 
and  Cap  company,  and  is  now  the  property  of  the  Waterbury  Brass 
company.  On  March  7,  1737,  Nathan  Beard  purchased  of  Daniel 
Porter  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Naugatuck  river,  at  the  mouth  of 
Hancock  brook  (7).  Soon  after,  he  had  a  grist  mill  there,  and  later 
a  fulling  mill.  All  trace  of  this  privilege  has  long  since  disappeared. 
He  sold  the  land,  reserving  the  mill,  to  J.  Scovill,  in  1745.  The  mill 
was  afterward  owned  by  Seba  Bronson,  who  also  had  another  on 
Steel's  brook.  There  was  a  privilege  (8)  owned  by  Samuel  Hickox 
some  distance  above  Waterville,  near  the  Brown  bridge,  so  called — 
now  abandoned.  It  was  there  in  1745  (see  Bronson,  page  99).  The 
privilege  (9)  at  the  falls  where  John  Sutliff  built  his  mill  in  1730,  is, 
the  writer  thinks,  the  first  in  the  town  on  the  Naugatuck.  It  is  now 
in  Thomaston.  It  has  been  used  for  a  woollen  mill,  a  clock  factory, 
and  probably  for  other  purposes;  and  is  now  used  for  a  knife 
factory. 

LONG    MEADOW    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  west,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  central  part  of  Naugatuck  village.  The  first  power 
on  this  stream  is  now  occupied  by  the  Dunham  Hosiery  company. 
For  many  years  (i)  it  was  used  as  a  woollen  mill  by  William  C. 
De  Forest.  It  was  Scott's  grist  mill  in  1770.  Butler's  house  (p.  122) 
was  near  here,  a  little  to  the  south.  The  Rubber  works  (2),  long 
noted  as  having  a  wooden  wheel  of  the  largest  diameter  in  the 
state  (the  writer  thinks  fifty-six  feet),  was  formerly  Candee's 
woollen  mill.  Silas  Constant,  Stephen  Warner  and  others  had  a 
saw  mill  there  (3)  in  1777.  How  long  it  had  been  built  is  uncertain; 
probably  not  very  long,  from  the  phrases  used.  There  was  also 
a  cluster  of  small  powers  at  Millville  (4  to  9)  established,  for  the 
most  part,  in  the  middle  or  early  half  of  the  last  century,  by 
some  members  of  the  Gunn  family.  Nathaniel  Gunn  had  a  saw 
mill  in  1739.  Osborn's  saw  mill  (10)  was  located  on  this  stream. 
Samuel  Wheeler  had  a  saw  mill  (11)  in  1749,  and  later  a  carding 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFA0TUBE8,  581 

mill.  Arab  Ward  had  a  grist  mill  (12)  soon  after.  The  stream  from 
Towantic  pond  enters  Long  Meadow  brook  near  this  point. 
Towantic  pond  lies  to  the  southwest  and  Long  Meadow  pond  to 
the  northwest.  In  Chapter  IV  (p.  40)  the  two  are  spoken  of  as  one, 
but  they  are  in  fact  half  a  mile  or  more  apart.  Long  Meadow 
brook  was  often  called  Towantic  brook  in  the  record,  which  prob- 
ably accounts  for  the  confusion  of  names. 

HOP    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  west  a  little  below 
Union  City.  A  privilege  (i),  now  belonging  to  the  Upson  family, 
was  first  used  by  Eliel  and  Amory  Mann  for  the  manufacture  of 
mouse  traps,  spools  and  other  small  wooden  wares.  It  was  used  later 
by  Lyman  Bradley  and  Gilbert  Hotchkiss  in  the  manufacture  of 
pocket  cutlery.  A  privilege  (2)  sometimes  spoken  of  as  "  the  Falls," 
now  known  as  Bradleyville,  is  the  one  used  by  Abram  Wooster  in 
1752  for  a  sawmill,  and  byAmasa  Scovill  in  1785.  About  1840  Lyman 
Bradley  made  cutlery  here,  and  since  then  Samuel  Root  has  carried 
on  the  same  business.  (3)  In  1781  James  Porter  sold  Asa  Leaven- 
worth, then  of  Watertown,  a  grist  mill  here.  In  the  first  half  of  this 
century  Asa  Fenn  had  an  axe  factory  on  or  near  the  same  place. 
In  the  interval  it  had  changed  hands  many  times.  Isaac  Bronson 
had  a  saw  mill  (4)  at  Break  Neck — now  Abbott's.  This  was  proba- 
bly the  first  saw  mill  in  that  part  of  the  town.  There  was  also  (5) 
a  small  shop  near  the  "  Dennis  place,"  so  called. 

FULLING    MILL    BROOK,    NOW    GENERALLY    CALLED    CITY    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  east  at  Union  City. 
The  first  attempt  (i)  to  utilize  it  for  mill  purposes  was  made  by 
Samuel  Hickox,  who  set  up  a  fulling  mill  before  1713.*  Ebenezer 
Hickox  (son  of  Samuel)  built  a  grist  mill  on  the  same  spot,  soon 
after  the  year  1733.  In  1737  he  sold  it  to  Hezekiah  Rew  with  the 
house  over  the  mill.  Rew  sold  it  the  same  year  to  James  Baldwin, 
who  deeded  to  William  Hoadley  of  Branford  and  May  Way  of 
Waterbury  in  the  year  175 1  about  200  acres  of  land  with  the  grist 
mill.  Soon  after,  Hoadley  bought  out  Way,  and  at  Hoadley's  death 
it  went  to  his  sons,  William  and  Jude.  The  mill  property  was  in  1799 
sold  in  part  to  Jared  Byington.  William  Hoadley  retained  the  mill 
and  his  house  lot.  Hoadley  ran  the  grist  mill  until  about  1810, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Ebenezer  Scott.  Byington  deeded  his  part  to  his 
sons,  Jesse  and  Isaac,  and  they  conveyed  the  property  in   1808  to 


*  See  Bronson's  History,  page  93. 


582  mSTOBY  OF  WATERBURY. 

Amasa  Goodyear,  Joseph  Nichols,  Henry  Grilley,  Jr.,  and  Joel  M. 
Mnnson,  under  the  firm  name  of  the  New  Haven  and  Baltimore 
Button  company.  Their  shops  were  a  little  east  of  the  grist  mill. 
Mention  is  made  of  a  trip  hammer  shop,  and  a  patent  nail  cutter 
(this  trip  hammer  was  probably  the  first  one  used  in  the  town  of 
Waterbury).  Amasa  Goodyear  manufactured  forks,  cast  buttons, 
spoons  and  molasses  gates.  After  Goodyear  failed  (about  1831)  the 
factory  was  occupied  by  different  parties  until  about  1842,  when 
Clark  Warner  and  Lampson  Isbell  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
carding  machines.  Afterward  the  business  was  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  the  Naugatuck  Machine  company.  Their  buildings 
were  destroyed  by  fire  several  years  ago.  A  new  building  was  erected 
and  pumps  were  made  for  a  short  time.  It  is  now  occupied  by  a 
house  builder,  George  Parks.  There  was  a  saw  mill  (2)  mentioned 
as  early  as  175 1.  It  was  probably  a  little  east  of  the  grist  mill, 
but  it  may  possibly  have  been  as  far  up  the  brook  as  the  ivory 
button  shop  mentioned  below.  The  saw  mill  had  disappeared 
before  1805.  Edwin  Scott  had  a  carding  mill  (3)  in  operation  on 
this  mill  site  in  1805.  Jairus  Downs  was  running  a  clothier's  shop 
at  this  place  in  the  year  1819.  Amasa  Goodyear  built  before  1831 
a  store  on  or  near  this  mill  site.  After  Goodyear  failed  (about 
1831  or  *32),  Robert  Isbell  and  Letsom  Terrell  made  japanned  tin  but- 
tons in  the  store  building.  Since  then  George  and  Eldridge  Smith 
made  buttons  in  the  old  store.  This  building  was  used  for  a  paper 
box  shop  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  ago.  It  was 
never  rebuilt.  Lucian  Judd  built  a  shop  (4)  about  18 19,  in  which 
he  manufactured  wooden  buttons  for  a  number  of  years.  Lucian 
Judd  and  David  Wooster  (a  brother  of  Jesse)  here  drew  copper  wire, 
about  1825,  and  continued  this  business  for  a  considerable  time. 
They  were  probably  the  first  to  draw  copper  wire  in  the  town  of 
Waterbury.  Between  1830  and  1840  Smith  &  Hopkins  made  cloth 
buttons  in  this  shop.  Afterward  Alonzo  Wheeler  entered  the  firm. 
About  1859  the  business  was  removed  to  Saugatuck.  The  prop- 
erty is  now  owned  by  James  Bird,  who  formerly  made  differential 
pulleys.  He  is  now  making  buttons.  Anson  Smith  and  his  son 
Harry  built  a  shop  (5)  on  this  site  about  1822.  They  manufactured 
ivory  buttons.  About  the  year  1826  they  sold  their  plant  to  Amasa 
Goodyear,  who  made  buttons  and  other  similiar  things.  After  Good- 
year failed,  Asahel  Smith  and  Oscar  Hotchkiss  made  buttons  at  this 
place,  and  subsequently  Asahel  Smith  and  Harry  Tomlinson  also 
until  about  1839.  Eben  Tuttle  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
hoes  here  about  1843,  and  continued  the  same  until  the  Tuttle  Man- 
ufacturing company  was  formed.     They  were  later  located  below 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFA0TURE8,  583 

the  centre  of  Naugatuck.  The  Connecticut  Cutlery  company  about 
1867  or  1868  built  a  new  factory.  Since  they  closed  up  their  affairs 
the  factory  has  remained  most  of  the  time  unoccupied.  At  present 
D.  &  H.  Pratt  occupy  the  place  as  a  thimble  shop.  Lorin  Isbell  (6) 
built  a  shop  on  this  site  about  1828.  He  made  bone  buttons  here 
for  a  number  of  years.  Afterward  Oscar  Hotchkiss  and  Amos  Ellis 
manufactured  buttons  here  for  a  short  time.  About  the  year  1849 
Harris  and  Robert  Isbell  made  covered  buttons  in  the  old  build- 
ing. They  enlarged  the  shop  and  continued  in  the  button  busi- 
ness for  two  or  more  years.  Afterward  Silas  and  Perkins  Grilley 
made  ivory  headed  nails  at  this  place.  The  old  shop  and  the  saw 
mill  that  stood  near  by  have  both  disappeared.  The  shop  (7)  that 
Asahel  Smith  formerly  occupied  was  built  about  1840.  A  larger 
factory  was  built  several  years  ago  by  his  son,  Edwin  F.  Smith. 
The  firm  is  now  E.  F.  Smith  &  Son.  They  manufacture  ivory  and 
metal  buttons.  The  Union  Knife  company  (8)  was  organized  about 
1850.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  several  years  ago  and  never  rebuilt. 
A  button  shop  (9)  was  built  by  a  son  of  Ransom  Russell  about  1850. 
After  being  occupied  by  W.  H.  K.  Godfrey  as  a  thimble  factory,  it 
was  for  a  time  used  by  D.  Pratt.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  never 
rebuilt.  About  1855  W.  S.  Kelly  built  a  suspender  factory  (10)  here, 
using  it  for  a  short  time.  Nothing  has  been  done  here  for  years. 
The  shop  (11)  first  occupied  by  Monroe  Terrill  for  buttons,  is  now 
used  by  H.  Twitchell  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  safety  pins  and  sim- 
ilar articles.  On  a  branch  from  the  south  is  a  shop  (12)  where 
Samuel  Grilley  made  metal  buttons  about  1807,  and  Horace  Smith 
about  1841.* 

SMUG    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  east,  about  two  miles 
below  the  centre  of  Waterbury.  Near  its  mouth  is  the  factory  of 
the  Smith  &  Griggs  company  (i).  This  privilege  was  originally  an 
iron  foundry  built  by  Merrit  Nichols  or  his  father,  Joseph,  early  in 
this  century.  About  1838,  Dr.  David  Prichard  made  german  silver 
spoons  there.  A  few  years  later  Henry  A.  Matthews,  John  Forest 
and  others  started  a  manufactory  of  small  metal  wares,  calling  it 
the  Hope  Manufacturing  company.  This  gave  the  settlement 
the  name  of  Hopeville,  which  it  has  since  retained.  Spencer 
and  Bennet  Prichard  had  a  small  shop  (2)  about  half  a  mile  up  the 
stream.  This  subsequently  (about  thirty  years  since)  passed  into 
the  possession  of  William  T.  Mabbott,  who  manufactured  buttons 


*  For  this  account  o(  the  privileges  on  Fulling  Mill  brook,  and  for  facta  respecting  several  other  privil- 
eges in  Naugatuck,  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  William  Ward. 


584  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 

and  other  pearl  goods.     This  gave  to  the  ponds  there  the  name  of 
Pearl  lakes. 

MAD    RIVER. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  east,  at  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  city  of  Waterbury.  The  first  power  was  utilized 
(i)  by  Colonel  William  Leavenworth  about  1802.  In  1810  he  leased 
it  with  "a  turning  shop  standing  thereon."  Its  subsequent  history 
is  merged  in  that  of  the  Benedict  &  Burnham  Manufacturing 
company.  On  the  east  side  of  the  river,  near  where  Daniel  Steele's 
cloth  dressing  factory  stood  later,  there  was  a  saw  mill  (2),  prob- 
ably the  one  belonging  to  the  Baldwins,  on  which  they  paid 
taxes  in  1788.  It  is  possible  that  this  saw  mill  was  the  outcome 
of  the  permission  given  to  erect  a  saw  mill  near  the  grist  mill 
in  1699,  as  it  belonged  in  1788  to  the  people  who  owned  the 
grist  mill,  although  it  was  probably  a  later  enterprise.  On  the 
west  side,  where  the  American  mills  now  are.  Colonel  Leaven- 
worth established  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  about  1800.  In  1804 
he  deeded  an  interest  to  Daniel  Steele.  In  1805  they  leased  a 
portion  of  the  grist  mill  to  Towsey,  Gibbs  &  Co.,  for  a  carding 
machine.  Daniel  Steele  subsequently  had  a  carding  and  cloth 
dressing  shop  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  About  1830  this  was 
occupied  under  a  lease  by  Joel  Johnson.  On  the  west  side  Colonel 
Leavenworth  carried  on  clock  making,  somewhat  extensively  for 
the  times.  After  his  failure,  wood  turning,  small  hardware  making 
(called  whitesmithing),  pearl  button  making,  and  other  small  indus- 
tries were  pursued  there  until  1830,  when  Charles  D.  Kingsbury 
sold  the  property  to  the  Naugatuck  (afterwards  Beecher)  Manufac- 
turing company.  After  its  failure  E.  E.  Prichard,  Julius  Hotch- 
kiss  and  C.  B.  Merriman  began  the  manufacture  of  India  rubber 
suspenders  there.  This,  later,  became  the  American  Suspender 
company,  and  finally  the  American  Mills  company. 

The  Scovill  Manufacturing  company  (3)  occupies  the  site  of  the 
first  grist  mill,  the  oldest  privilege  in  town.  It  remained  a  grist 
mill,  although  portions  of  it  may  have  been  used  for  other  purposes, 
until  September  21,  1808,  when  Lemuel  Harrison  deeded  it  to  Abel 
Porter  and  others.  Then  it  became  a  button  factory  with  a  grist 
mill  attached,  as  is  elsewhere  related.  About  1836  Leonard  Piatt 
built  a  small  factory  (4)  for  the  manufacture  of  button  eyes,  a  few 
rods  west  of  Dublin  street  and  south  from  Mad  river.  The  water 
was  taken  from  the  river  some  distance  east  of  Dublin  street,  and 
the  ground  now  covered  by  the  Meriden  and  Waterbury  railroad 
station  was  used  as  a  reservoir.  About  1840  this  privilege  was 
merged  in  that  of  the  Scovill  Manufacturing  company.     Not  long 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES.  585 

after,  the  button-eye  business  was  purchased  by  David  B.  Hurd,  who 
continued  it  until  his  death,  at  a  shop  near  the  present  site  of  the 
church  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  As  it  may  not  be  noticed  elsewhere, 
it  is  proper  to  say  here  that  before  the  invention  of  the  automatic 
machine  by  Leonard  Piatt,  button  eyes  were  made  in  a  slow  way 
on  a  machine  worked  by  a  crank  and  lever,  by  hand  and  foot  power. 
This  machine  of  Piatt's  was  a  very  important  improvement.  He 
was  a  staunch  Episcopalian,  a  steady  church-goer.  Before  he  per- 
fected his  machine  hjs  worked  at  it  a  long  time,  had  spent  all  his 
money  and  was  much  depressed.  Joel  Johnson,  with  whom  he  lived, 
related  that  one  Sunday,  while  in  church,  all  at  once  Piatt's  man- 
ner changed;  he  looked  bright  and  clear,  sat  up  straight,  lifted  his 
head  and  paid  close  attention  to  the  sermon.  The  next  day  the 
machine  was  completed.  Johnson,  however,  had  too  high  a  regard 
for  Piatt  to  ask  invidious  questions. 

What  is  known  of  late  years  as  the  Leather  factory  (5) — and  prior 
to  that  as  the  John  D.  Johnson  property — appears  to  have  been  first 
utilized  in  1813,  when  James  Scovill,  Austin  Steel,  and  the  firm  of 
Leavenworth,  Hayden  &  Scovill,  established  a  woollen  factory  there. 
They  were  compelled  to  close  it  on  the  opening  of  the  market  to 
English  goods  by  the  peace  of  1815.  There  lies  before  the  writer  an 
application  for  insurance  on  the  property,  under  the  name  of  the 
Waterbury  Woollen  Manufacturing  company.  It  is  without  date, 
but  was  probably  made  when  the  buildings  were  new.  It  describes 
the  property  as  consisting  of  one  boarding  house,  36  by  40,  of  two 
stories;  one  factory,  54  by  34,  of  three  stories,  heated  by  a  Russian 
stove;  one  finishing  shop,  30  by  21,  of  two  stories,  all  of  wood;  one 
dye  house,  40  by  24,  sides  and  ends  of  stone.  The  machinery,  in- 
cluded in  two  buildings,  comprised  four  single  carding  machines, 
one  double,  one  picker,  one  jenny,  twelve  broad  looms,  one  narrow 
loom,  one  shearing  machine,  two  presses,  two  kettles,  and  two  blue 
vats.  The  value  of  the  whole  (given  by  items)  is  $12,260.  About 
1830,  Austin,  Daniel  and  Ransom  Steel,  with  some  out-of-town  capi- 
tal, again  attempted  the  manufacture  of  woollen  goods,  but  were  not 
successful.  John  D.  Johnson  carried  on  both  the  woollen  and  a 
metal  business  there  for  some  years,  from  about  1833  to  1848.  The 
plant  then  became  a  tannery  under  the  charge  of  Harlow  Roys, 
Samuel  N.  Bradley,  William  Davis  and  others,  which  business  was 
continued  until  about  1870,  when  the  privilege  was  absorbed  in  that 
of  the  Scovill  Manufacturing  company. 

The  site  of  Rogers  &  Brother's  plated  ware  factory  (6) — or  near 
the  site — was  very  early  a  saw  mill.  It  was  probably  built  by  Mr. 
Southmayd  or  one  of  his  sons.    William  Rowley  had  carding  and 


586  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

cloth  dressing  works  here  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  and 
associated  with  him  in  the  business,  or  before  him,  was  one  George 
Gordian.     William    Rowley,   Jr.,   succeeded   his    father,   and   they 
owned  considerable  land   about  there,  which  was  long  known  as 
the  Rowley  farm.  The  privilege  remained  dormant  for  a  long  time, 
but  was  brought  into  use  by  Holmes,   Hotchkiss,  Brown  &  Elton 
about   1831,   and  was   for  many  years  a  successful  brass  factory. 
Pins  were  first  made  in  Waterbury  at  this  place.     On  the  site  of 
Barnard,  Son  &  Co.'s  shear  factory  (7),  at  the  Revolution,  was  a  mill 
known  as  Hough's.     It  was  owned   by  Judge  Hopkins;   probably 
Hough  was  the  miller.  Hopkins  sold  it  to  Deliverance  Wakelee,  who 
sold  it  to  Captain  George  Nichols  in  1781.     In  1796  Joseph  Payne 
had  it.     About  1835  Joel  Johnson  had  a  woollen  (satinet)  factory 
here,  and  later  it  was  used  for  making  cotton  warps.     There  was  a 
small  shop  (8)  forty  or  fifty  rods  above  that  just  mentioned,  but  fed 
by  the  same  pond.  Harmon  Payne  had  a  cloth  dressing  and  carding 
machine  there  early  in  the  century.     It  was  used  for  awhile  by  Tim- 
othy Porter  in  the  same  business,  and  bone  buttons  were  made 
there.     It  has  disappeared.     Rutter*s  leather  factory  (9)  stands  on 
the  site  of  the  first  saw  mill.      This  is  the  place  where  firearms 
were  made  by  Ard  Weltoh.     It  was  owned  for  some  years  by  Sher- 
man Bronson,  and  used  for  a  button  factory.     This  is  the  last  privi- 
lege on  the  stream  in  Waterbury.     Those  in  Wolcott  will  be  found 
in  Orcutt's  "  History."     On  a  mere  rivulet  running  into  the  east 
side  of  Rutter's  pond,  and  near  the  house  of  Charles  N.  Frost,  there 
was  from  1820  to  1830  or  later,  a  small  water  power  utilized  for  a 
number  of  purposes  at  different  times.     There  at  one  time  horn 
and  bone  buttons  were  made  in  large  quantities  (see  Volume  II, 
note  on  page  260).      The  property  seems  to  have  belonged  to  the 
Frost  family,  but  the  name  of  the  button  maker  was  Leverett  Judd. 

GREAT    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  on  the  eastern  side  at  the  rail- 
road bridge  near  Holmes,  Booth  &  Haydens.  The  first  privilege  was 
near  the  corner  of  Canal  and  Meadow  streets  (before  Meadow  street 
was  opened).  The  factory  (i)  was  reached  by  a  lane  which  is  now 
Canal  street,  which  took  its  name  from  the  canal  leading  to  the  fac- 
tory along  this  line.  Lemuel  Harrison  or  James  Harrison  had  a 
small  building  here,  spoken  of  as  a  "factory,  so-called,"  about  1800. 
In  181 1  Orlando  Porter  conveyed  a  quarter  interest  in  the  shop  to 
Zenas  Cook,  describing  it  as  the  new  part  of  a  clock  shop  (it  had 
been  partially  destroyed  by  fire),  and  as  standing  on  Lemuel  Harri- 
son's land   and   owned   in   common  by   Lemuel  Harrison,   Daniel 


I 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES,  587 

Clark,  William  Porter  and  said  Orlando  Porter,  doing  business 
under  the  name  of  Lemuel  Harrison  &  Co.  The  property  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Harrison's  creditors  and  was  bought  by  David 
Prichard,  who  with  his  son,  Elizur  E.,  carried  on  the  clock  busi- 
ness there  for  a  while.  Later  it  was  sold  to  E.  E.  Prichard,  George 
Beecher,  W.  H.  Merriman  and  W.  H.  Jones,  and  used  as  a  button 
factory.  It  passed  through  many  hands  and  uses,  but  was  last  used 
by  the  American  Ring  company  under  the  management  of  Edward 
Chittenden.  The  water  for  the  factory  was  taken  from  the  brook 
on  Grand  street  near  South  Main.  In  1814  (2)  a  clock  factory  was 
built  on  the  east  side  of  South  Main  street  between  the  present  Jef- 
ferson and  Union  streets.  The  proprietors  were  Daniel  Clark, 
Zenas  Cook  and  William  Porter.  The  water  was  taken  from  the 
brook  at  East  Main  street,  carried  in  a  ditch  along  the  high  land 
near  the  line  of  Spring  street  to  a  point  below  Jefferson  street,  and 
then  across  to  the  factory  in  a  wooden  trough.  The  enterprise  was 
not  successful.  Buttons  were  afterward  made  there,  but  it  was 
early  converted  into  a  dwelling  house  and  was  occupied  and  proba- 
bly owned  by  Ard  Warner.  On  Brook  street  before  it  was  opened 
was  a  concern  (3)  started  by  Leonard  Prichard  as  a  button  factory 
about  1848,  and  afterward  owned  by  Isaac  E.  Newton.  It  was  used 
as  a  manufactory  of  sewing  machine  needles.  The  water  was  taken 
from  about  the  same  point  as  the  one  named  above.  It  was  aban- 
doned as  a  power  about  1880. 

In  the  rear  of  the  buildings  on  the  north  side  of  East  Main  street, 
near  the  present  west  line  of  Elm  street  (4),  in  the  early  years 
of  the  century,  was  a  building  used  by  James  M.  Cook  and  later 
by  Mark  Leavenworth  and  others  for  a  clock  factory.  It  after- 
ward passed  into  the  hands  of  Anson  Bronson,  and  was  used  by 
him  for  the  manufacture  of  horn  and  bone  buttons.  It  was  next 
transferred  to  W.  &  A.  Brown  for  making  hooks  and  eyes.  Its 
power  was  finally  absorbed  in  that  of  the  Mattatuck  Manufacturing 
company,  now  Piatt  Brothers.  In  1848  the  Mattatuck  Manufacturing 
company  (5)  manufactured  umbrella  trimmings  and  cloth  buttons. 
Its  business  was  begun  in  the  factory  on  Canal  street  and  moved  to 
the  present  site.  The  water  is  taken  from  the  brook  on  Elm  street 
near  Kingsbury  street,  but  is  little  used  now  for  power.  The  site 
now  occupied  by  the  Matthews  &  Willard  company  (6)  was  origin- 
ally taken  by  H.  Hotchkiss  and  others  for  a  hook  and  eye  factory 
(the  first  in  Waterbury),  conducted  by  John  J.  Hatch  about  1835. 
Jared  Pratt  also  manufactured  cast  brass  andirons  here.  Hotch- 
kiss sold  his  interest  to  John  Sandland,  Sr.  The  property  has 
changed  hands  many  times,  but  is  now  owned  by  the  Matthews  & 


588  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7. 

Willard  company.  The  site  of  the  Waterbury  Clock  company  (7) 
was  one  of  the  early  saw  mills  of  the  town,  owned  by  the  Bronson 
family,  the  date  not  being  precisely  known.  Dr.  Bronson  thought 
it  was  the  town's  first  saw  mill,  but  as  has  been  shown,  this  was  an 
error.  It  remained  a  saw  mill  until  bought  by  the  Waterbury 
Knitting  company  in  1852.  It  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  Whit- 
tal,  Lefevre  &  Co.,  the  Great  Brook  company,  Stocker  &  Co.,  and  the 
Clock  company.  A  mill  that  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Cherry 
street  near  the  angle  (8)  was  the  site  of  an  early  fulling  mill,  Nathan 
Prindle's.  Dr.  Bronson  fixes  the  date  as  1727  or  '28.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth owned  and  occupied  the  site  many  years  as  a  clock  factory 
and  button  factory.  The  property  passed  from  his  estate  to  the 
Knitting  company,  and  the  power  was  absorbed  in  theirs.  It  is 
possible  that  this  is  the  site  sequestered  to  Samuel  Hickox,  Jr.,  for 
a  fulling  mill  in  1692.  The  Waterbury  Manufacturing  company's 
privilege  (9)  was  established  by  J.  M.  L.  &  W.  H.  Scovill  in  1849,  ^^^ 
the  manufacture  of  german  silver  goods.  This  business  was  after- 
ward removed  to  Wallingford,  and  William  R.  Hitchcock  &  Co. 
occupied  the  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  buttons,  being  suc- 
ceeded later  by  Hitchcock  &  Castle  and  the  United  States  Button 
company.  The  small  stone  factory  on  Division  street  (10)  was  built 
by  Edward  Robinson  about  1870  or  a  little  earlier.  It  belongs  to 
the  estate  of  Henry  C.  Griggs.  The  privilege  of  the  City  mills, 
so-called  (11),  was  established  about  1850  by  William  Perkins.  The 
reservoir  was  built  mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  J.  M.  L. 
&  W.  H.  Scovill  for  the  benefit  of  the  Waterbury  Knitting  company, 
but  in  part  also  for  the  other  privileges  on  the  stream.  It  was 
occupied  by  E.  U.  Lathrop  for  a  feed  mill  for  some  years,  and  since 
then  by  Maltby,  Hopson  &  Brooks.  About  1820,  Elias  Clark  and 
John  Downs  built  a  saw  mill  (12)  nearly  east  of  Clark's  house,  now 
Liebrecht's.  Its  remains  were  visible  not  long  since,  and  probably 
are  visible  still.  It  was  reached  by  a  private  way  running  from  the 
Bucks  Hill  road  near  Clark's  house  to  the  Chestnut  Hill  road. 

LITTLE    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  Great  brook  on  the  west  side  at  the  corner  of 
South  Main  and  Scovill  streets.  It  turned  the  first  wheel  in  town 
for  strictly  manufacturing  purposes,  that  at  James  Harrison's  clock 
shop,  started  in  1802,  and  standing  near  the  corner  of  Spencer  ave- 
nue and  North  Main  street  on  land  leased  of  Stephen  Bronson. 
A  few  rods  above  this.  Colonel  William  Leavenworth  had  a  dis- 
tillery (2),  which  passed  into  the  possession  of  Joseph  Burton,  and 
so  became  Mrs.  Willard  Spencer's.     William  Perkins  rented  it  for  a 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES.  589 

carpenter's  shop  and  put  in  a  water  wheel  for  sawing,  etc.,  about 
1836.  Willard  Spencer  and  Ambrose  Ives  in  1839  made  patent  but- 
tons there.  It  was  afterwards  changed  into  a  dwelling  and  occupied 
by  Mr.  Spencer  for  several  years.  The  site  is  now  occupied  by  a 
frame  dwelling  next  south  of  the  brick  block  on  the  corner  of 
North  Main  and  Kingsbury  streets. 

BEAVER    POND    BROOK. 

This  stream  joins  Mad  river  at  the  angle  near  the  upper  end  of 
the  Waterbury  Brass  company's  East  mill  pond.  Its  privileges  in- 
clude (i)  a  saw  mill  between  the  mouths  of  East  Mountain  and 
Turkey  Hill  brook,  which  was  built  by  Benjamin  Farrell  about 
1826,  and  was  used  until  about  i860.  Next  (2)  there  was  a  small  shop 
belonging  to  Thomas  Payne  and  used  for  turning  wooden  bowls, 
etc.,  at  about  1800.  Then  (3)  there  was  an  ancient  saw  mill,  about 
which  nothing  beyond  its  existence  and  disappearance  has  been 
learned.  All  the  above  appear  to  have  been  below  the  entrance  of 
Turkey  Hill  brook.  Wedge's  saw  mill  (4.)  was  built  about  1864-5. 
At  the  crossing  of  a  road  leading  to  Prospect,  is  a  privilege  (5)  of 
some  importance,  in  use  before  1800,  certainly  one  of  the  earliest 
manufacturing  sites  in  the  town.  There  Andrew  Hoadley  and  An- 
drew H.  Johnson  made  spinning-wheels  and  other  articles  of  wood; 
there  Amos  Atwater  had  a  grist  mill;  there  Sala  Todd  made  sim- 
ilar goods;  there  Enoch  W.  Frost  made  matches,  and  William  Sizer 
some  light  metal  goods,  and  Lambert  Russell  buttons.  On  the 
road  from  East  Farms  school-house  south  is  a  saw  mill  (6)  built  by 
Asa  Hoadley  and  later  owned  by  Joseph  Moss.  Near  the  plank 
road  there  is  a  privilege  (7)  used  by  Orrin  Austin,  about  1820,  for 
a  grist  mill,  and  for  parts  of  clocks.  It  has  now  gone  to  decay. 
There  is  a  saw  mill  (8)  of  modern  date  on  one  of  the  upper  tributa- 
ries, perhaps  in  the  town  of  Prospect. 

TURKEY    HILL    BROOK. 

This  stream  comes  into  Beaver  Pond  brook  not  far  from  its 
mouth.  There  was  a  saw  mill  on  it  in  the  first  half  of  the  century, 
owned  by  Isaac  Hotchkiss.  Joseph  Payne  put  up  a  small  shop  near 
the  present  city  reservoir  about  fifteen  years  since,  which  was 
bought  by  the  city. 

SLED    HALL    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  from  the  west  near  the  hospi- 
tal. It  drains  Tamarack  swamp,  which  sixty  years  ago  was  heavily 
wooded  and  yielded  a  very  good  flow  of  water.     It  is  now  cleared 


590 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


and  drained,  and  yields  very  little.  (The  writer  thinks  that  the 
name  of  this  brook  is  properly  Sled  "haul,"  and  that  it  derived  its 
name  from  the  fact  that  there  is  a  piece  of  still  water  in  the  Nauga- 
tuck  near  its  mouth,  which  would  freeze  in  winter  and  make  a  good 
place  for  crossing  the  river  with  sleds.  It  was  just  here  that  the 
first  winter  pioneers  had  their  huts,  and  it  is  a  fair  inference  that 
the  name  dates  from  that  time;  but  this  is  conjectural.)  When  the 
place  was  small  and  the  wind  southwest,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the 
sound  of  the  stream  as  it  came  down  the  hill  was  loud  and  clear  all 
through  the  village.  It  is  a  sound  very  distinctly  associated  in 
the  minds  of  the  older  inhabitants  with  Indian  summer  weather, 
moonlight  nights,  a  clear  crisp  air  and  many  pleasant  memories. 
There  was  a  saw  mill  on  this  brook  a  little  east  of  the  Town  Plot 
road,  not  far  from  1750.  At  one  time,  some  years  later,  Captain 
Jacob  Sperry  had  charge  of  it.  He  fell  into  the  penstock  and  broke 
his  leg.  It  was  said  that  his  cries  were  heard  in  town,  and  that 
people  went  from  there  to  his  relief. 

PARK    BROOK. 

This  stream  enters  the  Naugatuck  near  the  mouth  of  Steel's 
brook.  The  writer  gives  it  this  name  as  he  knows  of  no  other,  and 
it  comes  from  the  north  end  of  the  **  park."  It  was  utilized  by  Aner 
Bradley  as  a  power  in  connection  with  a  plating  shop,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Watertown  road,  between  i860  and  1870. 

steel's  brook. 

The  privileges  of  Steel's  brook  include  Slade's  mill  (i)  at  Oak 
ville,  which  was  built  in  1854  by  Joseph  H.  Baird.  The  site  now 
owned  by  the  Oakville  company  {2)  is  that  of  the  oil  mill  referred  to 
in  a  deed  of  1807,  from  Stephen  and  Daniel  Matthews  to  Mark 
Leavenworth,  of  24  acres  of  land  in  the  south  part  of  Watertown, 
"with  a  fulling  mill,  carding  machine  and  house  on  the  same,  and 
an  old  oil  mill  standing  near  on  Joseph  Woodruff's  land,  as  reserved 
to  us  in  our  deed  to  said  Woodruff."  It  was  at  this  point  probably 
that  James  Bishop  had  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  about  1830.  Mer- 
riman  &  Warren  afterward  made  webbing  suspenders  here,  and  it 
was  temporarily  occupied  by  several  other  persons.  Near  the  upper 
Oakville  factory  (3)  Seba  Bronson  had  a  grist  mill,  probably  after 
he  sold  the  Baird  mill  on  the  Naugatuck  near  the  mouth  of  Han- 
cock's brook.  About  the  time  of  his  death  (1829)  General  Gerrit 
Smith  made  pewter  buttons  here.  It  then  went  into  the  hands  of 
Scovill  &  Buckingham,  who  made  brass  butts  and  other  brass  goods 


OLD  MILLS  AND  EARLY  MANUFACTURES. 


591 


here.  From  them  it  was  transferred  to  the  Oakville  company. 
The  Williams  grist  mill  (4)  near  the  old  dam  has  been  spoken  of 
under  "  Grist  Mills."  Bennet  Hickox  built  a  saw  mill  (5)  near  the 
east  end  of  the  present  Oakville  dam,  somewhere  about  1850.  It 
was  used  only  a  short  time.  The  mill  at  Rockdale  (6),  where 
Wheeler  &  Wilson  began  their  sewing  machine  business,  now 
owned  by  S.  Smith  &  Son,  seems  to  be  the  lineal  descendant  of  a 
saw  mill  built  by  David  Scott  about  1725.  In  1764,  Nathaniel  Arnold 
sold  to  Abraham  Norton  a  fulling  mill  privilege  on  Wooster  brook. 
Probably  it  was  at  this  point.  Heminway's  silk  works  (7)  date 
from  about  1845.  There  seems  to  have  been  no  mill  there  before. 
Greenville  (8),  so-called,  was  the  site  of  Jonathan  Scott's  saw  mill 
in  1722-25. 

TURKEY    BROOK. 

This  stream  comes  into  Steel's  brook  at  Oakville,  and  has  a  saw 
mill  built  by  Samuel  Copley  about  1840.  It  was  afterward  owned 
by  Eleazar  Woodruff.     It  is  now  the  property  of  F.  C.  Slade. 

HANCOCK    BROOK. 

This  stream  joins  the  Naugatuck  about  half  a  mile  below  the 
village  of  Waterville.  The  first  privilege  is  the  one  at  Waterville 
(i),  the  history  of  which  is  given  in  Volume  II,  page  29.  About 
half  a  mile  up  the  brook  is  an  old  saw  mill  site  (2)  established  about 
1750  by  one  Scott.  It  was  owned  for  many  years  by  David  Downs, 
and  later  passed  into  the  possession  of  Joseph  Welton.  A  wooden 
building  was  added  twenty-five  years  since,  which  has  been  used  by 
Lewis  Garrigus  for  woodwork  and  by  the  Tucker  company  for  the 
manufacture  of  brass  nails.  The  *' falls"  (3)  at  Hoadley's  (or  Grey- 
stone)  are  within  the  boundaries  of  Plymouth.  Amos  Hickox, 
and  afterward  Abraham  Hickox,  had  a  saw  mill  here  in  the  last 
century.  Calvin  Hoadley,  later,  had  a  grist  mill  here.  About 
1808  Silas  Hoadley,  at  first  with  E.  Terry  and  S.  Thomas,  after- 
ward by  himself,  began  to  make  clocks,  and  continued  the  manu- 
facture with  fair  success  for  many  years.  It  has  since  been  used 
for  the  manufacture  of  cutlery  and  other  small  wares.  Knouse  & 
AUender  were  the  last  occupants. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

THE  INTEREST  OF  EARLY  CONNECTICUT  IN  EDUCATION  —  AIMS  OF  THK 
COLONISTS — FIRST  SCHOOLS  IN  THE  TOWN  —  CHANGES  IN  THE 
SCHOOL  SYSTEM  —  SCHOOLS  AWAY  FROM  THE  CENTRE  —  SCHOOL- 
HOUSES — INCOME  FROM  SCHOOL  LANDS;  THREE  DISTINCT  SOURCES 
— CONDITION    OF    THINGS    AT    THE    END    OF    THE     COLONIAL    PERIOD 

—  PROVISION     FOR     GRAMMAR     SCHOOLS — THE     FIRST     WATERBURY 
ACADEMY THE    ERECTION    OF    A    BUILDING TWO    SCHOOLS    IN    IT 

—  TEACHERS — PROSPERITY     AND     DECLINE — REMOVALS     OF     THE 
BUILDING — ITS    LATER    HISTORY. 

IN  the  early  days  none  of  the  colonies  showed  greater  apprecia- 
tion of  educational  advantages  than  Connecticut.  It  was  nat- 
ural that  communities  boasting  such  men  as  John  Winthrop  at 
New  London,  John  Davenport  at  New  Haven  and  Roger  Ludlowe 
at  Hartford  should  be  zealous  in  furthering  the  cause  of  education, 
and  it  is  said  that  in  no  case  did  a  settlement  defer  the  establish- 
ing of  a  school  until  the  second  year  of  its  existence.     As  early  as 

1641  we  find  that  the  General  Court  of  New  Haven  colony  ordered 
"that  a  free  school  should  be  set  up";  and  the  Hartford  records  of 

1642  mention  an  appropriation  of  ^1^30  a  year  to  the  town  schools,  also 
a  decree  that  the  schoolmaster  shall  be  "a  scholar,  no  common  man, 
a  gentleman,"  and  two  years  later  the  General  Court  enacted  that 
every  township  containing  fifty  householders  should  "  appoint  one 
within  their  town  to  teach  all  such  childern  as  shall  resort  to  him 
to  read  and  write,  whose  wages  shall  be  paid  either  by  the  parents 
or  masters  of  such  children,  or  by  the  inhabitants  in  general,"  while 
any  township  containing  a  hundred  or  more  families  was  enjoined 
to  "  set  up  a  grammar  school."  The  stringent  rules  in  reference  to 
education  found  in  Roger  Ludlowe's  Connecticut  code  of  1650,  are 
of  great  interest.  This  code,  which  is  almost  identical  with  that 
enacted  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  in  1642,  decreed  as 
follows: 

Forasmuch  as  the  good  education  of  children  is  of  singular  behoof  and  benefit  to 
any  commonwealth,  and,  whereas  many  parents  and  masters  are  too  indulgent  and 
negligent  of  their  duty  in  that  kind;  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  court  and  author- 
ity thereof,  that  the  selectmen  of  every  town,  in  the  several  precincts  and  quarters 
where  they  dwell,  shall  have  a  vigilant  eye  over  their  brethren  and  neighbors,  to  see, 
first,  that  none  of  them  shall  suffer  so  much  barbarism  in  any  of  their  families  as 
not  to  endeavor  to  teach  by  themselves  or  others  their  children  and  apprentices  so 


THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND  THE  FIRST  ACADEMY.  593 

much  learning  as  may  enable  them  perfectly  to  read  the  English  tongue,  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  capital  laws,  upon  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  for  each  neglect  therein; 
also  that  all  masters  of  families  do  once  a  week  at  least,  catechise  their  children  and 
servants  in  the  grounds  and  principles  of  religion. 

Moreover  provision  was  therein  made  even  for  the  religious  instruc- 
tion of  the  Indians. 

There  are  those  perhaps  who  look  upon  compulsory  education 
as  a  novelty,  but  these  laws  of  the  early  fathers  were  as  strict  as 
those  of  to-day,  while  extending  in  addition  over  the  domain  of 
religion.  It  is  on  record  that  the  schools  were  established  to  pre- 
vent "that  one  chief  project  of  that  old  deluder,  Satan,  to  keep 
men  from  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  .  .  .  and  that  learn- 
ing may  not  be  buried  in  the  grave  of  our  forefathers,  in  church 
and  commonwealth, — the  Lord  assisting  our  endeavors."  The  deep 
sense  felt  by  our  forefathers  of  the  importance  of  education  is 
illustrated  by  another  law  which  provides  that  such  as  shall  "apply 
themselves  to  due  use  of  means  for  the  attainment  of  learning" 
shall  be  free  from  "payment  of  rates  with  respect  to  their  per- 
sons,"— the  immunity  from  taxation  to  last  only  so  long  as  the 
studying  should  continue;  and  this  is  even  more  clearly  demon- 
strated by  the  fact  that  when  the  project  of  founding  a  college  in  this 
section  of  the  country  seemed  impracticable,  the  Connecticut  and 
New  Haven  colonists  generously  aided  the  little  college  struggling 
along  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  by  a  voluntary  contribution,  made  by 
each  family,  of  "a  peck  of  corn,  or  twelve  pence  money,"  towards 
the  maintenance  of  poor  scholars  therein.  In  the  statutes  of  1702 
the  same  provisions  as  the  preceding  are  retained,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  an  annual  tax  of  forty  shillings  on  every  thousand  pounds 
in  the  grand  list,  to  be  distributed  among  those  towns  only  which 
maintained  their  schools  according  to  law. 

With  various  modifications  in  regard  to  details  the  same  objects 
were  steadily  pursued  throughout  the  colony,  namely,  the  mainte- 
nance, first,  of  an  elementary  school  in  every  neighborhood  con- 
taining a  sufficient  number  of  children;  secondly,  of  a  Latin  school 
in  every  large  town;  thirdly,  of  a  college  for  the  higher  culture  of 
the  whole  colony.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  same  pro- 
gressive spirit  prevailed  in  Waterbury  as  in  the  other  settlements. 
Although  the  first  reference  to  schools,  in  the  town  records,  occurs 
as  late  as  1698  (see  page  248),  it  is  probable  that  a  school,  taught  by 
the  younger  Jeremiah  Peck,  had  been  established  fully  ten  years 
before  that  date.  We  find  that  in  1699  the  town  granted  thirty 
shillings  and  the  "school  money"  for  the  encouragement  of  a 
school  for  three  months.     In  1702  two  committees  were  appointed, 

38 


594  HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBURT. 

one  to  engage  a  schoolmaster  to  teach  school  for  three  months,  and 
the  other  to  "  hire  a  school  dame  for  to  keep  school  in  the  summer, 
and  for  that  end  to  make  use  of  what  money  shall  be  left  that  is 
due  to  the  school  for  the  school  lands,  after  the  schoolmaster  is 
paid."  Two  years  later  the  records  state  that  Isaac  Bronson  and 
Benjamin  Barnes  were  chosen  a  committee  to  "  hire  a  schoolmaster 
to  instruct  in  wrighting  and  reeding,"  and  to  have  what  the  coun- 
try (the  colony)  allows  for  that  end,  also  to  engage  a  dame  for  the 
summer  school,  renting  the  school  lands  at  some  public  meeting,  to 
provide  funds  for  that  purpose.  The  first  mention  of  a  school 
building  appears  December  8,  1707,  when  a  committee  was  chosen 
to  "see  after  the  building  of  a  school-house  which  the  town  by  vote 
passed  to  be  built."  At  what  time  this  vote  had  passed  does  not 
appear,  but  two  years  later  (December  28,  1709)  the  same  commit- 
tee was  reappointed  to  "carry  on  the  work  of  building  a  school- 
house  in  the  town,"  whence  we  may  infer  either  that  the  building 
had  not  been  begun,  or  that  the  work  had  dragged  on  from  year  to 
year. 

Up  to  this  point  the  management  of  school  matters  had  been 
entirely  conducted  at  town  meetings.  But  events  were  so  shaping 
themselves  that  a  change  of  some  kind  was  inevitable.  As  a  set- 
tlement grew  in  size  and  population,  the  assembling  of  all  the  chil- 
dren at  one  point  for  instruction  became  impracticable.  We  find 
this  fact  recognized  in  an  act  of  the  General  Court  passed  in  171 2 
by  which  the  parishes  or  ecclesiastical  societies  were  constituted 
school  districts,  the  management  of  the  schools,  however,  still 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  town.  The  act  of  the  General  Court 
was  as  follows: 

All  parishes  which  are  already  made,  or  shall  hereafter  be  made  by  this  Assem- 
bly shall  have  for  the  bringing  up  of  their  children  and  maintenance  of  a  school 
in  some  fixed  place  the  forty  shillings  in  every  ;^iooo  arising  in  the  list  of  estates 
within  the  parish. 

By  a  natural  modification  the  authority  vested  in  the  towns  was 
gradually  transferred  to  the  ecclesiastical  societies,  and  we  find  a 
later  act  in  which  not  only  is  this  implied,  but  a  further  advance 
indicated  in  the  establishment  of  "school  societies."  This  act 
decrees  that  "all  inhabitants  living  within  the  limits  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal societies  incorporated  by  law  shall  constitute  school  societies, 
and  shall  annually  meet  some  time  in  the  months  of  September, 
October  or  November." 

These  changes,  which  had  taken  place  in  the  first  years  of  the 
eighteenth  century  in  the  older  towns,  occurred  in  Waterbury 
somewhat  later.     The  old  school-house  at  the  centre,  which  up  to 


THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND  THE  FIRST  ACADEMY, 


595 


this  time  had  answered  all  the  requirements  of  the  town,  had  been 
repaired  in  1720,  and  three  years  afterward  the  town  voted  that  the 
school  committee  should  "yearly  demand  the  country  money,"  the 
money  required  to  be  raised  by  the  colony  laws  of  17 12,  "and  also 
the  money  which  the  school  land  was  let  for,  and  pay  for  the  school 
in  this  way."  It  was  also  voted  that  the  committee  should  annu- 
ally make  report  of  their  receipts  and  disbursements  at  the  great 
town  meeting,  and  that  this  annual  report  should  be  put  upon  the 
pages  of  the  records.  From  the  report  of  the  committee  thus 
appointed  it  appears  that  their  receipts  for  the  year  were  jQ6  9s, 
and  that  their  disbursement  to  the  school  amounted  to  the  same 
sum,  and  that  there  was  coming  to  the  town  "twenty-five  shillings 
in  Dr.  Warner's  hand,  and  seven  shillings  and  six  pence  in  Richard 
Welton's  hand,"  for  school  lands  which  they  had  hired.  "These 
votes  and  memoranda  of  the  town  clerk"  says  Bronson  in  his 
"History"  (page  236)  "prove  the  earnest  endeavors  of  the  early 
people  of  Waterbury,  in  a  time  of  great  embarrassment,  to  provide 
a  means  of  elementary  education  for  the  young." 

Although  the  original  limits  of  Mattatuck  included  eight  towns 
and  parts  of  towns,  the  population  as  late  as  17 12  centred  closely 
around  the  Green.  As  time  went  on  and  little  settlements  were 
established  at  points  remote  from  the  centre,  "  each  neighborhood 
that  would  keep  up  a  school,  and  had  a  sufficent  number  of  scholars, 
was  allowed  a  proportion  of  the  school  money."*  From  the  records 
it  would  appear  that  in  1730  there  were  settlements,  with  a  sufficient 
number  of  inhabitants  to  justify  the  establishment  of  schools,  at 
Judd's  Meadow  (now  Naugatuck),  Wooster  Swamp  (now  Water- 
town),  and  Bucks  Hill.  It  was  voted,  December  10,  1734,  that  a 
school  be  kept  during  the  whole  year  following,  as  the  law  directs; 
seven  months  at  the  centre,  nine  weeks  at  Wooster  Swamp,  and 
seven  weeks  at  Judd's  Meadow.  In  1737  the  vote  was  that  the 
school  should  be  kept  twenty- one  weeks  at  the  centre,  twelve  weeks 
at  Wooster  society,  six  weeks  up  the  river,  that  is,  at  Plymouth,  six 
weeks  at  Judd's  Meadow,  and  three  weeks  at  Bucks  Hill,  the  num- 
ber of  weeks  being  proportional  to  the  number  of  scholars.  The 
same  master  taught  all  the  schools,  going  from  place  to  place  for 
this  purpose. 

In  February,  1730,  an  attempt  was  made  in  Waterbury  to  secure 
a  new  school-house,  but  the  project  was  voted  down  in  town  meet- 
ing. In  December  of  the  same  year  it  was  voted  to  "  build  a  school- 
house  on  the  meeting-house  green  where  the  old  house  stood,"  but 
the  fathers  exercised  a  wise  man's  privilege,  and  within  a  few  days 

*  For  the  earliest  notices  of  outside  schools  see  Bronson,  p.  237. 


596  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

the  decision  was  reversed.  We  can  learn  nothing  more  on  the  sub- 
ject until  1743,  when  we  find  that  the  town  "  granted  liberty  to  set 
a  new  school-house  where  the  old  house  stood." 

From  references  already  made  to  the  early  records  it  has  been 
seen  that  certain  lands  were  set  apart  for  school  uses.  It  is  impor- 
tant to  distinguish  accurately  in  regard  to  the  three  kinds  of  school 
land,  so-called,  whence  the  money  for  the  support  of  the  schools  of 
Waterbury  was  derived. 

There  was,  first,  the  land  known  as  the  '*  school  lots,"  which  had  been  set  aside 
by  the  early  proprietors  for  the  purpose  of  leasing.  This  land  was  valued  at  ;f  150, 
and  the  income  from  it  was  to  be  employed  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  schools.  For 
a  number  of  years  this  land  was  rented  and  the  money  disposed  of  by  the  town, 
the  funds  being  sometimes  misappropriated  and  used  for  public  objects  other  than 
educational.  The  care  of  it  occasioned  some  trouble  and  expense  at  various  times, 
and  it  was  at  length  thought  best  to  devise  some  means  of  disposing  of  it  legally 
and  profitably.  A  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  considering  this  matter 
reported,  December  10,  1734.  recommending  that  the  school  lots  be  sold  at  auction 
at  some  public  place,  the  money  thus  obtained  to  be  **  converted  to  the  use  of 
the  schools."  The  sales  commenced  almost  immediately,  and  this  excellent  plan 
was  duly  carried  out.    (See  pages  333,  334.) 

At  the  time  when  the  respective  claims  of  Hartford  and  Windsor  were  adjusted, 
the  colony  had  obtained  possession  of  seven  townships  in  the  western  part  of  Litch- 
field county.  In  1733  these  townships  were  sold,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
added  to  the  local  school  fund  of  the  towns  and  societies  of  the  colony.  In  Water- 
bury  the  First  society  claimed  for  itself  alone  the  entire  portion  of  this  fund  accru- 
ing to  the  town,  basing  its  claim  upon  the  fact  that  it  was  the  only  society  in  exist- 
ence in  the  town  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  law.  It  was  not  until  after 
several  years  of  discussion  and  wranglings  that  a  vote  was  passed  (in  1770)  decree- 
ing that  thenceforward  the  moneys  should  be  divided  among  the  several  societies, 
and  parts  of  societies  in  the  town,  both  those  then  established  and  those  hereafter 
to  be  brought  into  existence.  The  controversies  and  lawsuits  which  began  when 
the  new  societies  were  made  independent  towns,  combined  with  bad  management, 
put  an  end  to  the  dispute  by  dissipating  the  money.* 

The  third  source  of  revenue  was  the  sale  of  Western  territories  belonging  to  the 
state.  In  1773  Connecticut  formed  a  township,  on  the  Susquehanna,  called  West- 
moreland, extending  indefinitely  to  the  westward,  which  was  annexed  to  Litchfield. 
In  1786  Connecticut  ceded  this  Western  territory  to  the  Federal  union,  reserving 
the  tract  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  still  known  as  the  Western  Reserve. 
As  Litchfield  county  resigned  all  claim  to  the  town  of  Westmoreland,  congress 
recognized  the  right  of  the  state  to  this  territory,  which  embraced  an  area  of 
4,000,000  acres.  Of  this  immense  area,  a  section  measuring  a  half  million  acres 
was  granted  to  citizens  whose  property  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  or  otherwise 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  (whence  the  name  Fire  lands)  and  the  remainder  was 

*  For  farther  details  see  Bronson's  '*  History,"  pp.  240-242.  The  following  receipt,  the  original  auto- 
graph of  which  is  preserved  among  the  papers  of  the  First  Congregational  society,  may  be  regarded  as  a 
souvenir  of  this  period  of  dissension : 

"  Reed.  March  X2th,  1795,  of  Capt.  Saml.  Judd  and  Capt.  Benjn.  Upson,  by  the  hands  of  Richard  Bryan, 
seven  pounds  one  shilling  on  part  of  an  Execution  in  favor  of  John  Woodruff,  etc.,  against  them  and  others 
as  committees  of  the  several  Ecclesiastical  Societies  in  Waterbury,  obtained  at  Litchfield  Superior  Court, 
January  term,  1795.— William  Hii.lhousb." 


THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND   THE  FIRST  ACADEMY.  597 

sold  in  1795  for  $1,200,000,  the  proceeds  being  added  to  the  state  school  fund.  Con- 
necticut in  1800  ceded  her  right  of  jurisdiction  over  the  reserve  to  the  United  States, 
and  in  the  same  year  ceased,  as  a  state,  to  control  the  fund.  By  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, the  care  of  the  fund  was  committed  to  James  Hillhouse,  under  whose  wise 
management  it  steadily  increased.  The  proceeds  of  this  fund  are  distributed 
annually  to  the  various  towns  of  the  state,  and  it  is  this  money,  in  addition  to  the 
school  tax,  which  places  the  schools  of  Connecticut  upon  so  favorable  a  basis. 

The  condition  of  the  educational  system  in  Connecticut  at  the 

close  of  the  colonial  period  has  been  described  by  Noah  Webster  as 

follows: 

The  law  of  Connecticut  ordains  that  every  town  or  parish  containing  seventy 
householders  shall  keep  an  English  school  at  least  eleven  months  in  the  year,  and 
towns  containing  a  less  number  at  least  six  months.  Every  town  keeping  public 
school  is  entitled  to  draw  from  the  treasury  of  the  state  a  certain  sum  of  money 
proportional  to  its  census  on  the  list  of  property,  the  deficiency,  when  any  occurs, 
being  raised  by  a  tax.  To  extend  the  benefit  of  this  establishment  to  all  the  inhab- 
itants, large  towns  and  parishes  are  divided  into  districts,  each  of  which  is  supposed 
to  be  able  to  furnish  a  competent  number  of  scholars  for  one  school.  In  each  district 
a  house  is  erected  for  the  purpose  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  district,  who  hire  a  mas- 
ter, furnish  wood  and  tax  themselves  to  pay  all  expenses  not  provided  for  by  the 
public  money.  In  this  manner  every  child  in  the  whole  state  has  access  to  a 
school.  The  school  is  kept  during  the  winter  months,  when  every  farmer  can 
spare  his  sons.  In  the  summer  a  woman  is  hired  to  teach  small  children  who  are 
not  fit  for  any  kind  of  labor.  In  the  large  towns  scholars  either  public  or  private 
are  kept  the  whole  year,  and  in  every  county  town  a  grammar  school  is  established 
by  law. 

From  this  closing  sentence  of  Noah  Webster's  statement  it 
appears  that  the  enactment  of  1644  had  been  carried  out,  or  at  any 
rate  was  still  recognized  as  in  force  at  the  close  of  the  colonial 
period.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  found  impracticable  at  first  to 
enforce  the  requirement;  but  by  1672  grammar  schools,  or,  as  they 
were  frequently  called,  Latin  schools,  were  established  in  the  chief 
towns  of  each  county,  and  these  were  supported  in  part  by  grants 
of  public  lands,  and  sometimes  by  individual  endowments.  By 
degrees,  when  there  was  difficulty  in  establishing  the  local  grammar 
school,  as  part  of  the  public  system,  it  became  common  for  the 
clergyman  of  the  town  to  fit  young  men  for  college,  or  for  a  college 
graduate  to  open  at  his  own  risk  a  place  of  instruction  for  those 
whose  parents  desired  them  to  pursue  a  more  advanced  course  of 
study  than  the  district  school  could  provide.  In  such  cases,  if  there 
were  a  few  men  of  ptiblic  spirit  and  energy  to  encourage  the  under- 
taking, an  academic  institution  would  be  established  sooner  or 
later,  supported  in  some  instances  by  private  bequests  and  in  others 
by  corporate  powers  and  grants  of  public  lands  obtained  from  the 
legislature.  Thus  it  was  that  the  first  Waterbury  Academy  came 
into  existence. 


598  HISTORT  OF  WATBBBURT. 

THE    FIRST    ACADEMY. 

Until  the  year  1784,  there  was  no  school  in  Waterbury  of  a 
higher  grade  than  the  common  or  district  school.  About  this  time, 
however,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  opened  a  school  for  girls.  Its 
success  awakened  among  the  people  of  the  town  a  desire  for  a 
school  of  the  first  class  for  both  sexes,  with  a  suitable  building.  A 
subscription  was  started,  and  a  building,  to  be  forty  feet  long,  twenty 
feet  wide,  two  stories  high,  with  gambrel  roof,  two  dormer  windows 
on  each  side,  and  a  chimney  at  each  end,  was  commenced  on  the 
south  side  of  the  "Green,"  opposite  to  where  the  City  hall  now 
stands.  It  is  not  known  whether  the  cupola  was  built  at  this  time 
or  later.  The  promoters  of  the  building  failed  to  receive  money 
enough  to  finish  it,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  plan  must  be  abandoned, 
when  Stephen  Bronson,  Benjamin  Upson,  Dr.  Isaac  Baldwin  and 
John  Curtiss  came  forward  with  the  proposal  that  they  would  finish 
the  building,  on  condition  that  they  should  have  control  of  it  until 
the  money  was  refunded.  This  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  build- 
ing, when  completed  in  the  fall  of  1785,  presented  a  quite  impos- 
ing appearance.  Two  schools  were  opened,  one  for  girls  on  the 
first  floor,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Badger,  and  one  for  boys  up  stairs, 
under  the  care  of  David  Hale,  a  brother  of  Captain  Nathan  Hale  of 
Revolutionary  memory.  Jeremiah  Day,  afterward  president  of 
Yale  college,  and  Bennet  Bronson,  afterward  Judge  Bronson,  were 
among  his  pupils.  For  a  time  scholars  came  in  from  adjoining 
towns  to  attend  the  schools,  which  were  very  prosperous.  The  first 
winter  there  were  150  pupils.  The  next  year  John  Kingsbury, 
who  had  just  graduated  from  college,  joined  the  corps  of  teachers, 
and  remained  connected  with  the  school  until  1788  or  '89,  when  he 
went  to  Litchfield  to  pursue  his  law  studies.  We  do  not  know  how 
long  David  Hale  remained  with  the  school,  but  his  name  used  to  be 
mentioned  frequently  by  the  old  inhabitants  during  the  first  quarter 
of  the  present  century,  and  he  seems  to  have  been  a  teacher  of 
great  ability  and  popularity.  Mr.  Badger  remained  with  the  school 
two  years,  that  is,  until  1787,  at  which  time  he  accepted  a  call  to 
Blandford,  Mass.,  and  there  remained  until  1800,  when  he  became 
a  pioneer  home  missionary  at  the  west.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that 
he  was  a  brave  man,  who,  before  entering  college,  had  bean  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolution,  and  that  in  the  war  of  1812,  while  nominally 
a  chaplain,  he  had  rendered  great  service  to  General  Harrison  as  a 
guide  and  assistant.  Throughout  his  life  he  was  very  poor,  and  in 
his  later  years  depended  mainly  upon  his  Revolutionary  pension  for 
support.     He  died  in  1846. 


THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND  THE  FIRST  ACADEMY,  599 

These  three,  Badger,  Hale  and  Kingsbury,  are  the  only  teachers 
that  can  be  named  of  those  who  served  while  the  academy  stood 
upon  the  Green.  It  appears  that  the  school,  in  the  height  of  its 
prosperity,  was  furnished  with  the  first  bell  ever  brought  into  the 
town.  At  first,  as  there  was  no  cupola  on  the  school-house,  it  was 
hung  in  a  willow  tree  near  by,  where  it  served  not  only  to  call  the 
children  to  school,  but  also  to  summon  the  people  to  worship  on  the 
Sabbath.  Charles  D.  Kingsbury,  who  died  in  1890  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four,  said  that  he  remembered  the  tower  on  the  building 
after  it  stood  on  West  Main  street,  and  that  it  was  circular  in  form, 
with  supporting  pillars  six  or  eight  feet  high. 

The  prosperity  of  the  school,  which  was  so  great  that  both 
stories  of  the  building  were  filled  with  scholars,  did  not  continue 
long  after  the  departure  of  the  teachers  already  named;  at  all 
events  it  appears  that  about  1790  James  Harrison  was  making 
clocks  in  the  lower  story  of  the  building.*  It  was  probably  between 
that  time  and  1800  that  it  was  removed  to  a  lot  on  West  Main  street, 
near  where  Central  avenue  now  is.  Its  removal  was  brought  about 
in  an  amusing  way.  At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  militia 
regiment,  which  was  held  at  Captain  Samuel  Judd*s  tavern,  prob- 
ably prior  to  the  year  1807,  to  prepare  for  the  annual  "  general 
training,"  the  question  arose  where  the  general  muster  should  be 
held.  Some  urged  that  it  should  not  be  held  in  Waterbury,  as 
there  was  no  good  place  in  which  to  parade  and  perform  evolutions. 
Captain  Judd  being  present,  or  hearing  of  the  discussion  at  the 
time,  said,  "I'll  tell  you  what  to  do;  move  that  school-house  over  to 
the  corner  of  my  lot,  and  then  there  will  be  room  enough."  The 
idea  met  with  general  approval,  and  in  a  short  time  the  building 
was  removed,  the  order  of  transfer  being  given  by  Colonel  William 
Leavenworth,  and  the  way  prepared  for  holding  the  general  train- 
ing on  the  Green.  After  the  removal  the  building  became  the 
school-house  of  the  West  Centre  district;  the  upper  room  was  used 
for  the  school,  the  lower  for  religious  purposes,  town  meetings, 
singing  schools,  etc.  It  also  served  as  Town  hall,  until  about  1807, 
when,  as  it  became  necessary  to  make  repairs,  the  two  stories  were 
thrown  into  one,  the  cupola  was  taken  down,  and  the  bell  hung 
under  the  roof.  A  division  was  made  into  two  rooms,  separated  by 
a  swinging  partition,  which  on  account  of  its  weight  was  divided 
into  two  parts.  This  could  at  any  time  be  swung  up,  and  both 
rooms  thrown  into  one.  On  the  south  side  of  the  partition  was  a 
door  for  a  passage  between  the  two  rooms.     The  east  room   was 


*  Judgifij?  from  the  charges  entered  in  his  books,  he  made  two  clocks  per  month,  at  a  price  of  about  jQ^ 
each. 


6oo  HiaTORT  OF  WATERBURY, 

occupied  by  the  district  school  of  the  West  Centre  district,  and  the 
west  was  sometime^  used  for  a  private  school,  though  it  appears 
that  after  the  "stone  academy"  was  built  in  1825,  the  west  room 
was  used  exclusively  as  a  cloak  room  and  a  play  room  for  the 
children.  By  a  vote  of  the  district,  the  bell  in  the  old  building  was 
removed  to  the  belfry  in  the  new  academy.  The  district  school  was 
held  most  of  the  time  in  the  old  academy  building  until  about  1836, 
when,  as  it  would  no  longer  answer  for  a  school  without  consider- 
able repairs,  the  district  sold  it  at  auction  to  Samuel  J.  Holmes  for 
about  forty  dollars.  It  was  then  moved  back  from  the  sidewalk 
and  altered  into  a  dwelling-house.  In  the  summer  of  1878  it  was 
transferred  about  400  feet  to  the  northwest,  into  a  vacant  lot,  to 
make  way  for  the  laying  out  of  Central  avenue.  Thus  the  old  aca- 
demy survived  four  removals.  The  main  timbers,  which  are  of 
white  oak,  ten  inches  square,  are  still  in  a  good  state  of  preserva- 
tion. 

Among  those  who  taught  when  the  building  was  on  West  Main 
street  are  the  following: 

Ashley  Scott,  Samuel  Root,  Ira  Hotchkiss  of  Naugatuck,  a  Mr.  Porter,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Williams,  the  Rev.  Virgil  H.  Barbour,  John  Clark,  Elijah  F.  Merrill,  Israel 
Holmes  (ist),  Phebe  Hotchkiss  (a  sister  of  Deacon  Elijah  Hotchkiss),  a  sister  of 
Phebe  Hotchkiss,  whose  name  is  not  known,  Miss  Warner  of  Plymouth,  Elmer 
Clark  of  Bucks  Hill,  Mr.  Peck  of  Watertown,  Mr.  Robinson,  Miss  Norton  (after- 
ward married  in  New  Mil  ford),  David  Trumbull  Bishop,  Janet  Judd  (afterward 
married  to  a  Mr.  Beers  of  Watertown),  Harriet  Powell,  Julia  Upson  of  Southing- 
ton  (afterward  married  to  Joseph  Rogers  of  East  Haven),  and  Phebe  Bronson 
(afterward  married  to  Dr.  William  A.  Alcott,  the  author).  The  last  teacher  was  a 
Miss  Clark  of  Middlebury. 

Great  sacrifices  were  undoubtedly  made  to  erect  this  academy- 
building.  The  population,  including  Plymouth,  Watertown,  Mid- 
dlebury, part  of  Oxford,  Naugatuck,  Prospect  and  Wolcott,  did  not 
exceed  three  thousand,  and  the  amount  in  the  "  grand  list"  of  1786 
was  only  ^17,000,  or  $60,000  as  money  was  then  rated.  It  was  as 
great  an  undertaking  to  erect  and  equip  this  building  as  it  would 
be  for  the  Waterbury  of  to-day,  with  its  present  population  and 
wealth,  to  erect  one  costing  $500,000.  If  we  had  no  other  evidence, 
we  could  safely  infer  from  the  churches  and  school-houses  of  a  cen- 
tury ago,  and  from  the  instructors  who  labored  in  them,  that  the 
forefathers  were  sterling  men,  men  who  believed  in  education  and 
religion,  and  were  willing  to  deny  themselves,  that  knowledge  and 
righteousness  might  be  advanced  in  the  community. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

SABBATH-KEEPING  AND  SUMPTUARY  LAWS — THE  EARLIEST  CONNECTICUT 
CHURCHES — TOWN  AND  CHURCH  IN  MATTATUCK — JEREMIAH  PECK, 
JOHN  SOUTHMAYD,  MARK  LEAVENWORTH — THE  "GREAT  AWAKEN- 
ING*'—  THE  REVOLUTION  —  MR.  LEAVENWORTH's  CHARACTER  — 
THREE  MEETING-HOUSES — THE  EARLY  CREED — DECLENSION  AFTER 
WAR — EDWARD  PORTER,  HOLLAND  WEEKS,  LUKE  WOOD — REVIVAL 
UNDER  NETTLETON  —  ORIGIN  OF  PRAYER-MEETING,  OF  SUNDAY 
SCHOOL  —  DANIEL  CRANE — A  CHRONICLE  —  SALEM  SOCIETY  —  A 
CHURCH  AND  A  MEETING-HOUSE — DEACON  HOTCHKISS'S  ACCOUNT 
BOOK — GIFTS  OF  LAND  —  REMOVAL  TO  THE  VALLEY  —  MINISTERS 
AND   DEACONS. 

THE  absence  of  any  very  early  legislation  in  Connecticut  Col- 
ony concerning  the  Sabbath  is  an  evidence  of  the  deep  and 
wide-spread  observance  of  its  sancity  in  the  lives  and  hearts 
of  the  colonists.  For  more  than  thirty  years  no  allusion  was  made 
touching  the  possibility  that  the  Sabbath  could  be  desecrated  by 
the  people,  and  a  similar  absence  of  written  law  in  regard  to  it  is 
found  in  the  early  records  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  Bay. 
The  Indians  were  the  first  apparent  offenders.  In  1666  it  was 
ordered  that  whatever  Indian  or  Indians  should  labor  or  play  on 
the  Sabbath  within  the  English  limits,  or  on  the  English  lands, 
should  pay  a  fine  of  five  shillings,  or  sit  in  the  stocks  one  hour. 

The  evil  was  evidently  growing,  for  in  1668  it  was  ordered  that 
if  any  person  should  "  prophane  the  Sabbath  by  unnecessary  travel 
or  playing,  or  should  keep  out  of  the  meeting-house  during  the  public 
worship  unnecessarily,  if  there  was  convenient  room  in  the  house," 
the  offender  should  meet  the  same  penalties  that  had  fallen  upon 
the  Indian.  It  was  not  until  1676  that  the  order  came  requiring 
any  person  either  on  Saturday  night  or  on  the  Lord's  Day  night, 
though  it  should  be  after  the  sun  had  set,  who  was  "  found  sporting 
in  the  streets  or  fields,  or  drinking  in  houses  of  public  entertain- 
ment, or  elsewhere  unless  for  necessity,  to  pay  ten  shillings  for 
every  such  transgression  or  suffer  corporal  punishment  for  default 
of  due  payment."  Servile  work  on  the  Sabbath  was  forbidden  at 
the  same  date.  It  was  defined  as  "works  not  of  piety,  charity  or 
necessity."  **  Prophane  discourse  or  talk,  rude  or  unreverent  be- 
havior," were  not  to  be  permitted  on  that  holy  day,  and  if  it  so 


6o2  HISTORY  OF  WATBBBURT. 

happened  that  the  offence  was  "  circumstanced  with  high  handed 
presumption,"  the  judge  had  power  given  him  to  augment  the 
penalty. 

In  1676  "God's  worship  and  the  homage  due  to  him"  required 
"  reading  of  the  Scripture,  cattechizing  of  children,  and  dayly  prayer 
with  giving  of  thanks  to  be  attended  to  by  every  Christian  family," 
and  the  neglect  of  those  obligations  was  declared  by  the  law  to  be 
a  great  sin,  "  provoaking  to  God  to  power  forth  wrath  on  such  f am- 
alayes  or  persons,"  and  the  Court  solemnly  advised  the  ministry  in 
all  places  **  to  look  into  the  state  of  such  families,  convince  them, 
and  instruct  them  in  their  duty,  and  encourage  them  to  perform  it," 
and  advised  the  townsmen  to  "  assist  the  ministry  to  reform  and 
educate  the  children  in  good  literature  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
Scripture."  If  any  governors  of  families  proved  obstinate  and 
would  not  be  reformed,  the  grand  jury  presented  such  persons  to 
the  county  court,  to  be  fined,  punished,  or  bound  to  good  behavior. 
All  persons  were  forbidden  to  make,  or  wear,  or  buy  any  apparel 
exceeding  the  quality  and  condition  of  their  persons  or  estates,  and 
any  tailor  who  fashioned  any  garment  for  any  child  or  servant,  con- 
trary to  the  mind  of  the  parent  or  master,  was  compelled  to  pay  ten 
shillings  for  his  offence.  Excess  in  apparel  was,  at  the  same  time, 
declared  unbecoming  a  wilderness  condition  and  the  profession  of 
the  gospel,  and  it  was  ordered  that  **what  person  soever  should 
wear  gold  or  silver  lace,  or  gold  or  silver  buttons,  silk  ribbons,  or 
other  superfluous  trimings,  or  any  bone  lace  above  three  shillings 
per  yard,  or  silk  scarfs,"  should  be  assessed  to  pay  rates  on  an  estate 
of  ;^i5o, — the  same  amount  that  men  were  accustomed  to  pay  to 
whom  such  apparel  was  allowed,  as  being  suitable  to  their  rank.  Ex- 
ceptions were  made  in  favor  of  magistrates,  public  officers  of  the 
colony,  their  wives  or  children,  and  of  settled  military  commissioned 
officers,  and  also  of  those  persons  whose  quality  and  estate  had  been 
above  the  ordinary  degree,  although  then  '*  decayed." 

The  above  laws  were  in  full  force  and  effect  in  168 1  when  the 
planters  of  Waterbury  assembled  their  families  around  the  Green. 

The  "  most  auncient  towne  "  in  Connecticut  is  Wethersfield.  It 
was  so  determined  by  the  General  Court  as  early  as  1650,  and  the 
statement  is  incorporated  in  the  **code  of  laws"  of  that  year. 
In  that  most  ancient  town — then  known  as  Watertown — the  first 
church  of  Christ  in  Connecticut  was  organized.  On  May  29,  1635, 
the  church  in  Watertown  in  Massachusetts  Bay  granted  **  a  dismis- 
sion "  to  six  of  its  members,  "  with  the  intent  that  the  six  men 
should  form  anew  in  church  covenant  on  the  River  of  Connecticut." 
The  names  of  the  six  members  were:    "Andrew  Ward,  John  Sher- 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  1826,  603 

man,  John  Strickland,  Robert  Coe,  Robert  Reynold,  and  Jonas 
Weede.**  In  April,  1636,  the  first  court  of  which  we  have  record  in 
Connecticut  Colony  was  held  at  Newtown  (now  Hartford),  and 
before  it  the  six  men  presented  "a  certificate  that  they  had  formed 
anew  in  church  covenant  with  the  public  allowance  of  the  rest  of 
the  members  of  the  said  churches.'*  The  "said  churches'*  were 
undoubtedly  those  of  Newtown  and  Dorchester  (Hartford  and 
Windsor) — which  churches  had  removed,  as  churches,  from  the  Bay 
to  the  Connecticut  river. 

The  second  and  third  churches,  those  of  New  Haven  and  Mil- 
ford,  were  formed  August  22,  1639 — that  at  New  Haven  by  the 
appointment  of  twelve  men  chosen  by  the  freemen,  who  out  of  the 
twelve  men  thus  chosen  did  select  seven  of  their  number  to  begin 
the  church.  By  the  covenanting  together  of  the  seven  men  and 
their  reception  of  other  men  into  their  fellowship,  the  church  was 
gathered.  In  like  manner  in  1652,  the  Farmington  church  was 
established  with  its  "seven  pillars."  Two  of  the  seven  men,  many 
years  later,  were  personally  interested  in  the  settlement  of  our 
township  (see  p.  148). 

What  minister  first  preached  in  Waterbury  we  do  not  know,  but 
it  seems  almost  safe  to  say  that  it  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hooker  (see 
p.  159),  for  what  could  have  been  more  natural  than  that  his  love 
for  the  more  than  thirty  members  of  his  Farmington  church  should 
have  led  him  to  visit  Mattatuck,  whither  they  had  removed,  and 
minister  to  their  spiritual  comfort  in  the  wilderness. 

As  early  as  1679  Mattatuck  was  one  of  two  "newly  begun'*  set- 
tlements within  the  colony,  who  were  seeking  for  a  minister  (see  p. 
184).  In  February  of  1681,  or  as  soon  as  the  majority  of  the  plant- 
ers were  living  here,  the  question  arose  concerning  the  lot  that 
should  be  for  the  minister's  use,  which  question  involves  the  proba- 
ble presence  of  a  minister  to  use  it.  That  the  colony,  through  its 
committee,  was  vigorously  interested  in  procuring  a  settled  minis- 
ter, certainly  as  early  as  1683,  appears  from  the  "Diary  of  the  Rev. 
Noadiah  Russell,*'  tutor  at  Harvard  in  1682.  Early  in  1683,  he  wrote: 
"I  received  a  letter  from  Major  Talcott  of  Hartford,  in  behalf  of 
Mattatuck,  to  invite  me  to  be  their  minister,  which  I  answered  neg- 
atively.*' Major  Talcott  doubtless  met  with  many  similar  disap- 
pointments in  his  efforts,  for  during  the  ensuing  six  years  there 
has  not  been  found  on  record  the  name  of  a  minister  in  connection 
with  the  people  of  Mattatuck.  Nevertheless,  that  there  had  been 
a  minister  appears  again  from  an  item  in  the  town  records  of  1686, 
when  the  question  came  before  the  town  concerning  the  lot  that 
s\io\i\6.  he  and  remain  iov  the  minister's  use,  and  there  is  sufficient 


6o4  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 

evidence  to  warrant  the  belief  that  Mr.  John  Frayser  was  in  Water- 
bury,  and  living  in  the  house  that  had  been  built  for  him,  and  that 
he  served  the  people  as  their  pastor  during  a  part  if  not  the  whole 
of  the  period  between  1684  and  1689  (see  p.  210). 

The  history  of  the  town  and  the  history  of  the  First  church,  from 
the  beginning  down  to  October,  1738,  are  so  blended,  that  their  sep- 
arate estates  cannot  be  defined.  The  story  of  the  invitation  sent 
to  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  to  become  the  settled  minister  here;  the 
pledge  given  by  twenty-five  men  of  Waterbury  concerning  his  sal- 
ary; the  town's  unanimous  action  in  presenting  house  and  lands  to 
Mr.  Peck  and  gifts  to  his  sons;  the  escort  provided  to  transport  him 
from  Greenwich  here;  the  events  of  the  year  in  which  he  came;  the 
reasons  why  he  could  not  baptize  the  children  of  his  people  until 
he  became  an  ordained  minister  over  the  Waterbury  church;  the 
known  events  of  his  life,  together  with  the  petition  to  the  General 
Court  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Waterbury  for  permission  to 
"  proceed  to  the  gathering  of  a  Congregational  church";  the  court's 
happy  response,  and  all  that  we  know  concerning  the  most  impor- 
tant event  that  ever  took  place  within  the  Naugatuck  valley — the 
organization  of  the  First  church  of  Waterbury — together  with  the 
story  of  the  efforts  of  the  people  to  build  a  meeting-house  under 
adverse  environment,  have  been  so  fully  given  between  pages  210 
and  233  as  to  make  their  repetition  here  unnecessary. 

Mr.  Peck  was  sixty-seven  years  old  when  he  came  to  undertake 
the  organization  of  a  church  in  a  territory  but  fifteen  years  out  of 
wilderness-estate — a  task  of  no  small  dimensions  even  to  a  yoimg 
and  vigorous  man.  Having  been  bom  in  the  city  of  London,  Eng- 
land, or  its  vicinity,  in  1623,  Mr.  Peck  came,  with  his  father,  to  this 
country  when  a  boy  of  fourteen  years.  Before  1660  he  was  preach- 
ing, or  teaching  school,  in  Guilford.  In  that  year  he' was  invited  to 
take  charge  of  the  collegiate  school  at  New  Haven,  which  was  a 
colony  school  instituted  by  the  General  Court  in  1659.  In  1661  he 
was  invited  to  preach  at  Saybrook,  and  was  there  settled  as  a  min- 
ister. In  1666,  early  in  the  year,  he  removed  to  Guilford.  Together 
with  certain  other  ministers  and  churches  in  the  New  Haven  and 
Connecticut  colonies,  Mr.  Peck  is  said  to  have  been  decidedly 
opposed  to  the  "  half-way  covenant "  adopted  by  the  General  Synod 
of  1662,  and  to  the  union  of  the  two  colonies  under  the  charter  of 
Charles  II, — which  union  was  effected  in  1665.  So  great  was  the 
discontent  of  Mr.  Peck  and  others  that  they  resolved  to  emigrate 
from  the  colony.  Removing  from  Guilford  in  1666,  he  became  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Newark,  N.  J.  He  preached  to  the  neighbor- 
ing people  of  Elizabethtown  and  settled  there,  as  their  first  minis- 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  1826.  605 

ter,  in  1669  or  1670.  In  1670,  and  again  in  1675,  he  was  invited 
by  the  people  of  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  and  in  1676  by  the  peo- 
ple of  Greenwich  (Conn.),  to  settle  with  them  in  the  minis- 
try, but  he  declined  these  several  invitations.  The  invitation  to 
Greenwich  was  repeated  two  years  later,  and  he  had  a  similar 
call  from  Newtown  on  Long  Island.  Late  in  the  autumn  of  1678 
he  became  the  first  settled  minister  in  Greenwich,  where  he  re- 
mained (despite  at  least  one  urgent  "  call  ** — to  Barnstable,  Mass.) 
until  his  removal  to  Waterbury,  in  1689.  He  is  said  to  have 
refused  to  baptize  the  children  of  non-communicants,  at  Green- 
wich, in  1688.* 

It  will  be  readily  understood  that  Mr.  Peck's  life  and  energies 
must  have  been  well-nigh  spent  when  he  came  to  his  final  pastorate. 
A  review  of  the  events  that  occurred  between  the  date  of  his  arrival 
and  the  organization  of  the  church  will  give  convincing  proof  that 
his  work  here  was  not  less  trying  than  in  any  one  of  the  frontier 
towns  where  he  had  served,  and  he  seems  to  have  fallen  before  the 
burden  of  it.  We  learn  that  "  some  years  "  before  his  death  he  was 
"  disenabled  from  the  work  of  the  ministry  by  a  fit  of  the  appoplex  " 
(see  p.  229).  Accordingly,  we  find  that  but  four  years  after  the 
church  was  organized  and  Mr.  Peck  was  ordained  as  its  pastor, 
another  minister  is  mentioned  as  the  "present  minister,"  and  in  1696 
that  the  children  of  Waterbury  were  taken  elsewhere  for  the  rite  of 
baptism. 

Mr.  Peck's  will  (in  the  form  of  a  deed  of  gift)  is  recorded  at 
page  6  of  Volume  I  of  Waterbury  Land  Records.  It  is  a  long  and 
interesting  document,  dated  January  14,  1696,  and  acknowledged 
the  next  June  (1697).  It  affords  abundant  evidence  of  an  ample 
estate.  Mr.  Peck  still  held  forty  acres  of  upland  and  ten  of  meadow 
in  the  town  of  Greenwich  "  in  a  place  called  Biram,"  and  a  two- 
hundred  acre  farm  which  had  been  given  him  by  the  General  Court, 
besides  his  numerous  holdings  in  Waterbury  lands.  He  bestowed 
all  his  "husbandry  tools,  as  carts,  plows,  axes,  hoes,  chains,  or  other 
implements,"  with  "all  the  stock,  horses,  oxen,  cows,  sheep  and 
swine,"  without  enumerating  them.  He  left  to  his  wife  "all  his 
movables  within  doors,  excepting  a  silver  tankard,"  which  he  gave 
to  his  son  Jeremiah.  \ 


*See  **  A  Genealogical  Account  of  the  Descendants  of  William  Peck  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  By  Darius 
Peck  of  Hudson,  N.  Y." 

t  Mrs.  Joanna  Peck  executed  a  will  in  the  form  of  a  deed  of  gift,  October  7,  1706,  leaving  all  her  estate 
to  her  sons,  Jeremiah  and  Joshua,  except  that  she  gave  to  her  daughter  Anna,  "a  wainscot  cupboard,  the  great 
table,  the  biggest  pewter  platter,  and  the  choice  of  two  more  platters;"  to  Anna's  daughter,  **  the  draw  box 
and  a  two-year-old  heifer;"  to  Jeremiah's  daughter  (Johannah,  then  eighteen  months  old),  the  brass  pan. 

For  other  items  relating  to  Mr.  Peck's  will,  and  to  his  last  days,  see  pp.  233  to  335;  also  ''The  Churches 
of  Mattatuck,^'  pp.  173  to  183. 


6o6  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERS UBT. 

The  following,  from  "The  Churches  of  Mattatuck"  (pages  184, 
185)  is  descriptive  of  this  period: 

In  the  year  1699,  and  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Peck,  this  church  received  the 
ministrations  of  a  young  man  who  became  the  most  learned  and  distinguished 
lawyer  in  New  England.  When  he  came  to  Waterbury  he  was  fresh  from  Harvard 
college.  It  is  pleasing  to  know  that  this  people  appreciated  the  ability  of  the  Rev. 
John  Read  before  opportunity  had  been  given  him  \.o  prove  it  elsewhere.  He  made 
a  deep  impression.  The  town  was  stirred  to  activity.  There  was  a  determination 
and  an  earnestness  in  its  efforts  to  secure  Mr.  Read  "  for  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry "  that  the  years  have  not  obliterated  from  the  records.  It  is  almost  pathetic 
to  read  of  the  inducements  offered  by  a  people  whose  ratable  estate  was  but  £1^00, 
and  the  number  of  whose  taxable  citizens  was  but  forty -seven.  He  was  offered  £$0 
by  the  year  in  provision  pay,  ;f  10  in  wood  and  ;£"2o  in  Jabor,  in  the  same  year  that 
the  salary  of  the  governor  of  the  colony  was  but  ;f  120  in  provision  pay.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  this  town,  as  a  town,  was  less  than  fourteen  years  old,  and  that 
less  than  forty  men  had  built  one  house  for  the  minister,  in  which  his  life  (for  be 
was  an  invalid)  was  drawing  to  its  close.  Undaunted  by  the  magnitude  of  the 
undertaking,  the  town  promised  to  build  a  new  house  for  Mr.  Read.  It  was  to  be 
thirty-eight  feet  long,  nineteen  feet  wide;  to  have  two  chimneys  from  the  ground, 
and,  apparently,  a  chamber  chimney.  The  town  agreed  to  *•  dig  and  stone  a  cellar, 
clapboard  the  house  and  shingle  it,  and  make  one  end  of  it  fit  to  live  in."  As  a 
present  gift,  independent  of  the  town  s  action,  the  proprietors  gave  him  ten  acres 
of  upland.  Yet  more  was  there  in  the  heart  of  this  generous  people  to  do  for  him. 
After  he  had  been  ordained  two  years  the  house  and  the  house  lot  of  two  acres  at 
the  southwest  comer  of  West  Main  and  Willow  streets,  with  sl  £iso  propriety,  was 
to  be  his  own.  Negotiations  went  on.  From  time  to  time  another  persuasive  voice 
was  added  to  the  committee,  to  entreat  Mr.  Read  to  dwell  here,  but,  at  last,  as 
winter  was  drawing  near,  Mr.  Read  drew  away,  for  the  old  record  bears  witness  to 
the  fact  in  these  words:  *•  Deacon  Thomas  Judd  was  chosen  a  committee  to 
endeavor  by  himself  and  the  best  counsel  he  can  take,  to  get  one  to  help  him  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  bring  a  man  amongst  us.  upon  probation,  in  order  to 
settlement,  z/  he  can. 

The  Rev.  John  Southraayd,  \«rho  came  to  Waterbury  to  preach 
when  he  was  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  wove  the  pattern  of  his 
life  so  closely  into  the  history  of  the  town,  that  it  is  impossible  to 
separate  the  one  from  the  other.  The  young  town  and  the  young 
minister  grew  side  by  side.  The  story  of  the  New  England  minister 
before  1740  vibrates  with  life  for  the  coming  historian,  aild  few 
clearer,  steadier,  more  benign  leaders  may  be  found  than  our  own 
Southmayd.  The  reader  is  referred,  for  his  life  and  work,  to  the 
history  of  the  town  from  1699  to  1755,  and  also  to  *'The  Churches  of 
Mattatuck,"  pp.  187  to  196.  He  was  the  ordained  pastor  of  the  First 
church  from  May  30,  1705,  to  March,  1740  (p.  335),  and  acting  pastor 
for  torty-one  years.  His  resignation  of  the  pastorate  may  be  found 
on  page  321.  It  occurred  six  months  before  the  formal  organization 
of  a  second  ecclesiastical  society  within  the  township  (Chapter 
XXV).     His  legal  pastorate  probably  continued  until  the  ordination 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  18£6.  607 

of  the  R9V.  Mark  Leavenworth  in  1740.  Owing  to  a  chasm  in  our 
town  records,  covering  the  period  including  Mr.  Leavenworth's 
advent  into  the  pastorate  of  the  church,  we  have  little  knowledge 
of  its  accompanying  events  (s^e  pp.  335,  338).  Mr.  Southmayd  was 
a  strong  man  in  character  and  intellect,  a  man  of  wealth  and  of 
great  influence  in  the  community.  He  lived  seventeen  years  after 
his  resignation  of  the  pastoral  ofl&ce,  acting  as  magistrate  and  fill- 
ing various  positions  of  public  trust,  and  doubtless  remaining  by 
far  the  most  influential  member  of  the  church  to  which  he  had 
ministered. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Mark  Leavenworth,  who,  after  preaching  a 
few  times  on  trial,  wa^  in  June,  1739,  unanimously  invited  to  the 
pastorate.* 

Mr.  Leavenworth  was  the  sixth  son  of  Dr.  (and  Deacon)  Thomas 
Leavenworth  of  Stratford,  where  he  was  born  in  17 11.  His  mother 
was  Mary,  daughter  of  Edmund  Dorman.  He  graduated  at  Yale 
college  in  the  class  of  1737,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Rev.  Elisha 
Williams.  Having  secured  one  of  the  Bishop  Berkeley  scholar- 
ships, he  remained  in  New  Haven  two  years,  studying  theology, 
and  was  licensed  to  preach  October  10,  1738.  His  ordination  took 
place  in  March,  1740,  several  months  after  his  removal  to  Water- 
bury.  He  received  a  ;^5oo  "settlement,"  and  his  salary  was  fixed 
at  ;^i5o  a  year.  But  recent  conversions  of  prominent  men  to  Epis- 
copacy had  created  distrust  in  the  minds  of  cautious  Congregation- 
alists,  and  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  required  to  give  a  bond  for  ;^5oo, 
to  be  paid  to  the  society  "  if  he  should,  within  twenty  years  from 
that  time,  become  a  churchman,  or  by  immorality  or  heresy  render 
himself  unfit  for  a  gospel  minister, — to  be  decided  by  a  council." 
Undoubtedly  the  becoming  a  churchman  was  the  thing  to  be 
specially  provided  against.  In  about  nine  years,  however,  the 
society,  apparently  of  their  own  motion,  released  him  from  his 
bond.  In  February,  a  month  before  the  time  for  his  ordination,  he 
married  Ruth  Peck,  daughter  of  Deacon  Jeremiah  Peck  of  North- 
bury  parish,  and  granddaughter  of  the  first  minister  of  the  church. 

He  had  hardly  become  fairly  settled  in  his  ministry  when  all  his 
tact,  judgment  and  influence  were  put  to  the  test.  There  had  been 
a  great  deterioration  in  morals,  and  doubtless  some  lapses  in 
religious  doctrine;  but  when,  in  1740,  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield 
went  through  the  country  speaking,  in  words  such  as  few  men  have 
the  power  to  utter,  of  righteousness,  temperance  and  a  judgment  to 
come,  all  New  England  trembled,  and  the  cry  rose  up,  "  What  shall 
we  do  to  be  saved  ? "    Young  men  like  Mr.  Leavenworth,  with  high 


♦  The   following  account  of   Mr.   Leavenworth   is  abridged  from    F.  J.  Kingsbury's  paper  in  "  The 
Churches  of  Mattatuck,"  pp.  197-308. 


6o8  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

hopes  and  earnest  enthusiasm,  threw  themselves  into  the  move- 
ment, fully  believing  that  it  was  the  Lord's  doing,  while  the  older 
and  more  conservative  people  of  longer  experience,  of  whom  Mr. 
Southmayd  was  a  representative,  saw  in  it  but  a  temporary  wave  of 
excitement,  already  accompanied  by  some  excesses,  and  doubted 
much  whereunto  the  thing  would  grow.  Cries  of  heresy  were  in 
the  air,  the  odium  theologicum  was  aroused,  and  in  1744  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth and  two  others,  for  assisting  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Lee  of  Salisbury,  who  was  supposed  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
the  new  movement,  and  whose  church  was  gathered  under  the  Cam- 
bridge platform,  were  tried  and  suspended  from  all  associational 
communion.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  the  relations  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth  to  his  people  were  very  seriously  affected.  He  was 
evidently  a  man  of  broad  charity,  and  of  a  catholic  spirit,  for  in 
1747  he  declined  that  part  of  his  salary  which  was  raised  by  tax  on 
the  Episcopal  portion  of  the  inhabitants,  although  his  legal  right 
to  it  was  clear;  but  his  sense  of  justice  rebelled,  and  he  seems 
always  to  have  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  In  1749  a  great 
and  fatal  sickness  appeared  in  the  town  (p.  370).  Dr.  Bronson  esti- 
mates the  deaths  at  six  per  cent  of  the  whole  population.  There 
were  hardly  enough  of  the  well  to  care  for  the  sick  and  bury  the 
dead.  There  was  difficulty  in  getting  medicine,  and  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth volunteered  to  go  on  horseback  to  Norwich  and  procure  a 
supply. 

In  1750,  after  several  years  of  enfeebled  health,  the  first  Mrs, 
Leavenworth  died,  and  not  very  long  after  he  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  Hull  of  Derby.  She  was  a  person  of 
much  character,  dignity  and  influence.  She  was  the  mother  of  all 
his  children  except  one.  She  survived  him  several  years,  and  died 
in  1808.  She  was  universally  known  as  Madam  Leavenworth,  a 
title  which  was  perhaps  due  to  her  position  by  the  etiquette  of  the 
time,  but  was  due  to  her  personality  also,  and  perhaps  in  part  to 
her  two- wheeled  chair  or  chaise — the  only  vehicle  of  the  kind  in 
town. 

In  1760,  when  about  fifty  years  old,  he  accepted  the  position  of 
chaplain  in  Colonel  Whiting's  regiment,  called  into  service  to  repel 
the  attacks  of  French  and  Indians  on  our  northern  frontier.  He 
was  away  from  home  on  this  service  eight  months.  Hollister  says:* 
"  The  amount  of  fatigue  endured  by  the  Connecticut  troops  was 
almost  incredible."  Putnam  was  there  as  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
wherever  he  went  there  was  very  apt  to  be  fighting  and  sure  to  be 
work.     Mr.  Leavenworth  was  appointed  chaplain  again  the  follow- 


♦  History  of  Connecticut,  Vol.  II,  p.  97. 


THE  FIBSl   CHURCH  TO  1826.  609 

ing  year,  but  probably  felt  that  he  was  needed  at  home.  When  the 
Revolutionary  conflict  came  on  there  was  no  doubt  where  he  would 
be  found.  He  threw  himself  into  it  with  all  the  enthusiasm  and 
energy  of  his  nature.  He  was  early  on  the  state  committee  for  rais- 
ing troops.  Were  it  not  that  he  was  now  well  on  in  years,  he  would 
probably  have  been  found  again  at  the  front.*  In  1793,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two,  when  the  inconsistency  of  slavery  with  freedom 
began  to  impress  itself  on  the  public  mind,  we  find  his  name  on 
the  list  of  the  new  "Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Freedom" — a 
fact  showing  again  his  ready  sympathy  with  new  ideas  whenever 
their  tendency  was  to  the  uplifting  of  humanity,  and  his  prompt- 
ness to  act  in  the  line  of  his  convictions. 

The  last  prominent  public  act  of  his  life  was  when  in  1795,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four,  he  laid  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  meeting 
house  for  his  people— the  third  erected  by  the  old  society. 

Mr.  Leavenworth  is  described  to  us  as  a  man  of  medium  size, 
erect  figure  and  quick  movement.  He  had  much  dignity  of  manner, 
but  a  quick  sense  of  humor,  and  was  on  terms  of  familiarity  with 
his  people,  though  the  distance  which  in  those  days  existed  between 
the  minister  and  his  flock  was  doubtless  duly  maintained.  Dr. 
Bronson  has  preserved  several  anecdotes  illustrating  these  traits  in 
his  character.  \  The  life  of  a  New  England  country  minister,  how- 
ever busy,  useful  and  influential  it  may  be,  leaves  behind  but  a 
meagre  record  for  historic  uses,  and  it  is  only  by  detached  facts, 
accidentally  preserved,  that  we  are  able  to  reproduce  to  any  degree 
the  times  in  which  he  lived,  his  influence  upon  them  and  his  per- 
sonal character.  In  an  account  book  of  the  society,  covering  the 
last  thirty  years  of  the  century,  J  we  get  (or  think  we  do)  bright 
little  flecks  of  light  on  the  benevolence  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's 
nature,  through  the  receipts  he  gives,  sometimes  discharging  the 
society  from  its  dues  at  a  time  when  there  was  a  balance  in  his 
favor,  sometimes  announcing  that  the  rate  bill  given  to  an  indi- 
vidual to  collect  for  him  had  been  satisfied,  and  requesting  that  the 
collector  be  discharged.  The  unwritten  lines  that  lie  only  half 
obliterated  beneath  the  language  used,  impel  the  belief  that  the 
widow,  whose  ministerial  rate  to  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  but  "  seven 
pence,"  and  who  brought  "  nine  quarts  of  corn  "  to  pay  it  with,  was 


*  Three  of  his  sons  did  go— -one  with  Arnold  on  his  first  trip  to  Boston,  another  serving  as  surgeon  dur- 
ing the  whole  eight  long,  tedious  years.    All  three  were  graduates  of  Yale. 

t  Bronson's  History  of  Waterbury,  pp.  389, 390. 

%  This  volume  (about  eighteen  inches  by  seven,  and  containing  about  eighty  leaves)  has  recently  been 
returned  to  the  church.  On  the  cover  is  written :  "  Society's  Book."  On  the  inside  of  the  cover  is  inscribed : 
"  This  book  belongs  to  the  first  Society  in  Waterbury,  and  is  a  gift  from  the  Benevolent  Esqr.  Hopkins, 
A.  D.  1770.'*  Its  first  date  is  January,  1770,  and  a  few  accounts  are  brought  to  it  at  that  time  "  from  the  old 
book." 

39 


6io  HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT, 

was  not  sent  empty-handed  away.  He  was  evidently  a  man  of 
affairs,  and  took  an  active  interest  in  everything  relating  to  the 
public  welfare.  That  he  was  a  good  business  manager  appears 
from  the  fact  that  he  lived  in  a  hospitable  and  somewhat  elegant 
manner,  and  sent  three  of  his  sons  to  college.  He  also  became  a 
a  large  landholder,  in  the  days  when  land  was  the  principal  source 
of  wealth.  Dr.  Samuel  Elton  used  to  speak  of  the  impression  made 
upon  him  as  a  boy,  when  Mr.  Leavenworth,  then  certainly  not  less 
than  eighty  years  of  age,  preached  in  Watertown.  He  remembered 
him  as  a  man  of  medium  height,  of  erect  figure,  bright,  dark  eyes, 
and  a  commanding  voice.  He  stood  for  a  moment  in  the  pulpit, 
looking  around  upon  his  congregation,  and  then  announced  his 
text:  "  Your  fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live 
forever?"  His  theme  was  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  in  that 
congregation  within  his  own  memory,  and  the  impression  he  pro- 
duced upon  his  youthful  hearer  remained  vivid  and  profound  after 
seventy  years. 

The  long  period  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's  ministry  was  one  of 
upheaval  and  excitement.  First  came  the  **  great  awakening,"  and 
soon  afterward  the  seven  years'  struggle  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war;  and  this  had  hardly  closed  when  the  conflict  began  with  the 
British  government,  which  ended  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
when  neighbor  was  set  against  neighb6r  and  friend  against  friend. 
A  large  part  of  the  Episcopal  society,  which  had  now  grown  to  be 
quite  strong,  sided  with  the  mother  country,  and  the  town  was 
almost  equally  divided  in  opinion.  There  was  dissension,  friction, 
and  doubtless  much  hard  talking,  but  on  the  whole,  things  went  as 
peacefully  as  could  have  been  expected.  After  the  Revolution 
came  the  perhaps  still  more  trying  period  of  almost  anarchy,  so 
that  nothing  was  settled  or  sure  until  after  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution and  the  inauguration  of  Washington  as  first  president,  in 
1789.  What  a  half  century  for  a  man  to  have  lived  through!  and 
what  an  experience — to  have  borne  the  burden  of  responsibility 
for  the  religious,  moral,  social,  secular  and  political  welfare  and 
training  of  two  or  three  generations,  in  such  a  time  of  turmoil  and 
unrest!  To  have  successfully  carried  a  church  and  a  town  through 
such  a  period  and  maintained  the  love  and  respect  of  the  people 
implies  character  and  ability  well  worthy  of  our  admiration  and 
our  praise, 

Mr.  Leavenworth  died  August  26,  1797,  in  the  fifty-eighth  year 
of  his  ministry.  An  obituary  notice  published  at  the  time  of 
his  death  closes  with  these  apparently  just  and  well  considered 
words : 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  18£5.  (Ju 

To  the  endearing  qualities  of  a  kind  and  affectionate  husband  and'parent  were 
very  apparently  united  in  this  reverend  father  that  piety  towards  God,  that 
diffusive  benevolence  toward  men,  that  undisguised  frankness  and  dignity  of 
deportment,  that  persevering  faithfulness  in  office,  that  unshaken  trust  in  the 
merits  of  the  Saviour,  that  heavenly-mindedness  and  calm  converse  with  death, 
which  abundantly  evidenced  to  all  his  acquaintance  the  child  of  God  and  the 
heir  of  heaven. 

The  reference  to  Mr.  Leavenworth's  connection  with  the  third 
meeting  house  leads  us  naturally  to  glance  backward  over  the  his- 
tory of  the  meeting  houses  which  preceded  this.  The  first  step 
toward  the  building  of  a  house  of  worship  in  Waterbury  was  made 
in  1691,  by  petitioning  the  General  Court  for  assistance  in  the 
work.  The  court  granted  Waterbury  its  country  rate  (see  pp. 
231-233).  Eight  years  later  the  pulpit  and  seats  were  in  course 
of  construction.  In  1702 — ten  years  after  its  foundations  were 
laid — the  house  was  finished  (p.  249).  It  stood  about  in  the 
centre  of  the  present  Green,  with  its  main  entrance  on  the  south 
side,  and  doors  on  its  east  and  west  sides.  It  had  a  pulpit  and 
seats,  but  no  pews,  and  it  had  seating  capacity  for  about  300 
persons.  In  July  of  that  year  a  committee  was  appointed  "to 
place  the  people  where  they  should  sit."  There  is,  therefore, 
reason  to  think  that  Mr.  Peck  had  no  meeting  house  to  preach 
in  during  his  pastorate  here,  and  that  young  Mr.  Southmayd 
was  the  first  and  only  officiating  minister  in  that  church  edifice. 
After  six  years,  alterations  and  improvements  were  made  (p.  278). 
After  six  years  more,  a  gallery  was  built  around  three  sides  of 
the  audience  room,  and  other  changes  were  introduced,  which 
occupied  four  years  (see  pp.  288,  289,  and  for  further  changes, 
293,  294). 

The  story  of  the  building  of  the  second  meeting  house — ^begun 
in  1727  and  finished  in  1729 — has  been  fully  told  by  the  aid  of  Mr. 
Southmayd's  little  meeting-house  book  (see  pages  283-300  of  this 
volume).  Within  eleven  years  of  its  building  there  went  out  from 
this  house,  of  its  members  and  congregation,  a  sufficient  number  of 
persons  to  form  a  church  society  in  Westbury,  one  in  Northbury, 
one  in  Waterbury  (the  Episcopal),  and  one,  in  part,  in  Oxford. 
Because  of  these  and  subsequent  departures,  the  meeting  house 
served  to  accommodate  the  people  for  sixty -eight  years.  Mr. 
Southmayd  was  the  only  minister  of  the  first  church  edifice,  and 
he  and  Mr.  Leavenworth  were  the  only  officiating  pastors  of  the 
second. 

After  1740,  we  no  longer  find  on  our  town  records  minutes  of 
church  or  ecclesiastical  affairs.     Dr.  Bronson  tells  us  in  1858  that 


6i2  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  society  records  of  the  First  church  were  in  existence  a  few  years 
before  that  date.  His  father,  Judge  Bennet  Bronson,  had  made 
notes  from  the  records,  and  from  these  notes  Dr.  Bronson  obtained 
information  that  covers  the  period  of  thirty  years,  from  1740  to 
1770.  He  says  that  in  1752  the  town* "voted  to  repair  the  meeting 
house  by  having  windows  in  front,  of  twenty-four  squares  of  seven 
by  nine  or  nine  by  ten,  with  window  frames."  He  gives  also  the 
following  items:  In  1769  "those  who  are  seated  in  the  seats"  had 
permission  "  at  their  own  expense  to  turn  them  into  pews,"  and^ 
"that  men  and  their  wives  may  be  seated  together  in  the  pews." 
The  extant  church  records  begin  in  1795,  and  the  society  records  in 
t8o6.  But  from  the  old  account  book,  already  referred  to,  we  leam 
that  between  1770  and  1793  frequent  repairs  and  some  alterations 
were  made  in  the  meetinghouse;  in  1778,  new  steps;  in  1786,  a  new 
window;  in  1789  it  was  shingled,  and  in  1792  the  interior  was  im- 
proved. We  also  learn  who  furnished  the  wood  for  the  steps;  who 
put  in  the  new  window  and  many  panes  of  glass;  who  furnished 
the  "putte;"  and,  of  the  shingles,  the  names  of  the  men  who 
brought  them  by  the  thousand,  and  that  2700  were  left,  and  taken 
by  Mr.  Leavenworth  at  a  reduction  from  the  price  given  by  the 
society.  The  following  items  appear  in  the  way  of  improvements 
or  embellishments  in  1792:  "Twelve  sticks  of  twist  to  make  a  fringe 
for  the  cushion  for  the  pulpit,  five  skeins  of  silk  for  the  same  and 
three  of  twist."  At  about  the  same  time  there  is  an  entry  that  sug- 
gests  the  possibility  that  Benjamin  Upson  (who  was  chorister,  and 
who  at  a  later  date  received  the  public  thanks  of  the  church  for  his 
efficient  services),  was  assisted  in  his  songs  of  praise  by  the  timbrel 
or  small  drum,  as  two  "  taboreans  "  are  among  the  articles  furnished 
to  the  society  by  him. 

The  sweeping  of  the  meeting  house  from  year  to  year  was  done 
asaruleby  the  choice  maidens  of  the  church,  with  an  occasional 
exception  in  favor  of  a  dignified  matron,  a  lieutenant  or  other  youth, 
or  a  poor  slave.  The  first  man  on  the  list  was  Moses  Cook,  who  swept 
in  1771,  assisted  by  the  "Widow  Upson."  They  were  succeeded  in 
1774  by  "Silence,"  a  slave  of  Joseph  Hopkins,  in  1778  by  Dinah 
Cook,  and  in  later  years  by  Mrs.  Susanna  Bronson,  wife  of  Captain 
Ezra,  Jesse  Hopkins,  Lucy,  Hannah  and  Sybel  Cook,  Aurelia,. 
Rusha  and  Sarah  Clark,  Ruth  Adams  and  Lieutenant  Samuel  Judd. 
The  average  payment  to  each  was  about  ;^i.ios  a  year,  sometimes 
in  wheat  and  rye.  But  two  and  sometimes  three  were  engaged  in 
the  work  at  the  same  time. 


*  As  our  town  records  for  1752  contain  no  such  vote,  he  must  have  found  the  minute  on  the  now  missing 
church  or  society  records. 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  18g5.  613 

Regarding  the  first  bell  in  Waterbury,  nothing  very  satisfactory 
can  be  said.  Lambert,  in  his  "  History  of  New  Haven  Colony,"  says: 

In  1740  it  was  voted  to  purchase  a  new  bell  of  about  600  pounds  weight  for  the 
second  meeting  house  in  Milford,  the  old  one  being  cracked.  The  old  bell  was 
taken  at  the  foundry  for  old  metal,  in  part  pay  for  the  new  one.  It  was  brazed  and 
sold  to  a  society  in  Waterbury,  and  now  (1838)  hangs  in  the  belfry  of  the  church  at 
Salem  Bridge,  and  is  considered  to  be  the  best  bell  in  the  state." 

The  second  meeting  house  apparently  had  a  bell,  probably  the  one 
here  referred  to.  There  was  no  meeting  house  in  Salem  until  1782, 
and  the  cracked  bell  did  not,  we  may  think,  lie  forty  years  in  the 
foundry.  In  1788  the  following  item  is  found:  "By  a  grant  of  the 
society  to  pay  for  the  bell  ^^3.4S."  The  school  house  bell  appears 
by  name  in  1790,  in  which  year  two  persons  are  paid,  apparently  for 
ringing  two  bells.  "Africa"*  had  the  pleasure  of  ringing  that 
early  bell  for  three  months.  Samuel  Harrison  is  credited  in  1791 
"for  work  at  the  school  house  bell  and  wheel." 

From  a  single  stray  leaf  of  the  society  records,  recently  recovered, 
we  glean  that  in  1793  a  committee  was  appointed  to  inspect  the  meet- 
ing house  and  estimate  the  cost  of  necessary  repairs.  The  report 
must  have  been  unsatisfactory,  for  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new 
house  of  worship.  About  one-third  of  the  voters  were  averse  to 
leaving  the  old  meeting  house,  and  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  their 
hearts  clung  to  it  with  strength  and  with  all  the  power  of  its  grand 
associations.  It  had  been  the  meeting  house  of  the  township — the 
place  where  the  last  of  the  founders  worshipped — the  church  home  of 
Southmayd,  of  Leavenworth  for  more  than  half  a  century.  White- 
field's  voice  had  been  heard  within  it,  Hopkins  and  Bellamy  had 
stood  there;  from  out  of  it  four  congregations  had  gone, — with 
unutterable  sorrow  to  the  one  that  remained;  with  pastoral  bless- 
ing and  unwritten  benedictions  had  passed  from  its  doors  men  and 
boys  on  their  way  to  serve  England  in  her  many  wars,  and,  at  last, 
to  serve  themselves  with  liberty  against  England's  behest. 

For  our  knowledge  of  the  building  of  the  third  house  of  worship 
we  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Bronson.  He  tells  us  that  on  January  2, 
1795,  the  society  voted  to  build  a  meeting  house,  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  fix  on  a  plan  and  place  to  build.  The  site  chosen  was 
near  the  old  spot — east  of  it — the  size  sixty  by  forty-two  feet.  It 
was  decided  that  the  church  should  have  a  steeple,  should  be 
covered  the  ensuing  summer  and  finished  by  November  i,  1796. 
To  defray  the  cost  of  it  a  tax  was  laid  of  three  shillings  on  the 
pound.     A  contract  was  made  with  William  Leavenworth  to  build 


♦  He  was  born  September  16,  1772,  and  was  the  son  of  Fortune,  a  slave  of  Dr.  Preserved  Porter. 


6i4  HI8T0BT  OF  WATEKliURT. 

it.  The  price  agreed  upon  was  ^^850.  For  the  above  reason,  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  bill  of  items  does  not  appear  in  the  society  accounts. 
But  the  contract  did  not  include  the  stone  steps,  which  were  quite 
noteworthy,  if  we  may  judge  of  thetr 

lid  importance  by  the  cost  of 
obtaining  them.  They  were  brought 
from  Cheshire,  and  many  were  the 
journeys  made  from  Waterbuiy  to 
fetch  them.  They  were  laid  in  De- 
cember, 1796.  John  Adams  and  Noah 
U.  Norton  "  helped  to  lay  them." 
The  only  "  liquor  for  the  workmen  " 
mentioned  in  the  account  book  was 
used  on  this  occasion.  The  corner 
stone  of  the  building  was,  it  is  said, 
inscribed  with  the  initials  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  name.  Many  of  the 
stones  used  in  the  foundation  walls 


THE  FIRST  OHUROH  TO  18 f 5,  615 

of  the  Second  Congregational  church  were  from  this  church  build- 
ing of  179s,  and  it  was  hoped  that  in  the  changes  made  in  1894  by 
the  Odd  Fellows  the  corner  stone  of  a  century  ago  might  be  found, 
but  it  was  not  seen. 

Dr.  Bronson  says  that  the  new  meeting  house  was  dedicated  in 
1796.  Probably  he  fixed  the  date  from  the  time  mentioned  in  the 
contract  for  its  building.  The  precise  date  of  its  dedication  seems 
to  be  determined  by  an  extant  letter,  written  by  the  Rev.  Edward 
Porter  to  Dr.  Trumbull,  asking  that  gentleman  to  preach  the  "  dedi- 
cation sermon  in  the  meeting  house  on  the  3d  of  May,  1797."  Mr. 
Leavenworth  lived  but  three  months  and  seventeen  days  after  its 
dedication. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  extant  records  of  the  church  as 
containing  no  earlier  date  than  1795.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
records  of  the  church  were  kept,  perhaps  from  the  beginning,  but 
they  were  probably  included  in  Mr.  Leavenworth's  manuscripts, 
and  met  the  same  fate  as  these,  whatever  that  may  have  been.  To 
these  manuscripts  there  is  an  interesting  reference  in  the  first 
volume  of  records,  in  the  report  of  a  meeting  held  on  March  5, 
1800.  A  petition  was  presented  by  certain  persons  who  desired 
baptism  for  their  children  without  being  themselves  communicants 
in  the  church,  and  this  statement  follows  in  the  minutes: 

In  deliberating  upon  this  petition,  the  question  was  brought  into  view,  *'  How 
shall  we  consider  the  standing  of  those  persons  who  owned  the  covenant  twenty  or 
twenty-five  years  ago?  the  practice  being  abolished  by  Mr.  Leavenworth  about 
that  time."  Being  unable  to  determine  with  precision  who  such  covenanters  were, 
Deacon  Joseph  Hopkins  and  Deacon  Stephen  Bronson  were  appointed  to  ask  Madam 
Leavenworth  for  the  liberty  of  looking  over  the  manuscripts  of  her  deceased  hus- 
band. Parson  Leavenworth,  that  the  names  of  the  covenanters  might  be  ascer- 
tained. 

The  first  volume  of  records  itself  opens  with  a  quotation  from 
these  manuscripts,  as  follows: 

On  the  eighteenth  of  November,  1795,  Mr.  Edward  Porter  was  installed  col- 
league pastor  of  the  First  church  of  Christ  in  Waterbury,  with  Mr.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth, who  has  served  in  said  church  fifty-six  years.  He  was  preceded  by  Mr. 
John  Southmayd,  who  served  the  church  about  forty  3'ears;  and  he  was  preceded 
by  Mr.  Jeremy  Peck,  who  was  the  first  settled  minister  in  this  town,  but  who  served 
not  many  years,  as  he  was  in  advanced  age  when  he  was  introduced. 

This  memorandum — apparently  in  the  Rev.  Edward  Porter's  hand- 
writing— is  described  as  **  an  extract  from  MSS.  of  the  Rev.  Mark 
Leavenworth." 

It  will  be  proper  to  introduce  here  what  follows  immediately,  on 
page  3  of  the  records — namely  the  "confession  of  faith  and  cove- 


6i6  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

nant/'  These  are  probably  the  work  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  although 
of  what  date  within  the  long  period  of  his  pastorate  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  say.  The  confession,  while  more  of  the  "old  school"  type 
than  that  which  superseded  it  in  1832  (see  Volume  II,  page  586),  is 
remarkable  for  its  simplicity  and  brevity,  and  also  for  its  omissions. 
It  is  as  follows: 

We  believe  there  is  one  only  living  and  true  God,  in  three  personal  characters, 
the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  whom  are  all  natural  and  moral  perfec- 
tions; the  Maker,  Preserver  and  Governor  of  all  things. 

We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  are  the  word  of 
God,  containing  a  perfect  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

We  believe  that  God  made  man  originally  in  his  own  image,  in  knowledge, 
righteousness  and  holiness,  and  that  by  the  violation  of  the  covenant  made  with 
the  first  man,  Adam,  he  and  all  his  posterity  fell  into  a  state  of  sin  and  misery. 

We  believe  that  it  pleased  God  from  the  beginning  to  choose  some  of  this  fallen 
race  to  salvation  through  sanctification  of  the  spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth,  and 
that  in  the  fulness  of  time  he  sent  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  into  the  world  to  redeem 
and  save  sinful  and  lost  men  by  perfect  obedience  and  most  bitter  sufferings,  even 
unto  death,  by  way  of  atonement  and  satisfaction  for  sin:  and  that  he  is  the  only 
Saviour,  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  of  his  people. 

We  believe  that  he  arose  from  the  dead  on  the  third  day  and  ascended  on  high. 

We  believe  that  repentance  of  sin,  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and  new  obedience  are 
conditions  and  qualifications  of  eternal  life. 

We  believe  that  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper  are  of  divine  institution,  to  be 
attended  and  observed  by  his  people  in  all  ages,  to  his  second  coming. 

We  believe  the  doctrine  of  the  general  resurrection  both  of  the  righteous  and 
the  wicked;  the  general  judgment  and  the  life  everlasting.    And 

We  believe  that  Christ  hath,  and  to  the  end  will  have,  a  church  and  kingdom  in 
the  world;  hath  appointed  ordinances  and  set  officers  in  his  church,  for  the  edify- 
ing of  his  saints,  and  perfecting  his  body,  the  church. 

The  "covenant"  that  follows  the  creed  is  also  brief  and  eminently 
reasonable — a  covenant  which  no  sincere  member  of  a  Christian 
church  to-day  could  hesitate  to  adopt  as  his  own.  Its  opening  sen- 
tence contains  a  reference  to  "the  sins  and  follies  of  our  lives," and 
this  note,  historically  significant,  follows  at  the  end:  "This  clause 
has,  by  vote  of  the  church,  been  lately  prefixed  to  the  covenant,  in 
order  to  supersede  the  necessity  of  public  and  particular  confes- 
sions of  immorality  of  which  those  who  are  candidates  for  church 
privileges  may  formerly  have  been  guilty." 

In  the  record  book  the  covenant  is  immediately  followed  by  an 
interesting  "Catalogue  of  Church  Members,"  showing  the  actual 
constituency  of  the  First  church  at  the  close  of  1795.  '^^^  ^^st  con- 
tains ninety-three  names,  thirty-seven  of  which  are  names  of  men. 
The  first  is  "  Mark  Leavenworth,  Seignior  Pastor,"  the  second, 
"  Edward  Porter,  Junior  Pastor,"  then  "Andrew  Bronson  and  Joseph 
Hopkins,   Deacons";  and  the   rest   follow   in    alphabetical    order, 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  TO  18U.  617 

including  the  wives  of  the  senior  pastor  and  the  two  deacons.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  community  are,  of 
course,  included,  and  the  last  name  (not  in  alphabetical  order)  is 
"Mingo."* 

In  the  account  book  which  has  been  referred  to  as  containing 
the  only  records  of  the  parish  between  1740  and  1795,  there  is 
almost  nothing  in  relation  to  the  period  covered  by  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  One  would  be  led  to  question  whether  the  usual  ser- 
vices were  conducted.  The  following  item  is  interesting,  being  "A 
copy  of  the  Rev'd  Mr.  Leavenworth's  Discharge  to  the  year  1782": 

Waterbury,  Nov.  29,  A.  D.  1782. 

This  may  Certify  that  the  Society  in  Waterbury  are  discharged  from  all  Obliga- 
tions to  me  by  way  of  Salary  to  the  year  1778,  Inclusive,  by  me. 

Mark  Leavenworth. 

When  Mr.  Leavenworth  became  an  invalid,  certainly  as  early  as 
February,  1794,  he  entered  into  an  agreement  with  his  people  to 
receive  a  certain  amount  of  money  "  in  lieu  of  his  salary."  Mention 
is  made  of  two  payments  of  j[^^q  each.  At  this  time  also  we  find 
the  following  persons  apparently  "supplying  the  pulpit":  Josiah 
Edwards,  Heman  Ball,  S.  Williston  and  Edward  Porter. 

The  effect  of  the  Revolution  on  the  church  and  religion  must, 
upon  the  whole,  have  been  good;  but  its  immediate  consequences 
might  almost  be  characterized  as  disastrous.  That  the  Episcopal 
parish  should  have  suffered  was  a  matter  of  course.  But  in  the 
First  society,  where  one  would  suppose  the  success  of  the  colonial 
cause  ought  to  have  involved  an  increase  of  prosperity,  the  actual 
result  was  a  long  and  serious  decline  in  religion.  In  the  Christian 
Spectator  for  June,  1833,  there  is  an  elaborate  article,  written  by  the 
Rev.  Luther  Hart,  formerly  pastor  of  the  church  in  Plymouth, 
entitled,  "The  Religious  Declension  in  New  England  during  the 
Latter  Half  of  the  Last  Century."  As  Mr.  Hart  clearly  shows,  the 
declension  was  very  real  and  very  widespread,  and  Waterbury  was 
involved  in  it.  It  came  partly  as  a  reaction  from  the  violent  meas- 
sures  and  extreme  views  of  the  revival  period,  and  partly  as  a  result 


♦  Dr.  Bronson  in  his  History  (p.  321)  says:  "  The  first  slave  in  Waterbury  of  which  I  have  ceruin  knowl- 
edge was  Mingo,  who  was  the  property  of  Deacon  Thomas  Clark,  about  1730.  He  was  then  a  boy.  His  mas- 
ter used  to  let  him  for  hire  by  the  day,  first  to  drive  plow,  then  to  walk  with  the  team.  At  Deacon  Clark's 
death  in  1764  Mingo  was  allowed  to  choose  which  of  the  sons  he  would  live  with.  He  preferred  to  remain  at 
the  old  homestead  with  Thomas;  but  after  the  latter  commenced  keeping  tavern,  he  did  not  like  his  occupa- 
tion and  went  to  reside  with  Timothy  on  Town  Plot.  He  had  a  family,  owned  considerable  property,  and 
died  in  x8oo.'' 

It  appears  from  this  list  that  Mrs.  Susanna  Munson,  who  was  one  of  those  that  were  excommunicated  for 
"going  off  to  the  Methodists,"  was  "the  wife  of  Samuel  Munson,"  and  that  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoadley  of  the  same 
little  company,  referred  to  in  Vol.  II,  p.  696,  was  *'the  wife  of  Andrew  Hoadley."  The  five  converts  to 
Methodism  are  marked  in  the  catalogue,  "  Rejected,  Sept.  16,  1800." 


620  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

college,  who  filled  up  the  time  until  October.  From  the  payments 
recorded  in  the  account  book  it  would  seem  that  during  one-half  of 
the  year  1798,  or  thereabout,  the  church  was  without  a  pulpit  supply. 
At  a  meeting  on  October  18,  1799,  "the  question  was  put  whether 
this  church  approve  of  the  Christian  character  and  ministerial 
qualifications  of  Mr.  Holland  Weeks."  It  was  "  voted  unanimously 
in  the  affirmative,"  and  Mr.  Weeks  was  invited  "to  take  the  pastoral 
care  and  charge  of  this  church."  Ten  days  later  his  answer  "  was 
read  by  the  clerk  [Mr.  Porter]  in  the  following  words,"  and  it  is 
remarkable,  as  compared  with  most  of  the  documents  of  the  period, 
for  its  directness  and  brevity: 

Brethren  of  the  First  church  of  Christ  in  Waterbnry: 

I  have  taken  your  call  into  consideration.  I  view  it  as  a  call  of  Providence,  and 
therefore  accept.  That  the  Lord  may  bless  the  latter  end  of  the  near  and  inter- 
esting relation  into  which  we  are  now  entering  even  more  than  the  beginning,  is 

the  prayer  of  your  affectionate  pastor  elect. 

Holland  Weeks. 

In  anticipation  of  the  ordination  which  was  about  to  take  place,  a 
day  was  set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer,  "  agreeably  to  apostolic 
example,"  and  Mr.  Weeks  was  ordained  pastor  on  November  20, 
1799. 

The  young  man  thus  introduced  into  Waterbury  life  was  born 
in  Pomfret  in  1768,  and  there  passed  his  early  years.  He  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  college  in  1795,  and  received  from  Yale  the  honorary 
degree  of  M.  A.  in  1800.  "I  began,"  he  says,  "in  1784,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  to  turn  my  attention  with  peculiar  interest  and  conscious 
delight  to  the  study  of  Christian  and  experimental  theology."*  It 
was  natural,  with  such  tastes,  that  he  should  study  for  the  ministry, 
and  Waterbury  was  his  first  parish.  In  a  communication  to  the 
American  on  February  24,  1874,  E.  B.  Cooke  spoke  of  him  as  a  man  of 
commanding  personal  appearance  and  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
This  estimate  is  borne  out  by  the  published  sermons  of  Mr.  Weeks 
which  have  been  preserved  (see  Volume  II,  page  954)  and  by  his 
subsequent  career.  Another  old  resident — Mrs.  Hannah  Morris,  the 
first  person  baptized  in  the  third  meeting-house — described  him  to 
the  writer  as  a  tall  and  portly  man,  with  full  face,  black  hair,  dark 
eyes  and  a  fine  tenor  voice.  He  was  so  fond  of  singing  that  if  a 
brother  minister — a  home  missionary,  for  instance — was  "  occupying 
the  pulpit,"  he  would  take  his  place  in  the  singers'  gallery.  He 
was  a  school  visitor,  and  tried  to  teach  singing  in  the  schools.  He 
was  fond  of  children  and  familiar  with  them,  and  in  his  pastoral 
visits  was  very  apt  to  have  the  little  ones  in  his  lap.     On  Decem- 


*  See  Vol.  II  of  The  Ntw  Churchman  (x843-*44),  p.  726. 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  T 

ber  lo,  1799 — three  weeks  after  his  ordina 
Byron,  a  daughter  of  Moses  Hopkins,  Esq.,   • 
a  granddaughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
brought  back  to  the  home  of  her  ancestors, 
(for  four  of  whom  see  Ap.  p.  148).     The  : 
roofed  house — stood  a  little  south  of  whei  : 
building  now  stands,  but  was  afterward  re  : 
Not  only  does  Mr.  Weeks  as  a  Waterbu  ; 
nineteenth  century,  but  we  may  look  at  h  • 
the  commencement  of  a  second  era  in  tl  < 
pastors;  and  no  contrast  could  be  greate 
second  era  and  the  first.     From  the  organ  i 
the  death  of  Mr.  Leavenworth,  it  was  scan  : 
ister,  yet  the  number  of  pastors  was  only 
Porter,  four.     But  between  1800  and  1865  t 
and  two  "acting  pastors,"  besides  nine  or 
the  pulpit  was  vacant  or  filled  only  by  ( 
however,  stayed  with  the  church  a  little    : 
causes  of  his  leaving  are  indicated  in  his  1 1 
was  published  and  has  been  preserved.     H  i 
(pages  16,  17): 

I  do  not  claim  to  have  been  without  my  foibles  ar  : 
I  have  in  any  measure  been  faithful  will  be  made  to 
There  may  be  some  who  are  gratified  by  the  event  : 
are  others  whose  feelings  of  friendship  exceed  the  | 
cordially  reciprocate  every  such  sentiment  which  1 
seem  to  those  who  are  not  fully  acquainted  with  evei ; 
ration  might  have  been  prevented.  It  is  true  it  mi  \ 
stand  what  has  been  done  by  the  society.  Methods  < 
great  measure  to  fail,  and  I  have  felt  myself  unable,  \  i 
myself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Of  course  m]' 
seemed  to  be  at  an  end.  It  is  true  I  have  had  friend ; 
generous  presents  for  my  support.  And  I  now  than  < 
expressions  of  their  love.  But  it  has  been  judged  b;; 
it  would  not  be  expedient  for  me  to  tarry,  under  thesi 
tion  has  therefore  been  dissolved.  Yet  my  heart's  •: 
this  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved.  I  also  n<! 
prayers  for  me  and  my  family,  in  our  present  dark  aii 

It  is  probably  upon  these  frank  statemo 
based,  in  Kingsley's  "  Ecclesiastical  Contril 


*  Horace  Hotcbkiss  in  his  (unpublished}  Reminiscences  says  that 
ing  the  esteem  of  his  people,  and  remained  only  a  few  years,"  and  se 
an  exhibition  of  passion  and  cruelty  by  Mr.  Weeks  in  "  beating  an  un 
lie  square.  The  affair,"  he  continues,  ^*  created  a  good  deal  of  indigs 
the  stuffed  skin  of  the  horse  was  seen  standing  near  the  church  do 
holding  a  large  knife.  It  remained  during  the  day,  in  sight  of  Mr.  V 
for  a  fuller  and  perhaps  more  nearly  colorless  statement  in  regard  to  tl 


6ai  msTOBY  OF  WATERBURT. 

Mr.  Weeks  "was  dismissed  for  want  of  support."  The  prospect  for 
him,  as  wel!  as  for  the  parish,  seems  to  have  been  gloomy  enough, 
but  Mr.  Weeks  survived  these  early  trials  and  many  others,  and 
lived  to  do  his  Master's  work  in  various  vineyards.  The  discourse 
just  referred  to  was  preached  December  21,  iSq6.  He  had  made 
known  his  desire  for  a  dismission  in  November;  the  society  had 
voted  to  unite  with  him  in  this  object,  but  "  not  to  submit  pecuniary 
matters,"  and  his  dismission  had  taken  place  on  December  10.  It 
was  a  year  later  (December  30,  1807)  that  he  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Pittsford,  Vt.,  organized  in  17S4.  On  August  9, 
1 8 15,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  church  in  Abington,  Mass., 
and  while  he  held  this  position  his  theological  beliefs  underwent  a 
great  and  serious  transformation.  It  appears  that  his  first  contact 
with  the  opinions  of  Swedenborg  took  place  during  iiis  Waterbury 
pastorate.  He  found  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Israel  B.  Wood- 
ward of  Wolcott  one  of  Swedenborg's  books,  and  spent  two  hours  in 
its  perusal.  It  appeared  to  him  to  be  "a  most  wonderful  produc- 
tion"; how  to  account  for  its  existence  he  could  not  determine  to 
his  own  satisfaction;  and  he  found  afterward  that  "a  curiosity 
remained  with  him  to  know  moreabout  it."  Some  years  after  this, 
apparently  while  settled  at  Pittsford,  he  met  with  another  Sweden- 
borgian  work,  the  "  Halcyon  Luminary,"  and  his  curiosity  was  still 
more  excited.  But  it  was  in  1818,  after  he  had  been  at  Abington 
for  three  years,  that  he  "  was  led  to  the  sight  of  an  old  minister's 
library"  at  Sandwich  on  Cape  Cod,  which  contained  a  number  of 
Swedenborg's  works,  and  "  commenced  reading  on  October  10."  The 
result  was  a  prolonged  mental  conflict  and,  at  length,  on  May  21, 
1820,  the  preaching  of  a  sermon  to  his  congregation  (see  Vol.  II, 
page  954)  which  led  to  a  trial  for  heresy  before  a  council  of 
churches  and  to  his  excommunication.  "  All  the  evils  which  I 
anticipated,"  he  afterward  said,  "  came  upon  me,  and  some  that  I 
did  not  expect.  But  never  for  a  moment  do  I  regret  that  I  became 
a  receiver  of  the  heavenly  doctrines."  By  a  remarkable  concurrence 
of  events,  however,  a  home  for  himself  and  his  family  had  been 
prepared  in  advance  in  the  new  town  of  Henderson,  in  western  New 
York,  near  Lake  Ontario,  and  to  that  place  he  removed  soon  after 
the  termination  of  his  pastorate.  He  became  a  farmer,  but  at  the 
same  time  made  use  of  his  opportunities  to  preach  the  new  doc- 
trines he  had  received  to  his  neighbors,  and  was  instrumental  in 
establishing  there  a  congregation  of  the  New  Jerusalem  church.* 


In  Kcndenoa.  One  of  [Ihtk.  Edff 
htauDC  Ihs  tnoUier  al  Duniel  H.  Bu 
AI  ChlcHgD  Id  iBq3  ni  mo  larsDly  di 
ETAOBtDii,  Til.,  JaaiiATy  ij,  tiq\. 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH  2 

He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  happy  in  the 
found  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousn 
friends  and  children  on  July  24,  1843.     It 
ary  notice  in  the  JVew  Jerusalem  Magazine 
was  a  man  of  warm  and  kind  feelings,  of 
acute  reasoning  powers.     He  had  an  elev 
and  importance  of  the  ministerial  office, 
only  of  the  necessity  of  leading  a  life  of 
taining  sound  doctrines  in  order  to  the  ad^ 
If  we  may  judge  from  the  circumsta 
Weeks's  dismission  from  Waterbury,  the  1 
prosperity  of  the  First  church  was  not  rea 
ted,  in  1795,  but  a  dozen  years  later.     The  1 
a  consequence  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  more  serious  until  this  time.     The  tli 
to  have  been  built  without  a  serious  strugj 
the  result  in  part  of  a  spirit  of  rivalry — th 
engaged  at  the  same  time  in  a  similar  tas 
of  the  meeting-house  there  was  no  other 
several  years  to  come.     In  1774  the  popul 
was  3526;  in  1790  it  was  6107 — an  increa 
cent — and  in  1800  it  had  increased  to  ov< 
within  the  original  limits.     But  the  chie 
within  the  bounds  of  the  First  society,  a 
showed  few  signs  of  a  vigorous  life.     In  i 
membership  numbered  only  ninety-three,  1 
accessions,  except  in  January,  1800,  and  J 
Many  minor  tribulations  had  followed  tl 
meeting-house.     The  steeple  would  not  si 
much   trouble;  the   division   of   ministerif 
other    societies — notably     with    Middlebi 
annoyance  and  cost.     When  Mr.  Weeks  w 
laid  a  tax  to  raise  $400  that  was  due  on  his 
however,  soon  followed,  which  the  present 
his  bicentenary  discourse,  described  as  foil 

Between  1800  and  1820  a  double  traasformation 
epoch  a  marked  one  in  the  history  o£  the  town  and 
large  that  new  era  of  prosperity  was  entered  upon  v 
in  the  light  and  warmth  of  which  we  have  grown  to 
beginning  of  the  century  Waterbury  was  an  ordinc 
than  an  average  supply  of  attractions,  and  a  poor  p] 
mation  of  the  surrounding  towns  it  was  a  kind  of  Na2 
could  be  said.  But  it  had  in  it  what  was  better  than 
group  of  ingenious,  industrious,  wide-awake  men,  an< 


6j4  history  of  WATERBURT. 

of  events  an  hour  of  golden  opportuoity.  In  this  quiet,  unpromising  village,  just  at 
the  opening  of  the  century,  the  manufacture  of  gilt  buttons  and  of  clocks  was 
begun,  and  from  that  time  until  now  the  "  brass  industry  "  has  steadily  grown,  and 
has  transfonned  not  only  the  old  village,  but  the  entire  Naugatuck  valley.  The 
record  becomes  doubly  interesting  when  we  find  that  in  spiritual  things  also  there 
was  a  revival  of  prosperity. 

But  it  came  slowly.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Weeks,  in  his  farewell  discourse, 
said  to  the  people,  "You  will  feel,  I  hope,  the  great  importance  of  a 
speedy  re-settlement  of  the  gospel  ministry.  The  longer  you 
remaia  destitute,  the  greater  the  probability  is  that  the  state  of  the 
church  and  people  will  become  more  and  more  uncomfortable, 
broken  and  divided.  If  possible,  let  the  first  candidate  you  employ 
be  the  one  on  whom  you  fix  your  affections  to  be  your  minister." 
The  hope  thus  expressed  was  hardly  fulfilled,  for  the  pastorate 
remained  vacant  from  December,  1806,  to  November,  1808.  Mr. 
Porter,  the  former  pastor  of  the  church,  was  on  the  committee  for 


supplying  the  pulpit  during  1807,  and  to  him  was  committed  the 
care  of  the  ministerial  money.  As  early  as  April,  Andrew  Eliot, 
son  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot  who  had  recently  died  in  the  Fair- 
field pastorate,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  in  the  class  of  1799,  was 
unanimously  invited  to  become  pastor,  and  the  invitation  seems  to 
nave  been  pressed  upon  him;  but  in  a  frank  and  manly  letter, 
which  has  been  preserved,*  he  declined  the  call.     He  was  settled  in 

•  Mr.  Eliu'i  letier  ii  u  tolLowi ; 

If  EW  HfivEH,  July  7th,  iioj. 

ClHTLIH»: 


THE  FIRST  VHURCH  TO  18tB.  (,2$ 

New  Milford  in  February,  1808,  and  continued  there  until  his  death 
in  1829.  In  1818  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  corporation  of  Yale 
college.  In  September  {1807),  Thomas  Rugglcs,  a  still  younger  can- 
didate—a  graduate  of  Yale  in  1805,  and  licensed  in  1806 — preached 
for  at  least  three  Sundays,"  and  Reuben  Taylor  (Williams  college, 
1806)  and  other  candidates,  or  at  least  "supplies,"  followed;  but 
without  definite  result  until  August  of  the  following  year.  At  a 
meeting  on  August  25,  1808,  the  church  unanimously  "approved  of 
the  Christian  character  and  ministerial  qualifications  of  Mr.  Luke 
Wood, "and  "invited  him  to  take  the  pastoral  care  and  charge  of 
this  church."  The  society  "concurred,"  offering  him  a  salary  of 
$450  a  year  and  the  use  of  the  "  little  pasture."  A  long  communi- 
cation of  acceptance  from  him  was  placed  on  record,  a  "  fast "  was 
appointed,  according  to  custom,  and  Mr.  Wood  was  ordained  and 


-^ 


installed,  November  30,  1808.      In  preparation  for  his  ordination 
a  committee  was  directed   to  take  charge  of  the   meeting-house 


•uch  cireunulan 

ea  wo 

uld  p1i« 

•  man 

with  ionB.  giv<  r 

imp,op.rld.»of 

1  might 

lead  10 

■  mode 

the  procnt,  leu 

honariblg  to  the 

try  and  i 

njuriou 

lGgcth.r  with  the 

■dviceoC  those 

niniite 

T.  whom 

WUh  Ihe  in» 

t  linceie  wijh» 

Wlhe 

.yofyc 

ud  rupeci,  [  tub 

Kribe  myielf 

Man.  JohD 

Kincbury.  Ed- 

»rdPo 

r«r,  Elij 

.hHot 

♦The  ".uppl 

la  "who  p.Mch 

edin  . 

,98  ■«=! 

.edje.. 

Hotchkiu,  Edward  Field. 

£1,41  a  Sunday.    Ac  the  time  above  referred  to  Ihe  fee 
brought  to  view  in  a  Hid  way  hy  Mr.  Eliol'a  receipt 


626  .  SISTOST  OF  WATERBURT. 

on  that  day,  and  to  reserve  sufficient  seats   for  the  council  and 
clergy."* 

Luke  Wood  was  born  in  Somers  in  1777.  He  was  a  grandson  of 
Thomas  Wood,  one  of  the  first  deacons  of  the  church  in  Somers, 
and  in  his  early  years  "  sat  under  the  ministrations  "  of  Dr.  Charles 
Backus.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  college  in  1802,  and  pursued 
his  professional  studies  under  the  eminent  Dr.  Emmons.  He 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Yale  in  1808,  and 
Waterbury  was  his  first  parish.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Rus- 
sell, the  mother  of  Dr.  Francis  T.  Russell,  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
the  present  writer,  some  years  since,  spoke  of  the  cordiality  and 
hospitality  with  which  he  and  his  family  were  received  in  the 
parish.     But  she  added: 

After  snecessive  years  of  a  faithful  pastorate,  lie  was  stricken  with  a  cont^oos 
fever  to  which  he  had  been  exposed  during  a  season  of  unusual  sicliness.  He  did 
not  recover  for  some  months,  and  was  left  with  an  ulcer  in  his  side  which  eventu- 
ally made  it  necessary  for  him  to  obtain  a  minister  in  his  place.  Mr.  Nettleton, 
the  distinguished  revival  preacher — then  on  a  circuit  near  Waterbury — was  ready 
to  come  at  my  father's  request.  During  his  stay  with  our  family  and  the  people, 
my  father  was  under  tbe  care  of  a  surgeon  in  CanCoo  (Conn.),  where  he  was  obliged 
to  remain  some  months  on  account  of  a  surgical  operation  and  for  his  recovery 
after. 

Dr.  Nettleton's  visit,  here  referred  to,  resulted  in  an  extensive 
*'  old-fashioned  revival " — the  most  wide-spread  and  important  that 
has  occured  in  the  history  of  the  Waterbury  churches.  At  the  time 
of  Mr.  Wood's  coming,  there  had  not  been  an  addition  to  the  church, 
except  by  letters  of  dismission  from  other  churches,  in  six  years. 
During  the  seven  years  preceding  Nettleton's  engagement  twenty 
persons  had  been  received  on  profession  of  their  faith.  The  "  mor- 
tal sickness"  which  prevailed  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1815 
failed  to  make  any  marked  impression  on  the  religious  condition  of 
the  community.  "Whatever  serious  effects,"  said  a  writer  in  the 
Religious  Intelligencer  at  the  time,  "  might  be  expected  to  arise  from 
the  heavy  judgments  with  which  we  had  been  visited,  they  appeared 
to  be  lost  upon  us.  Vice,  immorality  and  irreligion  appeared  to 
gain  additional  strength,  and  the  cloud  that  overshadowed  us  in  a 
moral  point  of  view  appeared  fraught  with  tenfold  darkness."  In 
the  following  February,  however,  tokens  of  religious  interest  began 
to  appear,  and  these  continued  to  increase  for  some  months.  A 
man  who  had  been  "  an  open  opposer  "  of  religion  became  converted, 
and  in  June  special  meetings  for  prayer  began  to  be  held.     Soon 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH 

afterward  the  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher  of  I 
Nettleton  spent  a  vSunday  with  the  churc     ; 
made  with  Mr.  Nettleton  to  begin  "a  ser 
tinned  his  labors  in  Waterbury  for  sev-     i 
markable  results.    "  The  work  became  ve:     ( 
it  embraced  all  ages  from  youth  to  gray     \ 
whole  families  came  under  deep  convicti* 
lowed  immediately.     The  records  show  1     i 
August  seventeen  were  received  to  the  c     i 
February  (1817)  seventy -one,  in  April  foi 
making  a  total  of  118,  of  whom   no  wer«    1 
"**f ruits  of  the  revival."  * 

These,  however,  were  not  the  only      ; 
which  had  taken  place  in  the  church  an 
were  results  of  a  less  definite  kind,  some  o    ' 
evil;  but  besides  these  there  were  certi    : 
came  into  being  about  this  time,  the  or 
associated  with  the  revival,  and  the  valu(   i 
great  in  the  later  life  of  the  parish.     Thes 
the  church  prayer-meeting,  the  Ladies'  B   1 
auxiliary  missionary  society.    The  missioi  i 
extinct,  but  for  some  years  it  had  a  flot 
church.     At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  Se  1 
agreed  to  "  unite  with  the  other  churchei 
constitution  for  a  society  auxiliary  to  the    1 
missioners  for  Foreign  Missions."    The  soc 
Waterbury,  one  for  men  and  the  other  foi  ' 
lished  "report"  which  has  survived,  it  aj  : 
Bennet  Bronson,  Elijah  Hotchkiss,  James 
and  S.  B.  Minor,  and  such  women  as  Mr  . 
Humiston  and  Mrs.  Edward  Scovill,  were  t  i 
was  besides  a  large  corps  of  collectors.! 
society  was  in  its  origin  more  definitely  coi 
It  was  formed  almost  in  the  midst  of  the  m : 
It  consisted  of  young  women  whose  hearts  ' 
thing  in  the  line  of  Christian   philanthrc| 


*  See  Dr.  Bennet  Tyler's  "Memoir  of  Nettleton/*  pp.  90-94.    Ii 
two  children  were  baptized  in  the  First  church  on  one  Sunday. 

f  A  list  of  subscribers  in  the  women's  branch,  extending  from  3 : 
which  it  appears  that  the  customary  annual  contribution  was  tweoi 
reported  from  Waterbury  were,  from  the  men's  "association"  $35.60 
is  added  that  "  of  this  sum  four  dollars  were  from  Mrs.  Humiston,  a  d: 
by  said  society  for  the  benefit  of  Foreign  missions/'  and^that  "  four 
and  a  string  of  beads." 


6zb  EISrORT  OF  WATBRBfTRY. 

was  the  making  of  clothing  for  young  men  who  were  stiidyiog  for 
the  ministry,  and  the  society  continued  to  work  for  this  for  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years.  The  first  president  was  the  pastor's  daughter, 
Ursula  Wood  (afterward  Mrs.  William  Russetl,  whose  letter  was 
quoted  above);  the  first  vice-president  Polly  Clark  (Mrs.  Merlin 
Mead);  the  secretarj'  Anna  M.  Leavenworth  (Mrs.  Green  Kendrick), 
and  the  treasurer  Maria  Clark  (Mrs.  John  T.  Baldwin).  During  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Henry  N.  Day  a  society  auxiliary  to  this  was 
organized  on  Town  Plot,  which  was  at  one  time  more  flourishing 
than  the  parent  organization. 

The  origin  of  the  ehureh  prayer-meeting  cannot  be  precisely 
fixed,  but  it  certainly  belongs  to  this  period,  although  it  had  an 
intermittent  life  for  some  years  afterward.  As  regards  the  Sunday 
school,  however,  it  was  not  only  a  product  of  the  renewed  spiritual 
life  of  the  people;  its  beginning  is  definitely  indicated.  It  appears 
from  statements  quoted  in  Volume  II  (p.  581),  that  it  did  not  have  an 
uninterrupted  existence,  but  there  is  no  quejtion  that  it  came  into 
being  in  1819.  In  July  of  the  previous  year  the  church  "voted  to 
appoint  a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  setting  up  a  Sabbath 
school,"  and  the  committee  reported  on  June  26  (1819),  "  that  there 
should  be  a  president,  a  vice-president  and  three  directors."  The 
report  was  adopted,  and  Elijah  Hotchkiss  was  made  president  aod 
Edward  Field  vice-president.  Further  details  are  given  as  follows, 
in  a  memorandum  prepared  in  1857  by  Deacon  E,  L.  Bronson: 

The  Sunday  school  was  established  in  the  gallery  of  the  old  church  by  Anna  M. 
Leavenworth,  Polly  Clark  and  Ruth  \V.  Holmes,  who  were  subsequently  assisted 
by  Candace  Allen.  Susan  Cooke.  Hulda  Hitchcock  and  several  others.  It  consisted 
at  first  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  female  scholars.  There  was  much  opposition  on  the 
part  of  many  of  the  members  of  the  church,  as  the  few  Sunday  schools  they  had 
then  heard  of  were  designed  principally  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  were  too  poor 
to  avail  themselves  of  any  other  opportunity  of  gaining  instruction.  The  scbool 
was  continued,  however,  for  several  years,  but  without  any  formal  organization, 
and  only  during  the  summer  months.  The  course  of  study  and  the  recitations  were 
confined  chiefly  to  the  Bible  and  the  "Shorter  Catechism." 

About  1822.  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Crane,  gave  the  following  notice:  "  Mr. 
Israel  Holmes  will  meet  the  children  in  the  West  Centre  school-house,  and  instruct 
them  to  the  best  of  his  ability."  •  The  school  still  held  its  sessions  during  the  sum- 
mer months  only.  About  1825  it  was  re-established  in  tbe  meeting-house,  and  Dea- 
con Benedict  was  chosen  auperiutenilenC.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  Clark.  Deacon 
P.  W.  Carter,  for  two  years,  and  Horace  Hotchkiss,  after  which  it  was  continued  as 
a  permanent  institution.  But  its  history,  preserved  as  it  is  only  in  the  memories  of 
its  members,  is  not  very  definite  or  reliable. 

\c  SibtMIh  achool." 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH    ' 

Mr.  Bronson's  list  of  Sunday  school  si  | 
additions,  is  as  follows : 

Elijah  Hotchkiss,  Israel  Holmes,  Aaron  Bene  i 
Horace  Hotchkiss,  Seth  Fuller,  Edward  Clarke,  Fr  s 
Charles  Fabrique,  Josiah  A.  Blake,  Isaac  R.  Brc  : 
Crane,  Edward  L.  Bronson,  Arami  Giddings,  Joi  i 
Fletcher,  George  W.  Beach,  Solon  M.  Terry,  J.  ;  i 
Lester  M.  Camp,  Wilson  H.  Pierce,  Alexander  C.  < 
W.  Goodenough. 

Mr.  Wood's  pastorate  was  brought  to  a 
the  revival  culminated.  Up  to  June,  i^ 
church,  as  already  stated,  were  ii8;  in  A  i 
tions,  in  October  there  was  one,  in  the  ^\ 
and  in  1819  only  one.  And  in  the  mean 
developed  for  such  preaching  as  Mr.  Wo<  1 
a  time,"  as  Mrs.  Russell  states  the  matt 
quoted,  **  when  my  father  resumed  his  oflfi' 
felt  in  his  preaching  than  in  Mr.  Nettlet< 
some  dissatisfaction  was  expressed,  whi: 
turbed  my  father's  mind,  and  he  was  ev<: 
vote  of  the  church  on  November  i,  ii\ 
"Voted  that  this  church  does  not  approve 
Rev.  Luke  Wood,  and  that  under  existing 
bers  are  of  opinion  that  his  usefulness  i 
them  is  at  an  end."  To  this  action  Mr.  W<: 
posing  under  certain  reasonable  conditior 
dismission.  The  council  was  called,  and  li 
pastorate  November  19,  1827,  having  lat 
sickness  and  many  trials,  for  very  nearly 
his  health  was  somewhat  restored  he  eng;; 
in  western  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 
Cheshire,  Westford,  Clinton  and  West  Har 
to  Somers,  his  native  town,  where  he  spi 
days.     He  died  on  August  22,  1851.* 

After  Mr.  Wood's  dismission  the  chu 
pastor  for  three  years  and  a  half,  the  pu 
variety  of  ministers.  With  the  qualificati 
Clark,  who  had  recently  come  here  to  01 
p.  537),  the  people  were  so  well  satisfied  t 
a  unanimous  call,  early  in  1820,  but  it  wa 


*  The  Congregational  Journal  of  February  4,  1852  (published  i 
r  Qotice  filling  three  columns,  devoted  chiefly  to  an  account  of  Mr.  W 


630  HISTOnr  OF  WATEItBURT. 

than  a  year  elapsed  ere  another  candidate  was  found  upon  whom  they 
could  unite.  He  appeared  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Crane, 
and  "at  a  church  meeting  legally  warned,  and  opened  by  prayer," 
on  May  28,  1821,  he  was  invited  to  take  the  pastoral  charge.  The 
society  "concurred,"  voting  a  salary  of  §450  a  year,  with  the  use  of 
the  so-called  parsonage  lot,  and  he  was  installed  on  July  3. 

He  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  Crane,  and  was  born  in 
Cranetown  (now  Montclair),  N.  J.,  April  13,  1778.  He  graduated 
from  Princeton  college  in  1797,  and  afterward  studied  theology 
under  the  Rev.  Amzi  Armstrong  of  Mendham,  ^f.  J.  He  married 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Dr.  Matthias  Pierson  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Eleazar  and  Abby.  At  the  time  of  his 
coming  to  Waterbury,  his  son  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  and 
his  daughter  a  year  or  two  younger. 

With  one  exception,  Mr,  Crane's  pastorate  was  the  shortest  in 
the  historj'  of  the  parish,  and  if  we  may  judge  from  the  records  it 
was  almost  destitute  of  incidents  worthy  of  mention.  Its  pecuni- 
ary condition — partly,  perhaps,  as  a  result  of  being  so  long  without 
pastoral  care— was  very  unfavorable.  The  attempt  had  been  made 
to  sell  the  pews,  at  first  for  $7000  and  then  for  $5000,  and,  that  plan 
proving  a  failure,  to  lease  them  for  two  years,  then  for  one  year, 
then  to  lease  a  part  of  them;  and  finally  the  old  seating  plan  was 
resorted  to,  without  satisfaction,  and  another  plan  was  tried, — "age 
only  to  be  considered  and  no  one  degraded";  then  again,  to  seat 
according  to  "list  and  age,"  every  year  to  count  for  %io.  But 
neither  plan  nor  device  satisfied  the  people.  In  i8zo  pews  might 
he  leased  for  two  years.  In  1821,  in  order  to  raise  a  salary  for  the 
support  of  preaching,  pews  might  be  leased  for  one  year.  In  1822 
they  went  back  to  seating  the  meeting-house,  but  this  time  by  "list" 
exclusively.  In  1824,  they  were  again  leased  and  might  be  taken 
by  persons  not  belonging  to  the  society.  The  spiritual  life  of  the 
parish  was  also  at  a  low  ebb.  It  is  true  that  in  November,  iS;o, 
eight  persons  united  with  the  church  on  profession  of  faith,  but 
there  was  nothing  else  to  indicate  that  the  reaction  which  had  set 
in  so  soon  after  the  Nettleton  revival  did  not  still  continue.  Early 
in  Mr.  Crane's  pastorate  seven  were  "added  to  the  church,"  but 
these,  with  five  received  at  later  dates,  were  all  who  were  admitted 
on  profession  during  his  three  years'  ministry. 

The  one  notable  thing  in  the  history  of  the  period  is  the  serious 
rupture  and  prolonged  conflict  between  the  pastor's  family  and  one 
of  his  leading  parishioners,  John  Clark.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  man  of 
intelligence  and  cultivation  {a  graduate  of  Yale  college  in  the  cla.ss 
of   1806),   and  the  conflict   which  took  place  must   have   seriously 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH 

affected  the  peace  and  well-being  of  the  < 
community.    The  occasion  of  the  trouble ' 
Mr.  Crane  had  brought  with  him  from  N 
Clark  hired  to  do  work  in  his  home.     1 
Crane  to  relinquish  his  claim  upon  the 
collision  of  claims  and  opinions  and  an  a 
matter  came  before  the  church  on  Januar 
tee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  Mr.  Clar 
between  him  and  the  pastor.     Two  weeks 
was  made  against  Mr.  Clark,  and  on  Fel 
submitted  to  the  consociation.     The  diffi( 
three  months  afterward  the  church  voted 
ship  and  watch  from  our  brother  John  Cla 
The  healing  of  this  breach,  so  far  as  S 
were  concerned,  is  related  in  Volume  II,  pa 
time  Mr.  Crane's  hold  upon  the  parish  had 
took  such  shape  that  on  January  4,  1825,  tl 
Mr.  Crane   the   sum  of  $100  on  condition 
before  May  i.     The  church,  in  April,  vote( 
to  dissolve  the   pastoral   connection   het^ 
people.     The  consociation  met  on  April  21 
tion  reached  the  following  result: 

Voted  unanimously  that  in  consequence  of  the  di 
the  society  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Crane  is  expedie : 
missed  from  his  connection  with  the  church  and  s  : 
happy  to  find  on  inquiry  that  nothing  has  occurred  , 
injurious  to  the  moral  or  ministerial  character  of  Vi  1 
and  cordially  recommend  him  to  the  churches  as  i  : 
We  deeply  lament  those  unhappy  divisions  which  hj  ' 
place  of  their  pastor,  and  pray  the  great  Head  of  tt  : 
in  love,  and  to  furnish  them  with  another  pastor  \ 
faith  and  lead  them  in  the  way  of  salvation. 

The  answer  to  this  prayer  was  delayed  : 
Crane  removed  from  Waterbury  to  a  pai 
and    from  there  after  some  years  to  Ch 
Chester  he  bought  a  farm  near  Cornwal 
remainder  of  his  life  devoted  his  attenti 
tion  of  his  land.     He  discontinued   prea< 
sional  supply  for  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Sti! 
church  he  attended  in  that  place.     Whe: 
wife  was  still  living,  although  she  had  b  1 
son  died  many  years  ago,  leaving  a  famil 
whom  (a  daughter,  Mary)  survives.     His  <  ! 
inent  citizen  of  Cornwall  and  died  childle 


Sjs 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


interest  in  questions  of  the  day,  whether  pertaining  to  church  or 
state.  He  was  an  uncompromising  abolitionist,  and  in  1844  he  and 
three  other  citizens  cast  the  first  anti-slavery  votes  ever  polled  in 
Cornwall.  "  He  was,"  says  an  old  friend,  "a  man  of  sterling  char- 
acter, whose  sincerity  and  earnestness  never  failed  to  impress  men, 
whether  in  the  putpit  or  in  society."     He  died  at  his  home  in  Corn- 


wall i 


tS6i. 


The  further  history  of  the   First   chnrch  is  given  in  Chapters 
XXXII  and  XXXIII  of  the  second  volume. 


Samuel  Hopkins,  the  eldest  son  of  Timothy  and  Mary  (Judd) 
Hopkins,  was  born  in  Waterbury,  Sunday,  September  17,  1721.  He 
says,  in  his  autobiography:  "As  soon  as  I  was  capable  of  under- 
standing and  attending  to  it,  I  was  told  that  my  father,  when  he 
was  informed  that  he  had  a  son  born  to  him,  said,  if  the  child 
should  live  he  would  give  him  a  public  education,  that  he  might  be 
a  minister  or  a  Sabbath  day  man,  alluding  to  my  being  born  on  the 
Sabbath."  This  design  was  abandoned  for  a  time,  as  the  boy 
seemed  to  have  no  inclination  to  study,  preferring  to  labor  on  the 
farm  at  home.  When  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  however,  a 
change  came  over  him  in  this  respect.  His  father  was  quick  to 
perceive  it,  and  placed  him  with  the  Rev.  John  Graham  of  Wood- 
bury, under  whose  tuition  he  prepared  for  college  and  successfully 
passed  the  Yale  examinations  in  September,  1737.  The  subjects  to 
which  attention  was  at  that  time  chiefly  directed  were  logic,  math- 
ematics and  such  other  studies  as  tended  to  develope  the  students 
into  profound  philosophers,  but  not  graceful  and  accomplished 
scholars,  to  foster  individuality  of  thought,  but  not  felicity  of 
expression.  During  the  early  part  of  his  connection  with  the  col- 
lege, he  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  in  Waterbury,  includ- 
ing, of  course,  acceptance  of  the  Calvinistic  doctrines.  Afterward, 
however,  he  doubted  the  genuineness  of  his  conversion  and  was 
much  moved  and  depressed  by  sermons  which  he  heard  from 
Whitefield,  Tennant  and  Jonathan  Edwards,  on  the  occasion  of 
visits  made  by  these  men  to  the  college.  Indeed  he  was  so  deeply 
affected  by  Mr.  Edwards's  celebrated  sermon  on  "The  Trial  of  the 
Spirits"  that  he  resolved  to  go  to  him,  and  beg  to  be  allowed  to 
become  an  inmate  of  his  home  when  his  college  days  should  end. 
Immediately  after  taking  his  degree,  in  September,  1741,  he 
returned  to  Waterbury,  and  spent  three  months  in  retirement.* 
At   the   end  of  that  time   he  set   out  for  Mr.  Edwards's  home,  in 


THE  FIR8T  CHURCH 

Northampton,  where  he  was  very  kindly : 
divine  and  his  wife.  After  he  had  spen 
roof,  his  religious  views  became  clearer  ; 
on  April  29,  1742,  he  returned  again  to 
duly  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  In 
year  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  Mr.  Bellan 
weeks,  while  the  latter  made  a  short  prea 
he  accepted  an  invitation  to  preach  in  S 
that  place  until  the  following  May.  He 
ampton,  where  he  opened  a  school,  and  a 
his  theological  studies.  But  after  a  few  \ 
seek  a  change  of  residence  on  account  < 
bles.  He  was  evidently  regarded  as  a  m 
an  unusual  number  of  invitations  to  prea 
ment,  and  it  was  considered  a  proof  o-^ 
when  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  pre£ 
Great  Harrington).     He  settled  there  in  i 

Soon  after  his  ordination  the  French  i 
and  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  it,  even  sh 
joining  scouting  parties  on  occasions.    Dt 
he  lost  by  death  his  mother,  his  infant  b 
sisters.     He  took  upon  himself  the  care  a 
remaining  brothers,  one  of  whom — ^Jam< 
promise,  died  before  he  had  completed  1 
Hopkins  seems  to  have  been  unfortunate 
prises,  for  we  read  of  two  instances  in  wh  i 
a   more   fortunate   suitor  was  preferred 
forced  to  relinquish  the  object  of  his  ho  : 
he  succeeded  in  capturing  the  affection  ; 
Moses  Ingersoll  of  Great  Harrington,  wh( 
13,  1748,  and  was  the  mother  of  his  eight  : 
in  that  place. 

He  continued  his  ministry  at  Housatot  i 
meagre  supplies  and  the  opposition  of  ene  : 
At   the   end    of   that   time   his    strong      ; 
party  aroused  so  much  feeling  among  1 
he  felt  his  usefulness  to  be  at  an  end,  ai  1 
to  unite  with  him  in  summoning  a  cou 
nection.     After  his  dismission  he  preac 
During  the  April  and  May  of  1769  he  c  i 
church  in  Hoston,  then  spent  several  we< 
Me.,  where  he  was  invited  to  settle.     He 
to  accept  instead  an  invitation  to  Newpo 


634  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBCRT. 

were  so  pleased  with  his  ministrations  that  they  called  him  to  be 
their  pastor.  While  he  was  giving  this  matter  his  thoughtful  con- 
sideration, the  minds  of  the  people  were  inflamed  against  him  by  a 
sarcastic  pamphlet  which  was  circulated  among  them,  so  that  when 


^^^. 


u^^^^^y^/^ 


he  was  ready  to  give  a  favorable  answer  to  the  church  committee, 

he  was  met  with  a  request  to  withhold  his  communication  until  the 
opposition  had  subsided.  Shortly  afterward  a  vote  was  passed,  by 
thirty-six  against  thirty-three,  that  they  did  not  want  his  services. 
When   this   fact  was  communicated   to    him   he   quietly   inquired 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH 

whether,  if  there  was  no  supply  engage 
on  the  following  Sunday.     This  request 
a  discourse  which  so  affected  the  conj 
meeting  on  March  26,   1770,  his  call  ^ 
mously.     The  period  which  followed  in 
kins  calls  "  the  sunniest  period  of  his  m 
December,  1776.    General  Clinton  and  L< 
possession  of  the  town,  and  Mr.  Hopkins 
itants  were  forced  to  fly.     During  the  ne 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  awaiting 
possible   to  return   to   the  then  desolatt 
house  was  used  as  barracks  by  the  invi 
and  the  windows  had  been  demolished,  sl\ 
in  spite  of  a  flattering  call  to  Middleboro 
ise  of  a  generous  salary,  he  preferred  to 
church  and  congregation  which  he  lov< 
them  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Hopkins  found  in  Newport  his  se< 
a  woman  of  great  intellectual  gifts,  who 
a  famous  boarding-school  for  girls  in  th 
September  16,  1794.  In  1790  Brown  univ 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  Nine  years  later  1 
which  affected  his  speech,  but  did  not  dij 
He  so  far  recovered  as  to  resume  his  paro 
until  October  16,  1803,  when  he  delivered 
revival  in  his  church.  A  few  hours  afte 
an  apopletic  fit,  and  although  he  regaine 
rallied,  but  failed  gradually  until  Decem 
died  quietly  at  his  own  home. 

Dr.  Hopkins  occupied  a  peculiar  posi 
land  theologians  of  the  eighteenth  centui 
theological  transition.     He  stood  midwa 
teacher,  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  the  moi 
ing  school  of  "  humanists  "  who  served 
ture  of  old  established  New  England  bel 
in  the  spirit  of  Edwards's  teaching,  to  an 
who  were  brooding  with  dissatisfaction 
not  settled  in  the  works  of  that  eminent 
taken  an  impossible  task, — "  to  make  Ca 
lectual  system,  impregnable  to  assault  f 
gradually  to  differ  from  Edwards  on  mai 

He  rejected,  for  example,  the  dualism  in  the  c 
love.  From  the  time  of  Calvin  onward  it  had  been 
while  justice  punishes  the  reprobates.     No  greatei 


6^6  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 

to  maintain,  as  Hopkins  did,  that  the  essence  of  Deity  was  love  which  extended  to 
universal  being.  But  when  it  was  attempted  to  incorporate  this  truth  with  the 
tenets  of  Calvinism,  when  it  appeared  that  the  divine  love  to  universal  being  was 
sending  to  eternal  perdition  the  great  majority  of  those  then  living,  the  situation 
was  even  worse  than  before.  One  could  possibly  endure  that  justice  should  bear 
the  brunt  of  so  awful  a  necessity,  but  that  the  essence  of  divine  love  should  require 
it,  seemed  like  a  caricature  and  mockery.  It  was  impossible  to  combine  the  new 
statement  with  the  inhumanity  of  the  old  system  without  leading  to  a  result  incon- 
gruous beyond  description.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  Hopkins  felt  from  a  dis- 
tance the  coming  humanitarianism  which  was  to  change  the  face  of  human 
thought.* 

In  trying  to  reconcile  the  dogmas  of  uncompromising  Calvinism 
with  the  teachings  of  his  own  kindly  heart,  he  was  continually  led 
into  these  contradictions  and  inconsistencies.  He  preached  and 
published  a  series  of  sermons  with  the  title,  "  Sin  through  Divine 
Interposition  an  Advantage  to  the  Universe,  yet  this  no  Excuse  for 
Sin  or  Encouragement  to  it."  Again,  he  maintained  simultaneously 
the  doctrine  of  the  supremacy  of  the  divine  will,  and  the  theory  of 
voluntary  freedom  in  the  human  being.  And  we  must  not  omit 
to  mention  what  is  known  as  the  chief  characteristic  of  the  Hop- 
kinsian  theology,  the  doctrine  of  disinterested  submission,  as  it  is 
called,  or  "  a  willingness  to  be  damned,"  as  the  last  and  highest  test 
of  spiritual  excellence. 

But  with  his  ruggedness  and  inconsistencies,  with  his  eccentric- 
ities and  lack  of  polish,  there  was  combined  so  much  manly  integ- 
rity, so  profound  and  conscientious  a  seeking  after  truth,  so  earnest 
love  for  his  Maker  and  his  fellow  man  as  to  make  the  whole  char- 
acter both  grand  and  admirable,  and  give  us  cause  to  be  proud  to 
point  to  Samuel  Hopkins  as  one  of  the  sons  of  Waterbury.f 

OTHER    EARLY    MINISTERS    RAISED    UP    IN    THE    FIRST    CHURCH. 

Jonathan  Judd,  son  of  Captain  William  and  Mary  (Root)  Judd, 
and  grandson  of  Deacon  (and  Captain)  Thomas  Judd,  was  born  in 
Waterbury,  October  4,  17 19.  He  was  first-cousin  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Hopkins,  and  in  college  was  his  classmate  and  his  bosom 
friend.  He  graduated  from  Yale  in  1741,  and  became  the  first  min- 
ister of  the  second  parish  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  now  the  town  of 
Southampton.     A  church  was  gathered  there  in  1743  and  he  was 

*  ProfcMor  a.  V.  G.  Allen  in  "  The  Transition  in  New  England  Theology,"  Atlantic  Monthly^  Vol. 
LXVIII,  p.  771  (December,  iSji).  The  article  is  a  luminous  statement  of  Hopkins's  place  in  the  great  theo- 
logical transition  which  has  been  going  on  for  a  century  past  in  New  England  and  elsewhere.  See  also  Dr. 
William  E.  Channing*s  reminiscences  and  estimate  of  him,  in  Vol.  IV,  of  his  **  Works,"  pp.  344,  347-354;  also 
a  sketch  in  the  Congregational  Quarterly y  Vol.  VI,  pp.  1-8,  by  the  Rev.  Lyman  Whiting. 

+  For  Dr.  Hopkins's  place  in  literature  see  Vol.  II,  p.  953.  The  most  important  biography  of  him— that 
by  Professor  Park — is  there  referred  to. 


THE  FIRST  CHUBCE 

ordained  June  8  of  that  year,  and  filled 
years.  He.  and  his  cousin,  Dr.  Hopkii 
a  long  time,  but  an  alienation  of  feeli 
course,  took  place  in  consequence  of 
views.  By  direction  of  his  will  his  \ 
nearly  3000,  were  burned;  but  two  or 
He  died  July  28,  1803. 

On  November  28,  1743,  Mr.  Judd  n 
Captain  Jonathan  Sheldon  of  Sheffield, 
father  of  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Judd  of 
author  of  the  once-famous  novel  "  Marg 
merit. 

Daniel  Hopkins,  D.  D.,  a  younger  bi 
uel  Hopkins,  was  born  October  16,  1734 
tory  studies  with  his  brother,  and  grad 
1758,  with  the  highest  honors.  His  th 
sued  under  his  brother's  direction,  ai 
views  were  adopted  by  him  and  ear 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  New  Haven  2 
soon  afterward  took  charge  of  a  pari? 
On  account  of  failing  health  he  gave  u 
eight  years,  during  which  he  was  occ 
manual  labor.  In  1766  he  was  invited  1 
gregational  society  of  Salem,  Mass.,  an 
the  settled  pastor  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  deeply  interested  i  1 
colonies  for  independence,  and  was  cho 
Provincial  Congress.     In  1778  "he  ws 
Conventional  Government,  and  served 
In  the  meantime  a  disruption  took  pi  1 
Salem.     The  majority  became  Presby  : 
tional  minority,  recognized  by  an  eccle 
nal  Third  church,  adhered  to  Mr.  Hopl  i 
this  church  on  November  18,  1778,  ar 
until  1804,  when  a  colleague  was  pro  vie 
of  D.  D.  from  Dartmouth  college  in  i8< 

Dr.  Hopkins  has  been  described  as 
esting  preacher."     In  his  social  interco 
affability  and  courtesy.     "  His  tall  an  I 
by  a  high,  triangular  hat,  gave  such  di 
ments  that  no  man  who  walked  the  str  : 
respect  and  veneration.    The  remark 
appearance  and  bearing  he  strikingly    1 


638  HISTOBY  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  became  much  interested  in  benevolent 
enterprises.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  founding  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Missionary  society,  and  for  the  last  two  years  of  his  life 
was  its  president.  He  published  two  sermons,  one  on  the  death  of 
Washington  in  1800,  and  the  other  at  the  dedication  of  the  New 
South  meeting- house  in  Salem  in  1805. 

He  married,  in  1771,  Susanna,  daughter  of  John  Saunders  of 
Salem,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  He  died,  after  a  distressing^ 
illness,  December  14,  1814. 

Benoni  Upson,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  the  "  Farmington  part"  of 
what  is  now  Wolcott,  February  14,  1750.  His  father  was  Thomas, 
the  grandson  of  Stephen  Upson,  and  his  mother  was  Hannah  Hop- 
kins of  Waterbury,  sister  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  college  in  1776,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Kensington,  April  21,  1779.  He  remained  here  until  the 
close  of  his  life,  having  been  furnished  during  his  later  years  with 
a  colleague  in  the  pastorate.  In  August,  1778,  he  married  Livia 
Hopkins,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq  ,  of  Waterbury,  by  whom 
he  had  eight  children.  In  September,  1809,  he  was  made  a  member 
of  the  corporation  of  Yale  college,  and  in  1817  received  from  his 
Alma  Mater  the  degree  of  D.  D.  In  an  obituary  notice  published 
in  the  Religious  IntelHgenier,  Vol.  XI,  p.  415  (November  25,  1826),  he 
is  described  as  "a  pious,  affectionate  and  discreet  pastor,  tender 
and  highly  beloved  in  the  conjugal  and  parental  relations,  endeared 
to  a  numerous  circle  of  acquaintance,  and  distinguished  for  urbanity 
of  manners,  hospitality  and  benevolence."  He  died  November  13, 
1826.     (See,  further,  Orcutt's  History  of  Wolcott,  p.  354.) 

Benjamin  Wooster,  son  of  Wait  and  Phebe  (Warner)  Wooster, 
was  born  in  Waterbury,  October  29,  1762.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  He  graduated  from  Yale  college  in  1790, 
and  studied  theology  with  the  Rfev.  Dr.  Edwards  of  New  Haven. 
After  being  licensed  to  preach,  he  occupied  himself  for  a  time  in 
missionary  labor;  but  in  1797  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Cornwall,  Vt.  He  gave  up  his  charge  in  1802,  and  spent  three  years 
in  the  service  of  the  Berkshire  Missionary  society.  On  July  24, 
1805,  he  was  installed  in  Fairfield,  Vt.,  and  labored  assiduously  not 
only  in  his  own  parish  but  in  the  surrounding  country,  until  bodily 
infirmity  compelled  him,  in  1833,  to  discontinue  his  work.  During 
this  time  he  was  once  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  state,  and  twice  a  member  of  the  "  Septennial  Convention  con- 
vened by  the  Board  of  Censors."  He  was  opposed  to  the  war  of 
1812-14,  but  in  1814,  when  the  British  came  up  Lake  Champlain,  he 
headed  a  company  of  volunteers,  although  he  was  over  fifty  years 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH 

old,  and  **  on  the  very  day  he  was  to  prea 
marched  for  Plattsburg.  "  For  this  patri( 
of  New  York,  sent  him  a  magnificent  Bib 
the  fly  leaf."  Mr.  Wooster  was  a  man  ol 
as  of  great  wit  and  i*eadiness  of  repartee. 
He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Israel 
leaving  three  daughters  and  a  son.  Mr.  V 
Vt.,  February  i8,  1840.* 

Aaron  Button,  the  youngest  of  the 
and  Anne  (Rice)  Button,  was  born  in  that 
is  now  Watertown,  May  21,  1780.     He  pui 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Azel  Bac 
ated  at  Yale  college  in  1803,  was  instruc 
dent    Bwight,   and    was    ordained    Becet 
of  the   First   church   and    society  in  Gui 
charge  June  8,  1842,  mainly  on  account  0 
between  himself  and  his  people  on  the 
was  a  member  of  the  corporation  of  Yah 
his  decease. 

A  few  months  after  his  separation  fro 
the  service  of  the  Home  Missionary  soci< 
tory),  and  was  invited  to  settle  over  the 
Burlington.  When  about  to  return  to 
arrangements  for  a  permanent  removal  t 
sick.  He  reached  New  Haven  with  diffic 
dangerous  illness,  from  which  he  never  c 
died  in  June,  1849,  and  was  buried  in  the  i 
in  Guilford. 

Mr.  Button  was  an  earnest,  faithful  an  i 
among  the  churches,  and  true  in  all  the  r<  '. 
early  and  consistent  friend  of  temperani  1 
was  ready  to  suffer,  if  need  be,  in  the  disc 
his  duty.  He  published  a  few  sermons,  i 
the  Christian  Spectator, 

His  wife,  Boreas  (daughter  of  Samu  \ 
town),  whom  he  married  in  April,   1806, 
Their  son,  the  Rev.   Samuel  William  So 
graduate  of  Yale  college  in  1833,  was  pa 
(the  North  church)  of  New  Haven,  from 


*  See  Spragae*8  **  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  Vol.  I, 
Davie  Butler,  Albany,  1888.    Sprague  makes  the  year  of  Mr.  Wo<    I 
Butler's.    The  letter  above  referred  to  was  published  in  Niles's  R    • 
sermon  concerning  him,  by  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Wild,  has  been  publis: 


640  HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 

1866,   aged   fifty-one  years.     Another  son,   Aaron   Rice   Dutton,  a 

graduate  of  Yale  in  1837  and  a  lawyer  in  Washington,  D.  C,  died 

May  4,  1885,  aged  sixty-nine.    Their  daughter,  Mary  Dutton,  so  long 

a  teacher  of  a  widely  known  school  for  girls  in  New  Haven,  died 
in  1888. 

THE  CHURCH  IN  SALEM  SOCIETY. 

Naugatuck  was  the  last  child  to  leave  Waterbury,  having 
remained  at  home  until  1844.  But  it  is  130  years  since  "Stephen 
Hopkins  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the  first  society  in  Waterbury," 
asked  the  General  Assembly  to  grant  them  "  a  winter  parish  for 
four  months  in  the  year,  namely  the  months  of  December,  January, 
February  and  March."  The  original  grant,  with  the  autograph  of 
George  Wyllys,  secretary,  which  was  sent  to  Judds  Meadow,  has 
been  preserved.  It  is  for  the  term  of  three  years  from  the  rising 
of  that  Assembly  (October  term,  1765).  The  bounds  of  the  parish 
were  in  brief  as  follows: 

They  began  at  Long  Land  on  the  north,  and  continued  east  across  the  Walling- 
ford  line  far  enough  to  "comprehend"  the  first  tier  of  lots  in  that  tovraship,  then 
ran  south  to  New  Haven  bounds;  from  thence  west  to  the  three  trees  called  the 
Three  Brothers;  thence  south  in  the  line  between  Milford  and  New  Haven  to  Leba- 
non brook;  from  thence  west  to  Naugatuck  river  to  where  Spruce  brook  empties 
into  the  river  on  the  west  side;  from  thence  to  the  highway  where  it  turns  south 
by  Thomas  Osborn's  lot  to  Derby;  from  thence  to  Meshadock  brook  where  Moss's 
road  crosses  to  Westbury;  from  thence  east  to  the  Long  Land. 

The  land  within  the  above  bounds  belonging  to  Oxford  society  was 
excluded,  also  "  Samuel  Porter  and  his  lands/' 

At  the  expiration  of  the  three  years  Gideon  Hickcox  and  other 
inhabitants  asked  for  an  extension  of  the  privileges  formerly- 
granted.  The  General  Assembly  renewed  the  grant  with  a  few- 
changes  in  the  bounds,  the  chief  one  being  that  the  eastern  bound 
did  not  include  the  first  tier  of  lots  in  Wallingford.  This  grant 
was  to  continue  according  to  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly,  and  per- 
mitted the  inhabitants  to  hold  service  at  Judds  Meadow  five  months 
in  the  year. 

Of  the  period  of  the  winter  parish,  from  1765  to  1768,  it  is  not 

known  that  any  records  remain.     Stephen  Hopkins  probably  made 

provision  for  the  services,  obtained  the  ministers  and  kept  their 

receipts.      The  following   is   the   earliest   evidence  extant  of  the 

services  of  a  minister: 

New  Haven,  Agusts  25,  1769. 

Then  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Judds  Meddow  Winter  parish  the  sum  of 
sixteen  pounds,  on  the  account  of  my  Son's  public  labours  among  them. 

Samuel  Munson. 


THE  GHVRCH  AND  80CIE1 

There  is  also  an  autograph  letter  writtet 
and  signed  by  Nathan  Hale,  in  which  th< 

I  went  from  the  Commencement  to  my  Father' 
state  as  to  my  Health  that  there  is  no  probability  i 
this  winter.  I  have  not  been  able  to  preach  but  ot 
ment  and  that  was  half  the  next  Sabbath  after  I  sa 

The  letter  is  addressed:  **  To  Mr.  Hotch 
Waterbnry." 

In  1767  "the  list  of  the  Estate  of  the 
Society,  exclusive  of  the  Church  of  Engla: 
amount,  divided  as  it  then  was  for  winter  ] 

Southern  Winter  Parish  (Judds  Meadow), 
Western  Winter  Parish  (Middlebury), 
Eastern  Memorial  (Farmingbury),   . 
Leaving  for  the  First  Society, 

Testii 

At  the  October  term  of  the  Assembly  in 
"  Southern  Winter  Parish  '*  petitioned 
"  Bushnel  Bostwick,  Thomas  Darling  and 
Esq","  were  commissioned  to  hear  the  ; 
society,  and  two  of  them,  having  conferre 
following  letter,  the  autograph  of  which  1 

Gent*'- 

On  conferring  with  Mr,  Darling  touching 

Prospect  of  viewing  your  Circumstances  so  as  to  ^ 

Assembly  before  it  riseth,  if  we  should  attempt  it  < 

think  it  more  adviseable  to  postpone  the  Time  to 

which  time  we  purpose  to  meet  (if  you  have  no  O 

have  full  Opportunity  to  be  heard  which  may  prob 

them  as  well  as  to  us  as  we  are  very  desireous  to 

undoubtedly  rise  the  next  week. 

We  are  Gentl"  yc 

Hum***  sev^* 

Capt.  John  Lewis, 

& 
Capt.  Gideon  Hotchkiss. 

The  above  gentlemen,  when  the  time 
convenient  and  necessary  that  a  new 
Accordingly  the  Assembly  resolved  tl: 
within  the  following  limits  should  be  n 
tinct  ecclesiastical  society,  to  be  known 
Salem: 
41 


642  IIISTORT  OF  WATERBVBT. 

Beginnin;;  at  a  rock  near  the  road  from  the  town  plat  in  Waterbury  to  New 
Haven,  distant  from  the  meeting-house  in  Waterbury  two  miles,  one  half  and  sixty 
rods,  called  the  Mile  rock,  and  thence  to  nin  east  one  degree  and  thirty  minutes 
south  to  Wallingfiird  line;  thence  in  said  line  to  the  tree  called  the  Three  Brothers, 
thence  south  to  the  Beacon  Cap.  thence  to  the  s<jutheast  corner  of  a  farm  formerly 
belonging  to  James  Richards  [Pricharil]  lying  on  Beacon  hill,  thence  west  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Spruce  lirook  the  west  side  of  Naugatuck  river,  thence  keeping 
the  brook  westwardly  to  the  mouth  of  the  brook  that  comes  off  from  Red  Oak  hill, 
theuce  northwesterly  to  the  place  where  Moss's  road  crosses  Derby  line,  thence 
northwardly  in  said  road  to  Enos  Gunn's  dwelling-house,  thence  a  north  line  so  far 
as  to  intersect  a  west  line  from  said  Mile  rock. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  the  present  generation  to  know  exactly 
how  much  money  was  expended  by  the  Judds  Meadow  men  in  get- 
tine  the  above  act  passed,  and  to  whom  it  was  paid: 

£  s.  d. 

May.  1772,  an  account  of  money  at   Hartford  paid  out  at  the 

Assembly  to  take  care  of  the  memorial o     7  to 

October,  1772.  money  paid  out  to  Mr.  Hillhonse,  ,         .         .  060 

For  money  paid  out ,         .         .  o    6     S 

For  money  paid  at  New  Haven o    o  11 

May,  1773,  paid  to  Mr.  Hillhouse, 060 

For  money  paid  out  at  Hartford 0137 

For  money  paid  out  agoing  to  Westlield o     1     S 

For  money  paid  to  Mr.  Hillhoitse, 


El  have  the  memorial  s 


The  first  society  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  June, 
1773.  Captain  Gideon  Hotchkiss  was  chosen  moderator;  Ashbel 
Porter  clerk;  for  society's  committee.  Captain  Gideon  Hotchkiss, 
Captain  John  Lewis,  Stephen  Hopkins,*  Samuel  Lewis,  Esq.,  and 
Captain  Samuel  Porter.  At  this  meeting  a  "rate  "  of  two  pence  on 
the  pound  was  laid  (John  Hopkins  collector).  At  the  next  meeting, 
m  December,  Gideon  Hickox,  J.  Lewis,  Jr.,  and  John  Hopkins 
were  added  to  the  society's  committee,  and  a  school  committee  con- 
sisting of  Isaac  Judd,  Israel  Terrill  and  Ashbel  Porter,  was 
appointed.  It  was  voted  that  "the  school  be  paid  by  the  rate,  what 
the  pubHck  money  doth  not  pay,''  with  Thomas  Porter,  Jr.,  the  col- 
lector, and  a  tax  of  five  pence  on  the  pound  was  laid.  In  1774 
Daniel  Warner  was  chosen  grave  digger.  In  1774,  also,  the  first 
attempt  to  secure  stated  ministrations  of  the  gospel  was  made.  In 
August,  Mr.  Remily  was  invited  to  preach  on  probation;  in  Octo- 
ber, Mr.  Miles  was  called  for  settlement;  in  April,  of  1776,  the  Rev. 
Abraham  Camp  was  invited  on  probation;  in  March,  1777,  the  Rev, 
Mr,  Barker  received  the  same  invitation;  in  January,  1781,  it  was 
decided  to  give  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Medad  Rogers. 

•  The  elder  Stephen  Kapkin>,wbopemJ»ned  (or  i>WiiiierPaiiih  in  176;.  had  died  in  17^9. 


THE  OHUROH  AND  80CIB 

During  all  these  years  we  must  not  J 
was  reducing  the  life-forces  of  the  cou 
of  its  people  and  even  the  products  o 
prising  that  Judds  Meadow  obtained  t 
years  of  stress  of  war;  but  it  is  exceedii 
that  they  kept  on  in  their  endeavors  ti 
their  coming  meeting-house  grew  in 
tions.     Even  in   1776,  they  took  a  step 
During  all  this  period,  1 773-1 781,  no  cl 
church   waited   for  a  minister,  perhaps 
organization  took  place  February  22,  17* 
the  advice  and  assistance  of  Mark  Lea 
bull  and  Alexander  Gillet."     The  origit 
were: 


i 


Gideon  Hickox,  Mn 

Mrs.  Sarah  Hickox. 

Samuel  Lewis,  Mn 

Mrs.  Eunice  Lewis, 

j  Amos  Osbom,  Job 

i  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Osbom,  En< 

j  Ashbel  Porter,  Sar 

i  Mrs.  Hannah  Porter,  Sar 

Gideon  Hickox,  Jr.,  Sar 

When  the  site  for  the  meeting-house 
there  was  a  wide  difference  of  opinion  i 
The  territory  now  within  the  town  of  Pi 
proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  soc 
the  meeting-house  to  be  as  near  to  their 
like  their  predecessors  in  other  societie 
The  Court's  committee  set  the  stake  h; 
the  river,  on  land  of  Gideon  Hickox.  O 
obtained  a  title  to  it,  the  meeting-hous 
and  society.  As  the  years  go  on,  the 
man  did  for  this  first  meeting-house  ii 
its  interest  : 

May,  1782,  for  work  done  towards  the  Meeting 
For  going  to  Goshen  for  a  lode  of  clabords. 
For  carting  timber  a  day. 

\  For  a  day  to  West  Haven  to  get  shells. 

}f  For  carting  a  load  of  shells  and  paid  for  them. 

,  For  2  days  making  pins  [for  the  frame]. 

For  my  cart  to  cart  stones  a  day,  by  Philip. 

II 

*  For  some  reason  (perhaps  he  was  on  service  in  the  war),  ' 
He,  however,  was  admitted  to  fellowship  the  next  month. 


644  mSTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 

The  above  and  other  charges  are  succeeded  by  the  following: 

December  20,  17S2— Paid  twenty  pounds  toward  the  Meeting-House  which  was 
my  signment.     Beside  what  I  found  raising. 

June  17,  1781.  Things  that  I  provided  for  the  Raising  of  the  Meetipg-House 
and  Steeple: 

For  a  Barrel  of  Sider. 

For  a  Bushel  of  Ingeu  Meal. 

For  Half  a  Bushel  of  Malt. 

About  nine  pounds  of  salt  pork. 

About  thirty  pounds  of  fresh  pork. 

For  two  the  beat  sheep  I  had. 

It  was  said  in  1876  by  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Sherman  in  his  memo- 
rial discourse  (delivered  at  Naugatuck  in  commemoration  of  otir 
national  centennial)  that  there  were  no  records  showing  when  the 
building  was  completed,  but  an  old  account  book  has  delivered  up 
the  secret  in  the  following  words: 

Monday  June  17:  1782.  This  day  we  laid  the  silts  oE  the  Meeting-House  and 
Steeple  in  Salem  and  finished  Raising  on  Saturday  Morning  June   22:  1783. 

Thursday;  November:  28:  17S2:  this  day  we  met  in  our  new  Meetiog-Honse,  it 
being  a  day  set  apart  by  these  States  for  a  day  of  publick  thanksgiving. 

For  all  of  the  foregoing  facts  relating  to  the  building  of  the 
meeting-house  we  are  indebted  to  Captain  Gideon  Hotchkiss,  one 
of  the  first  two  deacons  of  the  church,  who  faithfully  recorded 
them  in  his  account  book  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence.* 

The  building  seems  to  have  been  fully  equipped  with  its  "  fore 
door"  and  "communion  table"  in  time  only  for  the  ordination  of 
the  first  settled  pastor,  of  whom  the  account  book  says: 

Salem,  December  4,  1784.  This  day  we  agreed  with  Mr.  Fowler  to  attend  His 
ordiaation  in  this  place  on  Wedne.sday,  the  12  day  of  January  next. 

Wenesday:  January:  12.  1785:  this  day  the  Rev*  Mr.  Abraham  Fowler  wasor- 
dained  over  the  Cliurch  and  Congregation  in  Salem. 

Wenesday  March:  13:  1799.  This  day  the  Rev*  A"  Fowler  was  dismissed  from 
the  Church  and  Congregation  in  Salem. 

Two  years  after  the  first  service  was  held  in  the  meeting-house 
on  the  hill,  on  December  12,  1784,  Gideon  Hickox,  the  owner  of  the 
land  on  which  it  stood,  conveyed  it  to  the  church  and  society. 

This  church  building  remained  on  the  hill  forty-nine  years.  It 
had  a  bell  in  1794  (if  not  earlier),  at  which  date  it  was  agreed  to 
have  the  meeting-house  bell  rung,  at  the  cost  of  the  society,  on 
each  Sunday  for  all  public  meetings  which  are  held  at  the  meeting- 
house, for  funerals  when  desired,  and  at  nine  o'clock  each  night, 
Saturday  nights  excepted. 

•  Under  date  of  April  ii.  173;,  he  tecotded:  Thii  day  1  mnuumi  tbe  snonu  it  lie*  Blidin  Ibe  iiraadm. 


THE  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY  IN  SALEM,  645 

In  regard  to  the  non-heating  of  meeting-houses,  the  generally 
accepted  theory  is  that  our  ancesters  looked  upon  the  proposed 
heating  of  them  as  a  kind  of  desecration.  The  writer  has  not  met 
with  the  slightest  proof  that  this  theory  is  founded  on  fact.  The 
destruction  of  a  meeting-house  in  the  days  before  insurance  com- 
panies had  their  origin,  would  have  been  an  irreparable  loss  to  a 
society.  To  have  accomplished  the  heating  of  one  with  wood-fires, 
even  had  the  meeting-houses  been  built  with  chimneys,  would  have 
been  well-nigh  impossible,  and  would  have  involved  night  service 
both  before  and  after  the  day  of  meeting.  To  say  that  the  meet- 
ing-house was  of  too  much  importance  to  take  the  risk  of  its  burn- 
ing by  having  a  fire  in  it,  is  undoubtedl)'  true. 

In  March  of  1831  Daniel  Beecher  made  a  deed  of  gift  to  the 
society,  as  follows : 

For  the  consideration  of  the  good  will  which  I  have  to  the  ecclesiastical  society 
of  which  I  am  a  member,  a  piece  of  Land  lying  in  Salem  society  a  little  westward 
from  Salem  Bridge,  containing  Two  Roods  and  Ten  rods  [bounds  here  omitted], 
to  be  used  as  a  public  green  and  to  erect  a  Meeting-House  thereon  for  said  Society 
and  Church,  holding  the  doctrine  and  faith  and  practice  of  the  present  Society  and 
Church,  provided  that  said  society  or  any  other  person  shall  not  erect  any  Building 
or  any  other  obstruction  between  the  Meeting-House  to  be  erected  and  the  south 
line  of  said  piece.  .  .  .  It  is  understood  that  provided  s*  society  should  wish 
to  remove  s<*  Meeting-House  hereafter  from  s*  land,  they  have  liberty  so  to  do,  to 
sell  s**  land  and  apply  the  avails  for  the  benefit  of  s*  church  and  society.* 

To  this  land,  given  by  Daniel  Beecher  in  1831,  the  meeting-house 
on  the  hill  was  removed  the  same  year.  In  1853  after  a  service  of 
seventy-one  years  the  old  meeting-house  was  again  moved  to  give 
place  to  the  present  church  edifice.  A  portion  of  this  building  is 
still  in  use  as  a  store.     A  fire  partially  destroyed  it  in  1893. 

Mr.  Abraham  Fowler  was  the  first  settled  minister.  He  was 
ordained  in  the  meeting-house  on  the  hill,  January  12,  1785,  and 
installed  over  a  church  of  thirty-one  members.  He  was  dismissed 
March  13,  1799,!  leaving  a  church  that  had  lost  at  that  date  by 
death,  it  is  believed,  but  four  of  its  122  members.  The  pastors, 
to  1844,  were  as  follows: 


*  Two  months  after  the  above  deed  was  recorded,  Daniel  Beecher  also  gave,  for  **  the  consideration  of  his 
good  will  to  the  Episcopal  society  of  Salem  in  Waterbury,"  ninety  rods  of  land  directly  south  of  his  former 
gift.  It  is  described  as  '*an  oblong  square  ten  rods  East  and  West  and  nine  rods  North  and  South."  It  was 
given  "for the  purpose  of  a  public  Green,"  with  restriction  of  building  between  the  church  then  on  the  same, 
and  the  north  line.  Ten  years  later  ihe  same  Daniel  Beecher  *'  for  the  consideration  of  his  friendship  for  his 
descendants  and  Family  connexions'* — conveyed  to  them  a  plot  of  ground  west  of  the  Episcopal  church — 
«*  for  the  purpose  of  a  family  burying  Ground  and  no  other."  It  was  six  rods  and  twenty  links  east  and  west 
by  two  rods  and  nineteen  links  north  and  south. 

t  Among  the  scarcer  pamphlets  of  the  present  day  is  the  following:  **A  Farewell  Sermon,  delivered  at 
Salem,  in  Watcrbury,  April  17, 1799,  By  the  Rev.  Abraham  Fowler,  late  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  that  Society. 
Printed  by  George  Bunce.  New  Haven:  1799."  Another  of  Mr.  Fowler's  published  sermons  is  referred  to 
in  the  chapter  on  Masonry. 


646  BISTORT  OF  WATERS URY. 

Mr.  Abraham  Fowler,  January  12,  1785,  to  March  13,  1799. 
Mr.  Jabez  Chadwick,  December  2,  1800,  to  March,  1803. 
Rev.  Stephen  Dodd,  1811,  to  April,  1817. 
Rev.  Amos  Pettengill,  January,  1823;  died  Au^st  19.  1830. 
Rev.  Seth  Sackett,  October,  1834,  to  January,  1838. 
Rev.  Chauncey  G.  Lee,  January,  1838  to  November,  1840. 

The  deacons  for  the  same  period  were: 

Samuel  Lewis,  1783;  died  in  1788. 
Gideon  Hotchkiss,  1783;  died  in  1807. 
Elisha  Stevens,  1788;  died  in  1813. 
Calvin  Spencer,  1791;  died  in  1846. 
Truman  Porter,  1813;  died  in  1838. 
Thaddeus  Scott,  1813;  died  in  1832. 
Lucian  F.  Lewis,  1834;  removed  1853. 

Deacon  Calvin  Spencer,  Deacon  Elisha  Stevens  and  Mr.  Israel  Terrill  were,  on 
March  27,  1803,  appointed  ruling  elders. 

During  the  sixty-three  years  that  the  Salem  church  was  one 
of  the  churches  of  Waterbury  it  had  a  settled  pastor  but  thirty- 
nine  years.  It  was  organized  without  a  pastor;  in  1800  it  enter- 
tained, apparently  without  a  pastor  (at  the  house  of  Irijah  Terrill)> 
the  members  of  the  "  Consociation  of  the  Western  District  of  New 
Haven  county,"  consisting  of  eleven  reverend  elders  and  ten  dele- 
gates ;  it  passed,  without  a  pastor,  through  the  momentous  period 
of  religious  excitement  caused  by  the  preaching  of  Nettleton, 
during  which  time  eighty-two  members  were  received  into  its 
old;  and  when,  in  1831,  the  old  church  building  and  its  congre- 
gation came  together  into  the  valley,  they  came  without  a  pastor — 
for  he  had  preceded  them  into  the  valley  of  death.* 

When,  in  the  coming  time,  the  History  of  Naugatuck  shall  be 
written,  and  the  history  of  her  First  church  shall  take  its  place 
therein,  the  coming  writer  will  doubtless  search  the  records  of 
the  church  and  society  with  care,  and  will  be  rewarded  with  much 
valuable  information — notably  in  regard  to  her  sons  and  daughters 
who  went  out  to  settle  towns  in  New  York  and  Ohio,  and  whose 
history  remains  unwritten.  And  surely  that  writer  will  be  able 
to  give  testimony  to  the  patriotism  of  a  church  organized  on  the 
anniversary  of  Washington's  birthday,  the  sills  of  whose  first 
meeting-house  were  laid  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  and  whose  first  service  was  held  to  give  thanks  that  the 
Revolutionary  war  was  virtually  at  an  end. 

*  The  Rev.  Amos  Pettengill,  who  died  in  1830  and  was  buried  in  Hillside  cemetery.     For  his  literary 
record  see  Vol.  II,  p.  955. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

A  REACTION  FROM  "INDEPENDENCY" — THE  YEAR  l*J22 — "BISHOP  BROWN," 
IMMIGRANT—  THE  FIRST  MISSIONARY  —  MESSRS.  ARNOLD,  MORRIS 
AND  LYONS — DR.  MANSFIELD'S  LONG  MINISTRY — THE  PARISH  OF 
ST.  JAMES,  AFTERWARD  ST.  JOHN'S — THE  FIRST  CHURCH  —  JAMES 
SCOVIL,  FIRST  RECTOR — REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD — TRIALS  FOR  THE 
MINISTER  AND  THE  PEOPLE  —  SOLOMON  BLAKESLEE  AND  OTHERS — 
A  SECOND  EDIFICE,  1 796 — ^'dR.  TILLOTSON  BRONSON  —  VIRGIL  H. 
BARBER,    S.    J. —  ALPHEUS    GEER,    FROM    1814   TO    183O — ST.    PETER'S, 

northbury — Christ's  church,  westbury — st.  Michael's,  nauga- 

TUCK. 

NEARLY  all  of  the  early  Massachusetts  settlers  regarded  them- 
selves as  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  but  they  had 
evangelical  leanings  and  were  opposed  to  what  they  thought 
excessive  liturgical  and  prelatical  observances, — a  reforming  body 
within  the  church.  They  had,  however,  in  this  country  developed 
a  decided  church  polity  of  their  own,  and  had  practically  become 
"Independents."  The  government  was  organized  on  a  religious 
basis.  The  early  towns  were  really  churches;  the  minister  was 
"  called "  in  town  meeting,  and  his  support  was  provided  for 
by  town  grants  and  a  town  tax.  The  beliefs  and  methods  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  then  practiced,  were  not  congenial  to  them, 
and  they  were  allowed  as  little  foothold  or  countenance  here  as  was 
deemed  consistent  with  a  due  regard  for  the  ultimate  powers  of 
the  English  government.  Time  and  distance,  however,  while  they 
emphasized  and  rendered  possible  a  great  divergence  of  faiths  and 
practice  in  some  minds,  softened  early  prejudices,  and  a  love  and 
longing  for  the  old  church  and  her  forms  grew  up  in  many  hearts. 
Her  shortcomings  were  forgotten,  her  virtues  were  more  clearly 
seen,  especially  where  they  could  be  favorably  contrasted  with  the 
deficiencies^of  the  New  England  system.  In  this  way,  or  in  some 
such  way,  a  preparation  for  a  reaction  had  for  some  time  been 
going  on. 

The  year  1722  was  a  notable  one  in  the  history  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Connecticut.  In  that  year  Dr.  Timothy  Cutler,  rector  of 
Yale  college,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  a  graduate  and  former  tutor 


648  HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 

of  the  college  and  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  West  Haven,  and  Daniel  Brown,  a  tutor  in  the  college  and  a  class- 
mate and  intimate  friend  of  Johnson's,  all  declared  their  adhesion 
to  the  Episcopal  Church,  gave  up  their  positions  and  left  for  Eng- 
land to  be  ordained — there  being  no  Bishop  in  this  country  until 
some  sixty  years  later.  On  April  13,  1723,  Brown  died  of  small- 
pox in  England,  greatly  mourned  and  lamented.  The  other  two 
were  duly  ordained  and  returned  to  this  country  to  pursue  their 
work. 

In  this  same  year,  1722,  James  Brown,  a  resident  of  West  Haven, 
then  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  a  cousin  of  the  father  of  the 
above  named  Daniel  Brown,  and  doubtless  a  parishioner  of  the 
above  named  Samuel  Johnson,  removed  from  West  Haven  to  Water- 
bury.  He  lived  at  Naugatuck  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  was  a 
farmer  and  hotel  keeper  and  soon  became  a  somewhat  prominent 
man  in  the  new  settlement.  Some  years  later  he  removed  to  Water- 
town,  to  the  place  known  of  late  years  as  the  Captain  John  Bucking- 
ham place,  above  Oakville. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  the  iirst  Episcopalian  in  Waterbury. 
Perhaps  he  had  been  a  fellow-student  and  investigator  with  his 
cousin  and  his  pastor.  He  certainly  sympathized  with  them,  for  his 
Episcopacy  was  of  so  pronounced  a  character,  and  his  zeal  so  active, 
that  he  earned  for  himself  the  soubriquet  of  "  Bishop  Brown  "  from 
his  jocular  neighbors.  He  seems  for  some  years  to  have  been  the 
only  incumbent. 

There  were,  however,  doubtless  a  few  persons  already  here  who 
knew  something  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  were  well  disposed 
towards  it.  Witness  the  following:  The  Rev,  X.  A.  Welton  writes, 
"  Mr.  Stephen  Hopkins  Welton  has  an  old  prayer-book  containing 
the  following  inscription,  which  I  copied  from  it  myself  ": 

This  book  wa.?  first  the  property  of  my  great-grandfather,  Richard  Welton, 
who  was  the  first  male  child  born  of  English  pareats  in  Waterbury*  and  one  of  the 
first  Episcopalians  ia  said  town.  At  his  decease  it  became  the  property  of  my  grand- 
father, Richard  Welton,  Jr.,  and  at  his  decease  it  t>ecarae  my  property.  I  gave  it 
to  William  S.  H.  Welton,  the  eldest  son  of  ray  nephew,  the  Rev.  Alanson  W.  Wei. 
ton,  deceased.  Said  Samuel  [sie\  is  the  fifth  generation  from  theorig^inal  proprietor 
of  this  book  and  the  sixth  from  the  only  man  of  this  name  that  was  ever  known  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  and  settle  in  these  British  Colonies. 

All  the  way  by  primogeniture. 

Attest:  Abi  Welton. 


THE  KPmaOPAL  PARISR 

Richard  Welton,  first  named  above,  wa 
record,  March,  1680,  and  by  family  traditic 
died  in  1755.  So  he  may  not  have  had  1 
Brown  came  here;  and  the  possession  of  tl 
as  proof  of  his  opinion,  but  from  the  f 
extreme  end  of  the  town  from  Mr.  Brow 
were  among  the  first  to  join  with  him,  i 
were  already  well  affected. 

It  is  recorded  that  in  1734  Mr.  Johnson, 
ascended  the  valley  of  the  Naugatuck  as  ft 
tised  an  infant  son  of  Nathaniel  Gunn.*  '. 
tory  of  Episcopacy  in  Connecticut  says  of 
undoubtedly  the  first  instance  in  that  toi 
child  to  God  *  by  our  office  and  ministry,' 
which  the  forms  of  the  liturgy  were  use 
Church  of  England." 

All  organized  work  of  the  Church  of  Ei 
that  time  was  under  the  charge  of  an  En 
founded  in  1701  and  styled  the  Society  fc 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.     In  later  years  tt 
erable,  and  became  so  well  known  that  fc 
initials  "  Ven.  S.  P.  G."  were  a  sufficient  d 
continued  to  have  charge  of  all  church  wo 
the  Revolution.     It  appointed  the  clergy, 
received  their   reports.     In  1737  it  appo:  1 
Arnold   (who  had   succeeded  Mr.  Johnso:  1 
church  in  West  Haven,  but  had  later  emb 
sionary  for  West  Haven,  Derby  and  Water 
families  (some  accounts  say  two  or  three,  c 
at  this  place,  desired  the  ministrations  of 
did  not  reside  here  and  his  ministry  was   ' 
have  baptized  two  children  here.     He  was   . 
graduate  of  Yale  College  (1723.)     He  seei  1 
erratic  disposition  and  not  adapted  to  a  j 
two  or  three  years  after  this,  occasional  s  ; 
Mr.  Johnson,  then  of  Stratford,  and  Mr.  ] 
Rev.  Theophilus  Morris  was  the  next  m  i 
fixed  his  residence  at  Derby.     He  was  an  : 
contemporaries,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  wr  I 

He  is  in  many  respects  a  gentleman  of  good  a<  : 
^em  likely  that  he  will  suit  or  be  suited  with  tl   1 


*  Presumably  Abel,  born  August  la,  1734. 


650 


mSTORT  OF  WATBRBURT. 


people,  so  that  I  very  much  doubt  whether  he  will  be  happy  in  them  or  they  in  him, 
and  I  wish  that  he  was  better  provided  for  and  that  some  young  man  previously 
acquainted  with  this  country  or  that  could  suit  his  disposition  to  it,  were  provided 
for  them. 

One  reads  between  these  lines  pretty  clearly  what  Mr.  Morris's 
limitations  were.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  well  meaning  man  with 
considerable  energy,  but  his  zeal  was  not  according  to  knowledge; 
he  involved  himself  in  difficulties  with  his  brethren  here  and  he 
soon  after  returned  to  England  apparently  to  his  own  and  their 
relief. 

Mr.  Morris's  successor  was  the  Rev.  James  Lyons,  an  Irishman 
by  birth,  of  whom  the  historian  of  the  church  says  that  "if  he  had 
genius  and  zeal,  he  was  another  example  of  a  tiller  in  the  field  that 
needed  a  special  missionary  to  watch  him  and  keep  him  from  run- 
ning his  plough  upon  the  rocks."  Mr.  Lyons  was  here  about  four 
years.  He  resided  in  Derby  and  preached  one-third  of  the  time  in 
Waterbury.  During  these  years,  notwithstanding  some  defects  in 
the  missionaries  in  charge,  the  church  had  greatly  increased.  In  the 
year  1740  the  famous  Whitefield  preached  throughout  New  England, 
and  his  preaching  was  followed  by  a  condition  of  intense  religious 
excitement.  The  result  of  this  was  to  turn  the  attention  of  the  staid 
and  moderate  portion  of  the  community  to  the  more  quiet  and  con- 
servative methods  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  there  followed  a 
great  accession  to  the  Episcopal  ranks.  Dr.  Bronson  says:  "The 
prosperity  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Waterbury  dates  from  about 
1740."  It  is  said  that  twenty-five  heads  of  families  at  one  time 
transferred  their  membership  from  the  Congregational  to  the  Epis- 
copal society. 

Mr.  Lyons's  successor  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Mansfield.  He  was 
the  son  of  Deacon  Jonathan  Mansfield  of  New  Haven,  and  was 
born  there,  October  i,  1723,  and  graduated  at  Yale  college  in  1741. 
For  five  years  he  was  rector  of  the  Hopkins  Grammar  school,  and 
as  during  this  time  he  connected  himself  with  the  Episcopal  church 
(the  Hopkins  Grammar  school  being  distinctly  a  Congregational 
institution)  and  still  continued  for  some  years  to  hold  the  position, 
it  is  evident  that  even  at  that  early  age  he  must  have  possessed  a 
rare  combination  of  firmness,  gentleness  and  attractive  traits  of 
character.  In  1748  he  was  ordained  in  England  and  appointed  a 
missionary,  on  a  salary  of  £20  a  year,  to  the  villages  of  Derby,  West 
Haven,  Waterbury  and  Northbury,  and  established  himself  at 
Derby,  that  being  a  convenient  point  for  the  care  of  this  extensive 
charge.  On  October  10,  175 1,  he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Joseph   Hull  of  Derby.     She  had  reached  at  that  time  the 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARISH 

mature  age  of  fifteen  years  and  four  tnc 
had,  the  preceding  summer,  married  the 
the  Congregational  minister  of  Waterbt 
Mansfield  administered  the  affairs  of  1 
faithfulness  and  success.  After  Mr.  Sc 
parishes  in  the  neighborhood  Mr.  Mansfi 
to  Derby  and  vicinity,  and  there  he  li^ 
and  respected,  until  April  2,  1820,  when 
seventh  year  of  his  age  and  the  seventy 
one  of  the  longest,  if  not  absolutely  th 
on  record.  His  Alma  Mater  in  1792  c 
degree  of  D.  D.,  he  being  the  first  Episcc 
she  extended  that  honor.  He  was  one  of 
succeed  Bishop  Seabury,  but  declined  to 
ninety-sixth  year  he  presided  over  the  c< 
Bishop  Brownell. 

As  early  as  1742  measures  were  taken  t 
ship,  and  application   was  made  to  the  t 
After  some  negotiation,  in  April,  1743,  the 
of  a  site,  jQi2  in  money  to  pay  for  such  a 
cure.     The  site  had  already  been  selected 
building  made.     Although  the  sum  of  ^i  i 
as  consideration  (perhaps  to  make  the  a : 
gift  legal),  the  lot  was  really  presented  to 
is  described  as  taken  from  his  house  lot. 
West  Main  and  Willow  streets,  the  lot  n  i 
Mitchell — and  is  described  as  forty-five    ' 
twenty-eight  feet  on  the  west,  fifty  feet    1 
nine  feet  on  the  east.     The  church  and  pa:  : 
James.     In  those  days  church  buildings   i 
was  customary  to  have  a  small  building  i: 
fire-places,  where  those  who  came  from  a   I 
hour  between  services  and  be  warm  and  C(  1 
their  luncheon,  and   could  fill  their  fcJot    ; 
service.    These  buildings  were  called  Sa  1 
the  language  of  the  time,  "Sabbady  hou 
sort  containing  several  rooms  stood  on  i  : 
where  is  now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Will  i 


*  Early  marriages  were  more  common  then  ihan  now,  and  there    i 
stances.    I  do  not  know  what  they  were.    Perhaps  she  was  very  pn 

t  In  1744  thirty-nine  members  of  the  church,  having  first  obtain    I 
applied  to  the  legislature  for  **  parish  privileges  ''--one  of  which  w( 
was  rejected. 


652  HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURY. 

This  was  an  era  of  prosperity  for  the  parish.  It  received  several 
valuable  gifts  of  land  from  members  and  a  rectory  was  built  by 
subscription.  This  was  on  land  given  by  Oliver  Welton  and  must 
have  been  not  far  from  where  F,  L.  Curtiss's  house  now  stands. 
It  was  the  third  lot  from  Willow  street.  Oliver  inherited  it  from 
his  grandfather  John.  He  gave  it,  while  yet  a  minor,  with  consent 
of  his  guardian,  the  Rev.  John  Southmayd,  and  confirmed  the  deed 
after  he  attained  his  majority. 

In  1759  Mr.  Mansfield  gave  up  the  northward  end  of  his  large 
mission  field  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James  Scovil,  who 
took  charge  of  Waterbury,  Northbury,  New  Cambridge  (now  Bris- 
tol), and  later  of  Westbury.  He  fixed  hts  residence  at  Water- 
bury,  thus  t>ecoming  tlie  first  resident  rector.  He  was  son  of 
Lieutenant  William  Scovil  and  grandson  of  Sergeant  John  Scovil, 
who  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the  town.  He  was 
born  January  27,  1732-3,  and  probably  in  the  house  on  Willow 
street  long  known  as  the  "old  Johnson  House,"  which  was  taken 
down,  after  being  partially  destroyed  by  fire,  in  1889,  being  at 
that  time  by  far  the  oldest  house  in  town.  This  house  was 
■liuilt  by  Sergeant  John  Scovil  for  his  son  William,  and  left  to 
him  by  will  in  1725.  About  the  time  of  James's  birth,  William 
Scovil  exchanged  places  with  Abram  Utter  and  removed  to  that 
part  of  Westbury  known  as  Nova  Scotia  hill.  The  dates  on  the 
record  indicate  that  this  removal  took  place  subsequent  to  the 
date  of  James's  birth,  but  there  was  a  tradition  in  the  family 
that  he  was  born  at  Nova  Scotia  hill.  When  James  Scovil  was 
about  ten  years  old,  his  mother  having  died,  his  father  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Brown,  before  mentioned  as  the 
first  Episcopalian  in  Waterbury.  Whether  she  brought  Episco- 
pacy into  the  family  I  cannot  say,  but  it  came  about  that  time, 
as  William  Scovil's  name  appears  as  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional society  not  long  before.  When  young  Scovil  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  an  injury  which  rendered  him  lame  for  a 
time  and  placed  him  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Porter  made  him 
turn  his  attention  to  study.  He  was  placed  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Southmayd,  who  found  him  so  apt  a  scholar  that 
he  urged  his  parents  to  give  him  a  college  education.  This 
being  approved,  he  at  once  began  his  classical  studies.  He  re- 
mained with  Mr.  Southmayd  until  cured  of  his  lameness,  and 
completed  his  preparation  for  college  at  home,  probably  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev,  Mr.  Trumbull.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1757.  A  year  afterward  the  vestry  of  St.  James's  parish  voted 
to   contribute    to   the   expenses   of   his   journey   to    England    for 


5 


TEE  EPISCOPAL  PARISH 

ordination,*  to  give  him  ;£2o,  sterling, 
nothing  at  Aum,  and  half  of  whatever  h( 
the  use  of  the  glebe.  Ifum  then  mean1 
of  those  vestrymen,  perhaps  none,  had  e 
1759,  he  was  ordained  in  Westminster 
Rochester,  and  returned  as  a  recognize 
auspices  of  the  "  Ven.  S.  P.  G."  He  was  ; 
at  his  ordination,  with  a  folio  Bible  and  P 
volume,  for  use  in  the  church,  f 

Mr.  Scovil  continued  in  his  mission,  mi 
his  several  charges,  until  the  disturbances 
the  assistance  of  the  society  in  England, 
of  great  hardship  for  Episcopal  congreg 
sympathized  with  the  mother  country  and 
selves,   and  especially  upon  the  clergy,  m 
quently  open  hostility.     Mr.  Scovil,  thougl: 
neighbors,  did  not  escape  his  share.    On  or 
ing  with  his  cows  from  a  pasture  on  the  w< 
at  night-fall,  he  discovered  a  man   loading 
of  a  wood,  whose  conduct  awakened  his  suj 
hastened  to  him  and  asked  him  pleasant 
The  man  replied,  rather  angrily,  "  I  shou 
had   not  spoken   to  me,  for  I  knew  you 
advised  him  to  leave  his  cows  and  take  tl , 
or  he  might  fall  a  victim  to  others  who  '^  i 


*  The  following  document  has  recently  been  found  among  the  | 
Rev.  Dr.  Gammack : 

"  Northbury  in  Waterbury,  July  ye  27,  A.  D.  1758.  We  the  Su  1 
the  sume  that  we  subscribe  in  this  paper  unto  Lieut.  Jacob  Biakslec  1 
October  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof :  and  we  the  subscribers  do  by  I 
be  firmly  bound  to  the  said  Blakeslees  to  pay  to  them  the  sums  that 
said,  and  the  money  is  to  be  delivered  by  the  said  Blakslees  to  Mr.  !  ; 
England  for  Ordination  for  Waterbury,  Northbury  and  Cambridge  I 

jQ  8.    d.qr. 

Caleb  Thompson, on    0.0  May  Way, 

Isaac  Castel, o  16  11.2  David  Wa   , 

Asahel  Castcl, o    8    5.3  David  Bla  1 

Stephen  Blakeslee,    .        .        .        .         o    7    6.3  Jacob  Blal  1 

Obediah  Scott, o    5    3.1  Mary  Fon 

Ebenezer  Ford,  .        .        .  '    5    5.1  Enos  Ford 

Moses  Blakslee, o  10    i.o  Ruben  Bh   : 

Ebenezer  AUin,         ....         o  15    9.3 
There  is  also  a  memorandum  of  payments  showing  that  Abel  Curti 
scriber,  paid  x  shilling ;  also  the  following :  "  Over  paid  by  me,  Jao   1 

t  After  doing  duty  here  for  many  years,  it  was  by  a  vote  of  the     1 
itants  of  the  towns  of  Columbia  and  Waterbury  in  Ohio.    Some    i 
O.,  a  son  of  Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson,  finding  that  the  book  was  no  lo;    ; 
brought  back  to  this  place,  where  it  now  remains  in  good  conditio 
Scovil.    It  has  the  seal  of  the  ^'  Ven.  S.  P.  G."  and  bears  the  imprii 


■6s  4 


EI8T0R7  OF  WATERBURT. 


him  and  might  not  be  appeased  by  being  spoken  to.  Mr.  Scovil 
thought  it  best  to  take  this  advice,  and  leaving  his  cows  crossed  the 
fields,  waded  the  river  and  hastened  to  his  home.  Party  spirit 
seems,  however,  to  have  run  very  high  just  then.  He  did  not  feel 
safe  in  his  own  house,  and  leaving  it  at  night  he  secreted  himself 
in  a  barn  which  belonged  to  him  on  Long  hill,  where  he  remained 
hidden  for  some  time,  various  members  of  the  family  supplying 
him  with  food.  One  of  his  sons,  returning  on  one  occasion  from 
this  place  of  concealment,  was  met  by  two  soldiers,  who  took  his 
horse  from  him  and  compelled  him  to  walk  as  a  prisoner  to  Strat- 
ford (about  thirty  miles),  where  he  was  detained  some  time  in  con- 
finement. He  had  been  guilty  of  no  overt  act,  and  naturally 
resented  this  treatment.* 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  English  society  and  the  British  gov- 
ernment offered  liberal  inducements  to  loyalists  who  should  remove 
to  the  British  colonies.  It  seemed  impossible,  in  the  disturbed 
condition  of  things,  for  the  parishes  here  to  give  Mr.  Scovil  an 
adequate  support,  although  they  offered  to  do  all  that  they  could. 
In  1788,  after  having  visited  New  Brunswick  and  officiated  there 
for  several  summers  {returning  to  spend  the  winters  with  his  people 
here),  he  removed  there  with  his  family,  five  years  after  the  close  of 
the  war — thus  terminating  a  connection  of  almost  thirty  years  w*ith 
the  parish.  He  became  rector  of  Kingston  in  New  Brunswick, 
where  he  died  December  19, 1808,  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  ministry. 
He  was  succeeded  by  a  son  and  by  a  grandson  in  the  same  parish. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  George  Nichols,  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  this  town,  died  in  1835,  aged  ninety-three.  AH  his 
family  went  with  him  except  his  eldest  son  James,  who  had  mar- 
ried and  settled  here,  and  who  continued  to  occupy  his  father's 
residence,  near  the  corner  of  North  and  East  Main  streets,  front- 
ing the  public  green.  The  barn  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil  was 
hidden,  which  stood  on  almost  the  highest  point  of  Long  hill,  was 
accidentally  destroyed  by  fire  only  a  few  years  since.  Dr.  Bronson, 
in  his  History  {page  302),  quoting  in  part  some  other  authority,  says 
of  him: 

Mr.  Scovil  was  known  for  punctuality  and  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  He  taught  his  people  from  house  to  house,  comforted  the  aged,  instructed 
the  young  and  made  himself  agreeable  to  children.  ...  He  bad  a  gjave  and 
becoming  department  and  was  sound  in  doctrine. 


hcRev.Di.CLirlc,  i] 
.     Hcwu  then  nui 


dum  ID  regard  to  Mr,  I 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARIA 

The  withdrawal  of  the  "  Venerable  S 
disturbed  state  of  the  country,  left  the 
elsewhere,  in  an  impoverished  condition, 
a  hard  struggle  to  maintain  its  services.* 
Solomon  Blakeslee,  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Pi 
Foot  each  oflSciated  for  a  short  time.  Th 
services  to  this  parish  and  the  remainder 
bury  and  Woodbury.  Plans  were  also  dis 
of  these  parishes  in  one,  but  they  were  n 

Mr.  Blakeslee  was  a  graduate  of  Yal 
1785,  was  ordained  deacon  at  St.  Paul's 
1789,  and  priest  at  Middletown  by  Bishop 
service  here  was  in  1789  it  must  have  be 
ordination  as  deacon.     He  afterward  sue 
St.  James's  parish,  New  London,  and  serv 
eastern  part  of  the  state.     He  died  in  il 
Prindle  was  a  nephew  of  the  Rev.  Jam< 
VVestbury.     He  was  for  some  years  rectoi 
ward  rector  at  Plymouth,  Salem  and  O: 
the  old  cemetery  at  Gunntown.     He  was 
ated  at  Yale  in  1776,  and  died  August  25 
fifty   years.     He  was  a  man  of  consider 
character,  and  an  indefatigable  worker 
related  of  him  that  he  swam  his  horse  thi 
ous  flood  in  the  Naugatuck  river  rather  tl  1 
for  a  service.     David  Foot  was  born  in 
1760,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  college  in 
at  New   London  by  Bishop  Seabury,  Jui 
appointed  to  serve  in   Hebron  and  Cha 
same  year  he  was  ordained  priest  at  Not  [ 
here,  he  became  rector  at  Rye,  N.  Y.,  whe  1 

On  November  13,  1784,  Dr.  Samuel  Seal 
for  the  office  by  the  clergy  of  this  diocese 
year  at  a  meeting  held  in  Woodbury,  v  \ 
Connecticut  at  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  beco  : 
of  the  American  church.     He  reached  tl  i 
May,  1786,  a  committee  from  the  parish  -v  ; 
and  desired  him  to  visit  Waterbury.     I 
time,  but  on  October  i,  following,  it  is  r  ; 
here  256  persons.    That  must  have  been  <  : 
the  population,  and  the  occasion  was   c  : 


*  During  the  forty  years  in  which  it  was  under  the  care  of 
|6ooo  in  money,  besides  liberal  gifts  of  books. 


656  BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7, 

among  "churchmen."  This,  too,  was  in  the  darkest  days  of  the 
church  here,  before  Mr.  Scovil  had  finally  left,  but  when  he  was 
preparing  to  go,  and  when  they  were  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 

In  October,  1791,  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  who  had  been  officiating- 
for  some  time  previous  as  lay  reader,  was  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  Seabury  at  Watertown,  with  the  agreement  that  he  was  to 
officiate  here  half  the  time,  the  other  half  to  be  divided  between 
Salem  and  Woodbury.  His  salary  was  ^40,  lawful  money,  the  first 
year,  to  be  increased  jQi  annually  until  it  reached  ^45,  and  the  use 
of  the  glebe.  I  suppose  this  was  equal  to  about  $150,  but  it  was  in 
"ready  money,"  which  went  a  great  way  in  those  days,  and  the  use 
of  the  glebe  was  doubtless  of  considerable  value.  Mr.  Hart's  min- 
istry here  is  said  to  have  been  quite  successful,  but  he  only 
remained  about  two  years  after  his  ordination,  and  then  removed 
to  Wallingford.  He  officiated  also  at  North  Haven,  and  four  years 
later  he  removed  to  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  where  he  remained 
rector  until  his  death,  March  16,  1832.  He  was  bom  in  Berlin 
(Conn.),  June  21,  1763,  graduated  at  Yale  college  in  1784,  was 
ordained  deacon  October  9,  1791,  and  priest  at  Huntington,  October 
14,  1792.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  he  was  a  good  scholar,  an 
amiable  man,  a  successful  teacher  and  an  acceptable  preacher. 
While  here  he  owned  and  occupied  the  place  next  south  of  St. 
John's  church  (E.  M.  BurralPs),  including  the  ground  where  the 
church  now  stands  and  several  acres  of  adjoining  land.  When  he 
left,  several  liberal  persons  bought  his  place  and  presented  it  to  the 
church,  the  old  rectory  before  mentioned  having  become  unfit  for 
use.  It  was  afterwards  sold,  and  the  present  site  was  repurchased 
about  1847. 

The  affairs  of  the  parish  and  its  people  were  now  clearly  pros- 
pering. The  old  St.  James's  church,  at  the  corner  of  Willow  street, 
had  been  occupied  nearly  fifty  years,  and  both  the  needs  and  the 
pride  of  the  parish  demanded  a  better  house.  In  April,  1793,  dur- 
ing the  Rev.  Mr.  Hart's 'ministry,  a  committee  was  appointed  **to 
agree  upon  a  place  to  set  a  church  and  the  bigness  of  the  same," 
and  in  September  following,  having  voted  that  the  society  were 
willing  and  thought  it  necessary  to  build  a  church,  Eli  Curtis,  Esq., 
Jude  Blakeslee  and  Captain  Amos  Bronson  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee "to  set  a  stake  for  the  place  where  to  build  a  church."* 

*  These  gentlemen  were  all  non-residents.  Eli  Curtis  was  a  lawyer  residing  in  Watertown,  and  I  think 
Mr.  Blakeslee  and  Captain  Bronson  were  both  from  Plymouth.  Difficulties  and  heart-bamings  so  frequently 
arose  in  those  days  from  differences  of  opinion  as  to  the  proper  location  of  churches  and  schools  that  it  was 
quite  customary  to  call  in  a  committee  of  disinterested  persons  from  neighboring  towns  to  **  set  a  stake." 
Whether  this  parish  in  its  wisdom  avoided  all  trouble  by  appointing  the  committee  at  the  outset,  or  whether 
some  difficulties  had  already  arisen,  I  do  not  know.  That  there  were  difficulties,  however,  very  clearlv  appears. 


TUB  EPISCOPAL  PARIS. 
Whether  this  committee  acted  or  not   t 
but  m  December  following  another  comn 
ter  of  Derby, 
Thoi 

water      of 
Cheshire    and 
Abner  Brad- 
ley  of  Wood- 
bury,  were 
appointed, 
and  this  time 
under     the 
sanction  of 
the    coun  ty 
court,  which 
had  jurisdic- 
tion when  ap- 
plied   to  in 
■such   matters. 
Still     they 
were  not  quite 
satisfied,    and 
in  the  follow- 
ing March  the 
court     and 
committee 
were  asked 
to  place  the 
stake  five  rods 
further  south, 
so   that  the 
first     stake 
must    ha     , 
been,  driven 
very    near 
where     the 
Soldiers' 
monument  is. 
On   February 
9.  1795.  a  vote 

was  passed  .  .. 

directing  the  committee  to  build  a  decen 
fifty.four  by  thirty-eight  feet,  with  a  decei 
-at  the  east  end  of  the  same. 
42 


658  HISTORF  OF  WATERBUBT. 

This  church  building  was  a  great  credit  to  the  parish.  Its  gallery 
windows  were  arched  at  the  top — a  feature  which  was  supposed  to 
give  it  a  churchly  appearance — and  it  had  a  tall,  slender,  gracefully 
taperiiig  spire,  on  the  top  of  which  shone  a  bright  gilt  star,  with 
a  handsome  gilt  vane  just  beneath.  David  Hoadley  was  the  archi- 
tect. The  interior  was  divided  into  square  pews  with  seats  00 
three  sides;  the  ceiling  was  arched  between  the  galleries;  the 
pulpit  was  high,  with  winding  stairs  on  each  side  and  the  reading 
desk  in  front  of  it  below.  They  were  of  dark  wood,  probably 
cherry.  The  robing-room  was  near  the  entrance  of  the  church. 
After  reading  the  service,  the  minister  walked  the  length  of  the 
church  to  the  robing-room,  laid  aside  his  surplice,  returned  and 
slowly  mounted  the  long  pulpit  stairs  in  his  black  gown.  If  done 
with  dignity  this  was  quite  an  effective  part  of  the  service.  The 
crowning  glory  of  the  church  consisted  of  two  large  fresco  paint- 
ings, one  at  either  end  of  the  arched  ceiling  of  the  church  on  the 
pediment  over  the  pulpit  and  over  the  choir  gallery.  As  I  remem- 
ber them,  they  occupied  the  whole  of  the  pediments,  or  ends  of  the 
arch.  They  were  painted  in  different  shades  of  green  on  a  white 
ground.  The  subject  of  that  over  the  pulpit  was  the  baptism  of 
Jesus  by  John  in  the  river  Jordan.  The  Jordan  was  a  very  respect- 
able stream,  looking  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  in  the  picture, 
and  the  landscape  on  the  further  side  was  quite  inviting,  I  always 
thought,  while  looking  at  it,  of  the  hymn; 

On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand. 
And  cast  a  wistful  eye 

To  Canaan's  fair  and  happy  land, 
Where  my  possessions  lie. 

The  river  seemed  altogether  too  deep  to  wade.  The  picture  at  the 
other  end  was  a  village  green  on  which  was  a  church — the  church, 
I  suppose,  in  which  the  picture  was — with  rather  stiff  trees  and  a 
long  row  of  people  moving  toward  the  sanctuary,  conspicuous 
among  whom  was  the  rector,  marked  by  his  shovel  hat.  To  my 
boyish  eyes  these  pictures  were  marvels  of  art.  At  the  same  time 
that  this  church  was  being  built,  the  Congregational  society  was 
erecting  one  at  the  other  end  of  the  Green,  and  a  healthy  spirit  of 
emulation  was  doubtless  of  considerable  advantage  to  both  build- 
ings. The  new  church  was  consecrated  by  the  name  of  St.  John's 
on  November  i,  1797,  by  Bishop  Jarvis, 

After  Mr.  Hart's  departure  the  pulpit  was  partially  supplied  for 
a  time  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  V.  Griswold  and  by  the  Rev,  William 
Green.  Of  Mr.  Griswold  nothing  more  need  be  said  here  than  that 
he   subsequently    became    Bishop    of    Massachusetts.      The    Rev. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARm 

William  Green  was  a  graduate  of  Dartm 
vras  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Seaburj 
1 8,  1793.     To  the  record  of  the  ordinatio 
Green  was  ordained  on  my  own  personal 
recommendation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bela  Hubba 
licensed  to  preach  and  purposes  to  go  int 
mouth   college   catalogue   says  that  he  c 
Where  he  spent  the  few  years  that  intei 
here  and  his  death  I  have  not  learned. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  ch' 
the  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson,  who  had  offi 
for  some  months,  became  the  rector,  wit 
was  to  officiate  here  three-fourths  of  thi 
Salem  society.     His   salary  was  §250.     L 
able  longer  to  support  his  family  on  this  s 
unable  (or  unwilling)  to  increase  it,  he  p 
mon,  and  retired,  with  the  approbation  of 
will  of  the  people.      Dr.  Tillotson  Brons 
sity,  1 813),  was  a  son  of  Captain  Amos  Brc 
residence  was  at  Jericho  on  the  Naugat 
there  January  8,  1762,  fitted  for  college  w 
bull,  Congregational   pastor  of  Watertov^ 
1786,  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Mansfield 
ordained  deacon  September  11,  1787,  and 
He  preached  for  a  year  in  Vermont  an< 
was  the  missionary  ground  06  that  peri 
Boston  and  at  several  places  in  this  state 
While  in  Waterbury  he  lived  in  a  house  01 
taken   down   in  1882   to  make  room   for 
owned  the  place  and  sold  it  to  his  success 
From  Waterbury  he  went  to  New  Have 
Churchman' s  Maj^azine,  a  periodical  then  re 
he  continued   to   edit   with   ability   for   1 
months,  however,  after  leaving  Waterbur 
Convention  principal  of  the  Episcopal  a 
n  removed  there,  and  after  a  long  and  suc< 

\\  '         of  that  institution  he  died  September  6,  i 

ji  man  in  the  church  and  plenty  of  material 

^.  phy,  but  most  of  it  relates  to  his  life  afte 

I  notice  on  the  record  (as  a  sign  of  pr 
^  i799»  a  committee  was  appointed  to  pro 

^  chase  a  bass  viol.     On  December  8,  1801 

I  the  pews."     This  consisted  in  allotting  t 


66o  HISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

the  members  of  the  congregation  according  to  their  "  dignity,"  the 
standard  being  a  fixed  one,  based  partly  upon  age,  partly  on  the 
amount  of  tax  paid  and  partly  on  ofl&cial  or  social  standing. 

Dr.  Bronson  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Virgil  Horace  Barber, 
who  remained  here  from  June  i6,  1807,  until  May  6,  1814.  He  was 
a  son  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Barber  of  Claremont,  N.  H.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  June  9,  1805,  and  priest,  September  20,  1807.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  learn  where  he  was  educated,  but  he  was  a  schol- 
arly man  and  a  superior  teacher,  and  while  here  maintained  a 
school  of  high  order.  He  doubtless  discharged  his  ministerial 
duties  with  zeal,  but  it  was  as  an  inspiring  and  instructive  teacher 
he  did  most  for  the  generation  to  which  he  belonged,  and  his  influ- 
ence was  long  felt.  It  is  said  that  he  required  his  own  family, 
including  the  pupils  who  resided  with  him,  to  converse  in  Latin. 
He  was,  however,  eccentric  and  somewhat  unpractical.  I  find  this 
entry  on  the  parish  records  when  he  had  been  here  but  six  months: 
"December  29,  1807.  Voted  to  send  Mr.  Justus  Warner  to  the 
town  of  Claremont,  N.  H.,  to  know  the  reason  of  Mr.  Barber's  not 
returning  to  this  town,  and  to  give  Mr.  Warner  $14  for  his 
expenses."  There  were  no  telegraphs,  and  letters  had  evidently 
failed.  We  know  that  Mr.  Barber  came  back,  but  why  not  sooner 
remains  a  mystery.  He  left  here  to  become  principal  of  an  acad- 
emy at  Fairfield,  N.  Y.,  but  two  years  later  (in  1816)  became  a 
Roman  Catholic,  and,  placing  his  wife  and  children  in  a  convent, 
went,  in  July,  1817,  to  Rome,  and  after  a  period  of  study,  became  a 
priest  in  the  Society  of  Jesuits.  A  clergyman  who  had  known  him 
here  visited  him  in  Rome,  and  found  him  an  inmate  of  a  Jesuit 
college  under  the  name  of  Signor  Barberini,  clothed  in  the  habit, 
and  practicing  the  austerities  which  belong  to  the  order.  After  his 
return  from  Rome  he  went  in  1822,  by  direction  of  his  superior,  to 
Claremont,  where  he  established  a  Roman  Catholic  church.  Later 
he  was  sent  on  a  mission  to  the  Indian  tribes  in  Maine  and  to 
various  towns  in  that  state  where  there  were  Roman  Catholic  resi- 
dents without  pastors.  He  was  afterward  assigned  to  duty  in 
Maryland  and  that  vicinity.  He  died  at  Georgetown,  D.  C,  March 
27,  i847.* 

*  The  Rev.  Daniel  Barber,  the  father  of  Virgil  H.  Barber,  was  a  native  of  Simsbury,  and  was  bom 
October  3,  1756.  In  2827,  when  he  was  seventy-one  years  old,  he  published,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  a  pam- 
phlet entitled  **  History  of  My  Own  Times,"  which  is  of  considerable  value  as  a  picture  of  the  period.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  kept  a  diary,  portions  of  which  are  contained  in  his  pamphlet  and  are 
also  copied  in  the  sketch  of  Simsbury  in  Barber's  Historical  Collections  of  Connecticut.  The  Barbers  seem 
to  have  been  an  independent  family,  much  given  to  speculative  theology  (the  main  source  of  recreatioa  for 
thinking  people  in  those  times),  and  always  having  the  courage  of  their  convictions,  if  not  a  little  to  spare. 
Daniel's  father  and  mother  each  had  their  own  views  and  stood  by  them.  **  They  could  never  agree,**  9*J* 
Daniel,  "as  to  their  points  of  faith."  When  Daniel  was  twenty-seven  years  old  he  became  an  EpiscopaliaA, 
at  thirty  an  Episcopal  clergyman  and  at  sixty-two  a  Roman  Catholic.    This  was  in  18x8,  when  he  publicly 


i 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARISl 

In   September,    1814,   the   Rev.   Alphc 
become  rector,  at  a  salary  of  $600,  **pro' 
one-third   for  his   services  one-third  of 
finally  passed  was  to  pay  him  $400  for  tw 
itig  Mr.  Geer  and  Gunntown  to  settle  for 
Geer  was  born  at  Kent,  August  7,  1788,  gr; 
in  1813,  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  1 
June  12,  1 814,  and  priest  by  Bishop  Gris^ 
in  1 81 5.     He  remained  in  Waterbury  near, 
fall  of  1814  to  the  spring  of  1830.     He  vn 
where  he  remained  about  fourteen  years, 
at  a  number  of  places  in  this  state.     He  d: 
3,  1866.     While  here  he  lived  first  on  Soutl 
the  Judge  Hopkins  place,  on  West  Main  st 
Geer's  pastorate  was  one  of  quiet  and  moc 
was  not  at  that  time  much  growth  in  the  t< 
clergyman,  who  was  expected  to  live  to  soi 
of  his  glebe,  he  was  a  very  fair  representat 
of  his  time.     On  Sunday,  October  20,  181^ 
Hobart  of  New  York,  then  acting  as  bish 
was  temporarily  without  a  bishop,  a  class 
being  the   largest  class  ever  confirmed 
manuscript  from  which  the  information  i: 
obtained,  adds:     "It  is  thought  the  large  1 
bishop  in  this  country."    The  writer  was 
256  confirmed  in  the  same  place  by  Bish 
before,  but  these  two  classes,  both  of  th 
seldom  been  exceeded  in  numbers.     Mr.  G 
George  Jarvis  Geer  (D.  D.,  Trinity,  1842)  \ 
cessful  clergyman  in  the  city  of  New  Yc  1 
Rev.  William  Montague  Geer,  is  now  one  ( 
of  Trinity  parish  in  that  city. 


annouaced  his  change  and  left  hia  church  in  Claremont.     There  see: 
7  biographical  statements  as  to  whether  the  father  or  son  first  entered    I 

V  ability  is  that  the  father  started  first,  but  the  son  outstripped  him  in 

such  a  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  and  such  a  lack  of  sense.    When  Virgil  ; 

a  Roman  Catholic  priest  he  was  thirty-four  years  old  and  his  wife  t 

and  no  means  of  support.    The  mother  and  children  were  placed  in   i 
0i  to  study.    All  became  prominent  in  the  church  of  their  choice.    W   >. 

'  )t  Sister  Mary  Augustine  (or  as  it  is  frequently  written,  Austin).    Sh< 

^  x86o.    Their  son,  Samuel  Joseph,  became  a  priest  of  the  order  of  J 

^0  February  33,  1864.    The  youngest  and  last  surviving  member  of  th 

lyf  the  Convent  of  the  Visitation  in  St.  Louis,  two  or  three  years  since. 

^  Besides  the  **  History  of  My  Own  Times."  Daniel  Barber  wrote    ' 

^  and  recommended  to  a  very  near  Friend  and  Others," — a  pamphlet    I 

•i  Memoirs  of  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,"  by  Bishop  Goesbriand,     1 

^  «m/,  Philadelphia,  June  z,  1894. 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 


ST.  PETER'S  PARISH,  NORTHBURY. 

In  Northbury,  at  "the  Hollow,"  now  Thomaston,  a  building  was 
erected  about  1738  (on  land  given  by  the  Rev.  John  Southmayd, 
pastor  of  the  First  church),  which  was  used  as  a  place  of  public 
meetings,  for  religious  purposes,  and  also  for  a  school-house.  After 
a  few  years  a  portion  of  the  society  wished  to  build  a  new  church 
and  preferred  to  have  it  on  the  hill.  This  led  to  a  division.  Part 
of  the  society  built  a  new  house  and  went  to  the  hill,  while  the 
others  remained  at  the  old  place.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon  of  Newf 
Haven  used  to  say  that  "anger  and  marriage  were  converting  ordi- 
nances." This  view  of  the  matter  was  illustrated  in  Northbury,  for 
it  was  not  long  before  this  remnant  left  in  "  the  Hollow  "  became 
an  Episcopal  parish,  or  at  any  rate  a  band  of  people  worshipping 
according  to  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England  and  receiving 
the  occasional  ministrations  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Venerable 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  Messrs.  Morris,  Arnold, 
Lyon  and  Mansfield. 

Dr.  Bronson's  History  (page  310)  represents  the  majority  of  the 
congregation  as  having  become  Episcopalians  and  having  voted 
out  the  minority  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Todd,  the  Congregational 
clergyman,  and  Dr.  Beardsley  has  followed  this  in  his  History  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecticut.  But  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Hillard, 
in  some  researches  made  in  1888,  while  he  was  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Plymouth,  found  a  document  which  puts  a 
somewhat  different  face  on  the  matter.  As  this  document  does  not 
appear  in  the  Colonial  Records,  and  is  valuable  evidence  on  a  con- 
troverted, or  at  least  misunderstood,  matter,  it  is  reproduced  here, 
foursereir.     It  is  dated  at  Northbury,  October  8,  1740: 

To  the  Honorable  and  General  Assembly  convened  at  New  Haven: 

We,  the  subscribers,  having  in  time  pa.st  applied  ourselves  to  this  Assembly  for, 
and  they  being  so  complaisant  to  us  ward  as  to  grant  us,  the  liberty  in  the  first 
place  to  hire  the  gospel  preached  with  us  in  the  winter  sea.'Wn,  which  privilege  we 
thankfully  improved,  and  after  that,  through  their  benignity  toward  us  we  obtained 
the  privilege  of  hiring  the  gospel  preached  with  us  for  the  space  of  two  years,  and 
having  no  house  in  the  centre  of  qs  convenient  to  attend  the  public  worship  in,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Southmayd  encouraged  us  to  erect  a  small  house  for  that  use,  by  giving 
us  a  parcel  of  land  in  the  centre  of  us  for  that  end,  upon  which  we  built  a  small 
house  and  in  a  short  time  carried  on  the  public  worship  peaceably  in  it.  And  after 
we  had  met  in  the  house  about  a  year  our  necessity  was  so  great  of  enjoying  the 
gospel  ordinances,  upon  our  request  (though  we  were  very  small)  the  Assembly  was 
pleased  to  favor  us  with  society  privileges,  upon  which  in  a  little  time  we  gave  Mr. 
Samuel  Todd  a  call  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  us,  of  which  he 
accepted,  and,  being  settled  with  us,  we  find  our  obligations  to  him  full  as  much. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARI 

if  not  more  than  we  can  answer;  and  it  being  ev 
that  a  certain  number  among  us  are  striving  to  i 
still,  which,  if  obtained,  we  despair  of  answerin* 
we  humbly  conceive  that  the  forementioned  hou 
will  answer  the  present  necessity  of  the  society  t< 
we  freely  dedicate  to  that  use,  and  request,  if  tl 
house  may  be  established  the  place  of  public  wor 
so  the  charge  of  building  a  meeting-house  or  an^ 
vented  at  present.* 

At  the  October  session  the  assembly  apj 
the  following  May,  "being  informed  ol 
circumstances  of  the  parish  at  Northb 
committee  to  conduct  said'  society  in  tl 
and  advise  and  direct  where  they  shal 
public  worship."  In  October  following 
committee,  in  part  the  same  persons,  to 
of  it  all  was  that  the  party  favoring  a  n 
carried  the  day,  but  the  disaffected  porti 
stuck  to  their  school-house,  and  soon  ai 
themselves  members  of  the  Church  of  E 

In  1759,  when  the  Rev.  James  Scovil  1 
bury,  he  gave  one-half  his  services  to 
bridge.     In  1771,  Northbury  and  New  ( 
up  for  themselves.     Dr.  Bronson  says  tl 
a  minister.     In  1773  the  Rev.  James  Nicli 
became  the  rector,  supplying  the  two  ] » 
to  Litchfield.     During  the  Revolution  1 1 
been  held,  although  there  were  many 
section  of  the  town,  the  feeling  being  1 
great  number  of  disaffected  persons,  sc  1 
ously  for  their  opinions.    Among  them  \ ' 
hanged  for  treason  at  Hartford  (see  Vol : 

In  1784  an  Episcopal  society  was  le; 
enabling  act,  and  for  the  next  few  yes  i 
vices  as  they  could  secure  temporarily, 
the  Rev.  Philo  Shelton,  the  Rev.  Tillot  1 
Edward  Blakeslee  appear  on  the  recoi  : 
1788  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle  became  1 
bury  and  Westbury,  and  so  remained  ui  t 
was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town. 


*  The  signers  to  this  document  are:    William  Ludenton, 
Fordf  John  How,  Isaac   Cassel,  Thomas  Blasle    [Blakeslee], 
Humaston,  Phinehas  Rice,  Daniel  Curtis,  Gedian  Allen,  Jen    t 
Elwell,  Samuel  Frost,  John  Sutlef,  Samuel  Jacobs. 

t  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  VIII,  pp.  373,  424. 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7. 


CHRIST'S  CHURCH,  WATERTOWN. 

In  1764  twenty  persons  (whose  names  are  given  in  Bronson's 
History,  page  308)  entered  into  an  agreement  "to  hold  public  wor- 
ship in  Westbury  on  those  Sundays  when  there  was  no  preaching 
in  Waterbury,"  and  to  make  arrangements  to  build  an  Episcopal 
church.  They  met  at  the  house  of  James  Doolittle  in  the  winter  and 
at  Ensign  David  Scott's  in  the  summer.  The  next  year  (1765) 
Captain  George  Nichols  of  Waterbury  gave  them  a  lot,  and  by 
October,  through  the  efficient  management  of  Captain  Edward 
Scovil,  they  had  a  building  fit  to  occupy,  although  not  completed. 
It  stood,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road 
leading  to  Waterbury,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  southward  from  the 
green  and  a  little  southwest  from  the  Congregational  church,  which 
stood  within  the  old  cemetery  enclosure,  or  nearly  so,  at  the 
southwest  corner.  The  Episcopal  church  is  supposed  to  have  been 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  east. 

In  1773  the  Rev.  James  Scovil  of  Waterbury  agreed  to  give  one- 
third  of  his  time  to  this  parish,  and  it  continued  under  his  care  so 
long  as  he  remained  in  Waterbury.  This  was  nominally  until  17S6, 
although  during  the  last  two  years  he  was  absent  much  of  the  time 
in  New  Brunswick.  In  1788  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle,  a  native  of 
Westbury,  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Scovil  and  a  Yale  graduate  of  1776,  then 
in  deacon's  orders  and  previously  a  lay-reader,  took  charge  of  the 
parish,  having  also  the  church  at  Northbury  under  his  care.  In 
1793  a  new  church  was  built,  and  consecrated  by  Bishop  Seabury  as 
Christ's  church  on  November  18,  1794.  This  church  stood  on  a 
piece  of  ground  purchased  of  Samuel  Southmayd,  at  the  intersection 
of  the  streets  near  the  site  of  the  present  church.* 


ST.  MICHAEL'S,  NAUGATUCK.t 

This  parish  was  formally  organized  February  16,  1786,  at  the 
house  of  Jobamah  Gunn,  and  fourteen  persons  enrolled  themselves 
as  members.  They  mostly  resided  in  the  western  part  of  Salem 
society,  which  was  then  known  as  Gunntown,  the  Gunns  being  a 
prominent  family  there.     Services  were  conducted  at  some  private 

A.  BuckinghBm.    The  houie  itself  (ronted  ihe  tiul,  the  «Mt  lint  bciDg  nearly  in  u  lint  with  Mr.  Buckinf. 
hun'j  cut  fenct.     In  ijia  Wllenoirn  became  ■  Kpanls  town. 

tThii  rollowing  nkctcli  hu  beta  mintly  taken  liom  a  nuauicripl  hittoty  a<  the  parish  pHpimd  by  the 
Rev.  E.  C.  Gardner,  for  tlie  uk  of  which  1  am  indclitcd  la  the  kinilDHi  of  the  preaent  reclar,  the  Bcv.  J.  W. 
EUmortb— F.  F.  K. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  PARISH  TO  18S0,  665 

house,  usually  by  the  minister  officiating  in  Waterbury,  one  Sunday 
in  a  month,  sometimes  every  third  Sunday;  the  services  of  the 
intervening  Sunday  being  conducted  by  a  lay- reader.  In  1803, 
after  several  unsuccessful  efforts,  a  small  church  building  (the  vote 
says  44  by  34  feet)  was  sufficiently  finished  for  use.  This  stood, 
according  to  the  record,  "on  the  hill,  about  fifty  rods  west  of 
Jobamah  Gunn's  dwelling  house,"  which  still  retains  the  local 
name,  Church  hill.  In  1806  the  Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle,  who  was 
then  settled  in  Watertown,  was  engaged  to  preach  in  the  parish  one- 
fourth  of  the  time.  The  following  year  he  divided  his  time  equally 
between  this  church  and  the  one  at  Oxford.  He  continued  in 
charge  until  18 14.  The  Rev.  Alpheus  Geer  of  Waterbury  then  took 
charge  of  the  parish,  and  preached  there  one-third  of  the  time.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  1830,  when  Mr.  Geer  left  Waterbury. 

In  1832  the  church  was  taken  down  and  removed  to  a  place  near 
its  present  position,  at  the  centre  of  Naugatuck.  It  had  never  been 
finished  inside.  It  was  now  completed  and  was  duly  consecrated  on 
June  8,  1832.  During  the  interval  occupied  in  removing  and  finish- 
ing it  up,  services  were  held  in  a  hall  in  the  factory  of  W.  C.  DeForest, 
which  was  fitted  up  by  him  for  the  purpose.  During  this  period  the 
Rev.  William  A.  Curtis  and  the  Rev.  T.  J.  Davis  successively  minis- 
tered here,  dividing  their  time  between  this  parish  and  Bethany. 

On  July  21,  1833,  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hopson  began  his  ministry. 
He  was  the  first  resident  rector,  and  after  the  first  year  gave  his 
whole  time  to  the  parish.  His  connection  with  it  lasted  nearly 
fourteen  years  and  until  after  Naugatuck  became  a  separate  town. 

EPISCOPACY  IN  MIDDLEBURY. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  members  of  the  Gunntown  parish  were  apparently 
residents  of  Middlebury.  At  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  building  to  Naugatuck 
centre,  one  of  the  reasons  given  was  that  a  new  parish  had  been  formed  in  Middle- 
bury.  We  learn  from  the  journals  of  the  annual  Protestant  Episcopal  Convention 
that  a  parish  at  Middlebury,  without  name,  was  admittted  in  1830.  It  appears  to 
have  been  mostly  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hopson,  mentioned  above.  In 
1835  the  bishop  reports  twelve  persons  confirmed  there.  In  1841  Mr.  Hopson 
reports  that  **  his  engagement  terminated  at  Easter,  since  which  no  stated  services 
are  held  there."  In  1843  he  reports  at  Naugatuck  "nine  communicants  formerly 
numbered  in  the  Middlebury  parish."  No  further  reports  appear,  and  in  185 1  the 
parish  was  dropped  from  the  list.  It  is  supposed  to  have  owed  its  existence  mainly 
to  the  efforts  of  Larmon  Townsend,  a  merchant  at  Gunntown,  near  the  church, 
who  afterward  removed  his  business  and  residence  to  Middlebury.  He  was  an 
ardent  ••churchman,"  and  frequently  officiated  as  a  lay-reader.  He  died  May  11, 
1858,  aged  eighty-one  years. 


CHAPTER   XLII. 

THE    GRAND    STREKT    CEMETERY — EARLY    BURIALS   AND     GRAVE-DIGGERS 

REMOVALS  TO  RIVERSIDE — PROTESTS  AGAINST  NEGLECT  — S.  M. 
JUDD'S  map — KATHARINE  PRICHARD'S  WORK — SOME  OLD  HEAD- 
STONES  ENLARGEMENTS  —  CONVEYED     TO     THE     CITY  —  PROTESTS 

AGAINST  DESECRATION — STONES  AND  REMAINS  RESCUED — THE 
BRONSON  LIBRARY  IN  POSSESSION — PINE  HILL  AND  HILLSIDE  IN 
NAUGATUCK — NORTHBURY,  WESTBURY  AND  FARMINGBURY  CEME- 
TERIES— EAST     FARMS — GUNNTOWN — MIDDLEBURY — BUCK's     HILL — 

BROCKETT — WOOSTER — A       HISTORY      OF       BELLS — BELL-RINGING 

TOLLING    FOR   DEATHS — OTHER    PRACTICES. 

THE  GRAND  STREET  CEMETERY. 

'"F^HE  earliest  mention  that  has  been  noticed  upon  our  records 
J  of  a  burial  place  in  Waterbury  is  in  1695,  as  follows:  "  The 
town  grants  to  Edmund  Scott  a  parcel  of  land  lying  within 
the  common  fence,  butting  east  on  the  burying-yard,  north  on  the 
fence,  west  on  the  highway."  It  has  already  been  mentioned,  on 
page  235,  that  the  custom  prevailed  at  an  early  date  of  appropriat- 
ing the  foot  of  the  minister's  garden  for  a  burial-place;  and  as  Mr. 
Peck's  house-lot  extended  to  present  Grand  street — the  land  at  first 
occupied  by  this  cemetery  being  a  continuation  of  the  same — there 
is  no  doubt  that  the  practice  was  followed  here.  This  was  the  only 
place  of  burial  within  the  township  until  1709.  There  had  died 
during  this  time,  besides  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peck,  ten  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  town,  two  wives  and  mothers,  four  young  men,  and,  at  least, 
fifteen  children.  Of  their  graves,  the  only  memorial  that  remains 
is  the  gravestone  of  young  Benjamin  Barnes,  pictured  on  page  173. 
The  office  of  grave-digger  seems  to  have  been  filled  by  appoint- 
ment, with  the  other  town  offices,  at  the  yearly  December  meeting, 
upon  occasional  years;  Benjamin  Barnes  being  the  first  person  so 
chosen — in  1700.  Edmund  Scott's  name  is  next  mentioned,  he  hav- 
ing filled  the  office  in  1708,  1717,  1720  and  1722;  Richard  Porter  in 
1711,  1712  and  1713;  Thomas  Richason  until  1716;  Samuel  Barnes  in 
1719;  Moses  Bronson  in  1724,  and  in  1725  it  is  recorded  that  "it 
was  left  with  the  townsmen  to  procure  somebody  to  do  it.'*  John 
Wei  ton  dug  the  graves  in  1726,  1727  and  1729;  after  the  latter  date 
the  only  appointments  on  record  are:  "Jonathan  Scott,  son  of 
Edmund,"  for  1737;  and  for  1738  "James  Pritchard  was  made  choice 
of  to  dig  the  graves  as  there  shall  be  occasion." 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  1 

From  this  time  until  near  the  close  ol 
of  the  history  of  this  place.     "  Buryin^- 
and  "  Ram  Pasture  lane "  are  referred 
land;  but  whose  hands  prepared  the  last 
places  of  our  beloved  ancestors,  traditia 
Bennet  Bronson  left  a  manuscript  list  of 
which  he  says  was  copied  from  Captain  1 
(See  Ap.  p.  158.)     From  this  we  infer  tha 
sexton  from   1797  until  his  death  in  18: 
John  S.  Tuttle  probably  followed  Upson,  i 
Tuttle.     Henry  Garry  Hotchkiss  became 
charge  of  the  ground  until  he  left  town  ii 
^ry  American  said  of  him:  "During  the 
charge  he  has  done  all  that  was  in  his  pov 
granted  him  by  the  selectmen,  to  keep  it  i 
to  the  necessary  repairs,  for  which  he  si 
very  inadequate  remuneration."*     Sturg 
dian  of  the  place  from  1862  until  its  desti 
that  the  first  interment  that  took  place 
of  Henry  Grilley,  aged  eighty-nine  years 

Soon   after    the    opening  of    Riversi 
movals  from  the  old  to  the  new  place  of 
old  place  soon   showed  the   effects   the 
with  fragments  of  coffins  left  uncovered 
head   and   foot  stones,  became   features 
many  years  had  passed,  the  ground  w 
briars  and  bushes,  save  that  a  few  carel 
graves  of  their  buried  friends  and   rel 
time  to  time  called  public  attention  to  it 
and  in  June,  1875,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Anden 
evening  lecture  to  his  congregation,  a  pi 
stones  and  beautifying  the  enclosure  af 
lish   church  yards,   but  his  words  fell 
time  thereafter,  certain  persons  petitic 
mission   to   extend  •  Church   street  to 
granted.     On  April  27,  1884,  Dr.  Ande 
course  upon  this  and  other  burial  place 
he  said: 

It  is  a  closed  up  and  desolate  place,  right  in  t 
time,  it  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
most  desirable.  It  seems  eminently  fitted  for  s< 
can  take  an  interest.  The  people  of  Waterbur 
it  go  to  be  used  for  business  purposes;  but  why 
and  place  in  the  centre  a  building  worthy  to  ser\ 


*  He  died  May  33,  1867,  and  was  buried  not  far  from  the  I 


66S 


HISTOBT  OF  WATERBURT. 


...  If  we  can  thus  make  use  of  this  ancieot  and  now  neglected  burial  place, 
and  at  the  same  time  preserve  every  vestige  of  historical  record  which  it  cont^los, 
why  should  we  not  do  so  ?    .    .    . 

About  a.  year  ago,  with  a  laborious  care  which  only  those  can  fully  appreciate  who 
have  attempted  a  similar  work.  Slurges  &I.  Judd  procured  and  prepared  the  data 
for  a  complete  map  of  the  Grand  street  burj-mg  ground.  This  map  when  finished 
will  aim  to  contain  every  recogniiable  grave  in  the  entire  enclosure,  those  graves 
which  have  inscribed  headstones  being  clearly  distinguished  from  the  others. 

Mr.  Judd's  map  was  accompanied  by  a  record  of  the  names  and 
ages  of  the  persons  so  interred,  as  found  upon  the  headstones,  and 
a  list,  so  far  as  known  to  Mr,  Judd,  of  persons  there  buried,  without 
monumental  stones — including  the  Roman  Catholic  cemetery.  In 
1890  and  1891,  a  copy  of  the  entire  inscriptions  upon  the  stones — 
not  including  the  Roman  Catholic  portion — was  made  by  Katharine 
Prichard.  Julius  Gay  of  Farmington  also  made  a  transcript  of 
names,  dates  and  ages  in  1 885.  A  comparison  of  these  lists  shows  that 
no  stones  had  disappeared  between  1885  and  1890.  Miss  Prichard's 
record  of  1890  gives  a  few  names 
not  noted  by  Mr.  Gay,  and  about 
fifty  not  given  by  Mr.  Judd. 

A  word  may  be  said  of  some 
of  the  older  stones.  That  of 
Benjamin  Barnes 
has  already  been 
noticed;  the  next 
in  age  is  lettered 
as  in  the  margin,  it 
being  the  stone  set  " 
up  by  Deacon  Judd  in  loving 
remembrance  of  his  daughter, 
Sarah;  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  no  older  one  bearing 
a  date  was  to  be  seen  when  Fred- 
erick J.  Kingsbury  was  a  boy. 
The  name  of  Thomas  Hikcox, 
the  second  Waterbury  deacon, 
was  upon  the  third  oldest,  the 
date  1728.  This  stone  was  buried 
in  the  great  transformation.  Per- 
haps the  stone  that  will  interest 
the  greatest  number  of  readers 
of  this  History  is  that  of  Han- 
nah Hopkins,  wife  of  John,  the  miller,  and  fore-mother  of  a  long 
line  of  distinguished  men.     Her  descendants  to-day  are  many,  and 


BUBTINO  OB0UND8  AND  T 


k. 


« , 


i. 


M  I 

D  cx:  8 

J730 


1 


it  is   a  matter  of  regret 
unknown.     She  died  May 
not  identified,  is  inscribe* 
It  might  be  Michael,  son 
date  been  1734.     Joseph  N 
Perhaps  the  most  curious 

small    field    stone    about    six   inches 

thick,  lettered  on  both  sides  as  here 
shown.  Dinah  was  the  first  wife  of 
Lieutenant  Josiah  Bronson,  who  was 
grandfather  of  Silas  Bronson.  A 
stone  with  the  inscription  here  given 

marked  the  resting-place 
George.     Mrs.  Thomas  Jud 
These  stones  comprise  £ 
bearing  dates  prior  to  174 
bearing  dates  between    17 
placed  at  the  graves  of  th 
great  sickness  of  1749  and  1750  (see  page 
though  varying  in  size.    All  were  pointet 
The  carved  red  sand-stones,  with  cheru 
crowned — came  in  use  after  1750,*  and  m 
The  number  of  persons  whose  age  \ 
150;  of  these,  fifty-five  were  between  eij 
age,  and  the  following  fourteen  over  nir  1 
94;  Mrs.   Jonathan  Baldwin,  97;  Amasa 
Bronson,  91;  Thomas  Bronson,  92;  Timot 
Hotchkiss,  94;    John   Judd,  98;  Captain 
Leavenworth,  92;  Taraar,  his  wife,  93;  I' 
102;  George  Prichard,  brother  of  David,  i 
The  following  lines  were  engraved  up 
young  men,  brothers,  who  died  more  tha  1 


s  w 

a  Iun-I6 
J738 


one: 


The  Genius  of  music  beamed  forth    1 
Of  earth's  fading  endowments  a  sa( 
But  his  soft  busy  eye  shall  forever  1  ■ 
When  sun,  moon  and  stars  all  cease  i 


On  the  other: 


O  when  pale  death  his  featur 
How  deep  the  pang.  O !  gri< 
But  hark!  his  silent  whispers 
Parents  and  mourners,  cease 
Go  and  prepare  in  death  to  s 


*  See  note  on  page  380. 


670  HIBTORT  OF  WATEHBURT. 

Another  young  man  died  away  from  home  in  1823; 
He  died  among  strangers  no  kindred  near 
To  wipe  away  a  falling  tear 
Oh  Lord  how  oft  thy  wrath  appiears 
And  cuts  off  our  expected  years. 

But  not  all  the  epitaphs  are  of  this  style,  as  note  the  two  following; 

Sleep  on  dear  youth,  heaven's  high  almighty  King; 
Hath  to  eternal  summer  changed  thy  Spring. 

Know  thou,  Oh  Stranger  to  the  fame 

Of  this  much  lov'd,  much  honored  name 

For  none  that  knew  him  need  be  told — 

A  warmer  heart,  death  De'er  made  cold. 

Some  of  the  burial  customs  of  the  older  time  are  toijchingly 
referred  to  by  Horace  Hotchkiss  in  a  contribution  to  the  Waterbury 
American  in  1876; 

I  well  remember  as  a  child,  sin  years  old,  being  taken  ont  of  bed  one  cold 
autumn  night  [October  28,  1S08]  to  stand  beside  the  death-bed  of  ray  mother.     . 

.  .  Afterward,  as  she  lay  in  her  coffin,  my  childish  curiosity  was  occupied  ia 
studying  the  initials  formed  on  the  lid  with  brass-headed  nails,  as  was  then  the 
custom.  Men  came,  and  taking  up  the  bier,  carried  the  cofRa  to  its  resting  place  in 
the  old  burying  ground,  while  we  followed  on  foot. 

I  remember  wheo  a  boy  often  examining  the  old  headstones.  Some  were 
rough  from  the  field,  others  were  so  overgrown  with  moss  that,  UDtil  it  was 
removed,  neither  name  nor  quaint  epitaph  was  traceable,  making  it  true  that  "  the 
dead  forgotten  lie."  In  the  custom  of  that  time,  the  coffin  was  borne  to  the  grave 
on  men's  shoulders,  in  some  cases  two  or  three  miles  or  more." 

The  first  enlargement  of  this  burial  ground  was  made  in  June, 
180S,  when  an  exchange  was  effected  with  Mrs.  Sarah  Leavenworth, 
widow  of  the  Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth,  by  which  the  town  received 
about  an  acre  of  land  on  the  east,  and  Mrs.  Leavenworth  twenty- 
five  rods  on  the  south  and  $25.  In  1823  (in  accordance  with  a  state 
law)  the  care  of  the  grounds  passed  into  the  control  of  the  First 
School  society.  On  January  31,  1842,  this  society  appointed  a  com- 
mittee "to  purchase  one  and  one-fourth  acres  of  land  south  of  the 
burying  ground,  at  $50  per  acre,  to  grade  the  ground,  to  build  a  suit- 
able fence,  to  repair  the  hearse  and  hearse-house,  and  make  such 
other  repairs  as  to  expend  the  two  mill  tax  laid  by  the  society  this 
evening."  "  Mr.  Warner  was  also  authorized  to  purchase  a  hearse 
and  pail"  (see  Volume  II,  page  489,  note).  The  land  just  mentioned 
belonged  to  Edward  G.  Field  and  was  conveyed  to  the  society 
through  his  guardian,  Joel  R.  Hinman,  in  1843. 


i,  JoKph  p 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  Tt 

The  land  occupied  by  the  Roman  C 
cemetery  lay  south  of  the  south  fence  of 
yard,  and  was  purchased  from  J.  M.  L.  Sc 
it  was  gained  by  a  road  from  Grand  stree 
ing  ground  (see  Volume  II,  page  732). 

On  April  26,  1882,  the  legislature  by  s 
empowered  the  town  of  Waterbury  by  the 
to  convey  its  interest  in  the  old  Grand  si 
of  Waterbury.  The  act,  while  providing 
vidual  interests  in  the  old  burial  grounds 

The  city  shall  make  arrangements  for  suitabL 
which  the  remains  and  monuments  remaining  in  s 
removed,  in  all  cases  where  the  friends  of  those  boi 

not  provide  for  the  same Upon  the  paf 

payment  to  the  parties  of  the  respective  sums,  and 
of  the  remaining  bodies  and  monuments  from  th 
burial  grounds  shall  be  used  as  a  public  park  by  the 
may  be  used  for  any  suitable  public  building  or  othi 

This  act  was  ratified  by  a  vote  of  the  c: 
the  next  few  months,  the  only  persons 
against  this  proposed  action,  so  far  as  \ 
Sarah  J.  Prichard,  Mrs.  Lucy  Bronson  I 
Mrs.  Gilbert  Hotchkiss;  but  the  advocat; 
Bronson  Library  upon  the  site  in  questioi  1 
ard  made  the  following  "  appeal "  for  the  \ 
burying  yard  of  Waterbury  in  the  Americc  \ 

At  a  date  and  in  a  manner  to  us  unknown,  br  t 
history  of  this  town,  there  was  set  apart  on  the  hill  1  : 
bury  as  Burying  Yard  hill,  a  certain  parcel  of  la  i 
wherein  for  the  space  of  an  entire  generation  all 
the  plantation  of  Mattatuck  and  town  of  Waterbur 

On  Friday,  March  27, 1801,  Joseph  Hopkins  diec 
ance  as  senior  assistant  judge  of  the  county  court. 
Mr.   Hopkins,   who  had  been  buried  outside  the 
yard,  and  within  the  land  of  his  friend  and  neig  1 
that   lady  conveyed  by  deed  to  his  heirs  648  sqi  ; 
grave  and  also  that  of  his  wife,  which  land  was  tc 
burying  ground  for  the  said  Joseph  Hopkins.  Esc 
their  descendants  forever,  with  liberty  to  enclose  tl  1 
shall  deem  expedient." 

Since  1801,  three  enlargements  have  been  mac  \ 
The  deeds  conveying  the  land  have,  in  all  cases,  ] 
to  be  devoted,  notably  the  last  one,  bearing  date  \ 
L.  Scovill  did  convey  by  deed  to  William  Tyler 
diocese  of  Hartford,  in  trust  for  the  Roman  Catho  • 
of  land  adjoining  the  burying  ground.    Said  dee 


6j2  HI8T0BT  OF  WATBRBURT. 

"  Provided,  and  this  deed  is  upon  the  condition  that  the  ahove  described  premises 
are  to  be  used  and  occupied  for  the  purpose  of  a  burying  ground  and  do  other  pur- 
pose." Should  the  Roman  Catholics  relinquish  their  right  to  this  land,  it  would, 
without  doubt,  revert  to  the  heirs  of  J,  M.  L.  Scovill.  and  the  same  dilemma  would 
occur  in  an  attempt  to  divert  the  other  lands  from  their  specified  uses.  The  heirs  of 
Joseph  Hopkins  are  many  and  are  scatered  far  and  wide  throughout  the  United 
States.  The  heirs  of  the  "  inhabitants  of  Waterbury  in  1805  "  are  tens  of  thousands, 
dwelling  no  man  knoweth  where,  and  the  heirs  of  the  planters  of  Mattatuck,  the 
owners  of  the  ancient  "  God's  acre."  no  man  may  number. 

Let  us  look  for  a  moment  into  the  mortal  history  of  this  bit  of  land,  and  ask  : 
Are  we  willing  to  let  it  go  ?  For  more  than  a  century,  there  were  gathered  into 
the  western  portion  of  this  most  ancient  place  of  burial  within  the  township  the 
men  and  women  who  braved  the  perils  and  endured  the  toils  and  bore  with  heroic 
fortitude  the  untold  severity  of  the  struggle  with  dood  and  wilderness,  with  want 
and  woes  that  would  appall  stouter  hearts  than  beat  with  us  to-day.  Here  lie  the 
mothers  who  guarded  their  children  alike  from  peril  by  beast  of  the  forest  and 
stealthy  tread  of  outraged  Indian.  Here  were  gathered  for  their  long  rest,  in  the 
place  of  their  choice,  the  men  who  wrought  mightily  for  us,  in  ways  that  need  no 
mention,  and  whose  integrity  of  purpose  is  the  chief  glory  that  glistens  so  brightly 
above  our  commonwealth  to-day.  These  men  and  women,  who  lie  beneath  the  sod 
in  marked  and  unmarked  graves,  are  they  who  trod  the  wilderness  to  come  hither, 
who  lirst  turned  the  soil  to  make  it  glad  with  harvest,  who  built  the  first  houses  aod 
created  the  first  homes,  surrounded  by  the  hills  that  shut  them  solemnly  in.  They 
reared  the  first  house  for  the  worship  of  God  in  this  then  great  wilderness.  It  was 
they  who  gathered  sadly  on  Burying  Yard  hill  and  made  within  this  ground  the 
unknown  grave  of  the  first  unknown  dead  of  their  number,  who  was  borne— we 
know  not  when,  we  know  not  how — to  this  lonely  place  of  burial. 

Here  lie  the  mortal  remains  of  men  whose  names,  as  the  centuries  grow,  will  rise, 
as  the  nurot>er  of  them  increases,  into  higher  places  in  the  estimation  of  coming 
generations.  Already  men  and  womea  are  coming  hither,  are  making  long  jour- 
neys to  the  old  burying  yard,  to  search  therein  for  some  memorial  that  shall  enable 
them  to  say  :  "  This  is  the  spot  where  lies  my  ancestor  of  honored  memory." 

Let  us  beautify  the  place  where  rest  the  proprietors  of  Mattatuck,  where  lies 
the  first  minister  of  the  town,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck;  where  lies  his  successor, 
the  Bev.  John  Southmayd.  whose  services  as  public  recorder  deserve  untiounded 
gratitude  ;  and  bis  successor,  the  Rev.  Mark  Leaveaworth,  whose  long  pastorate 
deserves  a  long,  unmolested  rest.  Let  us  honor  the  graves  of  our  early  physicians, 
Dr.  Daniel  Porter  and  the  aged  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner.  We  will  name  but  one 
name  more,  save  that  of  Deacon  Thomas  Judd,  and  that  name  shall  be  Hannah, 
the  mother  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  and  the  grandmother  of  Samuel  Hopkins, 
D.  D.,  the  sound  of  whose  name  and  the  light  of  whose  life  should  keep  alive  and 
illumine  the  place  of  his  birth  forever.  There  are  heroes  lying  here ;  men  who  lived 
and  fought  and  died,  full  of  patriotic  love  of  country.  There  is  one  family  name 
that  has  come  down  through  all  the  generations  from  the  time  of  1678,  and  is  there 
engraved  on  seventy-seven  tombstones  that  still  stand  despite  the  ruin  into  which 
the  place  has  fallen,  in  testimony  of  the  faithfulness  with  which  the  Bronsons 
remembered  their  dead. 

Oh,  let  not  the  coming  generations  that  shall  return  to  Waterbury  reproach  us  of 
to-day  in  that  we  let  go  the  one  thing  that  we  ought  to  prize  most  of  all  that  we 
have  of  inheritance — the  graves  of  our  fathers,  of  the  men  who  lay  down  to  die  in 
the  full  trust  that  the  place  they  had  prepared  for  their  burial  would  remain  for- 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  TOL 

ever  inviolate.  Shall  we  prove  ourselves  less  true 
Boston  and  the  men  of  Hartford,  who  turn  proudly  t 
and  would  not  bestow  them,  even  to  hold  the  tomb  o 
a  Washington  ? 

Mrs.  Dudley's  protest  appeared  in  the  Rept 

the  following  emphatic  terms: 

I  have  been  notified,  as  a  lineal  descendant  of  be 
Samuel  Hickox,  that  there  is  talk  in  Waterbury  of 
into  a  public  park.     It  seems  incredible  that  the  L 
nineteenth  century  should  record  an  idea  of  that  kin< 
tives  buried  in  that  old  graveyard  in  Waterbury,  and 
seven  protests  against  desecration — one  for  each  close 
started  your  manufactories;  their  eyes  beheld  your  pin 
for  it.    Their  ears  heard  Indian  yells  and  English  g 
out  bodies  sought  repose  in  six  feet  of  ground  some  oi 
people  think  it  is  too  much  to  allow  them.  Who  will  add 

Mrs.  Hotchkiss  wrote  as  follows — also  in  th 

Will  you  allow  me  space  to  add  my  protest  to  Mrs. 
tion  of  the  old  Grand  street  burying  ground.  I  have 
mothers,  a  father  and  stepfather,  also  many  other  r> 
times  has  my  grandmother  told  me  of  the  soldiers  of  t 
her  father's  house  on  the  way  from  Boston  to  Fishkill 
for  provisions  or  staying  over  night,  or  both,  and  alw 
The  present  generation  can  hardly  realize  the  suffc 
early  days  of  the  soldiers  and  of  those  remaining  at 
valuable  ground  that  they  secured  for  their  last  resting 
venerated  dust  to  remain  in,  undesecrated  by  this  ge 
otism  enough  to  beautify  and  keep  it  as  the  most  sa 
thus  to  honor  those  who  fought  and  worked  for  the  li 
those  who  have  been  endeavoring  to  obliterate  these  s 
late,  for  they  may  yet  be  buried  in  Waterbury  thems* 
may  follow  their  example  by  endeavoring  to  make  a 
it  is  less  than  twenty- five  years  since  there  were  inte 
no  !  away  with  such  thoughts  !  and  let  every  sober,  c 
arise  and  say,  Let  us  honor,  defend  and  beautify  tl 
dead  are  laid,  even  if  that  ground  happens  to  be  loca 

On  January  4,  1891,  the  town  deeded  t" 
Volume  II,  page  74).  On  April  24,  Charle: 
of  the  city,  complied  with  the  requirem 
tioned  act  only  so  far  as  to  cause  excavati 
remaining  stones  to  be  sunken  out  of  s\{ 
always,  over  the  graves  to  which  they  b< 
two  or  three  stones  were  buried  togethei 
grouped  in  what  was  once  the  vault.     Ap: 

43 


674  BISTORT  OF  WATSRBURT. 

bury*s  "  Black  Friday  " !  *  The  grounds  were  subsequently  graded, 
the  trees  closely  trimmed  and  a  retaining  wall  built  on  Meadow 
street,  and  a  portion  of  the  land  was  conveyed  to  the  board  of 
agents  of  the  Bronson  library,  as  appears  from  the  deed  recorded 
in  Volume  CXXVI  of  the  Land  Records. 

When  the  excavation  for  the  cellar  of  the  Bronson  Library 
building  was  made,  many  stones  which  the  city  had  buried  were 
taken  out  of  the  ground  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation;  but  no  one 
cared  for  them,  and  the  oldest  and  most  valuable,  lying  scattered 
on  the  surface,  were  crushed  under  cart  wheels.f  Such  as  remain 
are  now  in  the  cellar  of  the  librarj-.  The  bones  exhumed  were 
buried,  after  much  delay,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  lot  deeded 
to  the  library. 

A  record  of  the  bodies  removed  in  the  spring  of  1891  was  kept 
by  N.  J.  Welton.  Some  were  taken  out  of  town,  some  removed  to 
Mill  Plain  cemetery,  and  others  to  Riverside.  Among  them  were 
the  remains  of  Susanna,  wife  of  Thomas  Bronson  (and  great-grand- 
mother of  Dr.  Henry  Bronson),  who  had  been  buried  150  years. 


OTHER  EARLY  CEMETERIES. 

PINE    HILL    BURYING    GROOND. 

The  second  place  of  burial  within  the  limits  of  the  town  was  at 
Judd's  Meadows  (see  page  278).  The  oldest  legible  inscription  to 
be  seen  to-day  is  "  A.  Lewis,  1740,"  which  refers  to  Abram,  son  of 
Deacon  Joseph  Lewis,  who  died  in  December,  1740,  aged  twenty 
years;  the  latest  is:  "  Sarah  B,  Terrel  [wife  of  Horatio]  died  October 
14,  1836,  aged  29  years."  In  a  chart  of  this  plot  of  land  made  by  Wil- 
liam Ward  of  Naugatuck,  there  are  forty-four  recognizable  graves, 
thirty-three  of  which  are  marked  with  legible  inscriptions.  Of  the 
others,  it  is  believed  that  four,  bearing  initials,  one  of  which  is  "  B  " 
in  each  case,  mark  the  graves  of  the  four  children  of  John  Barnes 
who  died  in  the  great  sickness  of  1749.  Eight  of  the  persons  whose 
ages  are  given  were  over  seventy  years  of  age,  and  two — Gideon 
Hikcox  and  Sarah,  his  wife— had  lived  more  than  ninety  years. 
Fifteen  of  the  stones  bear  the  name  of  Terrell. 

In  1890,  William  Ward,  Willard  Hopkins  and  James  S.  Lewis 
were  appointed  a  committee  by  the  town  of   Naugatuck  to  build 

•  Dr.  ADderaon  oq  thai  d»y  leicucd  Ihe  te 
lombstaiiEIDl  ihc  Re*.  Mark  Lcaveowonh  iiii< 
BionHin  Dudley  had  before  tb»  cauKd  to  be 

+  S««i»nideHigned  J,  A.,  ia  tilt  Amcri 


5[  Ihe  Rev.  / 

nhn 

1  Sonthmayd. 

and 

.xby  Hopkioi 

ind 

.  fiu^mlk  ot 

=¥.  John  Southmayd, 

"TheChurcl 

ie.< 

il  Muialuck, 

"PI 

'-  7.  «.  »S7-«6l- 

BURYINO  GROUNDS  AND  Ti 

a  wall  on  the  south  boundary  of  this  ce: 
bank  on  the  west  side.  The  sum  expend 
more  and  Mr.  Ward  were  recently  appoin 
Grove  Cemetery  association  to  report  a  pit 
which  they  have  not  yet  completed.  T! 
Ward,  this  ancient  burial  place  has  been 
side  cemetery  of  Naugatuck,  as  a  benefit 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Naugatuck,  ai 
Cemetery  association  as  trustee. 

HILLSIDE   CEMETER 

The  first  grave  made  in  Hillside  cemet< 
son  of  Deacon  Elisha  Stevens,  upon  land 
his  own  house.    The  date  was  March  9,  i7< 
ruary  7, 1800)  Deacon  Stevens,  for  $6.25,  de 
its  selectmen,  sixty-three  rods  of  land  it 
little  southeast  of  my  dwelling-house,  an 
proved  for  a  burying  ground,     .     .     .     but 
on  my  own  land,  reserving  one  and  one- 
where  I  and  my  family  have  made  some 
May  12,  1830 — from  the  heirs  of  Elisha  St 
thirty-five  rods  on  the  north  side  and  nine 
side  of  the  land  deeded  in  1795,  "reservi: 
adjoining  the  one  and  one-half  already  r< : 
been  "  set  in  order  *'  without  and  within  t : 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Whittemore,  a 
the  Grove  Cemetery  association. 

NORTHBURV    BURYING    P  : 

The  earlier  of  the  two  burying  yards  i 
in  present  Thomaston.  It  was  laid  out  a  : 
December  9,  1735,  ^^  land  having  been  ] 
Taylor  (see  page  363).  The  only  right  I 
"  a  right  and  liberty  for  myself  and  my  I 
it."  The  Town  hall  stands  upon  the  lai  < 
cemetery. 

The  burying  yard  upon  Plymouth  hil 
the  village  green.     The  earliest  burials    • 
about  1749;  at  least  the  oldest  stones  beai  1 
ground  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation 

WESTBURY    BURYING    '    ( 

The  reader  will  find  on  page  329  the  r  t 
place  of  graves  and  a  word-picture  of  the  [ 


676  HISTORY  OF  WATSRBURT. 

of  which  was  April  i,  1741.  The  original  list  of  deaths  kept  by- 
Timothy  Judd  is  in  possession  of  his  descendant,  James  A.  Skilton 
of  New  York,  and  is  the  oldest  record  of  that  nature  which  remains 
to  us.  It  is  a  small  book,  measuring  four  and  a  half  by  three  and 
a  half  inches,  and  has  lost  one  leaf  in  the  front  and  a  portion  of  one 
leaf  at  the  back.  Mr.  Skilton  thinks  that  when  the  Rev.  N,  S.  Rich- 
ardson printed  in  1845  his  Record  of  Mortality  in  Watertown,  he 
evidently  had  not  seen  this  book,  as  his  memorandum  differs  in 
many  ways  from  the  original;  also  that  his  father.  Dr.  Avery  J. 
Skilton  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  had  not  seen  it  when  he  made  his  copy  in  an 
account  book  kept  by  James  Skilton  from  iSoi  until  1848.  "At  what 
time  these  records  were  so  copied,  or  from  what  originals,  I  have." 
says  Mr.  Skilton,  "been  unable  to  learn."  A  few  of  the  items  of 
interest  found  in  the  original  and  not  in  the  copies  are  the  follow- 
ing: 

Sept  z3.  1761.  Dropt  down  dead  in  the  path  uncle  Tho.  Upson. 

Nov.  16,  1764,  Died  uncle  John  Root  of  Kinsington  in  his  seventy-ninth  year. 

March  S,  1765,  was  taken  in  a  fit  at  Che  Widow  Stow's,  DocL  Mun  of  Woodbur>- 
8c  died  in  about  seven  minutes. 

June  2,  1768.  was  taken  with  an  Appoplectic  &  died  Immediately  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Judd.  Lydia  by  name. 

June  8,  1773.  Died  with  the  consumption,  in  his  passage  from  Sandacroix,  Tim- 
othy Richards. 

July  28.  1754:  Died  Serjant  David  Strickland. 

March  15.  1766:  Died  old  Mr.  Joseph  Prichard  [of  Milford]. 

July  30,  1768;    Died,  Serg.  Caleb  Clark. 

June  27, 1769;  Died  at  Stephen  Matthews"  house,  James  Parker  of  Chester,  a 
boy  of  about  ten  years  of  age. 

May  7,  1770:  Died  in  a  fitt  of  Approplex,  as  the  jury  adjudg^ed,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Wet  more. 

Sept.  II,  1771:    Died  Jack  Negro  Man  to  Benjamin  Richards. 

Aug.  14,  1772:  Died  with  the  kick  of  a  colt,  within  a  little  more  than  14  hours, 
tho  eldest  child  of  John  foot,  aged  5  years. 

January  17.  1773:  Died  James  Outis  (?)  a.  Tranchent  Person  at  the  widow 
Edwards'  house. 

January  13,  1774;  Died  Abi,  eldest  child  to  Jacob  foot  ....  and  the  same  day 
Justus  Daley's  leg  was  cut  off. 

February  s,  1774:     Abijah  Gamsey'sleg  was  cut  off, 

Jane  7,  1775:  Died  Bethel,  son  to  William  Scovill,  killed  by  a  Trees  falling  on  him. 

December  14,  1776:  Died  Daniel  Tyler's  Junr,  two  children,  which  were  all  he 
had,  and  were  buried  at  Break  Neck. 

March  23,  1777:    Died  Ensign  James  Smith. 

March  21,  1778:     Was  killed  with  the  fall  of  a  tree.  Edward  Scovill.  Junr. 

Oct.  16,  i77g:    Was  killed  with  a  cart  the  only  son  and  child  of  William  ScovilL 

Jan.  II,  17S1:    Was  drow'd  in  a  well,  a  son  to  Eldad  Andrus. 

June  5.  1781:    Died  Seth  Blake.  (Last  entrj.) 

For  other  deaths,  taken  from  this  book,  see  pages  437  and  467, 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  Ti 


FARMINGBURY    CEMEI 


At  a  town  meeting  held  December  , 
Nichols  and  Captain  Stephen  Upson,  Jr., 
to  go  out  eastward  near  Joseph  Atkins* 
an  acre  of  land  upon  the  town  cost,  in  tha 
shall  think  it  most  convenient  for  a  bury 
In  Bronson's  History  (page  229)  this  dat 
statement  is  made  that  the  above  action 
Joseph  Atkins  lived  near  the  present  c 
purchase  was  the  beginning  of  the  Wolco 
The  oldest  inscribed  stone  standing  thei 
Lieutenant  Heman  Hall;  the  date  is  1769. 
mittee  was  appointed  to  confer,  and  cont: 
Ham  Stevens  "for  a  small  tract  of  land 
the  public  for  a  burying  ground,  and  to  t 
report  to  the  town."    On  June  16,  1797 — tt 
society  became  the  town  of  Wolcott — Wat' 
cott  should  be  paid  jQ^,  los.,  to  be  applied 
their  burying  ground.     In  1797,  Stevens  s 
of  the  burying  ground,  and  Wolcott  appoi 
with   him,   which  was   finally  accomplish 
Stevens'  name  appears  on  the  Waterbury 
dent  of  Southington. 

In  March,  1772,  the  society  of  Farn: 
grave  diggers,  indicating  the  existence  of 
which,  at  the  centre,  John  Barrett  had  c 
The  second  we  should  not  fail  to  menti 
Waterbury  limits  or  not,  Waterbury  resid 
It  is  on  Pike's  hill,  and  but  six  stones  bea 
The  names  are  Alcox,  Blakeslee  and  Br 
1776  to  1791. 

EAST    FARMS   CEMET] 

"It  is  supposed,"  says  Sturges  M.  Jud( 
ments  at  East  Farms  were  of  two  Revolt 
here  on  the  march  from  Newport,  R.  I.,  t( 
That  this  tradition  may  be  correct  save 
from  the  petition  which  Dr.  Timothy  P 
the  General  Assembly,  in  which  he  state 
a  portion  of  the  army,  under  command  o 
Island,  passed  through  Waterbury;  that 
count  of  a  wound  in  his  ankle,  by  which  '. 
life  or  limb,  was  left  under  Porter's  care 


678  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

whenever  he  should  present  his  bill  to  Captain  Thomas  Button, 
collector  of  state  taxes,  his  taxes  would  be  abated;  but  Dutton  kept 
the  bill  for  three  years  and  then  returned  it. 

On  January  31,  1780,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  town  to 
purchase  one-fourth  acre  an  the  request  of  Captain  Phineas  Castle. 
On  April  i,  was  surveyed  "a  piece  of  ground,  five  by  eight  rods,  at 
the  East  farm,"  which  Joseph  Beach  sold  on  April  28  for  fifteen  shil- 
lings, described  as  "  in  my  meadow,  a  little  southwest  of  my  dwell- 
ing house,  with  the  privilege  of  passing  to  and  from  said  burying- 
yard  from  the  Country  road"  (see  page  448).  The  oldest  inscribed 
stone  seems  to  be  that  of  Experience,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Beach,  who 
died  September  20,  1789. 

In  1855,  the  plot  was  enlarged  by  a  gift  of  land  from  Charles  J. 
Pierpont.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  passedin  1878,  the  East  Farms 
Cemetery  corporation  was  organized. 

GUNNTOWN    CEMETERY. 

Nathaniel  Gunn,  who  died  October  25,  1769,  was  buried  in  Pine 
Hill  cemetery,  as  was  his  first  wife,  Sarah,  who  died  in  1756.  His 
widow — also  Sarah — was  buried  at  Gunn  town  in  1797.  These  facts 
have  led  to  the  belief  that  this  burying-yard  was  not  laid  out  until 
after  1760,  and  probably  not  until  after  the  organization  of  the 
Gunntown  Episcopal  church  in  1784.  Dr.  Enos  Osborn,  born  after 
1737,  gave  the  ground  to  the  Episcopal  society,  but  after  the  church 
was  removed  to  Salem,  some  rights  must  have  remained  with  the 
Osborn  family,  for  Enos  Adams,  a  descendant  of  the  family,  in  i860 
deeded  it  to  the  town  of  Naugatuck. 

The  oldest  person  here  buried  is  Mrs.  David  Peck  of  Derby,  who 
died  in  1867,  aged  more  than  one  hundred  years.  The  earliest  death 
here  recorded  is  that  of  a  child  of  Noah  and  Abigail  (Gunn)  Sco- 
vill,  who  died  in  1790,  although  there  seem  to  be  some  older  graves 
unmarked.  The  young  man  from  whose  gravestone  the  following 
inscription  is  taken,  was  of  marked  ability,  and  was  in  charge,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  of  workmen  who  were  building  a  church  steeple: 

Erected  to  the  memory  of  John  A.  Smith,  son  of  John  and  Jennett  Smith,  who 
was  killed  instantly  at  Madison,  Ct.,  by  falling  from  the  steeple  of  a  church.  May 
18,  1838,  aged  20  years. 

"Beneath  this  sacred  mould,  rest,  hapless  youth 

At  whose  disastrous  end  e'en  strangers  wept. 
Whose  dying  bed  was  the  cold  earth,  and  whose 

Last  groan  nor  friend  nor  parent  herd — 
Parental  love,  denied  to  sooth  that  hour. 

O'er  thy  dear  dust  this  humble  stone  erects, 
To  bear  thy  precious  name  and  publish 

To  the  passing  traveller  thy  woe." 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  TO. 

After  the  church  edifice  at  Gunntown  \ 
of  Salem,  and  the  new  Congregational  chu 
said  that  Daniel  Beecher  conveyed  to  the 
the  rear  of  its  church  for  a  burial-yard,  ai 
time  it  was  in  use.*  Removals  from  it  w 
etery,  while  other  graves  still  remain  ui 
sheds  now  belonging  to  that  church.f 

MIDDLEBURY    BURYING 

The  earliest  place  of  burial  in  Middlel 
page  408),  has  entirely  disappeared.  Two 
ent  graveyard  are  known  to  have  been  ren 
those  of  two  daughters  of  Captain  Isaac  £ 
son,  who  died  in  1776  and  1777.  The  f 
January  27,  1794,  seems  to  refer  to  the  pr< 
that  the  petition  of  Mr.  Eli  Bronson,  prayi 
in  Middlebury  society,  be  referred  to  the 
grant  said  petition  and  make  such  comp< 
of  said  ground  as  they  think  best." 

buck's   hill   CEMETEl 

On  December  30,  1789,  "on  motion  of  J 
a  suitable  piece  of  ground  sequestered  f 0 1 
northern  part  of  this  town,  it  was  voted 
to  choose  out  a  suitable  piece  of  groun( 
above  purpose  if  they  think  prudent."     A 
in  the  Buck's  Hill  cemetery,  of  dates  befc  i 
been  made  to  the  original  layout,  and  th  \ 
surround  it  were  presented  by  Joseph  We  I 

BROCKET  (or    POTTER)    CE  1 

On  March  27,  1813,  Zenas  Brocket  deec  \ 
Rev.  Samuel  Potter,  certain  pieces  of  Ian  I 
of  Spectacle  pond  so  called,  containing  ab  1 
included  a  burying  ground  of  twelve  ro  I 
conveyed  by  this  deed."  The  earliest  bur:  ! 
the  two  sons  of  Mr.  Potter,  one  of  whom  I 
1804.  Franklin  Potter,  the  present  owne 
and  its  present  dimensions  are  nearly  one  i 
as  a  place  of  burial  by  the  inhabitants  : 
vicinity. 


*  See  note  on  page  645. 

t  It  is  said  that  a  complete  list  of  the  burials  in  Gunntown  ce 
able  for  reference  at  this  time. 


68o  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 

WOOSTER    CEMETERY. 

This  is  a  small  plot  of  ground  lying  south  of  the  Potter  burial 
ground,  now  within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Naugatuck.  The  ear- 
liest interment  was  that  of  Walter  Wooster,  who  died  July  2\,  1829, 
ajjed  eighty-two  years;  the  latest  Sylvester  B.  Bailey,  aged  sixty- 
tive,  in  1892.  There  seem  to  have  been  only  about  twenty  burials, 
nearly  all  bearing  the  name  of  Wooster, 

For  an  account  of  cemeteries  opened  since  1825  see  Volume  II, 
pages  786  to  789. 

BELLS  AND  THEIR  USES. 

The  history  of  church  bells  in  old  New  England  communities  is 
a  subject  by  no  means  barren  of  interest,  and  the  ancient  customs 
connected  with  bell-ringing  are  worth  studying.  Although  it  is  so 
recently  that  they  have  fallen  into  disuse,  there  are  few  to-day  who 
know  much  about  them.  Their  connection  with  deaths  and  burials 
was  so  close  that  this  would  seem  to  be  the  proper  place  in  which 
to  give  some  account  of  them. 

Bronson  in  his  History  of  Waterbury  makes  the  following  refer- 
ence (page  no)  to  primitive  New  England  customs:  "The  drum 
was  a  favorite  instrument  among  our  ancestors,  and  was  put  to 
many  uses.  It  answered  the  purpose  of  a  town  bell.  It  called  the 
people  to  meeting  on  Sundays.  It  summoned  them  to  the  fortified 
houses  at  night.  It  gave  the  signal  for  the  town  gatherings  on 
public  business.  It  told  the  people  when  to  turn  out  'to  burn  about 
the  common  fence.'"  The  use  of  the  drum  as  a  legal  signal  for 
sheriff's  sales — in  which  property  was  advertised  "to  be  sold  at 
beat  of  drum  " — -has  continued  until  very  recently.  The  Connecti- 
cut statutes  of  r866  prescribe  this  method  of  giving  notice;  but 
the  daily  paper  and  the  town  sign-post  seem  now  to  have  taken  the 
place  of  it.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  drum  was  used  in  Water- 
bury  for  the  purposes  indicated  for  at  least  a  hundred  years.  It 
was  gradually  superseded  by  the  bell,  and  the  hell  having  once 
secured  an  established  place,  new  uses  were  developed  which  it 
successfully  supplied. 

On  page  613  it  is  remarked  that  the  second  meeting-house 
(1729-1796)  "apparently  had  a  bell,"  and  that  it  was  probably  the 
one  sold  by  the  people  of  Milford,  about  1740,  "to  a  society  in 
Waterbury."  In  that  case  the  statement  on  page  557  of  Bronson's 
History,  repeated  in  this  volume  (p.  599),  that  the  bell  of  the  old 
academy  was  the  first  in  town,  must  be  incorrect.* 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  t 

The  grant  "  to  pay  for  the  bell,"  mad< 
(p.  613),  would  seem  to  indicate  either  a 
standing  debt,  or  else  payment  for  the 
for  ringing  it.     But  in  any  case,  the  thii 
had  not  been  finished  long  ere  it  was 
The  subscription  paper  for  this  bell  wa 
lias  since  disappeared.     Fortunately,  ho 
the  Waterbury  Republican  of  August  19  of 
list  of  the  subscribers,  and  the  bill,  show 
bell.     The  heading  is  as  follows: 

We,  the  subscribers,  hereby  promise  to  pay  to 
Davis  and  Jesse  Hopkins,  society's  committee,  foi 
hanging  a  bell  in  the  steeple  of  the  meeting-house 
in  Waterbury,  the  several  sums  annexed  to  our  ri 
of  December  next,  provided  the  sums  hereto  su^ 
sufficient  to  purchase  a  bell  that  shall  weigh  six  hv 
six  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  weight,  and  hang  th 

To  this  agreement,  we  are  told  by  the  .. 
subscribed,  and  all  but  nine  had  check  n 
that  payment  had  been  made.     **  The  a 
shillings  to  jQ^y  and   the   total  amount 
$430/*    The  receipt,  which  we  reproduc 
procured  was  a  hundred  pounds  heavier 
reckoned  upon: 

The  First  Society  of  the  tov 

To   FeNTON   &   CoCHRi 

To  a  bell  weighing  seven  hundred  and  forty 
shillings  and  three  pence  per  pound  (eigh 

shillings) 

Also  altering  a  P.  bell  weighing  24  pounds  at  2-3 

Also  two  brass  gaging  boxes  weighing  four  an 

pound 


Before  the  purchase  of  this  bell,  tha 
to  some  extent  as  a  church  bell.  The 
give  the  Episcopal  societ)''  the  use  of  t 
occasions"  has  already  been  referred 
met  the  requirements  of  both  parishe; 
ence  to  a  bell  on  the  Episcopal  chui 
date  than   1823,   3,nd   there   is   no   im 

I  records  until  1827  that  the  bell  of  179; 

\  factory.     On  March  5  of  that  year,  hov\ 


682  BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 

society's  committee  have  liberty  to  sell  the  bell  of  the  meeting- 
house at  their  discretion,"  and  on  November  i6,  1829,  it  was  "  voted 
to  lay  a  tax  of  one  and  one-half  cents  on  the  dollar  on  the  list  of 
1829  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  a  bell,  payable  the  first 
day  of  March  next."  Of  this  proposed  purchase  there  is  no  further 
mention  in  the  records,  but  in  the  Reminiscences  of  Horace  Hotch- 
kiss  (already  quoted  elsewhere),  there  is  an  interesting  reference  to 
to  it.     He  says  : 

For  some  years  subsequent  to  the  erection  of  the  two  churches,  the  bell  of  the 
Congregational  church  was  used  for  both  societies  for  Sabbath  and  funeral  occa- 
sions. The  old  bell  was  at  length  broken  by  undue  ringing,  one  Christmas  Eve, 
and  it  was  decided  to  hang  a  new  one  before  the  installation  of  a  pastor  which  was 
just  about  to  take  place.  Mr.  Israel  Coe  sent  a  bell  from  New  York,  but  when  it 
was  tested,  on  the  Saturday  previous  to  the  installation,  it  proved  unsatisfactory. 
Determined  at  all  events  to  have  a  good  bell  for  the  coming  occasion,  I  proposed  to 
Edward  Scovill  that  we  should  drive  over  to  Hartford,  that  afternoon,  to  procure 
one,  and  return  at  evening.  The  weather  was  intensely  cold  and  the  snow  was 
drifting  heavily,  but  we  equipped  ourselves  with  shovels  and  blankets,  and  left 
Waterbury  about  noon. 

On  the  Southington  plains,  in  consequence  of  the  drifts,  we  were  obliged  to 
shovel  the  paths  for  long  distances,  and  reached  Hartford  only  at  night- fall.  Dur 
ing  the  evening  we  secured  a  bell  whose  tones  we  liked,  and  at  9  p.  m.  started  on 
our  tedious  homeward  drive  of  thirty  miles  over  the  mountain,  with  the  bell  in  the 
sleigh,— an  additional  weight  of  more  than  half  a  ton.  By  urging  the  horses  and 
by  frequent  shovelling  we  reached  the  brow  of  the  mountain  at  midnight,  but 
beyond  that  the  road  was  so  blockaded  that  we  could  proceed  no  further  with  the 
sleigh.  We  resolved  to  ride  home  on  horseback,  leaving  our  load  behind,  but  on 
attempting  it  our  frequent  falls  and  the  bitter  cold  convinced  us  that  this,  too,  was 
impossible;  so  we  led  the  horses  to  a  house  about  half  a  mile  distant,  and  arousing 
the  occupants,  found  quarters  until  the  next  evening  (for  although  the  strict  Sab- 
bath laws  of  my  earlier  life  were  not  then  in  force,  we  were  unwilling  to  give  occa- 
sion for  scandal  because  of  having  travelled  on  the  Sabbath).  After  sunset  on  Sun 
day  night  we  extricated  our  sleigh  by  aid  of  oxen  and  slowly  proceeded  home. 

The  bell  was  hung  on  Tuesday,  and  on  Wednesday  it  rang  out  a  joyous  sum- 
mons to  the  installation.  Long  afterward  it  called  the  people  to  worship  and  gave 
them  notice  of  occurring  deaths.  I  think  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  this  last  custom 
was  dropped  in  Waterbury.  At  a  funeral  the  body  was  carried  to  the  grave  on 
men's  shoulders.  Occasionally  the  bearers  were  relieved  by  others,  and  as  they 
went  on,  the  slow  and  solemn  tones  of  the  passing  bell  filled  the  air.  (This,  I  sup- 
pose, was  from  a  Saxon  custom  notifying  the  people  to  pray  for  the  soul  of  the 
departed.)  The  bell  was  also  rung  on  week  days,  at  early  morning  to  give  notice 
when  to  rise,  at  12  o'clock  for  the  mid-day  meal,  and  at  9  p.  m.  to  indicate  the  hour  of 
retiring. 

The  bell  procured  by  Messrs.  Scovill  and  Hotchkiss  became  in 
its  turn  unsatisfactory.  On  December  26,  1853,  the  society  voted 
that  the  society's  committee  should  be  authorized  to  exchange  the 
present  bell  for  a  new  one,  the  new  one  to  weigh  not  less  than  1500 
pounds,  nor  more  than  2500.     The  date  at  which  the  exchange  was 


BURYING  GROUNDS  AND  1 

made  does  not  appear  in  the  record,  but 
ment.     The  bell  was  evidently  taken  "( 
22,  1855,  the  society  took  action  as  follow 

Voted  that  the  bell  now  hanging  in  our  church 
we  do  not  think  it  for  our  interest  to  purchase  it. 

Resolved  that  this  society  is  under  no  obligat 
Holbrook's  foundry,  and  that  the  committee  be  di 
they  think  the  interest  of  the  society  will  be  best  s 

Four  months  later  it  was  still  there,  or  el 
appointed  again;  for  it  was  voted  (July 
hangs  we  are  not  satisfied  with  it, — as  re; 
ing  it  and  the  tone  given  out  when  it  i; 
mittee  be  instructed  to  advise  Mr.  Blake 
an  opportunity  to  remedy  the  difficulties. 

The  people  of  St.  John's  parish  were  < 
riences  than  these.  On  the  night  of  J 
steeple  of  their  church  was  blown  dow 
nearly  4000  pounds,  fell  with  it.  It  str 
broken  timbers  in  such  a  way  that  it  rec< 
the  church  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  t 
1868,  the  bell  was  melted  and  fell  in 

An  account  of  the  chimes  at  St.  Joh 
p.  620,  and  in  the  chapter  on  music. 

The  following  account  of  the  somewh  1 
ringing  which  prevailed  here  for  many 
by  Mr.  Kingsbury: 

Bells  were  rung  for  church  services,  for  deaths  I 
alarms—such  as  for  lost  children — and  for  secular 
complete  that  it  needed  only  a  few  strokes  to  mak 

For  church  services  the  peals  were  in  four  stro  ; 
the  second  and  third.  A  first  bell  was  rung  an  : 
The  second  bell  began  ten  minutes  before  the  tin  ; 
few  minutes  finished  with  a  slow  toll.     This  secor  I 

It  was  in  ringing  for  a  death  that  the  elabon  I 
most  noticeable.    When  the  bell  was  to  be  rung  t 
death  had  taken  some  one  away,  it  was  at  first  sl<  . 
indicating  the  sex  and  proximate  age  of  the  dec 
five  for  a  boy,  seven  for  a  woman,  nine  for  a  m  1 
bell  was  rung  for  several  minutes,  the  strokes  b  i 
four,  but  in  other  respects  like  the  ringing  for  chi  < 
able  time,  which  was  a  matter  of  judgment  on  t 
by  the  age  and  social  position  of  the  deceased,  1  . 
and,  attaching  a  small  rope  to  the  tongue  of  the 
tongue  against  the  side  of  the  bell.    The  age  wf 
rest  of  a  few  seconds  after  each  ten  strokes.    If  w 
ceased  who  among  the  persons  known  to  be  ill  hi   i 
that  a  non  resident  had  been  brought  here  to      i 


684  muTOUT  OF  WATBRBURY. 

matter  of  inquiry.  Frequently  this  was  shouted  to  the  sexton  from  below  by  some 
curious  persfin  in  the  pauses  of  the  bell.  The  bell  was  rung  in  groups  of  two 
strokes  to  give  notice  of  the  funeral  when  held  in  the  church,  and  sometimes  when 
held  at  private  houses,  and  it  was  very  slowly  tolled  while  the  body  was  being  car- 
ried on  a  bier  upon  men's  shoulders  to  its  last  resting  place.  As  the  town  grew 
larger  the  custom  of  ringing  or  tolling  the  bell  for  a  death  was  gradually  given  up. 
Not  long  ago  I  was  making  some  inquiry  as  to  the  time  when  it  ceased,  when  to  my 
surprise  the  bell  of  St.  John's  was  rung  and  tolled  for  Mrs,  Palmyra  Cotton,  who 
had  just  died  in  her  one  hundred  and  first  year. 

Alarm  bells  were  rung  in  rapid  peals,  the  bell  tumingover  and  over  and  ringing 
without  cessation.  Fire  was  the  usual  cause  of  alarm,  but  the  bell  was  rung  in  the 
same  way  to  call  people  together  to  hunt  for  a  lost  child,  and  was  recognized  as 
the  legitimate  method  of  general  alarm.     It  seemed  to  say.  "Something  is  tbe 

The  surplus  vitality  of  the  youngsters  in  a  country  town  frequently  found  vent 
in  playing  some  mischief  with  the  bell.  One  young  man  fastened  a  piece  of  twine 
to  the  tongue  of  the  bell,  and  to.ik  the  other  end  in  at  the  window  of  his  room,  not 
far  off.  In  the  night  there  came  a  slow,  muffled,  spiritual  toll.  The  supernatural 
was  more  in  fashion  then  than  now,  and  a  certain  feeling  of  awe  seized  the  listen- 
ers. The  young  man's  room  was  visited.  He  sat  up  in  his  bed  and  wondered  with 
the  rest,  or  rather,  more  than  the  resL  Subsequent  investigation  or  confession — I 
forget  which— showed  that  his  end  of  the  string  was  fastened  to  his  great  toe;  and 
the  spirits  were  laid.  Somewhere — it  may  not  have  been  here — a  similar  tolling 
was  found  to  have  been  caused  by  a  string  fastened  to  the  horns  of  a  ram  tethered  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  church  and  supplied  with  hay.  In  reaching  for  the  hay  he 
pulled  the  cord  which  tolled  the  bell.  On  the  night  before  New  Year's  or  Christ- 
mas day,  the  boys  would  sometimes  get  into  the  church  and  set  the  bell  a  ringing 
with  an  alarm  peal.  What  happened  to  one  of  them  was  told  ia  rhyme  some  fifty 
years  ago,  and  is  repeated  in  Volume  II.  page  936. 

Before  the  days  of  steam  most  of  the  factories  in  town  had  bells. 
These  have  been  superseded  by  steam  whistles.  The  startling 
effect  produced  by  these  upon  the  auditory  nerves  was  the  theme 
of  a  piece  of  verse  published  in  the  American  in  March,  1864,  entitled 
"The  Stranger  in  Town,"  and  "  respectfully  dedicated  to  Brown's 
gong."     Says  the  poet: 


He  is  told  by  a  passer-by  that  it  is  a  steam  whistle,  and  concludes 
that  it  is  without  parallel  in  all  his  previous  experience: 
In  my  far  western  home  I  often  have  heard 
The  yell  of  the  panther,  the  scream  of  the  bird; 
But  of  noises  unearthly — strange  though  it  seem— 
I've  never  heard  aught  like  the  whistle  of  steam. 

It  strikingly  illustrates  "  how  use  doth  breed  a  habit  in  a  man,"  that 
in  1895  the  sound  of  the  steam  whistle  is  quite  unobserved,  unless 
it  is  sounding  an  alarm  of  fire  or  is  carried  shrieking  through  the 
city  at  midnight  on  the  top  of  a  locomotive. 


CHAPTER   XL] 


INDIAN    AND    ENGLISH     PLACE    NAMES     FROM 
end" — THE    MEADOWS     LARGELY     NAl 
THE    MOUNTAINS,     HILLS    AND    STREAl 
THEIR    SONS — EXCEPTIONS. 


THE  men  of  Farmington  had  pert 
government  to  improve  the  landi 
associated  planters  of  1674  came 
period  was,  with  little  doubt,  preceded  bj 
of  desirable  meadows  for  the  cultivatioi 
grains,  hops,  and  other  commodities — un 
protective  power  of  the  General  Court. 

It  is,  therefore,  not   surprising  that 
remaining  Indian  place   names  of  the  1 
certain  English  place  names,  which  we 
days  of  the  region,  because  we  have  n 
them  with  any  names  known  of  record 
Taylor  is  the  most  prominent.    Like  M 
occupies  a  conspicuous  position  in  the 
country.    While  not  so  much  higher  thai 
more  commanding  or  extensive  views, 
when  viewed  from  other  eminences  for 
space  between  the  valleys  of  the  Naug 
brook,  at  or  near  their  confluence. 

It  was  quite  natural,  therefore,  that  i 

one  of  the  points  of  demarkation  in  the  ] 

and  we  can  readily  believe  that  Mr.  Tayl 

mark  when  viewing  the  region,  or  exp 

evidently  had  regard  for  elevated  and  1 

name  of  Taylor's  Meditation  was  given 

range  east  of  the  east  branch  of  Hancocl 

have  no  further  knowledge.       Of  But] 

lived  and  had  a  house  in  present  Nau 

of  Mattatuck  took  formal  possession  o 

and   Golden  and   the   Buck   who  probs 

Hill  may  have  been  and  probably  wer< 

1674,  while  a  Wooster,  undoubtedly,  g 

swamp  lying  east  of  Watertown,  befor 

out  to  the  planters  of  Mattatuck.     N 


686 


UIsrOHT  OF   WATERBURY. 


names,  we  find  in  our  early  records  no  additional  evidence  that 
a  Butler,  Taylor,  Macy,  Golden,  Buck,  or  even  a  Steele  lived  in 
Waterbury  during  its  first  forty  years. 

The  need  of  local  names  was  imperative.  For  a  time  Indian 
names  were  probably  accepted,  but  gradually  these  were  dropped 
from  the  speech  of  the  people,  and  English  names  were  substituted. 

The  various  allotments  of  land  gave  opportunity  for  designating- 
a  given  locality  by  its  owner's  name,  and  at  a  very  early  date  we 
learn  to  follow  the  line  of  meadow  lands  for  eighteen  miles — from 
Welton's  meadow  at  Thomaston  to  Ben  Jones's  meadow  {lying  be- 
tween Grove  cemetery  at  Naugatnck  and  the  river). 

The  division  of  the  township  into  four  quarters — by  the  Nanga- 
tuck  river,  and  the  Farmington  and  Woodbury  roads — assisted  in 
designating  lands;  and  the  mountain  lots  and  hill  lands  soon 
became  known  by  the  respective  names  of  their  owners. 

The  modern  names  are  not  included  in  the  following  list. 

■'  Know  all  men  by  these  presents, 
that  I,  John  Nichols  of  Waterbury  in 
New  Haven  County,  taking  into  con- 
sideration that  all  inankind  sent  into 
this  Terrestrial  world  were  by  nature 
entitled  to  theequal  enjoyment  of  Water, 
Earth,  and  Air,  until  those  pestilent 
words  «/n<f  and  f/iine  were  introduced 
by  Cain  and  Abel  in  personal  propertv. 
and  adopted  by  Abram  and  Lot.  which 
produced  an  actual  division  of  their  real 
estate  by  the  removal  of  one  over  Jordan 
into  the  plains,  whilst  the  other  remained 
in  the  hill  country,  whereby  Jordan  lie- 
carae  a  line  betwixt  them,  from  which 
period  the  tenure  of  lands  has  generalty 
been  regulated  agreeable  to  the  several 
constitutions  holding  jurisdiction  there- 
of, and  by  virtue  of  which,  under 
Providence,  I  possess  in  fee  simple  a 
small  landed  estate,  while  my  indigent 
Neighbor  hatli  not  a  place  to  lay  his 
head.  Conscious  of  thesefacts.  andfrom 
motives  of  benevolence,  duty  and  charity. 
I  do  hereby  give,  g^rant,  bargain  and  con- 
vey unto  Stephen  Judd,  my  neighbor,  as 
aforesaid,  and  unto  Sarah,  his  wife,  the 
following  messuage  or  tenement  of  land 
lying  in  Waterbury  aforesaid,  at  a  place 
called  Abrigador  in  the  first  society,  be- 
ginning at  a  heap  of  stones,  my  comer 


ABRAGADO— The  rocky 
occupying  nearly  all  the  area  lying  within 
the  great  curve  described  by  the  Mad 
river  just  before  its  union  with  the  Nauga- 
tuok  river,  was  known  to  the  first  inhab- 
itants as  Abragado.  The  region  is  now 
encompassed  by  Dublin,  River,  Bridge, 
and  Washington  streets.  In  process  of 
time  the  name  has  undergone  various 
changes — from  Abragado  to  Abragadow, 
to  Abrigador,  The  origin  of  the  name  is 
of  special  interest.     See  p.  51. 

It  is  first  mentioned  in  existing  records 
in  1699,  at  which  date  the  following 
grant  was  transcribed  from  a  record 
then  so  old,  or  worn,  that  its  date  was 
gone,  showing  that  the  name,  proba- 
bly, was  here  before  the  plantation 
was:  "There  was  granted  to  John  Rich- 
ason,  William  Hikcox  and  John  Gay- 
lord,  thirty  acres  of  land  atl  ye  east 
end  of  a  drag  ado  provided  they  im- 
prove it  and  inhabit  four  yeirs  after  Im- 
provement and  build  according  to  origi- 
oall  articles  not  pregedising  highways 
former  grants  nor  drifts  of  cattell. " 

It  was  upon  the  "  Abragado "  that  the 
land  lay,  which  was  the  subject  of  the 
following  unique  deed  of  1S03  (see  Vol. 
II.  p.  794}.  It  may  be  found  in  Vol. 
XXVIII,  p.  439,  of  the  Land  Records, 


ENGLISH  PLAGE  NAMES  i 


joining  the  highway  that  leads  to  Colum- 
bia (Dublin  street),  and  runs  southwest 
ten  rods  then  northwest  six  rods,  then 
southeast  to  the  first  corner,  twelve  and 
a  half  rods,  butted  east  and  north  on 
highway,  west  on  my  own  land,  and 
south  on  the  heirs  of  Jonathan  Baldwin, 
deceased,  or  common  land,  to  be  by  them 
quietly  and  peaceably  enjoyed  during 
their  natural  lives  and  then  to  descend 
in  fee  tail  to  Elizabeth  Judd,  the  eldest 
daughter  to  said  Stephen  and  Sarah,  if 
she  shall  choose  to  occupy  and  improve 
the  same,  if  not  to  such  of  her  brothers 
and  sisters  as  she,  the  said  Elizabeth, 
shall  choose  to  resign  the  same  unto,  or 
to  her,  the  said  Elizabeth's  heirs;  and  I 
the  said  grantor,  do  hereby  convey  the 
above  described  premises  with  this  posi- 
tive and  express  condition  only,  that  they, 
the  said  Grantees,  shall  not  sell  either  the 
property  or  use  thereof,  nor  shall  the  same 
be  liable  for  any  debt  due  or  demand  of 
I  he  said  Grantees  or  the  use  thereof;  but 
the  same  is  given  for  the  sole  use  and 
purpose  before  mentioned,  and  that  only 
(viz.)  for  a  building  spot  and  garden  to 
render  said  Grantees  comfortable  through 
life,  and  if  the  said  Elizabeth  shall  not 
survive  the  said  Stephen  and  Sarah,  then 
to  descend  to  their  next  eldest  surviving 
daughter  and  to  her  heirs." 

The  land  deeded  lies  on  the  south 
side  of  Bridge  street  and  west  side  of 
Dublin  street.  It  is  now  or  was  recently 
owned  by  George  Barns. 

ARNOLD'S  HILL— From  Nathaniel 
Arnold.  Beyond  the  Boughton  place  on 
the  Middlebury  road  —  the  hill  to  the 
left. 

ASH  SWAMP— Now  covered  by  the 
waters  of  the  Chestnut  Hill  reservoir. 
[Patucko's  ring  of  pre-historic  days  was 
probably  a  circular  fort  in  the  swamp  at 
that  point,  but  it  became  a  very  elastic 
ring,  stretching  northward  nearly  to 
Spindle  hill,  and  eastward  to  the  Mad 
river.] 

ASH  SWAMP  BROOK— Now  Chest- 
nut Hill  brook. 


smal 
west 
oldF 

thef 

BA 

laid 
south 

BE 
west 
tucko 
••Bee 
brook 

BE. 

BE. 
205. 

BE. 
east  ! 
tuck 
of  th< 

1673. 
TH 
Nathi , 
came  i 
had  li 
the      < 
Engl; 
Davi< 
acres  I 
east    ; 
Steel 
subst  I 
appr<  ■ 
of  D  I 
proxi  [ 
prese  1 
sold  ' 
he  o' 
land.  : 
boug 
ing  \  . 
mill. 
Late 
Bron  : 
kins, 
oblit   : 

it  IS 

local   : 


688 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 


BEAVER  MEADOW,  THE  BEA- 
VER MEADOWS,  COVE  MEADOW 
— The  ancient  boundaries  were  Burying 
Yard  hill,  a  line  of  coves  that  separated  it 
from  Manhan  neck  on  the  northwest,  Hop 
Meadow  hill,  Great  brook  and  the  river. 
The  modem  limits  may  be  desbribed 
as  Meadow  street,  the  tail  race  of  the 
Waterbury  Brass  company,  the  river  and 
the  remaining  sections  of  Hop  Meadow 
hill,  together  with  Great  brook.  Along  the 
land  of  the  Brass  company  and  the  present 
junction  of  the  New  England  and  Nauga- 
tuck  railways  lay  Long  cove.  It  was 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length.  Mid- 
dle cove  lay  next,  and  Mud  cove  was  near 
the  western  terminus  of  Hop  Meadow 
hill.  A  fourth  cove,  perhaps  sixteen  rods 
long,  lay  in  the  meadow  a  little  westerly 
of  Field  street.  Through  Long,  Mid- 
dle and  Mud  coves  coursed  the  same 
stream  which  crossed  West  Main  street 
a  little  west  of  the  Green.  From  Mud 
cove  to  the  river,  the  stream  was  known 
as  Tophet  or  Tophet  brook.  Middle  cove 
was  of  slight  depth  and  in  1849  it  had 
disappeared.  It  was  customary  in  the 
early  years  of  the  century  to  draw  loads 
of  hay  through  it. 

Sixty  years  ago  the  coves  afforded  ex- 
cellent fishing  ground;  pickerel,  roach 
and  bullheads  being  abundant.  Samuel 
H.  Prichard  informed  me  that  he  had 
caught  many  wild  duck  and  mink  in  and 
about  the  coves,  whose  waters  have  now 
disappeared. 

BEAVER  POND  BROOK— The  large 
tributary  of  the  Mad  river  which  comes 
into  it  from  the  east  at  the  point  where 
the  East  Mountain  road  crosses  the  Meri- 
den  railroad. 

BEAVER  DAM  BROOK— The  same 
as  Beaver  Pond  brook. 

BEAVER  POND  HILL  — The  hill 
at  East  Farms,  north  of  the  Beaver 
pond. 

BEDLAM  BROOK— Either  what  is 
now  Long  Meadow  brook,  or  a  brook 
running  into  the  same  at  the  present 
"Widow  Bradley  place." 


BEDLAM  HILL— The  hill  on  which 
Middlebury  centre  is.  The  name  is  now 
applied  to  that  portion  of  the  hill  south 
of  the  centre,  which  is  120  feet  higher. 
On  it  Amos  and  Abel  Scott  had  lands. 
Aaron,  John  and  Gamaliel  Fenn*s  farms 
lay  there.  On  its  eastern  side  is  '*  Ben 
Fenn's  pool,"  a  boiling  spring  that  never 
changes  its  temperature  and  thaws  the 
ice  that  forms  around  it.  In  1784  there 
was  a  school-house  on  the  hill. 

BEDLAM  MEADOW— Later  called 
Long  meadow;  now  partly  covered  by 
Long  Meadow  pond.  In  1771  Daniel 
Hawkins's  house  was  on  the  west  side  of 
it. 

BEN'S  MEADOW— From  Benjamin 
Judd,  in  1679,  who  was  quite  prominent 
in  public  affairs  while  he  remained  here. 
On  Steele's  brook, above  Steele's  meadow, 
and  Isaac's  meadow.  It  was  originally 
the  meadow  northwest  of  the  **  poor 
house,"  where  a  race  course  now  is. 

UPPER  BEN'S  MEADOW  — The 
next  bit  of  natural  meadow  above  Ben's 
meadow,  near  Slade's  mill  and  near  the 
mouth  of  Turkey  brook.  In  1797  this 
meadow  is  described  as  being  "  near 
Benjamin  Richards'  new  dwelling- 
house,"  and,  as  **  ^%  acres  more  or  less  " 
—at  which  date  it  was  sold  by  •*  Bela  and 
Olive  Blakeslec,  Hezekiah  Brown,  James 
Warner,  Jr.,  and  Joanna,  of  Pl3anouth, 
and  Preserved  and  Rachel  Hickcox  of 
Sangersfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y,  to  Seba 
Bronson  and  Benjamin  Prichard." 

BEN'S  MEADOW  HILL— The  ridge 
of  hill  land  lying  westward  of  Ben's 
meadow. 

BEN'S  MEADOW  GATE  —  Where 
the  Wooster  or  Watertown  road  passed 
through  the  common  fence. 

BENSON'S  HILL— The  hill  where 
Wolcott  centre  now  is.  Named  for  Jacob 
Benson,  who  was  the  first  known  resident 
on  that  hill,  if  not  within  the  present 
bounds  of  Wolcott. 

BENSON'S  POT— A  remarkable  pot 
or  well  in  the  Mad  river  at  the  Mad  River 


ENOLian  PLACE  NAMES  01 


falls,  where  Prichard's  mills  now  are. 
Benson  and  Benjamin  Harrison  had  a 
mill  at  the  place. 

BIG  MEADOW  POND— Covers  what 
was  Southmayd's  meadow  in  the  north- 
west part  of  present  Watertown,  and 
was  described  when  laid  out  as  "on  a 
Sprain  of  Woodbury  river."  The  road 
running  up  to  the  eastward  of  it  is  the 
Litchfield  turnpike  from  New  Haven, 
of  1797. 

BIRCH  HILL— In  Middlebury.  It  is 
now  Camp's  hill,  or  at  least  contiguous  to 
it.    It  lies  southerly  from  Hop  swamp. 

BIRCH  PASTURE— On  Willow  street, 
north  of  Ridge  wood. 

BIRCH  PASTURE— By  Mad  meadow. 

BISCOE*S  HILL— The  southern  end 
of  Bedlam  hill.  Jeremiah  Peck  laid  out 
120  acres  on  it  in  1721.  Samuel  Biscoe 
from  Milford  lived  there,  and  Nathan 
also,  it  is  thought. 

BISSELL  HILL— The  hill  northeast 
of  Hop  swamp,  south  of  the  Bronson*s 
meadow  which  is  at  Race  plain,  and  east 
of  Three-Mile  hill. 

BISS ELL'S  SWAMP— At  the  foot  of 
Three-Mile  hill,  southward  of  it. 

BLOCK  HOUSE  HILL,  BLACK 
HOUSE  HILL— *•  The  south  end  is 
north  of  the  road  from  Northbury  to  Cam- 
bridge." 

BREAK  NECK,  OR  THE  BREAK 
NECK  HILL— In  the  division  of  lands 
of  1688  Thomas  Warner  was  to  have  *  •  two 
acres  for  one  of  meadow  at  the  southward 
end  of  the  Break  Neck  hill  as  we  go  to 
Woodbury."  Thomas  Warner  sold  the 
meadow  acres  to  Isaac  Bronson  about 
twenty  years  later,  who  settled  there, 
and  the  name  Break  Neck  was  used  to 
designate,  with  an  occasional  variation 
to  *•  West  Farms,"  present  Middlebury, 
until  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  It 
is  now  used,  as  at  first,  to  designate  the 
high  hill  between  the  branches  of  Hop 
brook  in  Middlebury.  Historians  have 
repeatedly  assigned  the  name  to  a  later 
date  —  telling  us  that  it   "was  derived 

44 


from  til 
falling 
while  € 
gage  oi 
mand  o 

Thel 
on  the 
foUowii 
officer. 
Cromot 
tells  thi 
on  June 
and  a  hi 
commeo 
ment  as 
occupiec 

Then 
ing  we  V 
march  \ 
were  ve 
tion  of  < 
tavern  \ 
ington. 
for  Brea 
est  diffic 
mountai 
delayed 
In  a  sid  : 
"  Breaki 
It  well  < 
cult  api  ! 
and  wit  1 
mills,  in 
at  the  s 
Barnes's 
as  "  an  ! 

BRIA 

northwe 
name  u:  I 

BROC 

north  si  i 

BROr  : 
river  at  1 
the  cent  1 
road  to  1 
cial  int( 
landmai  : 
was  ass: 
planter)  ' 
mentior   1 


690 


mSTORY  OF  WATEBBXJBT. 


path  to  Bronson'a  meadow."  Here  it  was 
that  Timothy  Hopltins  (son  of  John  the 
miller)  had  land  in  1715.  and  he  had  a 
house  therein  1718, 

The  ruin  of  a  house  still  stands  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Wolcott  road. 
at  the  junction  of  that  road  with  a 
highway  that  goes  around  the  north 
end  of  I^ong  hill.  The  stone  chim- 
ney, freed  from  the  house  frame,  is  a 
pictnresque  monument  to  the  memory  of 
a  home.  In  it  are  four  fire-places,  each 
one  of  which  occupied  diagonally  a  comer 
of  a  room,  while  the  chimney  itself  is 
twisted  to  the  square  of  the  ridge  of  the 
house.  The  brick  ovens  are  deep-set 
within  the  large  fire-places,  and  two 
cranes  still  hang  in  place.  Ebenezer 
Warner  built  the  house  and  lived  in 
it  from  about  1747  until  his  death  at 
the  age  of  ninety-four  years  in  1805. 
la  the  same  house  was  born  Ebeneier's 
son  Justus,  by  whom,  it  is  said,  the 
red  house  standing  across  the  high- 
way was  built.  Justus  removed  after 
the  death  of  his  father  to  Ohio— 
where,  after  having  lived  fifty  years  in 
Connecticnt  and  fifty  years  in  Ohio,  he 
died  in  1856.  Reuben  and  Elijah  Frisbie 
also  lived  at  Bronson's  meadow.  Elijah's 
house  was  gone  in  1801,  a  stone  in  the 
bound  line  between  Waterbury  and  Wol- 
cott, at  that  date,  being  "  set  where  the 
centre  of  the  house  was." 

BRONSON'S  MEADOW— The  large, 
fair  meadow-tract  between  Three-Mile 
and  Two-and-a-Half-Mile  hills  in  Middle- 
bury,  named  from  Isaac  Bronson,  the 
planter,  in  16B8.  His  son  Ebeneser  set- 
tled there  until  he  exchanged  with  Wil- 
liam, son  of  Deacon  Judd,  and  came  to 
live  on  the  Deacon's  comer  (southwest 
corner  of  West  Main  and  Willow  streets). 
William  Judd  did  not  stay  long,  if  he  ever 
lived  at  the  meadow,  and,  eventually, 
Ebeneier  Richardson  became  the  settler 
there.  It  is  on  the  old  Woodbury  road 
east  of  Three-Mile  hill.  Nathaniel  Rich- 
ardson, Ebeneier's  son,  built  a  house  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  which  is 
Still  standing. 


BRONSON'S  BOOGY  MEADOW— 
From  John  Bronson.  in  16SS.  Its  loca- 
tion is  not  satisfactorily  determined.  It 
is,  perhaps,  the  swampy  tract  between 
the  branches  of  Hop  brook,  northwest  of 
Break  Neck  hill. 

YOUNG  BRONSON'S  BOGGY 
MEADOW  —  The  low  meadow  land 
northeast  of  Chestnut  hill  on  Ash  swamp 
brook,  above  the  Wolcott  road. 

BUCK'S  HILL— This  is  one  of  the 
hills  whose  name  has  remained  un- 
changed from  the  beginning  of  the  town- 
ship. It  either  belongs  to  the  period  be- 
fore the  planters  came,  or  it  may  have  re- 
ceived its  name  from  some  member  of 
the  Buck  family.  Abraham  Andrews 
(the  cooper)  had  a  brother  in-law  whose 
name  was  Buck,  and  the  Buck  family  of 
Wethersfield  was  closely  connected  with 
others  of  the  first  settlers  here.  Tradition 
conveniently  accounts  for  the  name  by 
the  supposition  that  it  was  named  from  a 
buck,  which  leaped  from  a  certain  rock 
on  that  hill. 

The  earliest  grant  of  land  on  Buck's 
hill  was  made  in  1699  to  Ephraim  War- 
ner and  John  Welton— "  twenty  acres  at 
the  east  end  "—but  no  Welton  appears  to 
have  lived  upon  the  hill  until  1709. 

Israel  Richardson  was  the  first  per^oo 
who  had  land  recorded  on  Buck's  hill. 
On  April  r8,  1701,  John  and  Ephraim 
Warner,  father  and  son,  were  granted 
land  adjoining  each  other  on  the  nortb 
side  of  the  hill,  which  they  divided  by  a 
highway,  and  also  bounded  south  by  a 
highway.  On  these  lots  they  at  once 
proceeded  to  erect  houses  opposite  to 
each  other  and  near  a  famous  spring, 
called  Israel's  spring — the  father  appar- 
ently designing  the  house  he  was  build- 
ing for  his  son  John.  John  and  his  son 
Ephraim  had  formerly  lived  neighbors 
to  each  other— the  father,  at  the  north- 
east comer  of  West  Main  and  WUlow 
streets— the  son,  at  the  comer  of  Grove, 
Willow  and  Pine— while  John  had  prob- 
ably lived  with  his  father.  At  about  this 
time  the  elder  John  Warner  removed  to 
Farmington.     Soon  after,  or  about  the 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0. 


same  time,  the  two  youthful  Gaylords, 
Joseph  and  John  (who  already  were  land 
o\9Tiers  on  the  hill),  concluded  to  build  at 
the  same  place,  and  obtained  the  south 
end  of  the  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the 
highway,  where  each  built  a  house.  The 
"Warner  houses  were  probably  built  in  the 
season  of  1701 — the  Gay  lord  houses  in 
1 702.   Ephraim  Warner  sold  to  his  cousin 
Benjamin  Warner  in  1703,  and  removed  to 
Woodbury.     It  will  be  remembered  how 
rejoiced  the  people  were  to  get  him  home 
again  (as  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner)  after  the 
sorrowful  days  of  17 13.     He  then  lived 
on  the  Irving  block  <sorner,  but  later  in 
life  returned  to  Buck's  hill.   It  is  thought 
that  he  then  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the 
highway,  not  far  from  the  * 'Buck's  leap," 
and,   in  the  same  house  where  Roger 
Prichard  lived  in  1760,  and  Elias  Clark  at 
a  later  day.     The  house  is  now  occupied 
by  Feodore  Liebricht.  Dr.  Ephraim  War- 
ner's sons,  John,  Obadiah  and  Ephraim, 
all  settled  on  Buck's  hill.     Joseph  Gay- 
lord  sold  his  house  in  1709  to  Richard 
Welton.     Richard   had    been    down   at 
Durham,  working  for  Joseph,  and  took 
the  house  in  payment  for  his  labor.      He 
lived  on  the  hill  forty  seven  years,  and 
his  descendants  lived  and  prospered  there 
long  after  his  decease. 

BUCK'S  MEADOW,  BUCK  MEAD- 
OW — Mentioned  in  1679.  On  the  river 
above  Mount  Taylor.  Frost's  bridge  is 
against  it. 

BUCK'S  MEADOW  MOUNTAIN— 
The  elevation  lying  along  the  meadows 
and  extending  northwestward  to  Deep 
River  brook.  The  more  elevated  portion 
of  Buck's  Meadow  mountain,  west  of  the 
source  of  Turkey  brook,  is  the  fine,  mas- 
sive wealth  of  highland  that  frames 
Watertown  on  the  northeast,  the  Scott's 
mountain  (910  feet  at  its  highest  point) 
of  ancient  Waterbury.  Buck's  Meadow 
mountain  extends  southward  to  Ed- 
mund's (Scott's)  old  mountain. 

BULLHEAD  POND— The  small  pond 
north  of  Waterville  village,  and  near  the 
factory  of  the  American  Pin  company. 


BUI 
small  1 
West  : 
Brass 

BUL 

head 

Namec 

Woodt 

BUL 
point  G 
Bull  pli 

BUN 
The  na 
was  un 
locality 
Former 

BUN 
it  was 
Woodbt 
ols  setti 
it  was  c 
and  Wo 

BUR] 
It  rises 
rectly  1 
are  rap 
probabl 
date. 

BUR' 
Street  t 
ing  yar< 

BUT 
island  \ 
with  th 

BUT 

at  the 
tween  ii 
Thoma 

BUT 

Naugat 

CAN 

1781. 
brook. 
Swamp 
Waters 

CAN 

tioned 

Zebulo 

Waters 


692 

CANOE  PLACE^There  were  doubt- 
less Canoe  places  wherever  it  was  con- 
venient tor  tbe  owners  of  canoes  to  use 
them.  One  is  mentioned  on  the  Mad 
river,  another  apparently  at  Union  City. 
The  name  is  now  applied  to  a  spot  at  the 
bend  of  the  river  below  Naugatuck. 

CANNON  BRIDGE— The bridgeover 
Mad  river,  at  Dublin  street.  Mr.  James 
Porter  says  he  was  told  by  some  of  his 
peoplt  that  after  the  war  of  the  Kevolu- 


mSlOBT  OF  WATEJiBUltT. 


L   old 


t  up 


1  the 


ground   near   the  bridge,   and   that   the 
bridge   got  its  name  from  that  eircum- 

CARRINGTON'S  BROOK  —  From 
John  Carringtoa,  an  original  settler. 
The  tributary  of  the  Mad  river,  rising  on 
the  east  side  of  Long  hill  and  entering 
Mat!  river  through  the  raceway  of  the 
East  brass  mill. 

CARRINGTON'S  PONDS— The  pair 
of  small,  round  ponds  between  the  old 
Cheshire  road  (now  so-called)  and  the 
Plank  road,  east  of  Carrington's  brook. 
Named  from  John  Carrington. 

CARRINGTON'S  SWAMP  —  The 
swampy  tract  on  Carringlon's  brook 
south  of  the  old  Cheshire  road  and 
mostly,  if  not  wholly,  north  of  the  Plank 

CATTAIL  MEADOW— Mentioned  in 
1740.     North  of  Eliakira  Welton's  house. 

CEDAR  SWAMP— At  the  head  of  a 
branch  of  Hop  brook,  east  of  Lake 
Quassapaug.  Mentioned  in  an  Indian 
deed  of  1684. 

CEDAR  SWAMP— In  the  "  northeast 
corner  of  the  bounds  near  the  Great  Rock 

CHESTNUT  HILL— The  hill  north- 
east of  Long  hill  that  is  S60  feet  in 
height.  The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  had 
land  on  it.  There  is  a  remarkable  little 
pond  on  the  summit  of  the  hill.  City 
Mills  pond  lies  at  its  southwestern  side 
and  the  Chestnut  Hill  resen-oir  north, 
west  of  and  between  it  and  Patucko's 
Ring. 


CHE.STNUT  HILL  MEADOW— Now- 
covered  by  City  Mills  pond.  One  arm  of 
the  pond  is  over  Joseph  Ijcwis's  meadow. 
Tbe  second  Samuel  Hikcox  had  land  in 
it,  and  a  grant  of  land  for  a  yard  near  by. 

CLARK'S  SWAMP-Near  the  mouth 
of  Carrington's  brook,  named  from  Clart, 
the  son  of  John  Carringtoo,  the  planter, 
or  from  Deacon  Thomas  Clark,  who 
owned  land  there. 

THE  CLAY  PITS- North  side  of, 
and  at  Grove  street.  Land  extending  fram 
the  Buck's  Hill  road  westerly  to  a  (ive- 
acre  tract  belonging  to  Samuel  Hikcox, 
which  separated  it  from  Cooke  street- 
is  described  as  "  at  the  Clay  Pitts."  On 
the  south  side  of  Grove  street  at  the  same 
point,  the  second  Joseph  Hikcox  had 
land;  he  was  '•  not  to  hinder  men  coming 
to  the  Clay  Pitts." 

CLINTON  HILL,  OTHERWISE 
NEW  CANAAN— Near  and  west  of 
Spindle  hill.  It  is  q6o  feet  high  and  on  a 
clear  day  Long  Island  Sound  may  be 
seen  from  it.  It  was  perhaps  named 
from  Samuel  Clinton,  who  lived.  Ihere  In 
'795- 

COMMON  FIELD— The  enclosed  land 
of  the  proprietors,  in  which  each  held 
lands  according  to  the  number  of  pounds 
propriety  which  he  had,  the  highest 
;£ioo,  the  lowest  /50:  although  a  man 
might  augment  his  lands  by  buying  his 
neighbor's  rights  in  the  field. 

COMMON  FENCE— The  fence  en- 
closing the  above  lands,  which  fence  was 
made  by  each  proprietor  in  proportion  10 
the  number  of  acres  he  owned  within  the 
field. 

COMMON  LAND— The  unappropri- 
ated laud  of  the  township,  held  by  the 
proprietors  in  fee,  but  devoted  to  no 
si>ecial  purpose. 

COMMONS— The  sequestered  or  re- 
ser\-ed  sections  of  the  toivaship,  devoted 
to  special  and  particular  uses,  in  which 
every  man  had  a  common  right  to  get 
wood,  timber  and  stone.  In  the  seques- 
tered land  were  the  common  pasture,  the 
pasture  for  horses  and   the   reservation 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  OB 


where  young  cattle  were  kept  during  the 
summer,  and  where  the  bog-hay  was 
stacked,  this  being  then  the  staple  mnter 
food  for  growing  stock.  And  at  a  later 
date  the  Green  and  the  highways  were 
used,  under  certain  conditions,  for  pas- 
turing cows,  and  the  cows  so  pastured 
were  known  as  Common  cows.  This  was 
under  Borough  rule. 

COOPER'S  CORNER— From  Abra- 
ham  Andrews.  It  is  that  portion  of  his 
meadow  allotment  which  lay  between 
the  Naugatuck  and  Mad  rivers  at  their 
junction. 

COOPER'S  POND— A  small  collection 
of  water,  near  the  present  junction  of 
East  Main  and  Orange  streets— fed  by 
springs. 

THE  COOPER  LOT— On  the  east 
side  of  Cherry  street,  running  from  East 
Main  to  Walnut  streets.  The  Tailor  lot 
(from  John  Warner,  the  tailor)  lay  next 
east  of  the  Cooper  lot,  and  Standley's 
Timber  adjoined  ihat  on  the  east. 

COTTON  WOOL  MEADOW— Ed- 
mund Scott  owned  land  there  in  1722  as 
one  of  the  ••  proprietors  of  the  old  saw 
mill."  The  name  is  supposed  to  have 
arisen  from  a  plant  now  growing  in  the 
swamp.  Daniel  and  Abraham  Osborne 
owned  lands  in  it  in  1770.  It  is  now  in 
Osborntown  and  is  called  Cotton  Wool 
swamp. 

CRANBERRY  BROOK— Crosses  the 
highway  to  Watertown  a  little  below  the 
site  of  the  first  meeting-house  and  the 
old  cemetery  of  that  town.  Cranberry 
pond  and  Cranberry  meadow  are  on  the 
same  brook,  south  of  Richard's  moun- 
tain, the  site  of  the  first  house  in  Water- 
town,  1 701.     First  mentioned  in  1722. 

CROSS  BROOK— In  Watertown.  It 
rises  at  the  north  end  of  Scott's  moun- 
tain, near  the  original  Hungerford  house 
and  flows  northwestward  into  the  West 
Branch.     Bidwell's  saw  mill  is  on  it. 

CROW  HILL— *•  About  three  miles 
southeast  of  Waterbury  meeting-house." 
"Near  Tavern  brook."  Directly  north 
of  Turkey  hill. 


DAV 
David  » 
David  i 
brook  V 
same  li 
Porter, 
is  that  ) 
crossing 
Nuhn's 
low  anc 
of  Flag 
tween  tl 
enters  tl 

DAV] 
at  the  m 
pied  by 

DAVl 
Town  P; 
settled, 
on  condi 
cattle  CO 
was  nat 
It  was  ii 

DEAI 
road,  •* 
the  anci  : 
meadow 
Jeremy'i 

DEA( 
DEEI 
Scott's     I 
Naugatt  I 
tween    '. 
Meado\\ 

DEEI 
the  east  : 
not  kno' 
of  land 
whethei 
turn  the  1 
wild  re 
for  deer  : 
extends 
Mount 
the  deei  1 
narrow    ! 
from  tb 
range, 
stakes  £ 
the  dee;   : 


694 


HISTOBY  OF  WATBRBURT, 


here  would  afford  excellent  hiding  places 
for  the  hunter.  Mr.  Southmayd  had  land 
laid  out  on  the  range  that  was  culti- 
vated. 

DEVIL*S  CART  PATH— Mentioned 
in  1 763.  Near  the  north  end  of  Turkey  hill. 

DOCTOR'S  ISLAND— From  Doctor 
Porter.  Mentioned  in  1739.  At  Hancox 
meadow. 

DOCTOR'S  ORCHARD— Mentioned 
in  1740,  From  the  second  Dr.  Daniel 
Porter.  It  was  just  below  Newell's  eight 
acre  lot,  below  Highland  park.  It  was 
afterward  called  Annis's  Orchard,  from 
Annis  Scovill,  who  received  it  from  the 
estate  of  her  father — the  third  John  Sco- 
vill. 

DOCTOR'S  POLES— At  the  falls  of 
Hancox  brook.  A  tract  belonging  to 
Doctor  Porter.  Supposed  to  be  hoop 
pole  land.  It  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
brook. 

DRAGON'S  POINT— New  Haven  and 
other  towns  had  places  with  the  same 
name.  It  is  that  rocky  point  that  comes 
to  the  river  (on  the  west  side)  at  the  lower 
end  of  Long  meadow,  where  the  river 
turns  abruptly  to  the  west.  It  was  the 
southern  limit  of  the  land  divisions  of 
1674,  when  every  plan  was  laid  for  the 
occupancy  of  Town  Plot — and,  later,  was 
the  southern  limit  of  the  common  fence. 

DRUM  HILL— The  highest  portion  of 
Cooke  street  passes  over  the  crown  of 
the  hill.  It  is  separated  by  David's  brook 
from  Manhan  Meadow  hill,  while  north- 
ward it  extends  to  the  valley  of  Wigwam 
Swamp  brook,  westward  to  the  river. 
Hancox  brook  enters  the  river  at  the 
northwest  comer  of  the  hill. 

EAST  MOUNTAIN— East  of  Great 
hill  and  of  the  Abrigador  and  between 
Fulling  Mill  brook  and  Mad  river.  The 
City  reservoir  and  the  Distributing  res- 
ervoir are  upon  it.  It  is  800  feet  high 
and  extends  into  Prospect  and  Nauga- 
tuck. 

EAST  FARMS:  HOG  POUND— 
The  section  of  country  that  was  early 


devoted  to  the  pasturage  or  keeping  of 
live  pork,  the  staple  flesh  food  of  our 
forefathers  from  the  days  when  they 
hunted  the  wild  boar  in  the  wilderness 
forests  of  Central  Europe  in  mediaeval 
times,  through  the  days  of  their  establish- 
ment as  a  powerful  nation  in  England, 
and  to  the  period  of  their  becoming  a 
new  nation  in  America. 

The  rough  hills  and  swamps  toward 
Prospect  and  Cheshire  were  used  for  a 
general  feeding  ground,  while  the 
smoother  hills  to  the  northward  were  ap- 
propriated to  particular  enclosures.  This 
occupation  of  the  land  prevented  the 
early  settlement  of  the  really  excellent 
lands  within  the  region. 

Joseph  Beach  was  conspicuous  among 
the  pioneers  of  this  neighborhood,  and 
his  son  Joseph  became  an  extensive  land 
owner.  The  Austins.  Pierponts  and 
Hitchcocks  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers; the  names  also  of  Benham,  Mix, 
Lewis,  Merriman,  Munson,  Stephen  Cul- 
ver and  Cornelius  Johnson,  appear  at 
Hog  Pound  or  its  vicinity. 

EDMUND'S  MOUNTAIN,  ED- 
MUND'S OLD  MOUNTAIN  — Named 
from  the  second  Edmund  Scott,  who  had 
a  grant  of  land  on  it.  It  is  the  ridge  that 
lies  between  the  valley  of  the  Naugatuck 
river  and  the  valley  of  Steel's  brook.  The 
locality  first  known  by  that  name  was  the 
southeast  portion  At  a  later  date  the 
northwest  part  of  the  ridge  was  known 
as  Hopkins  mountain.  The  same  ridge 
at  a  still  later  date,  when  in  the  owner- 
ship of  the  Prindle  family,  was  called 
Prindle  hill.  As  early  as  1726  William 
Hikcox  had  a  farm  on  its  eastern  side, 
and  in  that  year  gave  his  son  Samuel  a 
house  and  orchard  there.  The  Hikcox 
family  remained  on  the  mountain  for  sev- 
eral generations.  Samuel  had  a  grist- 
mill on  the  river  just  below  Mount  Tay- 
lor, and  the  old  road  that  crossed  the  river 
at  the  upper  end  of  Hancock  meadow 
ran  through  the  farm.  Captain  Abraham 
Hikcox  was  born  and  '*  brought  up"  in 
this  neighborhood. 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  O. 


On  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same 
ridge  John  Bronson,  son  of  Isaac,  gave 
his  son  Joseph  (the  year  after  Joseph's 
marriage  with  Anna  Southmayd)  a  house 
and  farm.  The  Bronsons  spread  down 
into  the  valley  of  the  Naugatuck  river 
and  became  the  possessors  of  a  large  part 
of  Steele's  meadow  and  plain.  Notable 
among  them  was  Seba,  the  son  of  Joseph, 
who  owned  a  200-acre  farm— on  which 
Waterbury's  almshouses,  both  the  old 
and  the  new  one,  now  stand.  Seba  Bron- 
son's  house  stood  either  on  the  site  of  the 
first  *'  pocf^  house,"  or  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road  that  goes  over  Edmund's 
mountain.  At  one  date,  Seba's  house 
was  described  as  *•  near  the  four  comers 
of  two  roads" — one  was  from  Waterbury 
to  Watertown,  the  other  from  Bunker  hill 
to  Waterville. 

Jonathan  Prindle,  Jr.,  from  whom  the 
ridge  was  also  named,  settled  at  Oakville 
and  spent  his  life  there,  while  his  descend- 
ants ascended  the  mountain  and  owned 
it  largely. 

EDMUND'S  NEW  MOUNTAIN  — 
The  bound  lines  of  Waterbury,  Middle- 
bury  and  Watertown  meet  on  it.  It  was 
also  known  as  **  Ned's  New  Mountain." 

EDMUND'S  PASTURE  — On  Great 
brook — a  landmark  in  ancient  days  in  the 
layout  of  highways.     Near  Farm  street. 

ENGLISH  GRASS  MEADOW— See 
page  244. 

EPHRAIM'S  MEADOW  — On  Great 
brook  above  City  Mills  pond.  Granted 
about  1705  to  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner.  One 
of  the  sweets  offered  to  him  by  the  town 
to  stay  away  from  Woodbury.  It  was 
not  laid  out  until  his  return  to  Waterbury 
about  1715. 

EPHRAIM'S  SWAMP  — An  earlier 
name  for  Sol's  swamp,  in  the  Park. 

FISHING  ROCK— On  the  north  side 
of  the  West  Branch,  above  Eagle  rock. 

FLAGGY  SWAMP— The  swamp  the 
west  side  of  Cooke  street.  Robert  Porter 
in  1687  had  land  at  this  swamp.    Thomas 


Fitzsi) 
"off  I 

FO] 
Naugi 
theM< 
tance 
so-call 
above 
later, 
inn-1 
Brown 
orchar 
recent] 
cultiva 
present 
atuck 
end,  tb 
em  poi 
which 
valley. 

Fo: 

throug 
beyonc 
is  an  a 
thePe 
by  a  d< 
may  fa  : 
to  note 
Mohav 
beacor 
native;  , 
many   i 
name,  : 
has  ali  I 
the  F(  I 
near  i  , 
Timot 
**in  g  I 
mill  \ 
time  c 
in  the   ■ 
to  the  . 

FR( 
again; 
Brons 
who  li 
eratio 
and  t 


I 


*  See  page  aao. 


696 


HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 


FULLING  MILL  BROOK  — Daniel 
Warner's  brook,  Squantuck  brook.  At 
Union  City. 

GASKINS  ROCKS,  THE  GASKINS 
— The  precipitous  eastern  end  of  the 
range  lying  between  Pootatuck  brook 
and  the  West  Branch,  anciently  known 
as  Pine  mountain  in  the  distribution  of 
1688.  It  is  now  called  The  Gaskins.  The 
cemetery  of  Thomaston  is  on  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  range.  The  old  hill 
road  west  of  the  river  is  now  in  use  as 
far  as  the  cemetery.  It  formerly  con- 
tinued over  the  range  and  on  down  over 
the  ancient  Scott's  mountain. 

GAYLORD'S  BROOK— Rises  in  the 
swamp  east  of  Long  swamp,  runs  down 
west  of  Gaylord's  and  Oronoke  hills  to 
Hop  brook.  The  portion  of  it  that  ran 
through  Hikcox  meadow  received  his 
name.  At  a  later  date  the  lower  end  of 
it  was  known  as  W^ooster  brook,  from 
Abraham  Wooster,  who  settled  there  in 
1752. 

GAYLORD'S  HILL.— It  was  named 
from  Joseph  Gay  lord,  the  planter.  It  is 
oil  the  road  to  Middlebury.  On  its  south- 
ern end  was  the  Nichols  tavern  of  1770 
or  earlier,  until  a  year  ago,  when  the 
house  was  burned.  It  is  opposite  the 
Peat  swamp.     See  page  354. 

GAYLORD'S  MEADOW  — See  Sco- 
vill's  meadow. 

GAYLORD'S  PLAIN— The  flat  land 
at  and  about  where  Silver  street  begins. 
From  John  Gaylord.  Also  a  school  dis- 
trict in  the  earlier  half  of  the  century. 

GEORGE'S  HORSE  BROOK  — A 
small  brook  that  comes  into  Beaver  Pond 
brook  just  west  of  Beaver  pond. 

GEORGE'S  HORSE  HILL— It  ex- 
tends from  George's  Horse  brook  on  the 
west,  to  Hog  Pound  brook  on  the  east. 
The  famous  Beach  tavern,  now  a  Pier- 
pont  place,  was  at  the  south  end  of  the 
hill.  Named,  it  is  thought,  from  a  horse 
belonging  to  George  Scott,  the  son  of 
Edmund. 


GILES'  GARDEN— A  piece  of  grav- 
elly land  on  the  river  road  to  Waterville, 
a  little  below  the  Waterbury  Brass  Com- 
pany's dam— named  from  Giles  Brown, 
who  tried  to  cultivate  it. 

GLEBE  SWAMP— See* 'The  Park." 
When  laid  out,  it  was  described  as 
**  lying  in  the  cattail  swamp  on  the  brook 
which  runs  through  Scovill's  meadow." 
In  1800,  the  southeast  corner  of  it  was  a 
chestnut  tree,  "  dry  and  blown  up  by  the 
roots."  The  same  chestnut  tree  bound 
is  mentioned  in  1726. 

GOLDEN'S  MEADOW,  GCjLDING'S 
MEADOW — That  swampy  place  next 
below  the  City  Mills  pond.  Origin  of 
the  name  is  not  known.  It  is  now  over- 
flowed. 

GRASSY  HILL— Mentioned  in  1726. 
It  lies  between  Lewis's  or  World's  End 
hill  and  Spindle  hill.  In  1738  it  is 
described  as  being  about  100  rods  north 
from  Benjamin  Warner's  house. 

GREAT  BROOK— Rises  east  of 
Grassy  hill,  passes  between  Long  and 
Burnt  hills,  flows  through  the  city  and 
enters  the  river  between  Bank  and  Bene- 
dict streets. 

A  branch  of  Hancox  brook  is  fre- 
quently called  Great  brook  and  the  name 
is,  in  certain  instances,  given  to  Hancox 
brook  itself;  also,  to  the  north  branch  of 
Hop  brook. 

GREAT  BOGGY  MEADOW— On 
Buck's  hill.  In  1731  John  Warner,  son 
of  Ephraim,  had  a  house  west  of  it.  A 
white  oak  tree  stood  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  his  house  lot,  and  a  black  oak 
at  the  southwest. 

GREAT  BROOK  BOGGY  MEAD- 
OW—The  stone  factory  of  the  late 
Henry  C.  Griggs  is  in  this  meadow,  and 
it  is  also  to  be  the  site  of  the  new  mill  of 
Rogers  &  Hamilton. 

THE  GREAT  BOGGY  MEADOW, 
WEST  OF  TOWN  PLOT— Tamarack 
swamp. 

GREAT  BROOK  PLAIN— St.  Paul's 
church  stands  on  it. 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0. 


THE  GREAT  HOLLOW.  GEORGE'S 
HOLLOW— That  depression  at  the  head 
of  Fulling  Mill  brook  between  East 
mountain  and  Hopkins's  hill.  From 
George  Wei  ton,  1726. 

THE  GREAT  HILL,  EAST  OF 
QUASSAPAUG— Referred  to  by  name 
in  one  of  the  Indian  deeds.  It  is  now 
called  "The  Great  hill." 

GREAT  HILL— The  extensive  eleva- 
tion on  the  east  side  of  the  river  extend- 
ing from  Fulling  Mill  brook  at  Union 
City  to  **  Smug's  "  brook  at  Hopeville. 

GREAT  HILL— The  Great  hill  north 
of  the  town  extended  from  the  Nauga- 
tuck  valley  to  the  valley  of  Little  brook, 
and  from  David's  brook  to  the  lower 
lands  near  the  Town  Spot. 

GREAT  HILL— West  of  the  village 
of  Naugatuck.  The  top  of  the  hill  was, 
later,  called  Gunn  hill  from  Isaiah  Gunn. 
The  lower  portion  is  now  called  the 
Terraces.  Gideon  Scott  was,  perhaps, 
the  first  man  who  lived  on  the  hill.  His 
brother  Edmund  also  lived  there. 

GUNNTOWN— The  centre  of  Gunn- 
town  was  situated  in  the  heart  of  the 
basin  once  known  as  Toantic  meadow 
and  a  little  farther  up  the  brook  than 
the  present  village  of  Millville,  while 
the  homesteads  of  Nathaniel  Gunn,  Sr., 
his  son  Enos,  and  his  grandson  Enos,  as 
well  as  that  of  Samuel  Gunn  (also  the 
brick  store  built  by  him)  all  stood  on  the 
present  Middlebury  side  of  the  line. 

The  first  land  owned  by  any  person 
in  that  vicinity  was  six  acres  granted  to 
Timothy  Standly  in  1687,  described  as 
"up  Toantic  brook."  After  Timothy 
Standly  and  his  nephew,  Thomas  Clark, 
agreed  to  have  all  things  in  common  and 
dwell  lovingly  together  (no  doubt  em- 
ployed in  weaving  cloth  for  the  Water- 
bury  people),  they  deeded  this  tract  of 
land  to  another  cloth-weaver,  Joseph 
Lewis,  who  laid  out  about  eight  acres  of 
upland  in  a  snug  little  nook  near  it,  and 
there  built  a  house  for  his  son  Joseph, 
deeding  his  possessions  in  that  vicinity 
to  him  after  the  young  Joseph  was  mar- 


ried. 

progn 

added 

somes 

Althoi 

tic  me 

person 

Warn* 

bachel 

Lewis' 

he  sole 

immed 

and  bi 

probah 

neighb 

in  1726 

In  1 
upon  tl 
house  c 
next-fa 
a  son  o 
extensi 
stable  ] 
Abel  ( 
Derby 
proper! 
son  of  J ! 

ToM: 
of  twer  I 
out    al 
Toanti' 
ford  ii 
aniel's  ! 
time  w  1 
of  its  g  I 
mah,  tl  ( 
both  ii  I 
low.     ]  ' 

1733.  it 
adjoini  1 
onwarc 
spread  1 
they  hi  : 
round    I 
well  b 
joined    : 
believt  I 
lord  a  I 
miller,   ; 
was  nc 
few  ne   ! 


HISTORT  OP  WATERS URT. 


powerful  and  aristocratic  after  the  fashion 
of  the  locality  and  time — on  whom  they 
encroached  not,  except  so  far  as  to  carve 
out  a  kingdom  for  themselves. 

They  owned  the  ground  the  Gunntowll 
church  stood  on  so  long  as  it  remained 
and  after  the  building  was  removed.  Pos- 
sessed of  a  round  three  hundred  acres 
almost  at  the  start.  Nathaniel  Gunn  added 
over  a  hundred  on  Bedlam  hill,  which 
continued  in  the  family  for  several  genera- 
tions. Another  hundred  on  the  side  of  the 
Twelve  Mile  hill  was  added  a  little  later, 
while  the  number  of  minor  acquisitions 
became  too  numerous  to  mention.  Grad- 
ually they  gathered-in  John  Weed's 
farm,  the  Hawkins  farm,  and.  with  the 
acquisition  of  the  Arah  Ward  lands,  the 
Gunns  reached  to  Derby  line,  having 
previously  stepped  beyond  it  and  owned 
a  farm  at  Red  Oak.  Finally,  the  Great 
hill  near  Naugatuck  centre  became  Gunu 
hill,  and  the  Isaiah  Gunn  place  became 
au  ancestral  home  of  the  Gunns,  while 
the  possessions  of  Enoa  Gunn  extended 
to  the  river. 

Jobamah  Gunn,  it  is  said,  aspiring  to 
become  the  largest  land  owner  in  Water- 
bury,  carried  bis  tax-list  on  a  certain 
year  to  the  assessors,  and,  learning  that 
another  man  owned  more  acres  than  he 
had  returned,  went  straightway  and 
bought  in  haste  the  first  land  he  could 
find  for  sale.  Tradition  claims  that  he 
at  one  lime  possessed  a  thousand  acres, 
and  he  is  said  to  have  carried  on  all  kinds 
of  business  possible  in  his  day  at  this 
place;  but  at  last  he  wavered  and  fell 
financially,  and  the  glorv  of  the  Gunn 
family  from  1730  to  about  iSoo  has  be- 
come but  a  tradition.  In  the  year  1794 
he  was  assessed  on  /s^y.  He  returned 
603  acres  of  land.  He  ploughed  33 
acres,  had  320  of  pasture  and  meadow, 
2ZO  of  "  bush  pasture  atid  first-rate  out- 
land,"  80  of  second-rate  and  50  of  third- 
rate.  He  also  owned  one  of  tlie  fifteen 
watches  and  one  of  the  sin  brass  clocks 
owned  in  Salem  the  same  year.  There 
were  also  eight  wooden  clocks  in  that 
parish  the  same  year. 


HANCOX  BROOK,  .HANCOCK 
BROOK— Enters  the  river  from  the 
east  below  Waterville.  From  Thomas 
Hancox,  or  Hancock. 

HANCOX  BROOK  MEADOWS- 
Between  "Mountobe"  or  Mount  Toby 
and  Taylor's  meditation;  first  mentioned 
in  1688  as  "the  place  where  Timothy 
Standly,  Stephen  Upson  and  Samuel 
Scott  should  have  their  division  up  Han- 
cock's brook,  they  to  pitch  where  they 
would,  not  exceeding  three  places,  and 
to  have  two  acres  for  one,"  because  they 
went  out  of  their  way  to  accommodate. 
They  all  had  stackyards  there. 

HANCOX  ISLANDS— See  page  z*;. 

HIKCOX  BOGGY  MEADOW— See 
page  347- 

HIKCOX  SWAMP— Named  from  Ser- 
geant Samuel  Hikcox.  The  second  Sam- 
uel Hikcox  sold  it  to  Deacon  Judd.  It  is 
on  the  Bucks  Hill  road  about  a  half  mile 
above  Griggs  street  and  is  that  fine, 
level  tract  of  land  l3ang  between  the  road 
and  the  east  side  of  Burnt  hill.  Martin 
ShugTue  lives  on  it. 

HIKCOX  SWAMP— In  Watertown, 
It  is  now  covered  by  the  considerable 
pond  lying  to  the  southeastward  of  the 
village. 

HIKCOX  BROOK— First,  the  stream 
that  borders  Westwood  {the  residence  of 
Mr.  Israel  Holmes)  on  the  south.  It  was 
named  from  Sergeant  Samuel  Hikcox, 
who  very  early  laid  out  five  acres  there. 
His  son  William  laid  out  much  land  at 
the  same  place.  Second,  i 
flowing  between  Hikcox  i 
Hikcox  hill. 

HIKCOX  MEADOW  BROOK— In 
Middleburj-.  From  Samuel  Hikcos,  who 
owned  a  boggy  meadow  along  the  brook. 
In  16S7.  in  a  grant  to  George  Scott,  it 
was  called  the  north  branch  of  Hop  brook. 
It  is  the  lower  end  of  Gaylord's  brook. 
At  its  mouth  it  is  called  Wooster  brook, 
from  Abraham  Wooster,  who  settled 
where  the  Bradleyville  knife  shop  is- 

HOG  POUND— Sec  page  221. 


ENGLian  PLAOE  NAMES  01 


HOG  POUND  BROOK-Flows  into 
Beaver  Pond  brook  at  the  East  Farms 
school-house. 

HOP  BROOK— See  p.  353. 

HOP  MEADOW— See  p.  241. 

HOP  SWAMP— See  p.  353. 

HOPKINS  MOUNTAIN— The  north- 
em  end  and  the  highest  part  of  Ed- 
mund's mountain. 

HOPKINS  HILL— The  hill  which 
extended  from  near  the  Milford  line  to 
Fulling  Mill  brook  and  on  which  Stephen 
Hopkins,  son  of  John,  the  miller,  settled 
in  1734.  After  the  death  of  John,  the 
miller,  in  1732,  his  sons,  Timothy  and 
Stephen,  sold  the  corn-mill  here  to  Jona- 
than Baldwin,  and  so  far  as  has  been 
learned  no  member  of  the  Hopkins 
family  was  a  miller  after  that  date  in 
Waterbury.  In  1734  we  find  his  house 
first  mentioned.  It  has  been  said  that 
he  was  living  there  in  1730  when  Joseph, 
his  son,  was  bom.  Hopkins  hill  is  two 
miles  easterly  from  Naugatuck.  The 
first  house  of  Stephen  stood  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  hill  a  little  southeast  of  the 
present  residence  of  Timothy  Gibbud. 
He  built  immediately  (and  perhaps  be- 
fore his  house  was  built)  a  saw-mill  on 
the  small  stream  that  flows  southward 
through  the  ancient  farm  into  Beacon 
Hill  brook.  The  farm  itself  was  some- 
thing more  than  an  ordinary  farm.  It 
consisted  of  a  solid  block  of  nearly  a 
thousand  acres,  beside  out-lands.  The 
nucleus  of  the  farm  was  a  200-acre  tract 
that  had  been  Joseph  Gaylord's.  Gaylord 
sold  it  to  Timothy  Hopkins,  and  this  sale 
has  perhaps  given  rise  to  the  erroneous 
statement  that  Timothy  Hopkins  lived  at 
Judd's  Meadows.  Timothy  sold  this  to 
his  brother  Stephen.  Other  lands  about 
the  sources  of  Fulling  Mill  brook  were 
given  to  Stephen's  wife  by  her  father, 
John  Peck  of  Wallingford. 

Southeast  from  his  own  house  (perhaps 
a  quarter  of  a  mile)  Mr.  Hopkins  gave  to 
bis  son  Stephen  a  house  on  the  same 
range,  calling  it  his  **good  hill."  His 
son  John  was  given  a  considerable  farm 


off  the 
with  a 
an  east 
ward  j 
throug 
known 
mately 
has  be 
place, 
east  an 
kins  ro 
given,  ] 
To  Jo« 
east   pi 
George 
had  bo 
gave  tl 
remove 
house  ] 
road  th 
down  t« 

Ontl 
who  re 
at  whi 
house) 
Stephe 
it  is  sfi  i 
ful  ma  I 
the    St  • 
whose 
once   c ' 
and  ca:  ( 
and  pi  i 
way  of 
mauyr  1 
was  ta  I 
delicat  , 
late  h  ; 
care.      1 
then  d  ! 

Here 
son  Sa  : 
was  a    ' 
saw,  h 
tial  an< 
laboric  1 
himse]  , 
fering   : 
humai 
towarc   . 


7QO 


BISTORT  OF  WATBBBURT. 


speculations  are  those  which  can  be  best 
prosecuted  in  the  midstof  laborious  occu- 
pations, so  he  dwelt  much  upion  them. 
He  had  found  time,  however,  to  read 
nearly  all  of  value  that  had  been  written 
on  mental  phil-mphy.  He  iraderetond 
Locke,  Hume,  and  EiUvLirds,  could 
rt-peat  "  Pope's  Essay  on  Man,"  and  had 
read  much  of  the  old  English  divines. 
His  speculations,  if  reduced  to  writing, 
would  in  my  opinion  have  made  some 
clear  additions  to  ali  that  has  been  here- 
tofore written  on  some  heads  of  meta- 
physical inquiry.  I  have  iiever  heard  him 
on  these  subjects  witliout  being  struck  by 
some  idea  that  was  new  to  me.  and  this 
makes  me  apprehend  that  some  very  val- 
uable thoughts  have  died  with  him.  In 
the  practical  concerns  of  life  he  had  quick 
and  intuitive  perceptions  of  truth  (simi- 
lar to  those  of  hia  brother  Samuel).  As 
an  instance,  the  following  is  given.  "  At 
Uoshen.  they  were  building  a  steeple  to 
the  church,  the  spire  of  which  was  fin- 
ished below,  and  was  to  be  raised  by 
machinery  and  placed  on  the  square  part 
of  the  tower.  When  raised  nearly  to  its 
place  a  gin  gave  way  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  spire  swung  out  of  the  right  di- 
rection and  hung  leaning  over,  while  its 
great  weight  and  unequal  pressure  was 
thrown  upon  some  braces,  which  were 
yielding  and  breaking  gradually.  It 
seemed  alike  fatal  to  the  workmen  to  fly 
or  stay,  and  consternation  seized  the 
multitude,  while  the  impending  mass 
threatened  ruin,  and  the  master  builder 
was  without  resource.  There  were  sev- 
eral men  so  placed  that  they  could  not  be 
extricated,  and  if  the  mass  fell  they  must 
fall  with  it  At  this  moment  of  horror, 
Mr.  Hopkins  saw  where  he  could  attach 
a  chain  so  as  to  secure  the  works  from 
further  pressure  in  the  wrong  direction 
and  probably  prevent  the  fall.  He  seized 
an  OS  chain,  wound  it  anmnd  his  neck  and 


shoulders  and  mounted  rapidly  to  the 
scene  of  danger,  regardless  of  the  calls 
of  his  friends,  whose  attention  was 
engrossed  by  the  awful  danger  of  his 
enterprise.  He  attached  the  chain  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  secure  the  crushing 
braces  and  all  was  safe." 

On  Hopkins  bill  also  was  bom  "one 
of  the  most  distinguished  physicians 
of  Connecticut "  —  Dr.  Lemuel  Hop- 
kins, brother  of  Samuel,  of  whom  a 
notice  will  appear  elsewhere,  but  not 
the  following  estimate  left  of  him  by 
one  who  kaew  him  well  :  '  His  pecu- 
liar faculty  was  the  intuitive  and  almost 
instantaneous  perception  of  truth.  The 
whole  cast  of  his  mind,  and  therefore  of 
his  conversation,  was  in  the  highest 
degree  tuld,  strong,  original ;  and  his 
thoughts  were  very  often  uttered  in  ner- 
vous and  concise  figures  of  speech  en- 
tirely peculiar  to  himself  and  full  of 
instruction  and  light.  He  was  in  many 
respects  the  most  extraordinary  man  I 
ever  knew,  yet  he  has  left  nothing  behind 
him  which  will  at  all  do  him  justice.  He 
will  live  a  little  longer  in  the  love  and 
admiration  of  the  good  and  \i\^e  of  his 
acquaintance  who  survive  him,  and  then 
the  memory  will  be  lost  to  all  human 
view,"  His  portrait,*  painted  by  Trum- 
bull in  1754,  is  said  to  "present  a  head 
and  face  hardly  excelled  by  the  superla- 
tive beauty  of  Milton."! 

HORSE  PASTURE— Of  very  early 
date.  It  included  lands  sequestered  for 
the  pasture  of  horses.  It  is  now  known 
as  Hopevilie, 

HUBBARD'S  HOLE  —  The  place 
where  Nathan  Hubbard  settled  in  1735 
or  earlier.  On  tlreat  brook  at  the  Chest- 
nut Hill  road,  and  on  the  north  side  of 
City  Mills  pond. 

INDIAN  FARM;  1731— On  the  south- 
erly aide  of  East  mountain,  or  in  that 
vicinity. 


1  of  New 


.  □[  Dr.  Hopkin*.  Dc.  Bro 
Id  uem.  in  ricw  of  the  itn 
t.  Barber's  "  Conoectlciit 


>'  Kcudl'i 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  i 


INDIAN  FIELD.  NEW  INDIAN 
FIELD — Mentioned  in  1731. 

INDIAN  WELL— Near  the  highway 
between  Naugatuck  and  Prospect,  within 
sight  of  it,  and  a  little  east  of  the  four 
comers  formed  by  the  Hopkins  road  and 
the  road  by  the  ancient  Ford  place  in 
Naugatuck.  It  is  a  depression  in  a 
meadow,  circular  in  form,  about  thirty 
feet  in  depth,  with  a  flat  bottom,  and 
shaped  as  though  formed  by  art. 

ISAAC'S  MEADOW  BARS— At  the 
intersection  of  the  upper  road  to  Wood- 
bury with  the  Litchfield  road,  which  fol- 
lowed the  west  fence  of  the  common 
field  to  where  it  crossed  the  valley  of 
Steele's  brook. 

ISAAC'S  MEADOW  — On  Steele's 
brook  just  above  its  junction  with  the 
Naugatuck  river,  It  lies  "largely"  on 
the  west  side  of  the  brook  just  north  of 
Hancox's  eight  acre  lot. 

ISRAEL'S  MEADOW— The  first  land 
recorded  at  Buck's  hill.  It  lies  near  the 
Buck's  Hill  school-house,  and  is  low 
meadow  land, 

ISRAEL'S  SPRING  — From  Israel 
Richardson,  who  was  the  first  person 
who  had  land  recorded  on  Buck's  hill. 

JEDEDIAH'S  BROOK-It  rises  in 
Jedediah's  swamp  between  Welton's 
mountain  and  Warner's  mountain,  and 
flows  into  Steele's  brook  at  Ben's  meadow. 
Named,  it  is  thought,  from  Jedediah 
Turner. 

JEREMIAH'S  B  R  O  O  K  —  A  large 
branch  of  Steele's  brook  that  originally 
flowed  from  Long  Boggy  meadow  in 
present  Watertown.  The  meadow  was 
recently  overflowed  with  water  and  called 
Wattle's  pond.  It  is  now  known  as  "Win- 
nimaug,"  an  Indian  name,  constructed 
for  it  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson.  Jere- 
miah's hill  is  the  elevation  820  feet  high 
lying  between  the  pond  and  Steele's 
brook.  Jeremiah's  meadow  lies  between 
and  below  the  pond  and  the  hill.  The 
road  running  across  the  hill  was  de- 
scribed as  going  through  the  notch  of 
Jeremiah's  hill.    The  brook,  meadow  and 


hill  1 
Peck 

je; 

brool 

JE 
miah 

JE] 
eastw 
hills  i 

JE] 
Deao< 
the  v: 
theV/ 

JUl 
east  I 
above 
Branc 
nolds 

side  oj 
and  p.' 

JEF 
east  o 

JEB 
occup  I 
liff  h£ : 

JOI 
eastei 
from    1 
scribe  ! 
Cotto] 
'*the    I 
and  ^  ! 
bama 
1780. 

JO] 
Ment:  1 
seph    . 

ju  :■ 

from  ' 
marri 
Thon  ; 
hill, 
the  s  I 
same  . 
Farir 
as  th< 
bly  r 
from 


SI8T0RT  OF  WATERS URT. 


DEACON  JUDD'S  KILNS:  1716— 
"  On  Spnice  brook,  as  they  go  to  Wooster 
swamp."  These  kilns  were  perhaps  for 
drying  grain.     It   is  sometimes   "Cills." 


but  n 


"kill." 


JUDD'S   MEADOWS  — The    ancient 

name  of  the  region  that  is  now  Nauga- 
tuck.  The  natne  probably  antedates  the 
settlement  of  Mattatuck,  and  the  Judds 
probably  cultivated  the  meadows  there 
during  the  time  that  Farmington  men 
hod  the  right  to  improve  lands  beyond 
their  own  boundaries. 

KILL  PLAIN,  CILL  PLAIN.  KILN 
PL  AIN-It  is  mentioned  very  early  as  Kill 
plain — certainly  in  1715— and  is  the  level 
ground  lying  between  Wigwam  swamp 
and  Hikcox  swamp  on  the  road  to  Buck's 
hill.  It  borders  Wigwam  swamp  on  the 
southeast  and  the  name  suggests  a  san- 
guinary Indian  conflict  on  the  plain  be- 
side the  swamp.  The  little  settlement, 
sometimes  called  Pearsallville,  now  occu- 
pies Kill  plain.  Obadiab  Scott  <son  of 
George)  was  living  on  it  in  1724;  Joseph 
Judd  in  1729. 

LEAD  MINE  BROOK,  THE  EAST 
BR  ANCH— The  East  Branch  of  the  Nau- 
gatuck  river,  in  distinction  from  the  West 
Branch.  It  enters  the  river  at  English 
Grass  meadow  between  Thomaston  and 
Flute  ville. 

■  LEWIS'S  HILL -Named  from  the 
first  Joseph  Lewis.  He  loaned  the  town 
money  to  contest  its  boundary  line  with 
Wallingford  and  was  repaid  by  receiving 
eighty  acres  on  this  hill,  His  son 
lived  for  a  time  at  the  base  of  it.  It 
is  northwest  from  the  highest  part  of 
Twelve-Mile  bill.  The  railroad  passes 
over  it  at  a  point  6oo  feet  above  the  sea. 
Also,  that  still  higher  land  beyond  where 
William  Tyler  lives  on  Buck's  hill  was 
known  as  Lewis  hill.  It  was  early 
named  from  Joseph  Lewis,  who  owned 
it  before  he  removed  to  Judd's  meadows. 
It  gradually  lost  his  name  and  became 
known  as  "  The  World's  End." 


Mad  river,  and,  in  the  same  year,  it  was 
given  the  name  of  Lily  brook.  It  enters 
from  the  eastward  at  a  very  sharp  turn 
of  the  river,  where  the  river's  channel 
looks  like  a  canal.  It  is  near  the  north 
end  of  Bald  hill. 

LINDLEY  BROOK  — Enters  Mad 
river  from  the  east  at  Philip's  meadow, 
north  of  Woodtick.     See  p.  218. 

LITTLE  BROOK  — Rises  west  of 
Burnt  hill  and  unites  with  Great  brook 
near  the  centre  of  the  <:ity. 

LITTLE  MOUNT  TOBE— East  of 
Mount  Tobe. 

LOG  TOWN  — In  Prospect  between 
East  mountain  and  Hopkins  hill,  near 
George's  hollow,  and  east  of  the  Indian 
well. 

LONG  HILL— East  of  the  city  ex- 
tending    from    Mad    river  to  Jeremy's 

THE  LONG  LAND.  THE  SLIP  1700 
— The  land  included  in  the  westemcurve 
made  by  the  river  at  Piatt's  mills,  in 
which  lay  nearly  all  of  the  Plattsville 
School  district  of  1853. 

LONG  MEADOW— See  p  240. 

LONG  MEADOW  FALLS  — In  the 
Naugatuck,  opposite  Hopeville. 

LONG  MEADOW  BROOK-lt  rises 
in  the  Quassapaug  region,  runs  through 
Bedlam  meadow  and  unites  with  Toantic 
brook  near  the  western  foot  of  Twelve- 
Mile  hlU. 

LONG  SWAMP— On  the  old  Straits 
turnpike  in  the  eastern  part  of  Middle- 
bury  near  the  Waterbury  line,  and  just 
below  Watertown  line. 

LOTHROP  HILL— See  page  35S. 

MAD  MEADOW  — Below  the  Mad 
river  junction  with  the  Naugatuck.  The 
name  covered  a  long  line  of  meadow 
land,  through  which  South  Main  street 
extends. 

MAD  MEADOW  HILL— East  of  Mad 
meadow. 

MALMALICK,  MALMANICK— The 
noble  elevation  southwest  of  Town  Plot 


A 


EJ^QLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0 


on  which  one  of  the  Warners  received  a 
grant  of  land  at  an  early  date,  causing 
the  name  **  Warner's  Good  Hill "  to 
appear  on  our  records.  It  was  later 
settled  by  descendants  of  Deacon 
Thomas  Clark  and  was  possessed  by 
them  for  several  generations.  Hans 
Rasmussen  is  now  the  chief  owner  of 
the  lands  on  the  hill.  His  brother,  Ras- 
mus Scott  Rasmussen,  also  has  extensive 
greenhouses  on  Malmalick.  They  belong 
to  the  first  family  of  Danes  that  came  to 
Waterbury,  consisting  of  James  Peter 
Rasmussen,  his  wife  and  their  seven 
children.  They  came  from  Copenhagen 
in  1884. 

MANHAN  MEADOW  — The  island 
meadow  formed  by  the  river  and  a  line 
of  coves  formerly  extending  from  Lake 
Hubbard  to  Hop  meadow,  and  supposed 
to  have  been  the  former  bed  of  the  river. 

MANHAN  NECK,  OR  MUNHAN- 
NOCK — ^The  southern  extremity  of  Man- 
han  meadow  where  the  first  g^ardens 
were.  This  name  is  spelled  according  to 
the  fancy  of  the  recorder,  "Munhan, 
Minhan,  Mahan,"  and  soon  became 
simply  "the  Neck." 

.  MANHAN  NECK  HILL— The  round 
hill  in  Manhan  meadow,  around  which 
the  first  settlers  had  their  gardens,  after 
the  manner  of  the  settlers  of  Plymouth 
colony.  It  lies  in  the  line  of  Hop  Meadow 
hill,  divided  from  it  by  the  stream  and 
coves  which  lay  between  them.  The 
name  is  supposed  to  have  been  Munhan- 
nock  hill. 

MANTOE'S  HOUSE,  MANTOE'S 
HOUSE  ROCKS  —  Northwest  of  the 
stone  house  where  Charles  Terrill  lives — 
formerly  the  Thomas  Judd  house  on 
the  east  side  of  Buck's  hill.  Elijah 
and  Philena  Richards  sold  to  Abraham 
Prichard  six  acres  between  Chestnut  hill 
and  Mantoe's  House  rock.  In  1801  he 
had  a  house  there,  which  he  sold  in 
1803. 

MESHADDOCK  MEADOW— In  Mid- 
dlebury.  East  of  Bedlam  hill,  and  north 
of  Sandy  hill. 


ME 
mead< 
swam 
dock 
Mequ4 

Mil 

MOI 
way  < 

townl: 
atuck 
times 
name 

MO< 

of  the' 

MUI 

1705. 
place  c 
and  Be 
also  Rj 

MUI 

Naugal 

NAG 
name  < 
before 

ne: 

MUNI 
Bunkei 
tain. 

NE\ 

and  vi< 
cott. 

NE 
Newell 
hill. 

NIC 
THE 
FENC 
PARK 
ony  h£ 
keepin 
eral  C< 
made 
for  th 
them, 
pertai] 
side  t] 
alty  f 
wounc 
any  pj 


704 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS  ITS  r. 


whereby  they  might  escape,  the  penalty 
was  thirteen  pounds,  beside  any  damage 
that  might  accrue  thereby. 

We  find  mention,  in  Waterbury,  in 
1750,  of  The  Park,  also  of  "The  Park 
fence  "and  "The  Park  gate  "—leaving 
no  doubt  regarding  the  fact  that  at  that 
date  the  region  familiarly  known  as  the 
Park  was  used  as  a  deer  park. 

It  contained  more  than  three  hundred 
acres,  imd  remains  to  this  day  a  wild, 
rugged  region,  almiist  untouched  by  the 
hand  of  man.  It  has  had  an  interesting 
histon,-.  Much  of  it  remains  in  the  realm 
of  tradition,  but  numerous  facts  may  be 
gleaned  from  the  records.  There  was  an 
ancient  highway  laid  out  througli  it  in 
1716,  known  as  the  Stone  path.  It  merits 
its  name,  and  can  still  be  found  without 
difficulty.  It  began  at  the  road  west  of 
■■Westwooii"  (which  in  1729  formed  a 
part  of  the  LitthfieUl  road,  and  before 
that  period  the  course  of  the  Common 
fence)  and  ran  to  the  Nichols'  Farm  road, 
now  the  Bunker  Hill  road.  The  Park 
road,  surveyed  in  1763,  runs  through  a 
section  of  it.  There  was  also  a  ■■  way  " 
from  the  Stone  path  to  the  point  where 
the  Park  road  eaters  the  enclosure  near 
Matthew  Lilley's  house.  Here  also  was 
the  Park  gate  (the  early  Woodburj-  road 
passing  twenty  rods  distant  from  the 
gate).  The  Crank  of  the  Park  was  the 
bend  or  angle  at  its  more  Routhern  point, 
between  the  Stone  path  and  the  east 
fence.  Tradition  tells  of  a  club  house. 
The  builcUng  stood  on  the  "way''  or 
path  between  the  Stone  path  and  the 
Park  gate. 

There  is  a  tract  of  i',  yi  acres  within  it. 
that  has  had  but  two  OAVners— Jonathan 
Scott  (who  was  taken  out  of  town  by  the 
Indians),  and  the  Episcopal  Church, 
Scott  laid  it  out  in  1720.  He  received  it 
"for  services  done  for  the  proprietors." 
In  1745,  the  year  in  -which  he  died, 
he  conveyed  it  (calling  it  woodland) 
to  the  Professors  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land in  Waterbury.  It  is  still  one  of 
the  glebe  lands  held  by  St.  John's 
chiTch.       Daniel   Scott— the     son     who 


lived  with  his  father— also  signed  the 

deed.  At  the  layout  of  the  land  its  nortli- 
west  comer  was  an  oak  tree:  in  1745 
it  was  a  "roci-oak  tree";  in  1780  or 
a  little  later  it  had  become  a  "large 
rock-oak  tree";  in  1S42  it  was  an  '^old 
rock-oak  tree,"  and  in  iS!l4  the  shell  of 
the  slump  of  the  tree  could  be  seen,  out 
of  which  two  saplings  of  considerable 
size  were  growing.  In  1724  a  tract  of 
thirty-two  acres  was  laid  out  to  John 
Richardson,  the  survey  of  which  in- 
cluded the  easterly  comer  of  Scott's  land. 
This  overlapping  of  ancient  surveys  has 
full  iilustration,  as  found  in  the  Park. 
This  layout  of  1714  mentions  Bryant's 
hill.  Who  Bryant  was.  and  why  his 
name  was  given  to  the  hill,  we  have  not 
learned, 

James  Nichols — the  founder  and  the 
owner  of  the  Park — in  1733.  when  bis 
father,  Joseph  Nichols,  died,  was  a  stu- 
dent at  Vale  college.  Because  of  his 
studies  he  resigned  the  executorship  of 
hia  father's  will.  He  early  sold  his  right 
in  his  father  s  farm  to  John  Netlleton. 
In  1742  he  made  his  first  purchase  within 
the  territory  which  he  later  owned.  In 
1741)  he  laid  out.  bought,  exchanged,  and 
bargained  for  lands  all  about  that  region, 
and  became  the  virtual  owner  or  con- 
troller of  all  the  land  in  and  surrounding 
his  future  park- so  that  the  string  of  his 
purcha.ses  extended  all  the  way  from  the 
summit  of  West  Side  hill  to  the  extreme 
northern  part  of  Gaylord's  hill,  including 
some  of  the  Hopkins  land — and  this,  not- 
withstanding the  title  still  held  by  others 
to  lands  within  the  enclosure,  probably 
provided  for  by  "  bargains  "  not  on  re- 
It  would  be  interesting  to  learn  why 
James  Nichols  forsook  his  deer  park. 
We  only  know  that  on  January- 1.  1756,  he 
sold  to  his  "  brother  "  EbenezerWatelee, 
all  the  land  in  the  Park  that  he  then 
owned,  and  that  he  was,  at  that  dale, 
living  in  Salisbury,  In  1756  he  sold  also 
to  Wakelee  "sundry  pieces  outside  ol 
the  Park  fence."  The  same  year  Eben- 
ezer  Wakelee  sold  to  his  brother  James 


ENGLISH  PLAGE  NAMES  0 


Wakelee,  for  £i2S*   *'  one  half  of  that  the  R 

Land  called  ye  park,"  and  said  that  it  the  n 

was  the  land  he  bought  of  James  Nichols,  other, 

Fifty  of  the  above  acres  (which  ran  up  his  ho 

to  the  top  of  Welton*s  mountain)  Wakelee  Robbi 

sold  to  David  Shelton  of  Ripton.     This  York.* 

land  remained  in  the  Shelton  family  for  to  the 

more  than  fifty  years,  and  the  name  ad-  situate 

hered  to  the  locality  as  late  as  1865.  John  bury, 

Clark  (who  removed   to    New    Milford)  Northc 

bought  most  of  the  Shelton  tract  about  dition, 

1 8 12;  he  sold  fifteen  acres  of    uniform  lean  so 

width,  off  the  south  end,  to  William  K.  of    181. 

Lampson,   who    conveyed   it   to    James  **Sauri 

Scovill,  who  sold  it  to  E4ward  Scovill.  be  Sol'j 
When  his  estate  was  settled  this  land  Lerat 

was  "  distributed  "  to  James  C.  Scovill.  the  Par 

So  far  as  the  records  reveal,   or   their  traditio 
estates    make    it    to    appear,     William  Thelj 

Morgan  and  Miles  Morris  are  still  the  it  is  beli 
owners  of  five  acres  of  this  original  lay-  The 

out  of  fifty  acres.  (son  of 

The  Park  field  lay  in  the  southeastern  lived  f< 

portion  of  it.    About  1760,  George  Nich-  Hannal 

ols  began  to  cultivate  the  land  there,  in  the  F 

giving  it  that  name.    The  Nichols  family  to  go  W 

owned  lands  in  that  region  and  all  about  and  Clc  1 

it,  long  after  James  sold  out.    Tradition  Araasa  '. 

indicates  at  a  later  period  perhaps,  and  sold  the 

probably  in  the  time  of  John  Nichols  fat  she  \ 

(the  author  of  a  most  remarkable  convey-  bought 

ance  of   land)  that  a  club  of  Waterbury*s  the    tr<  ; 

young   men,  built  a  club  house  in  the  Hannal  , 

Park    and    filled    the    region   with    the  Glebe 

echoes  of  their  festivities — but   nothing  near  a  1 

more  substantial  has  reached  us  than  the  which  1  i 
possible  site  of  this  club  house,  else  were  Rent  \ 

referred  to.    George  Nichols  had  an  hun-  Park,  v  : 

dred-acre  farm,  said  to  be  located  at  Sco-  He  also  I 

vill's  meadow.     It  extended  from  the  old  — a  par  1 

Woodbury  road  northward,  probably  to  which     I 

the  southern  limit  of  the  Park,  and  along  pippins 

on  the  outside  of  the  western  side  of  it.  brated    1 

On  it  he  seems  to  have  built  the  famous  still  sta 

tavern,  referred  to  on  page  422.  rail  fen  > 

Solomon    Tompkins    lived    near    the  stands,   1 

southwest  comer  of  Welton's  mountain  so  as  tc  i 

in  the  Park.    The  remains  of  his  two  either  s  : 
houses  still  appear,  one  within,  one  with-         Orra    ' 

out  the  fence.     His  first  dwelling  place,  perhap 

by  tradition  a  famous  Tory  rendezvous  in  Nichoh   ; 

45 


7o6 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


The  house  at  its  RHte,  in  which  she  lived 
until  quite  recently,  was  once  a  saw-mill. 
It  was  moved  there  from  Sleii  Hall 
brook,  used  as  a  blacksmith  shop,  by 
Amasa  Roberls^and  still  later,  was 
made  a  dwelling  house.  Orra  bought  it 
and  litigered  there,  until,  in  her  old  age, 
the  town  took  her  and  her  poor  habita- 
tion into  its  care.  And  thus  departed 
from  this  rejjion  the  last  representative 
of  the  proud  and  prosperous  Nichols 
family. 

NONNEW.\UG   HILI North  of 

Watertown  centre,  and  within  the  fork 
of  Steel's  brook  and  Obadiah's  brook. 
The  parsonage  or  ministry  land  of  iso 
acres  lay  between  the  south  end  of  the 
hill  and  Steel's  brook.  It  was  within  the 
limits  of  the  Village,  land  having  bean 
taken  upon  it  before  the  Village  was  laid 
out.  We  finil  the  following  description: 
"That  called  Nonnewaug — northwest  of 
Jonathan  Scott's  mill  at  the  falls  of  Steel's 
brook. "  A  stream  and  plain  of  the  same 
name  are  in  Watertown. 

OBADIAH'S  BROOK— A  branch  of 
Steele's  brook,  north  of  Watertown  cen- 
tre, between  the  road  to  Robert's  mill  on 
the  West  Branch  and  the  Litchfield  tum- 

OBADIAH'S  MEADOW —At  the  June 
titin  of  Steele's  with  Obadiah's  Meadow 

OLD  ETERNITY  ROAD-The  old 
highway  that  nms  southward  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  Rock  house,  see  p  sso, 
and  goes  to  the  top  of  Buck's  Meadow 
moflntain.  It  crossed  the  mountain 
lengthwise  and  came  toward  ^\'ftterbury. 
It  is  so-called  in  1773  in  a  deed  given  by 
Richard  Seymour  to  his  sou  Joai^h. 

ORONOKE  HILL,  1686— The  ridge 
between  Gaylord's  and  Welton's  brooks, 
running  down  to  near  where  they  join 
Hop  brook.  The  Woodbury  road  of  1720 
ran  over  its  north  end,  and  in  the  survey 
it  is  called  "a  plain  hill."  It  was  first 
mentioned  in  agrant  to  John  Welton,  then 
called  Worenog.  Later  it  appears  as 
Orenaug,  <')ronoke,  Orinack,  Orinoque. 


It  then  became  reduced  to  Onuck,  now- 
called  Onmoke.  The  south  end  of  it  was 
later  called  Blackraan's  hill.  The  Derby- 
road  of  1740  ran  over  the  middle  ut  it. 
William  Johnson  now  lives  on  the  sum- 
mit. Hi«  place  was  formerly  the  Dudlev 
place. 

THE  ORDINARY— A  rock  on  the 
ancient  Farmington  line,  which  formed 
the  northeast  comer  of  the  southern  sec- 
tion of  the  Waterbury  purchase  of  ibe 
Tunxis  Indians  in  1684. 

OUSE  BASS  SWAMP— North  of  the 
old  Cheshire  road,  near  Calvary  ceme- 
tery,-. 

PATAROON  HILL—See  page  315. 

PEPPERIDGE  SWAMP,  PEPRAGE 
SWAMP— Judd's  meadow  near  the  Great 
hill,  west  side  of  the  river. 

PIGEON  BROOK— A  branch  of  Hop 
brook,  not  far  from  its  mouth.  The  out- 
let of  Pigeon  swamp — an  adjunct  of  Cot- 
ton Woo!  meadow.     Charles  Wedge  has 

PINE  HILI See  p  240. 

PINE  HOLE— Water\-ille. 

PINE  ISLAND,  PINE  ISLAND 
FALLS— In  the  Naugatnck  river  above 
Piatt's  mills, 

PINE  ISLAND  MEADOW— The 
small  meadow  west  of  the  river  near  by 
the  falls. 

PINE  ISLAND  SPRING— A  noted 
spring  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  the 
same  place— sometimes  called  "  The 
widow's  spring."  Named  for  the  widow 
of  Sergeant  Samuel  Hikcox. 

PINE  SWAM  P— Between  Upson's 
and  Richardson's  meadows. 

POLAND— !n  Farmington  and  Water- 
burj-.  Grants  to  soldiers  of  the  Pequot 
war  were  made  there  by  Farmington  It 
probably  was  named  on  account  of  the 
hoop-poles  that  were  found  there,  as 
Southmayd,  in  one  instance  certainly, 
wrote  "  Pole  Land."  A  path  to  "  Watter- 
bury"  is  mentioned  there  in  1696  in  the 
Farmington  records.  The  Poland  river 
is  an  easterly  branch  of  the  Pequabuck 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0, 


river.  The  principal  part  of  the  region 
once  known  as  Poland  is  now  in  Bristol, 
and  the  Tenyville  station  of  the  New 
York  and  New  England  road  is  in  the 
midst  of  it. 

POND  HILL— In  the  eastern  part  of 
Naugatuck,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
Fulling  Mill  brook  system,  giving  the 
name  to  the  Pond  Hill  school  district. 
The  hill  was  so  named  from  a  small  nat- 
ural pond  on  it. 

POPPLE  MEADOW— Above  the  falls 
on  the  Naugatuck  river — where  Sutliff*s 
mill  was. 

PATUCKO'S  RING  — Originally  the 
extensive  hill  east  of  Ash  swamp.  It  is 
slightly  separated  from  the  origfinal  Spin- 
dle hill  on  the  northwest  bv  a  small  brook 
and  the  depression  through  which  it  runs 
into  Ash  swamp.  It  extended  to  the 
Mad  river.  See  page  53.  Josiah  Rog- 
ers about  1724  laid  out  over  a  hundred 
acres  in  one  tract  "  on  Patucko's  Ring  at 
the  Falls  of  the  Mad  River";  land  was 
laid  out  **  on  the  hill  east  of  Ash  Swamp 
at  a  place  called  Patucko's  Ring";  land 
that  lay  on  both  sides  of  Ash  Swamp,  be- 
low the  swamp,  was  said  to  be  "  at  Ches- 
nut  hill  and  Patucko's  Ring" — so  that  the 
name  would  seem  to  apply  to  all  that  ex- 
tensive range  of  hill  from  Ash  Swamp 
brook  northward  so  far  as  to  lie  between 
Spindle  hill  and  the  Mad  river. 

POVERTY  STREET,  1773  — The 
western  part  of  the  Bunker  Hill  road  in 
Watertown. 

PRINDLE  HILL— Edmund's  moun- 
tain, also  Hopkins*  mountain.  The  same 
name  was  at  one  time  applied  to  the  an- 
cient Welton's  hill  between  Grove  and 
Pine  streets. 

PUNDERSON'S  HOLE— John  Pun- 
derson  of  New  Haven  bought  in  1731  of 
Jonathan  Scott  "  three  and  one-half  acres 
west  of  the  river  against  Mad  meadow." 
Punderson's  hole  was  the  peculiar  de- 
pression in  the  sand  hills  in  this   pur- 


chase, 
railroc 

KM 

east  si 
at  an  < 
occupa 
the  In< 
at  chos 
a  favor 

RAll 
LANE 

RICl 
BROO) 

who  liv 
ent  resc 

RICI 

251. 
RICK 

Mount  ' 
brook. 

ROA] 
Lewis's 

ROAl 
Mad  riv 

ROLi 
plain  w< 

ROCl 

GRE. 
Buck's  1 

Rou: 

northea 

ROU 
propose 
brook  "\ 
water  si 

ROU 
name  s 
branch 

RUC 

the  nort 

SCH( 
school  c 
Neck,* 
Farmin 
Hop  S^ 


*  The  Break  Neck  district  had  forty  tax-payers  on  a  sum  total 
BronsoDS,  who  paid  very  nearly  one-half  the  taxes  of  that  district 


7o8 


HISTOBT  OF  WATERS URT, 


Southwest  and  Salem,"  •*  Tompkins," 
Town  Plot. 

In  1790  two  districts  had  been  added 
and  the  names  changed  to  numbers — the 
Thirteenth  district  having  been  formed  in 
part  from  the  Buck's  Hill  district.  The 
East  district  became  the  Third,  and 
Tompkins  the  Fifth  district. 

Among  the  early  school-houses  away 
from  Waterbury  centre  that  have  been 
noticed  as  of  record  before  1800  are:  One 
in  Westbury  in  1762;  on  Three-Mill  hill 
in  1784;  on  Bedlam  hill  in  1784;  in  Tomp- 
kins district  in  1794. 

Of  the  early  school  teachers  in  the 
"  Judd's  Meadow  district,"  the  following 
names  have  been  preserved  in  the  records 
of  Deacon  Samuel  Lewis:  In  1771  Abi- 
gail Winters,  Esther  Cook.  Daniel  War- 
ner, Olive  Upson  and  Temperance  Spen- 
ser. In  1772  Esther  Cook.  In  1776  [Mrs.] 
Ame  Constant. 

SANDY  HOLLOW— At  and  about 
the  house  of  the  late  Dr.  Alfred  North 
on  North  Main  street.  It  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Waterbury  club. 

SATAN'S  MEDITATION—Origi- 
nally  a  portion  of  the  Miry  swamp,  be- 
tween the  branches  of  Hop  brook.  When 
Solomon  Tompkins  bought  land  there  of 
the  Howe  family  the  land  was  described 
as  being  "  at  the  Miry  swamp."  When 
Tompkins  sold  the  land  about  ten  years 
later  it  is  described  as  **  Sa. . .  s  Medi- 
tation." 

SAW-MILL  HILL— Near  Nathaniel 
Gunn's  saw-mill.  North  of  the  brook  and 
west  of  Millville. 

SAW-MILL  PLAIN,  MILL  PLAIN— 
Where  the  earliest  saw-mill  of  Water- 
bury was.     It  is  now  simply  Mill  Plain. 

SCOTT'S  BROOK— A  name  once 
applied  to  that  portion  of  Long  Meadow 
brook  which  is  below  present  Millville. 

SCOTT'S  GRAVE— About  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  southwesterly  from  Rey- 
nolds Bridge. 

SCOTT'S  MOUNTAIN  — See  page 
325 — Named  in  1703. 


SCOTT'S  SAW-MILL— On  Hancock's 
brook  near  the  present  Downs*  grove. 

SCOTT'S  SUGAR  WORKS— About 
1750.  In  Middlebury,  in  the  "Meshad- 
dock"  or  "Meshatuck"  region.  From 
John  Scott,  son  of  Edmund,  2d,  who 
settled  there  about  1733. 

SCO VILL'S  MEADOW— On  the  Mid- 
dlebury  road  beyond  the  Boughton  place. 
See  page  354. 

•♦SCOWERING"  GRASS  SWAMP 
AND  BAD  SWAMP  — In  the  region 
drained  by  Fort  Swamp  brook  after  leav- 
ing Fort  Swamp.  Bad  swamp  probably 
being  the  small  miry  swamp  immedi- 
ately west  of  Tame  Buck  hill. 

SCRAG  FIELD— Northeast  of  Buck's 
hill.  In  1730  Richard  Welton  had  land 
laid  out  at  its  north  end. 

SECOND  MOUNT,  1740— It  lay  west 
of  Samuel  Porter's  house,  the  east  side 
of  East  mountain,  at  Turkey-  hill. 

SHARP'S  MANOUVER— In  1793 
land  was  sold  to  John  Kingsbury,  Esq., 
described  as  "in  the  northeast  part  of 
the  sequester  a  little  south  of  Flaggj' 
Swamp  plain,  adjoining  Sharp's  Manou- 
ver,  bounded  southward  on  highway  or 
said  Manouver."  Laid  out  on  Thomas 
Richardson's  right. 

SHRUB  PLAIN— On  the  West  Branch 
above  Reynolds  bridge. 

SHUM'S  ORCHARD  — In  Poland. 
There  was  also  Shum's  Orchard  hill. 

SLED  HALL— Traditionally,  the  spot 
where  the  pioneer  planters  passed  the 
first  winter.  Sergt.  Samuel  Hikcox  owned 
land  •'  at  Sled  Hall."  described  as  "  west 
of  the  river,  south  and  west  on  the 
hill."    Seep.  590. 

SLED  HALL  BROOK— Flows  out  of 
Tamarack  swamp  and  into  the  river 
south  of  the  Waterbury  hospital.  On 
this  stream  an  attempt  to  build  a  saw- 
mill was  probably  made  in  1674,  in 
order  to  furnish  material  for  their 
houses  on  Town  Plot.  It  was  the  only 
available    brook    near   there    and   was 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  OF  MATTATUCK. 


709 


readily  adapted  to  the  style  of  mill  nsed 
at  that  date. 

THE  SLIP  — See  "THE  LONG 
LAND." 

SOL'S  SWAMP— In  the  Park,  named 
from  Solomon  Tompkins. 

SPRUCE  BROOK— There  were  three 
Spruce  brooks.  One  enters  the  Nauga- 
tuck  from  the  east,  and  flows  between 
Mount  Taylor  and  Mount  Tobe;  another, 
north  of  Watertown  centre,  flows  from 
the  west  into  Steele's  brook;  still  another 
enters  Steele's  brook  just  above  the  Oak- 
ville  station. 

SPRUCE  SWAMP— In  the  northern 
part  of  Watertown.  East  of  the  road 
from  Watertown  centre  to  Robert's  mill 
on  the  West  Branch. 

STONE  BRIDGE— On  the  old  New 
Haven  road  at  the  south  end  of  the 
Abrigador.  It  was  over  Horse  Pasture 
brook. 

STONE  HOUSE— At  the  southern 
foot  of  Hopkins'  hill. 

STONE  PITTS— Near  Mantoe's 
House  rocks.  Rights  were  reserved  here 
to  get  stone  by  the  proprietors. 

STONY  PASTURE— On  the  western 
side  of  Long  hill. 

SMUG'S  BROOK— Origin  of  name 
unknown.  Possibly  from  an  Indian. 
The  stream  that  enters  the  river  at 
Hopeville  —  sometimes  written  Smug 
Swamp  brook. 

SMUG'S  SWAMP— Now  occupied  by 
the  reservoir  of  the  Smith  &  Griggs 
company  at  Hopeville. 

SOUTHMAYD'S  PASTURE  —  On 
Great  brook  above  Grove  street,  border- 
ing on  Cooke  street. 

STEELE'S  BROOK— Is  first  referred 
to  as  the  brook  that  comes  into  the  river 
at  Steele's  meadow;  later  it  is  called 
Ben*s  meadow  brook,  "Woster,"  brook, 
and  for  a  time  the  two  names  Steele 
and  Woster  contended  for  the  mastery. 
Named  from  John  or  Samuel  Steele  of 
Farmington,  and  possibly  from  Edward 
Wooster  of  Derby. 


THE  STONE  PATH,  1716-See  the 
Park. 

TAILOR'S  MEADOW  OR  JOHN 
WARNER'S  MEADOW— John,  the  son 
of  Thomas  Warner,  in  1717,  laid  out  land 
near  where  the  small  tributaries  forming 
the  head  waters  of  Beaver  Pond  brook 
unite.  Dr.  Ephraim  Warner  laid  it  out 
for  him,  but  forgot  to  tell  of  it,  and  the 
land  became  mingled  with  other  layouts, 
but  continued  for  many  years  to  bear  his 
name. 

William  Austin  now  owns  land  which 
includes  Tailor's  meadow.  The  old 
Goodyear  house  was  near  it.  Austin 
obliterated  the  cellar-place  of  the  house 
quite  recently.  The  first  settler  in  the 
region  of  the  meadow  was  Caleb  Merri- 
man,  son  of  Eliasaph  of  Wallingford. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Benjamin  Benham 
who  "carved  off  some  of  the  farm  for 
Lydia  Mix."  The  Rev.  John  Reed  (who 
won  Waterbury's  heart  about  1700)  had 
a  farm  near  by,  which  James  Benham 
bought.  Reuben,  Shadrach,  and  perhaps 
Ebenezer  Benham,  all  lived  in  that 
vicinity  between  1750  and  1800. 

THE  TAYLOR  LOT— The  Cooper 
lot  (seven  acres)  lay  at  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  East  Main  and  Cherry  streets  and 
extended  to  Walnut  street.  The  Taylor 
lot  (five  acres)  adjoined  it  on  the  east 
and  extended  from  East  Main  to  Walnut 
street.  "Stanley's  Timber"  adjoined 
the  Taylor  lot  on  the  east.  It  was  a 
seven  acre  tract  and  was  bounded  west 
by  Niagara  street.  Niagara  street  was 
an  ancient  highway  (mentioned  in  1691). 
Walnut  street  probably  began  where  it 
now  does,  and  '*  ran  catering  up  the  hill 
to  Niagara  street." 

TAMARACK  SWAMP— It  was  called 
by  this  name  about  1754  when  Mr.  South- 
mayd  and  others  combined  to  drain  the 
swamp  and  make  improved  meadow  of 
it.  This  was  perhaps  the  last  real  estate 
transaction  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
and  he  seems  to  have  accomplished  his 
purpose,  as  he  and  the  other  owners 
sold  to  one  of  their  number  a  portion  of 


710 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


the  swamp  in  severalty,  bounded  on  a 
ditch.  Sixty  years  ago  the  region  was  a 
dense  swamp.  It  is  now  cleared.  The 
Middlebury  road  now  runs  through  it, 
and  also  Sunnyside  avenue.  It  was  first 
called  "  the  great  boggy  meadow  west  of 
Town  Plot."  At  a  later  date  both  Rich- 
ardson's azid  Upson's  Meadows  lay  in  it. 

T  A  Y  L  O  R '  S  M  EDITATION— The 
rough,  high  hill  lying  east  of  the  east 
branch  of  Hancock  brook,  around  which 
the  New  York  and  New  England  rail- 
road curves,  before  reaching  Tol lea's 
station. 

TAME  BUCK  HILL— The  high, 
extensive  and  prominent  ridge  between 
Lily  brook  and  Fort  Swamp  brook. 

TAVERN  BROOK— Now  called  East 
Mountain  brook.  A  branch  of  Beaver 
Pond  brook.  Tlie  distributing  reservoir 
of  the  first  city  water  works  is  built  in 
the  valley  of  it, 

MOUNT  TAYLOR— The  rocky, 
prominent  ridge  aliove  WaterviUe  and 
between  Naugatuck  river  and  Hancox 

It  was  quite  natural,  therefore,  that  it 
should  be  used  as  one  of  the  points  of 
demarkation  or  departure  in  the  Indian 
deeds  of  Waterbviry,  and  also  that  the 
undiscovered  Mr, Taylor  whose  name  had 
been  given  to  the  height  before  the  first 
Indian  deed  of  Waterbury  was  drawn, 
should  have  made  use  of  it  in  viewing 
and  exploring  the  wilderness  in  the  pre- 
historic days  of  Mattatuck. 

The  most  prominent  and  elevated  ridge 
of  Mount  Taylor  was  called  Mount  Tay- 
lor rock.  The  weslem  extremity  of  the 
rock  has  its  perpendicular  face  to  the 
southward,  and,  with  its  abrupt  ending 
at  the  river  westward,  it  nearly  cuts  off 
the  valley  at  that  point.  The  eastern 
end  has  a  greater  altitude,  but  termi- 
nates on  the  level  summit  of  a  wall  of 
rock  which  presents  an  abrupt  face  to  the 
brook  below.  At  this  point  were  located 
the  ■'  Deer  Stakes,"  where  deer  pursued 
and  driven  from  among  the  hills  either 
northward  or  southward  of    the    place 


would  have  to  pass  in  close  quarters — the 
large  and  plentifol  boulders  thereabouts 
affording  hiding  places  for  hunters. 

About  a  century  ago  the  most  sonth- 
erly  ridge  of  Mount  Taylor  rock  became 
known  as  the  Rattlesnake  ledge. 

Between  Rattlesnake  ledge  and  Mount 
Taylor  rock  there  is  a  depression  that 
was  once  in  cultivation  and  has  not  alto- 
gether gone  back  to  its  original  wildness, 
A  house  once  stood  there,  the  marks  of 
which,  perhaps,  may  still  be  seen. 
Apple  trees  are  near  by,  and  a  little 
brook  not  far  off;  w^here  birds  sing  and 
the  sun  shines  in,  just  as  it  did  when 
Mr.  Southroayd  had  there  one  of  his  sev- 
eral farms.  A  steep  road  leads  up  to 
the  old  house-site,  which  may  have  been 
made  by  the  planters — for  this  is  the 
place  designated  in  the  "old  book"  as 
that  where  the  rails  were  obtained  to 
build  the  west  fence  of  their  common 
field. 

From  Mr.  Southmayd  the  land  passed 
to  one  or  more  of  his  Bronson  grand- 
children, and  the  first  person  mentioned 
on  record  as  being  in  possession  of  a 
house  there  was  a  widow  named  Roberts ; 
the  last  ime,  probably,  was  James  Har- 

The  most  southern  pinnacle  or  ridge  of 
Mount  Taylor,  separated  from  Mount 
Taylor  rock  by  a  deep  depression,  was 
called  at  a  later  day  Bull  Plain  rock  or 
rocks,  fn)ni  Deacon  Samuel  Bull  of 
Woodbury — who  married  the  widow  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Hickcox— and  the  an- 
cient Hantox  plain  adjoining  became 
Bull  plain.  Through  the  deep  depression, 
mentioned  above,  ran  a  highway  from 
Buck's  hill  to  Waterlown.  Where  it 
crossed  Hancox  brofik  there  was  a  mill 
(Scott's),  and  to  this  mill  ran  the  highway 
from  our  North  Willow  street,  following 
the  course  of  the  common  fence  all  the 

The  Mount  Taylor  rock  range  extends 
to  the  northward  along  the  western  bor- 
der of  Hancock's  brook  to  the  old  mil!  at 
Greystone,  and  its  most  northern  peak 
was  called  Pine  hill.     In  some  places   it 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0 


presents  a  declivitous  front  to  the  brook, 
overhanging  its  own  base.  A  portion  of 
this  lofty  ledge,  seen  from  the  valley  of 
the  brook,  presents  the  appearance  of  a 
lion's  face.  This,  it  is  thought,  is  what 
was,  in  the  records,  called  Anthony's 
nose.  There  is  also  a  clear  profile 
resembling  that  of  Washington. 

Marks  of  once  existing  highways,  the 
records,  and  the  natural  circumstances  of 
the  case  lead  to  the  belief  that  this  sec- 
tion was  formerly  open  to  the  outside 
world.  Mount  Taylor,  in  its  whole 
length  from  its  southern  point  of  Bull 
Plain  rocks  to  Greystone,  is  about  two 
miles  long. 

TAYLOR'S  MEDITATIO  N— Is 
thought  to  be  the  hill  around  which  the 
New  England  railroad  curves  so  sharply 
before  reaching  Tolles  station. 

THE  THREE  SISTERS,  ALIAS 
THE  THREE  BROTHERS— In  1673, 
the  **  three  chestnut  trees  growing  from 
one  root,"  represented  on  page  193, 
formed  a  boundary  comer  of  New  Haven 
and  Milford  townships.  Later,  Waterbury 
and  Wallingrford  met  at  the  same  bound 
with  the  former  places  At  onetime  and 
another,  the  same  tree  has  been  the  cor- 
ner of  nine  different  towns.  The  south- 
west corner  of  Wallingford  became  the 
southwest  comer  of  Cheshire;  the  north 
end  of  Milford  became  Woodbridge ; 
eventually,  the  southwest  part  of  Chesh- 
ire (and  the  southeast  part)  became 
Prospect ;  the  northwest  corner  of  New 
Haven  became  the  town  of  Bethany,  and 
the  southeast  comer  of  Waterbury  and 
northern  part  of  Woodbridge  became 
Naugatuck.  Thus,  this  historic  tree 
(being  three  in  one)  has,  during  its  life, 
remained  on  its  own  root  and  yet  lived  in 
nine  townships.  It  is  also  distinguished 
as  the  corner  bound  of  two  counties — 
Hartford  and  New  Haven — which  it  con- 
tinued to  be  until  Waterbury  was  trans- 
ferred from  Hartford  county  to  New 
Haven  county. 

TOANTIC  BROOK— This  brook  an- 
ciently ran  out  of  the  east  side  of  Toantic 


pond 
hill  in 
Milel 
with  1 
After 
name* 
that  o 
the  tw 

TO^ 

that  ri 
souths 
It  is  tl 
Twelve 
Woodr 
applie<f 
the  poi 

TOA 
of  and 
ancient 
of  it. 
hill  on 
south,  ] 

TOA 
lake  lyj 
Long  I 
was  th 
bury  (n  , 
tic  hill 
It  is  si  I 
express 
on  a  hi  I 
vation 
was  a] 
ancient 

TO^  : 

basin  <  I 
ing  Ar  ! 
in  i:c4 
a  mill- 
to  StO| 

line  (tt 
ing  th 
and  b:  i 
Long '. 
enlarg 
Gunn 
They  1 
since 
which 
for  th 


712 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBUBT. 


land  a  part  of  the  time.  While  Arah 
Ward  remained  in  the  neighborhood  and 
retained  a  share  of  the  mills,  and  had 
begun  to  build  for  himself  a  second  and  a 
larger  house,  the  dam  at  the  head  of  the 
ditch  which  conveyed  the  water  from 
Toantic  to  the  mills  was  undermined  by 
beavers,  or  in  some  way  gave  out  and 
produced  great  disaster,  burying  Arah 
Ward's  new  frame  for  his  second  house, 
and  making  wild  gravel  and  boulderland 
of  deep  muck.  A  great  chasm  was  left 
in  the  side  hill  where  it  started,  carrying 
away  so  much  of  the  highway  as  to  neces- 
sitate the  laying  out  of  a  new  one  and 
changing  materially  the  order  of  arrange- 
ments in  the  vicinity.  The  above  deduc- 
tions are  the  result  of  a  careful  research 
in  existing  records  combined  with  tradi- 
tion. 

MOUNTOBE,  MOUNT  TOBE— This 
mountain  is  separated  from  Mount  Tay- 
lor on  the  south  by  Spruce  brook,  and 
extends  upward  about  three  miles  to  the 
One  Pine  hill  in  Plymouth.  On  the  west, 
it  is  separated  from  Jericho  rock  by 
George's  brook,  named  from  George 
Scott,  son  of  Edmund,  the  planter.  On  it, 
the  Gaylords  and  the  Warners  had  lands 
laid  out  at  an  early  date.  About  1785, 
Victory  Tomlinson,  owner  of  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  stock  of  the  Waterbury 
River  turnpike,  lived  on  the  mountain 
only  a  few  feet  from  its  summit,  which 
is  893  feet  high. 

THE  TIMBERED  MOUNT  TOBE 
— The  uppermost  peak  of  Mount  Tobe. 
It  is  two  feet  higher  than  the  main  part 
of  the  mountain. 

LITTLE  MOUNT  TOBE— Thought 
to  be  the  hill  at  Greystone,  between 
which  and  the  mill-pond  the  railroad 
passes.  It  is  just  above  the  Plymouth 
line. 

TWELVE  MILE  HILL,  SCOTT'S 
HILL.  OSBORN  HILL,  HUNTING- 
TON HILL,  ANDREWS  HILL— 
Twelve  Mile  hill  is  the  most  ancient 
English  place  name  that  we  can  account 
for  within  Mattatuck  plantation. 


The  name  is  applied  to  that  fine,  beau- 
tiful dome  which  lies  directly  west  of 
Naugatuck  and  rises  to  a  height  of  850 
feet — forming  the  northwestern  portion 
of  Strait  mountain — the  mountain  reach- 
ing down  to  Spruce  brook  which  flows 
through  High  Rock  glen.  The  ancient 
Toantic.  or  Woodruff's  hill,  is  thirty  feet 
higher  than  it. 

In  1671,  before  Woodbury  was,  and 
when  but  twelve  families  were  living 
within  the  territory  later  known  as  Derby, 
the  Colonial  government  granted  that 
the  northern  limit  of  that  plantation 
should  extend  *' twelve  miles  from  its 
southern  boundary."  That  measure- 
ment led  to  the  summit  of  this  hill,  on 
which  a  stake  was  placed  from  which 
surveys  were  made  east  and  west  for  the 
town  line  between  Derby  and  Water- 
bury.  The  stake  stood  for  nearly  a  cen- 
tury. The  site  of  it  was  then  faithfully 
held  for  many  years  by  an  apple  tree, 
which,  in  turn,  has  disappeared,  but  the 
point  is  still  marked  by  a  heap  of  stones. 
The  restoration  of  the  ancient  name  of 
this  hill,  and  the  replacing  in  enduring 
and  suitably  inscribed  stone,  of  the 
Twelve  Mile  stake — presaged  by  the 
order  of  1671,  and  placed  on  the  hill 
probably  soon  after  that  time,  certainly 
before  May  18,  1680 — is  an  honor  which 
Naugatuck  might  well  confer  upon  her- 
self, if,  indeed,  the  ancient  towns  of 
Derby  and  Waterbury  neglect  their  op- 
portunity of  an  anniversary  meeting  on 
the  same  hill  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  first  English  land-owner  on  the 
hill  was  John  Standi}',  who  received  a 
grant  of  twelve  acres  •*  at  the  stake  set 
down  by  Derby  men."  This  grant  was 
made  about  1687,  and  sold  in  1721  to  Mr. 
Joseph  Moss  of  Derby. 

When  Conquepatana,  a  chieftain  of 
the  Derby  Indians  and  an  ancestor  of 
the  distinguished  Konkerpot  family 
among  the  Scatacook  tribe  of  north- 
western Connecticut,  signed  the  deed  of 
the  Derby  Indians  conveying  to  the  set- 
tlers of  Mattatuck  their  tribal  rights  to  the 
lands  adjoining  to  the  northward,  and 


ENGLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0. 


said  it  was  good,  and  that  he  understood 
it.  he  reserved,  or  thought  he  did,  this 
particular  hill  and  its  environment  to 
himself  and  family  for  individual  pos- 
session. He  sold  the  Waterbury  part  of 
it,  in  company  with  his  son  Tom,  in  1711, 
to  Waterbury.  A  little  later  the  Derby 
side  of  it  is  referred  to  as  having  been 
purchased  from  the  native  Indian  pro- 
prietors by  Joseph  Moss  and  his  brother 
Samuel.  Joseph  acted  as  agent  for  Water- 
bury in  the  former  purchase. 

Of  this  hill.  Mr.  William  Ward,  the 
appreciative  and  accurate  historian  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Naugatuck,  has 
written:  "  Ascend  in  the  early  summer 
any  one  of  its  surrounding  hills  and 
sweep  the  horizon  with  your  vision,  and 
your  eyes  will  remain  fixed  upon  this 
beautiful  hill.  Its  fine  lines,  graded  by 
nature,  curve  gracefully  from  its  summit 
in  every  direction  to  the  valley  below. 
It  was  easy  for  man  to  convert  it  into  a 
beautiful  lawn.  A  visit  to  this  lovely 
place  on  a  bright  summer's  day,  when 
every  inspiration  of  its  pure  air  seems  to 
lift  one  above  the  strife  and  selfishness 
of  the  world  below,  is  a  delight.  Any 
one  who  can  inhale  the  bracing  air  and 
gaze  on  the  beautiful  landscape,  and  not 
be  happy,  should  at  once  retire  to  his 
lower  plane  and  hide  himself  in  the  smoke 
of  the  valley.  Remain  on  this  charming 
spot  until  the  forces  of  nature  seem  to  be 
hushed  into  silence,  lest  they  disturb  the 
preparations  making  to  wrap  the  earth 
in  its  mantle  of  night;  then  turn  your 
eyes  westward  and  see  the  glorious  sun 
gently  sink  in  a  dazzling  fiood  of  beauty 
and  loveliness,  until,  with  a  final  good- 
night fiash,  it  hides  behind  the  Catskills 
— and  your  soul  must  be  filled  with  won- 
der and  admiration." 

After  the  above  description  one  can 
understand  Chieftain  Conquepatana's 
love  for  his  hill. 

John  Weed,  hatter  of  Derby,  came  into 
possession  by  purchase  and  layout  of  con- 
siderable tracts  of  land  upon  the  hill,  in- 
cluding some  of  the  grants  to  Waterbury 
men,  and  proceeded  to  set  up  his  sons  as 


farmei 
John 
of  the 
ner,  hi 
of  the 
summi 
the  sa 
where 
the  ju 
mounti 

Amo 
Haven, 
of  the  I 
with  h 
Daniel 
five  yec 
alone  o: 
nearest 
having 
from  a 
the  top 
line,  in 

Then 
good  sii 
the  tw( 
and  thi 
Joseph  i 
of  half  : 
that    ttf 
brother 
patana. 

Dani  '. 
arrive,  i 
after  i:  • 

Durv  < 
his  hou 
having  1 
to  Nor  I 
living  : 
also  bo  I 
in  1748  i 
on  the   I 

Duri  : 
Osbori 
that  he  1 
very  n  i 
line,  a  < 
house  i 
From  f 
large  1 
Water   . 


714 


ni8T0RT  OF  WATERBUBT. 


said  to  have  built  his  second  house  across 
the  line  in  Derby— and,  in  his  old  age  (he 
lived  to  be  91),  to  have  crossed  the  line 
once  more  and  lived  with  William,  one 
of  his  sons.  His  houses  were,  as  it  were, 
in  the  same  door-yard.  His  Waterbury 
hoase,  not  being  in  service,  was,  it  is  said, 
torn  down  to  save  the  taxes  paid  to 
Waterbury  on  it.  every  fire-place  being 
taxed,  and  taxes  in  Waterbury  higher 
than  in  Oxford.  Tradition  tells  of  the 
lavish  expenditure,  the  luxurious  living 
and  the  unbounded  hospitality  of  Wil- 
liam Osbom  on  this  hill  after  the  death 
of  his  father.  Deacon  Thomas  Osbom, 
he  having  bought  the  rights  of  the  other 
heirs.  He,  at  last,  left  it,  and  the  hill- 
top passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Hunting- 
ton family — the  first  of  the  name  there 
being  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huntington  of  the 
Congregational  church  in  Oxford.  Later, 
the  Andrews  family  came  into  the  owner- 
ship of  it,  and  it  has  come  to  be  called  by 
their  family  name.  The  summer  resi- 
dence of  G,  W.  Andrews  is  now  on  it. 
One  of  the  Thomas  Osbom  houses  was 
standing  as  late  as  1885,  and  the  old  well 
is  still  in  use.  It  is  forty  feet  deep  and 
has  never  been  cleaned  because  the  flow 
of  water  is  too  great  to  admit  of  it.  The 
Osbom  houses  on  the  apex  of  the  hill 
were,  at  different  times,  in  the  towns  of 
Derby,  Waterbury,  Oxford  and  Nauga- 
tuck;  in  the  societies  of  Oxford  and 
Salem;  in  the  Probate  districts  of  Wood- 
bury, New  Haven.  Waterbury  and 
Naugatuck,  and  yet  close  neighbors. 

TURKEY  BROOK— At  first  known 
as  the  north  branch  of  Steele's  brook. 
An  early  grant  was  described  as  being 
"  up  a  small  brook  that  falls  into  a  small 
brook  that  falls  into  Turkey  Brook."  It 
enters  Steele's  brook  at  Oakville. 

THE  FALLS  OF  TURKEY  BROOK 
— Above  the  place  where  Samuel  Judd 
lived  in  1730— between  Scott's  mountain 
and  Buck's  Meadow  mountain. 

TURKEY  MEADOW— Now  a  reser- 
voir for  Slade's  saw -mill  on  Turkey 
brook. 


TWITCH  GRASS  BROOK— In 
Thomaston.    Now  called  Clay  brook. 

TWITCH  GRASS  MEADOW— See 
page  315. 

THE  CITY.  UNION  CITY  —  As 
early  as  1770  Union  City  was  known  as 
"The  City."  It  was  then  what  might 
be  called  a  little  manufacturing  centre, 
consisting  of  a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill  and 
"potash  works."  In  Deacon  Gideon 
Hotchkiss's  account  book  are  a  number 
of  entries  of  ashes  "delivered  at  The 
City"  in  1770  and  in  1771. 

The  accompanying  cut  represents,  per- 
haps, the  oldest  house  now  standing 
within  the  ancient  township.  The  date 
of  its  erection  is  not  known,  but  it  was 
built  either  by  Dr.  Daniel  Porter,  or  by 
his  son,  Thomas  Porter — ^therefore  we 
have  a  house  yet  with  us  that  was  built 
either  by  a  proprietor  of  Mattatuck,  or 
by  the  son  of  a  proprietor.  Long  may 
it  be  cherished  by  the  townsmen  of 
Naugatuck !  In  1765  Thomas  Porter 
gave  the  house  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
to  his  son  Thomas.  At  the  same  date 
he  gave  gifts  of  houses  and  lands  to 
other  sons.  The  old  house  is  of  special 
interest,  because  within  it  were  sheltered 
and  cared  for  many  soldiers  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  It  was  kept  as  a 
tavern  in  1770  and  for  many  years  after 
that  date.    See  p.  456. 

UPSON'S  BRIDGE  AND  UPSON'S 
MEADOW— Were  on  the  Woodbury 
road,  now  a  portion  of  the  Park  road« 
between  where  it  leaves  the  Middlebury 
road  and  the  hill.  It  was  an  early  grant, 
without  date,  to  Stephen  Upson. 

UPSON'S  ISLAND  ROCKS— A  suc- 
cession of  semi-detached,  rugged  spurs  of 
rock,  bordering  the  river  between  the 
ridges  of  Mount  Taylor  and  Mount  Tobe 
— so-called  because  lying  against  the  an- 
cient Upson's  island— the  tract  of 
meadow  land  on  an  island  in  the  river 
that  was  set  apart  in  1679  for  a  future 
inhabitant,  who  proved  to  be  Stephen 
Upson. 


ENOLISH  PLACE  NAMES  0 

UPSON'S  WOLF  PIT— East  of  Long  Wood 

hill.  rods  ■ 

THE  VILLAGE,  GUERNSEY  either 

TOWN — The  era  of  exact  and  corapre-  fourn 

hensive  lay-outs  begaD  about  172S,  and  mile,  < 

was  soon  va  full  force.     The  newer  part  single 

of  Litchfield  county  and  the  newer  parts  cordin 

of  the  older  towns,  then  to  be  laid  out,  seated 

were    surveyed    by    the    new    system,  sectioi 

instead  of  the  very  early  one  of  going  the  no 

"as  far  as  the  good  land  lyeth."  Afte 

The  northwestern  part  of  Waterbury  was  fc 

was  so  laid  out,  and  named  "TheVil-  had  be 


lage."    It  began  at.    or   on   Bichards's  re-sur 

mountain   (\y\a%   south   from   the  Taft  was  a 

school    buildings),     and   ran    northerly,  north 

parallel  with  the  east  line  of  Woodbury  The  v 

township,  to  the  town  line  road  of  Litch-  lends    . 

field,  which  formed  the  northern  bound-  sure,  i 

ary  as  far   east   as   the    West    Branch.  their  1 

Within  the  above  txjundaries  were  tiers  differ) 

of  lots  running  north   and  south,   sepa-  tracts 

rated  every   half   mile   by   an   eight-rod  tain  It 

highway.     An  eight-rod  highway  bor-  town 

dered  the  village  plot  on  the  east,  while  land  1    1 

on  the  west  the  town  line  highway  with  where 


7i6 


HIBTORT  OF  WATEBBURY. 


are,  the  original  hill  being  tbe  t 
southwest  of  the  Fair  grounds  and  north 
of  the  Minortown  road,  but  the  name 
spread  to  the  adjoining  lands  of  the  same 
owner;  and  Southmayd's  meadow,  now 
covered  by  a  pond  (Big  meadow)  at  the 
head  of  a  branch  of  Nonnewaug  brook, 
spoken  of  in  Southmayd's  lay-out  as  '■  a 
sprain  of  Woodbury  river." 

There  was  considerable  trouble  first 
and  last  in  the  lay-out  of  the  Village. 
A  number  of  committees  were  appointed, 
various  sets  of  instructions  g^iven,  some 
preremptory  mandates  and  changes 
made,  some  resignations  tendered,  and 
perplexity  seems  to  have  attended  almost 
every  stage  of  this  endeavor  to  live  "  by 
art."  Waterbury  evidently  did  not  take 
kindly  to  that  style  of  lay-out,  for  her 
people  attempted  and  abandoned  the 
same  system  in  the  old  sequester,  and  in 
the  southeast  quarter;  and  some  of  the 
astonishingly  irregular  and  indefinite  lay- 
outs about  the  townships  testify  to  their 
aptness  at  living  without  "  art " — but 
nevertheless,  the  Village  lines  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  may  be  traced  to-day. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  Village 
there  is  some  reason  for  thinking  that 
John  Guernsey  was  the  pioneer.  He  left 
and  went  to  Litchfield,  and  probably  set- 
tled on  Guernsey  hill.  Jonathan  Guern- 
sey came  to  Waterbury  in  1729.  Joseph 
came  from  Milford  in  1734.  and  built  a 
house  at  the  Village.  Its  frame  of  white 
oak,  it  is  said,  was  cut  and  hewn  on  the 
ground  so  near  that  not  a  stick  of  the 
timber  was  drawn  by  a  team  to  the  spot 
The  chimney  was,  at  the  base,  fourteen 
by  twelve  feet,  the  kitchen  fire-place, 
built  of  stone,  was  eight  feet  long  and 
four  deep.  This  house  was  a  little 
west  of  Frederick  Judd's  present  resi- 
dence. Jonathan's  house  was  on  the 
northern  slope  of  the  hill  southeastward 
of  Southmayd's  meadow,  and  tradition 
declares  it  to  have  been  the  first  house  in 
'■The  Village."  If  so,  he  had  a  town 
hou^e  at  Bast  Main  and  Cole  streets  at  the 
same  time,  which  he  bought  in  1729. 
Tradition  has  many  bright  and  stirring 


events  to  tell  concerning  the  Guernsey 
family;  it  gave  life  and  color  to  the 
locality,  and  ultimately  a  name— for  the 
Village  became  Guernsey  Town.  The 
sale  and  exchange  of  village  lots  was  at 
the  height  of  its  activity  in  the  year 
1734- 

WALNUT  TREE  MEADOW-Above 
Buck's  meadow,  below  Jericho  rock.  It 
is  now  called  Bungtown,  from  the  mano' 
facture  there  of  barrel-bungs. 

WARNER'S  GOOD  HILL  — Other- 
wise Malmalicki^  Land  on  tt  was  re- 
corded in  1703,  to  John  Warner.  He 
caUed.  it  his  good  hill. 

WARNER'S  MOUNTAIN— West  of 
Welton's  mountain.  Mention  is  made  of 
it  before  1700. 

WELTON'S  BROOK-Seep353. 

WELTON'S  MEADOW— The  exten- 
sive meadow  west  of  the  river  above  the 
Tbomaston  dam.  Also  the  boggy  meadow 
granted  to  Welton  between  Malmaltck 
and  Oronoke  hills. 

WEST  BRANCH  ROCKS  — These 
rocks  lie  between  the  Naugatuck  river  on 
the  east  and  Purgatory  river  on  the  west, 
and  south  of  the  West  Branch,  Eagle  rock 
is  one  of  them.  There,  also  ItesJosepb 
Scott's  grave,  the  oldest  known  one  in 
the  township.  The  whole  region  seems 
weird  and  uncanny.  For  some  reason 
Ebenezer  Richards  chose  the  place  for  a 
house  site.  There  is  little  now  to  indi- 
cate that  the  locality  was  ever  inhab- 
ited. Nature  has  grown  her  trees  all 
over  the  clearing  that  Ebenezer  must 
have  made,  and  has  reared  one  in  the 
lonely  cellar,  the  walls  of  which  remain. 
Richards  was  born  in  1731  and  died  in 
iSoi.  He  was  a  man  of  giant  propor- 
tions, and  when  he  died  itwas  found  that 
the  only  way  in  which  the  body,  when 
prepared  for  burial,  could  be  removed 
from  the  house  was  by  taking  the  casings 
from  the  doors. 

WEST  SIDE  BARS— At  the  point 
where  Highland  avenue  begins.  Prom 
this   point   to  the   Litchfield    road,    the 


EJfOLISn  PLACE  NAMES  OF  MATTATUCE. 


717 


Woodbury  road  was  twenty  rods  wide; 
from  that  poiot  onward,  ten  rods. 

WEST  SIDE  HILL— First  mentioned 
in  1733,  in  a  re-survey  of  Jonathan  Scott's 
land  which  lay  on  the  bill  at  the  comer 
of  the  Woodbury  road  and  the  Litchfield 
road  of  1729.  This  land  is  opposite  to 
Watson  M.  Hurlbut's  residence. 

THE  LONG  WIGWAM—"  The  path 
that  conies  from  the  long  wigwam  "  U 
mentioned  very  early.      The  site  of  the 


single  stone  of  sufficient  sire  to  form  the 
highway  bridge.  Said  to  have  been 
so  named,  because  of  the  qnantity  of 
mm  required  to  strengthen  the  bridge- 
builders. 

WOLF  HILL— One  of  the  eminences 
in  the  wild  region  between  Mad  river  and 
Fort  Swamp  brook. 

WOLF  PIT  HILL—"  Next  Woodbury 
bounds."  A  continuation  of  the  Great 
hill  east  of  Quassapaug. 


wigwam  is  unknown,  but  the  path  from  it 
was  west  of  the  Hog  Field  hill  in  pres- 
ent Wolcott.  It  probably  ran  right 
through  the  valley  between  Hog  Field 
hill  and  Benson's  bill  on  which  Wolcott 

WILD  CAT  ROCKS  — In  the  rocky 
region  east  of  Mad  river  and  above  Saw- 

WINKUM  BRIDGE  — Over  Great 
brook,  between  the  Buck's  Hill  school- 
house  and  Welton's  ice  pond.    It  is  a 


WOLF  PIT  MEADOW— The  basin 
of  lowlands  lying  at  the  foot  of  East 
mountain,  between  that  and  the  Abri- 
gador.  The  Prospect  road  is  just  north 
of  it.  A  small  stream  runs  out  of  it  into 
Mad  river. 

WONGUM  ROAD— North  of  Middle- 
bury  centre  in  the  vicinity  of  the  north 
branch  of  Hop  brook  and  east  or  north- 
east of  Break  Neck  bill. 

THE  WOODRUFF  FARM  — From 
Samuel  Woodruff.  Described,  when  con- 


HISTORY  OF  WATfCRBUKY. 


fiscated  from  Noah  Cande  for  complicity 
in  the  crime  of  kidnapping  Chauncey 
Judd,  as  134  acres,  bounded  west  for  157 
rods  bv  the  highway  between  Waterbury 
and  Woodbory,  north  011  Merwn's  land, 
and  east  in  part  on  Locg  Meadow  swarap. 
The  same  name  was  given  to  a  farm 
lying  east  of  Union  City  on  the  Hopkins 
road  about  1750- 

WOODRUFF  HILL.  TOANTIC 
HILL— The  fine  elevation  8S0  feet  high 
on  the  southwest  side  of  Long  Meadow 
pond.  It  is  the  highest  hill  sotithwest- 
erly  from  Waterbury  between  the  Naug- 
atuck  and  Housatonic  rivers.  Abel  Hol- 
brook  about  1730.  and  the  descendants  of 
Lieut.  Samuel  Wheeler  of  Derby,  had 
lands  on  or  near  by  it.  A  Wheeler  house 
stood  at  the  south  end  of  the  hill.  Its 
name  was  derived  from  the  Woodruff 
who  was  the  first  settler  on  it, 

WOODTICK  — In  Wolcott,  It  was 
named  in   the  days   of  the   Revolution- 


ary war.  Judah  Frisbie  and  Elnathan 
Thrasher  settled  there,  and  a  saw-mill 
was  mentioned  there  in  1776. 

WO  O  S  T  E  R  SWAMP— This  name 
antedates  the  plantation.  It  is  probably 
the  place  where  Edward  Wooster  of 
Derby  either  found  wild  hops  or  culti- 
vated them.  It  lies  along  Steele's  brook 
from  above  the  village  of  Watertown 
nearly  to  Rockdale  station  on  the  rail- 
road. This  swamp  has  been  the  puzzle 
and  despair  of  former  investigators, 
simply  because  it  lay  so  wide  spread 
before  the  view  that  it  was  overlooked 
by  them. 

WORLD'S  END  HILL— North  of 
Buck's  hill.     Formerly  Lewis's  hill,  from 

WORLD'S  END  ROCKS— Inthe 
midst  of  the  Park.  They  are  first  men- 
tioned in  1749,  by  its  founder.  James 
Nichols,  when  he  was  eitchanging  lands 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  his  park. 


APPENDi: 


I. 


FAMILY    RECG 


Introductory  Statem 

In  1640,  **the  Magestrate  who  solemnized  Mariet 
**to  cause  a  record  to  be  entered  in  Courte,  of  the 
that  time,  there  were  but  three  towns  in  the  Colon) 
the  "  Town  Clarke  or  Regester  "  in  every  town  sho 
of  marriage  of  every  person  married,  and  of  the  1 
bom  within  the  town."  The  law  also  required  eve 
to  certify  to  the  town  clerk  within  three  days  afte 
day,"  and  every  parent  to  certify  in  the  same  mai 
shillings  was  the  penalty  for  ever>'  default. 

In  the  Code  of  Laws  of  1650,  marriages,  birthj 
the  requirement;  but  the  time  for  rendering  the  o 
month.  The  penalty  for  default  was  the  same  a 
continued  delay.  The  Register  of  every  town  was 
annually,  to  the  Secretary'  of  the  Court  a  true  trans 
marriages,  together  with  one-third  part  of  the  fee 
recording.  The  fees  were  three  pence  for  every  b 
every  marriage. 

Whether  our  State  Archives  contain — among  the 
— any  of  the  above  transcripts  relating  to  vital  st 
know.     In  the  following  pages  will  be  found  every 
of  Waterbury  relating  to  marriage,  birth  or  death, 
— the  single  entry  of  lOSg — to  October  in  the  year 
include)  the  records  of  the  present  towns  of  Wat 
1780;  of  Wolcott — that  part  of  it  lying  west  of  the  to^ 
of  Oxford — that  part  of  it  which  was  in  "Ancient " 
bury — except  the  portion  of  it  formerly  in  Woodbur 
and  of  Naugatuck,  to  1S44.     The  town  records  of 
raented  by  those  of  Watertown  and  Plymouth  to  i 

To  the  above  have  been  added  marriage,  ba 
the  First  Church  of  Waterbury,  after  1795;  and  fro 


4-^p  HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 

and  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception;  also  from  the 
Churches  of  Oxford  and  Prospect.  From  the  First  Church  of  Naugatuck,  mar- 
riage and  death  records,  but  no  baptisms;  the  baptismal  record  of  that  church  does 
not  extend  beyond  iSiS. 

Two  manuscript  volumes  of  town  and  family  records,  begun  more  than  seventy 
years  ago  by  the  late  Judge  Bennet  Bronson,  have  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
compiler  by  Dr.  Henry  Bronson  of  New  Haven.  These  have  been  fully  used, 
together  with  records  furnished  by  a  few  interested  persons,  among  whom  special 
mention  is  due  to  Mr.  William  Ward  of  Naugatuck,  Mr.  Rollin  H.  Cooke  of  Pitts- 
field.  Mass.,  Mr.  Laurel  Beebe  of  Ridgeville,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Nathan  G.  Pond  of 
Milford.  Very  much  valuable  information  has  also  been  given  by  Miss  Mary  E. 
Cook  of  Waterbury.  To  these,  and  to  the  unnamed  persons  who  have  responded 
to  the  general  invitation  that  was  extended  to  all,  to  furnish  data  regarding  their 
respective  families,  the  compiler  hereby  returns  thanks. 

While  it  is  difficult  to  believe  that  Waterbury  evaded  the  law  requiring  regis- 
tration for  more  than  twenty  years,  we  must  accept  either  that  statement  or  the 
highly  probable  theory  that  the  original  records  were  destroyed  or  missing  soon 
after  1700.  About  that  date,  a  systematic  effort  was  made  to  recover  lost  ground 
by  obtaining  from  the  heads  of  families  in  the  town,  a  list  of  their  children.  In 
most  cases,  but  not  in  all,  the  record  began  with  the  first  child  born  in  Waterbury. 
In  the  entire  list  there  is  not  given  the  family  of  a  planter  who  died,  or  who  left  the 
town,  before  1700.  The  first  volume  in  which  family  records  are  inscribed  includes 
land  records.  The  only  item  in  it  that  bears  evidence  of  having  been  an  original 
record  before  1700,  was  made  in  16S9,  when  the  recorder  (Lieut.  John  Stanley)  on 
its  fourth  page  announces  the  birth  of  his  son  Timothy.  The  suggestion  is  offered 
that  Lieut.  Stanley,  when  he  removed  to  Farmington  in  1695,  carried  his  records 
with  him,  and  that  some  accident  befell  them  between  that  date  and  1703. 

Between  1790  and  1S20  very  few  marriages  are  recorded;  from  1S20  to  1847  the 
recording  of  births  was  greatly  neglected.  In  1847  Solomon  B.  Minor,  the  then 
town  clerk,  made  a  canvass  of  the  town  in  order  to  recover  the  deficiency  of  the 
records.  He  recorded  424  families  in  that  year.  Between  1847  and  1S51  no  births 
were  recorded,  except  those  of  Mr.  Minor's  children. 

The  absence  of  any  approach  to  uniformity  of  usage  in  regard  to  "Old  Style  " 
and  "New  Style,"  even  by  the  same  recorder,  involves  some  dates  in  uncertainty. 

The  usual  form  of  abbreviation  adopted  by  genealogists  has  been  followed  in 
this  work.  Where  the  place  of  birth  is  not  mentioned,  Waterbury  is  the  supposed 
place.  All  items,  not  numbered  or  otherwise  indicated,  have  been  taken  from 
town  records.     The  numbers  guide  to  the  following  sources  of  information: 

1.  Records  of  the  First  Church  of  Waterbury. 

2.  Records  of  the  First  Episcopal  Church  of  Waterbury. 

3.  Watertown  Town  Records. 

4.  Plymouth  Town  Records. 

5.  Salem  (now  Naugatuck)  Church  Records. 

6.  Oxford  Church  Records. 

7.  Marriages  by  Deacon  Samuel  Lewis,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  taken  from  his 

record,  now  in  the  possession  of  ^Ir.  William  Ward  of  Naugatuck. 

S.     Records  of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  Waterbury. 

9.     Columbia  (now  Prospect)  Church  Records. 

All  items  from  other  sources  are  in  brackets.  Orcutt's  History  of  Wolcott 
has  made  it  unnecessary  to  examine  the  records  of  that  part  of  Ancient  Water- 
bury. 


FAMILY  RECOR: 


Abhot.  Adams. 

Daniel  Abbot,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  L.  Smith, 
d.  of  Joseph  of  Wallingford.  Mch.  i, 
1763.  Lois,  wid.  of  Dan.  m.  I.  Scott. 

1.  David,  b.  June  6,  1764  \m.  Sarah  Tyler], 

2.  Daniel,  b.  June  24,  17'S. 

J.  Lois,  b.  Oct.  31,  1771  [m.  Ed,  Perkins]. 

4.  Stephen,  b.  Apr.  z6,  1778;  d.  Feb.  15,  1780. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  Feb.  8,  1781)  [m.  A.  Hine]. 

[Hannah,  mother  of  Daniel,  d.  Dec.  25, 
1S03,  a.  103.] 

Daniel  Abbot,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  m.  Lois 
Terrill,  d.  of  Benjamin,  July  25,  17S7. 

1.  Polly,  b.  Aug.  12.  1702. 
a.  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  i8,  i7</i. 

David  Abbot  [s.  of  David]  m.  Charlotte 
E.  Sperry,  d.  of  Edwin,  June  16, 1850. 

Emma  Abbott  m.  Henry  Townsend,  1827. 

Jane  Abbott  m.  Harris  Fenn,  1S39. 

Justina  Abbott  m.  William  Ellis,  1845. 

Abigail  Adams  m.  Benjamin  Judd.  173S. 

Abraham  Adams  [from  Newtown]  m. 
Hannah  Warner,  d.  of  Samuel,  May 
14.  1753.     She  d.  Feb.  21,  1817.* 

1.  Ely,  b.  Jan.  2K,  i75''i. 

2.  Mabel,  n.  Dec.  6,  1758;  m.  J.  Woodruff. 
Samuel,  bap.  June  a,  1771.* 

Andrew  Adams,  s.  of  EH,  m.  Comfort 
Osborn.  d.  of  Thomas  of  Oxford,  May, 
1797.  He  d.  Sept.  14.  1830;  she,  Dec. 
24,  1840. 

1.  Clarry  Simons,  b.  F"eb.  14,  1800. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  [une  i,  ih<>s;  ra.  Ed.  Warner? 

3.  Nabby,  b.  ^^ch.  6.  1607. 

4.  Constant  lx>ck\vood,  b.  Dec.  14,  18 10. 

5.  Harriet,  b.  Oct.  17,  1814;  m.  Oliver  Evans? 

Augustus  Adams  m.  Hannah  E.  John- 
son, Aug.  20, 1S20.  He  d.  Nov.  6,  1S24; 
she,  Aug.  27,  1S26. 

I.  Edward,  b.  Dec   2,  1820. 

a.  George  Sylvester,  b.  June  10,  1823. 

Chauncey  C.  Adams,  s.  of  Wm.,  m.  Dec, 
1818.  Maria  Pope,  b.  Feb.,  1797,  d.  of 
Robert. 

1.  William  Hopkins,  b.  Sept.  26,  1810. 

a.  Sarah  Ann,  b.  Nov.  8,  1821;  d.  1827. 

3.  Maria  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  7,  1824. 

4.  Harriet  Rebecca,  b.  Au^.  27,  1826. 

5.  Samuel  H.,  b.  Nov.  7.  1828, 

6.  James,  b.  Aug.  16,  1831. 

7.  Susan,  b.  Jan.  10,  18^4. 

8.  Nancy,  b.  Apr.  10,  183'". 

9.  George  Augustus,  b.  Apr.  ao,  i8j8. 
10.  Jane  Jennet,  b.  Nov.  30,  1840. 


Adams. 

Chester 
A.  Auj 

She  d. 
ford."  1 

Oct.   TO 

Constant 

Aug.  5, 

Eli  Adan 

d.  of  M 
she,  18^ 

1.  Nabby 
a.  .Andret 

3.  Truma 

Emeritt  I 

Enos  O. 

of  Naug 

John  Ada 

son  d.  < 

1.  Esther, 

2.  Fanny, 
J.   Henoni 

4.  Sarah, 

5.  Hanna 

6.  Juliana 

Sarah,  < 
Cvnthij 
Jkfay  21 

7.  Luther 
Luciun 

[A  mam 
John. 
( leorgt 

John  Adi 

Granbj 

Luke  Ad 

Lucy  I 
Mark  L 

I.  Anne, 

3.  Susani 
3.  Betsy, 

Luther   j 

Hotchli 

Nancy  A 
Nancy  J 

[Reuben 

Clark, 
she,  M 

I.  Sam; 

a.  .*^all> 

3.  Polh 

4.  Rutl 

5.  Davj 

6.  Seyn 

7.  Han 

8.  Lyra 

9.  Reul 
10.  (>ilb 


6AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UE1\ 


Adams.  Adams. 

Reuben  Adams,  s.  of  Reuben,  and  Maria 

Hine,  b.   Feb.  4.   1S14.  d.  of  Jonas  of 

Old  Milford  m.  Nov.  13.  iS37- 

1.  Elizabeth  Maria,  b.  Dec.  5,  1839. 

2.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  luly  7.  1841. 

3.  Charles  Treat,  b.  Nov.  19,  1843. 
[4.  Fannie  J.,  b.  Apr.  2,  1851.] 

Samuel  Adams,  s.  of  Wm.,  m.  Mar>' 
Tompkins,  d.  of  Edm.,  Mch.  i,  1764. 
He  cf.  Dec.  13.  I773.  and  Mary  m.  A. 
Prichard. 

1.  Prudence,  b.  Aug.  lo.  17^5. 

2.  Reuben,  b.  Apr.  18,  1767. 

3.  Ruih.  b.  Apr.  8,  i7eK; ;  d.  Oct.  28,  1701. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  July  10,  1771. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  18,  1773  Ira.  Dan.  Lpson]. 

Sarah  C.  Adams  m.  N.  Payne.  1S33. 
Seymour  Adams,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Roset- 

ta  Baldwin,  d.  of  Eli  of  W'town,  Mch. 

15,  1831. 

[i.  Mar>',  b,  Oct.  9,  1832.  ,     c  a 

2.  John  Baldwin,  b.  Sept.  11,  1835;  d.  1S48. 

3.  Eli,  b.  Apr.  2,  1841. 

4.  Ruth  Augusta,  b.  Dec.  19.  1843. 

5.  Rosetta,  b.  Mch.  17,  1849.] 

Sylvanus  Adams,  s.  of  Wm.,  m.  Sarah 
Hopkins,  d.  of  Deac.  Tim..  Dec.  4.  17S3. 

1.  Mark,  b.  Sept.  ifi,  1784. 

2.  Cloe,  b.  Feb.  4,  1786. 

3.  Mark,  b.  Oct.  18,  1787. 

4.  Timothy  Hopkins,  b.  Sept.  29,  1789. 

William  Adams  m.  Susanna  Bronson, 
d.  of  Eben..  Feb.  14,  1739-40.  He  d. 
Apr.  23,  1793  (a.  79),  and  she,  Mar.  22, 
1812. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Aujif.  9,  I7^o. 

2.  Prudeme,  b.  Mch.  31,  1742 ;  d.  Oct.  10,  1743. 

3.  William,  b.  July  11,  1744:  d-  Oct.  la,  1747- 

4.  Prudence,  b.  .\pr.  24,  1746;  d.  Oct.  12,  1747- 

5.  William,  b.  June  i,  1748. 

6.  Susanna,  b.  Nov  24,  1749;  '"•  R-  Bronson, 

7.  John,  b.  Feb  a,  1751-2- 

8.  James,  b.  Feb.  11,  1754 ;  d-  Feb.  22,  1789. 

9.  Luke,  b.  Mch.  8,  1756. 

10.  Silvanus,  b.  Jan.  22,  1759. 

11.  Ruth,  b.  Dec.  14,  1761 ;  d.  Nov.  26,  1767. 

12.  Asael,  b.  July  28,  1764. 

William  Adams,  Jr.,  s.  of  Wm.,  m.  Sarah 
Goodwin  of  Lebanon,  Feb.  2,  1775. 

1.  Merick.  b.  Aug.  30,  1776;  d.  Nov.  30,  1785. 

2.  Sena.  b.  Jure  5.  1778. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Tan.  13,  1780;  d.  Apr.  18,  1784. 

4.  Jesse,  b.  Jan   4,  1782  ;  d.  Aug.  27,  1S25. 

5.  Slerick,  b.  Mch,  20.  1786;  d.  Jan.  27,  1794. 

Sarah,  d.  Feb.  18.  1788;  and  Wm.  m. 
OrphaCossett.d.  of  John.  Dec.  29,  178S. 
He  d.  Jan.  25,  1S28. 

6.  Roxa,  b.  Oct.  3.  1791  ;  m.  H.  Sa.xton. 

7.  Chauncey  Cossett,  b.  Dec.  3,  1796. 

8.  Augustus,  b.  Feb.  j8,  I7C;cj. 

9.  William  Hopkins,  b.  Feb,  12,  1802. 

William   H.   Adams,   s.   of   C.   C,  and 

Rosetta  A.  Carring^ton,  b.  Aug.  20, 1S20, 
d.  of  Solomon  of  North  Haven,  m.  Feb. 
12,  1843. 

1.  William  Albro,  b.  Feb.  15,  1844. 

2.  Julius  Cooke,  b.  Jan.  29 ;  d.  .May  28,  1845. 

3.  Ella  Louisa,  b.  July  18,  1846. 


Adkins.  Alcott. 

Adkins,  sst^  Atkins. 

Emily  Albro  ra.  John  Shepardson,  184,8. 

Oliver  Albro  m.  Amanda  Hoyt — both  of 
Salem — Feb.  26,  1S29. 

Daniel  Allcoz,  s.  of  John.  m.  Ellz.  Dutton, 

d.  of  Benj.  of  Wal.,  June  28,  1759. 

1.  Asa,  b.  Apr.  27,  17^. 

2.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  7,  1762. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  May  7,  tyf<4. 

4.  Joseph,  b.  Aug.  25,  1766. 

David  AlcosB.  s.  of  John.  ra.  Abigail 
Johnson  o^K.  H.,  July  2,  1767;  d.  Jan. 
29,  1S21. 

1.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  16,  1768, 

2.  David,  b.  Apr.  16,  1774. 

Eli  Alcott  of  Wolcott  m.  Mrs.  Harriet 
Taylor.  Sept.  25.  1S31. 

James  Alcoz,  s.  of  John.  m.  Hannah 
Barnes,  d.  of  Caleb,  Nov.  7,  1765. 

1.  Obedience,  b.  Sept.  22,  1766. 

2.  Rozina,  b.  Dec.  9,  1768. 

Jesse  Alcoz,  s.  of  John.  m.  Patience 
Blakeslee,  d.  of  Aaron  of  N.  H.,   Dec. 

21.  1763. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  12,  1765. 

2,  Lyman,  b.  Aug.  18.  1766. 

John  Alcock  and  Deborah  [Blakeslee, 
d.  of  Isaac  of  North  Haven: 

I.  Lydia,  b.  Nov.  24.  1730;  ra.  Isaac  Blakeslee.] 
a.  John,  b.  Dec.  28,  1731. 

3.  James,  b.  June  i,  1734. 

4.  Jesse,  b.  Mch.  23.  1736. 

5.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  25,  1738. 

6.  David,  b.  Jan.  12,  1730-40. 

[7.  Deborah;  m.  Isaac  1  witchell  and  A.  Hotchkiss. 

8.  Mary,  b.  1744 ;  m.  Obed.  Bradley,  of  N.  H. 

9.  Ihankful,  b.  1748;  m.  Thad.  Baldwin. 

10.  Hannah,  b.  1751  ;  ra.  Joel  Norton. 

11.  Anna;  m.  Abel  Curtis. 

12.  Stephen  ;  d.  in  infancy.] 

John  d.  Jan.  6,  1777. 

John  Alcoz,  s.  of  John.  m.  Mary  Chat- 
field,  d.  of  Sol.  of  Derby.  Aug.  2S.  1755. 

1.  Liddia,  b.  Dec.  8,  1756 ;  ra.  C.  Frbbie. 

2.  Solomon,  b.  May  8.  1759. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  29,  1761. 

4.  John  Blakeslee,  b.  June  24,  1764. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  8,  1766;  d.  Feb.  18,  1770. 

6.  Isaac,  b.  April  12,  1769. 

7.  Joseph  Chatfield,    b.    May  7,  1771    [m.    Anna 

Hronson,  d.  of  Amos]. 

8.  Mark,  b.  May  11,  1773. 

9.  Thomas,  b.  Oct,  16,  1775;  d.  Apr.  27,  177S. 

John  B.  Alcoz,  s.  of  Capt.  John,  m.  Lois 
Gaylord,    d.  of    Capt.   Levi,    Dec.    3, 

1775  (17S5). 

I.  Reiley,  b.  June  25,  1786. 

Riley  Alcott,  s.  of  John  B.  of  Wolcott.  m. 
Olive  Warner,  d.  of  Mark.  Oct.  7,  iSio. 

1.  Isaac  W.,  b.  July  27,  181 1 ;  d.  Nov.  19,  1826. 

Olive,  d.  Mch.  4,  1819,  and  Riley  m. 
Ruth  Frisbie,  d.  of  Reuben.  Apr.  17, 
1S20. 

2.  Jane.  b.  Sept.  i,  1821;  m.  A.  S.  Beardslcy. 

3.  Gaylord,  b.  Jan.  27,  1825. 


FAMILY  RECORl 


Alcox.  Allin. 

Samuel  Alcox,  s.  of  Capt.  John,  m.  Lydia 
Warner,  d.  of  Ard.,  Dec.  i8.  1783. 

Solomon  Alcox,  s.  of  John,  m.  Premela 
Roberts,  d.  of  John  of  South.  July  14, 
17S4. 

1.  Lydia,  b.  Sept,  19,  1785. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  July  16,  1788  [m.  Richard  Wlthington 

of  Bucks  Hill]. 

3.  Seth  Roberts,  b.  Jan.  ir,  1792. 

George  B.  Aldrich  of  Attleboro,  Mass., 
m.  Mary  H.  Brooks  of  Bethany,  June 

3.   1S39. 

1,  Lewis  Franklin,  b.  and  d.  Mch.  1840. 

2.  George  Franklin,  b.  Mch.  29,  1844. 

Hannah  Alford  m,  Thomas  Welton,  1714. 
Abigail  Allin  m.  Amos  Hamilton,  1771. 
Abigail  Ailing  m.  Constant  Miller,  1776. 
Alvira  R.  Ailing  m.  Almon  Piatt,  18 19. 
David  Ailing  and  Ruth: 

I.  Miles,  b.  May  ii,  1777. 

David  Ailing,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  S.  D.  Web- 
ster of  Harwinton,  Mch.  12,  1839. 

1.  (ieorge  Isaac,  b.  Apr.  25,  184a. 

2.  Eunice  Jennet,  b.  Apr.  3,  1844. 

3.  Rhoda  Sabrina,  b.  Jan.  31,  1846. 

Ebenezer  Allyn,  s.  of  Gideon,  m.  Tabitha 
Clark,  d.  of  Joseph.  Nov.  9,  1742. 

1.  Rachel,  b.  Sept.  20,  1744;  m.  S.  Blakeslee. 

2.  Gideon,  b.  Mch.  15,  1746. 

3.  John,  b.  Mch.  17,  1747. 

4.  David,  b.  Apr.  26,  1749. 

5.  Abigail,  b.  May  29,  1751. 

6.  Abelj  b.  Apr.  22,  1753 

7.  Ashlil,  b.  May  21,  1755. 

8.  Tahitha^  l>.  Mch.  22^  lysj. 

Tabitha,  d.  Feb.  7  1756;  and  Ebenezer 
m.  Abigail  Way,  d.  of  David,  June  24, 
1756. 

8.  Tabitha,  b.  Mch.  27,  1757. 

9.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  17,  1759. 

10.  Leucy,  b.  Aug.  6,  d.  May  9,  1761,  (?) 

11.  Leucy,  b.  May  13,  1763. 

Edward  Allen  m.  Thankful  Smith,  Apr. 
17,  1842. 

Ephraim  Allen  and  Elizabeth : 

a.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  7,  1748-9. 

3.  Mary,  b.  June  20,  1751. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  July  31,  1753. 

Ephraim  m.  Hannah  Humiston,  d.  of 
John.  April  5.  1754. 

5.  Lidda,  b.  Sept.  19,  1756. 

6.  John,  b.  Jan.  13,  1759. 

7.  Russel,  b.  Apr.  30,  1762. 

Gideon  Allin: 

Ebenezer;  m.  174a. 
Deborah;  ro.  Asahel  Castle,  1745. 
Mehitable;  m.  M.  Blakeslee,  1746. 
Mary;  m.  (Coben?)  and  S.  How,  1750. 

Gideon  m.  Naomy,  rellicque  of  Josiah 
Tuttle,  Dec.  6,  175 1.  [She  was  Naomi 
Blakeslee,  1779,  at  the  date  of  distribu- 
tion of  Gideon's  estate.] 

Solomon,  b.  Oct.  7,  1753. 


Allen. 

Gideon 

Lettii 

Hannai 
Hannal 

Harvey 

1832. 

Isaac  h 

Aug. 

1.  Will 

2.  Tan 

3.  Eli» 

4.  Sara 

5.  Isaa 

6.  Gilb 

7.  Sara 

Isaac  9 
Hine, 

1835. 

1.  EIiz{ 

2,  Wilh 

Isaac  E 
C.  Sc< 

Johanns 
John  A] 

Rho« 
Willi 
Rosv 

Joseph 

m.  Lf 
1847. 

Lyman 

1831. 

Mary  A 

Melissa 

Norman 
Isaac, 
Elias, 

1.  Saral 

2.  Emei 

3.  Corn 

4.  Jane 

5.  Willi 

Rebekal 

1812. 

Solomon 

24,  17: 

I.  Linus 

William 
Cower 

1.  Tame; 

2.  Edsoi 

3.  Mary 

William 

bridge 
of  Nau 

1.  Jane  ] 

2.  Willii 

3.  Esthe 

Axa  Am 


8AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT, 


Ames,  Andrus. 

Samuel  Ames  was  m.  to  Axsa  Beebe, 
Dec.  1784,  by  Deac.  Samuel  Lewis,  J.  P. 

Andrew  Anderson  m.  Philena  Jones,  Dec. 
28,  ig35. 

George  Anderson  m.  Lucy  Doolan,  July 
5,  1S49. 

Henry  P.  Anderson,  b.  in  North  Brain- 
tree.  Mass.,  Nov.  28,  1800,  m.,  May  27, 
1825,  Hannah  W.  Hodge,  b.  in  Norton, 
Mass.,  Dec.  28.  1S03. 

1.  Georjije  W.,  b.  in  War«»,  Mass..  May  2,  iSr'i. 

2.  Hannah  S.,  b.  in  Barre,  Mas»s.,  Julv  u,  i«:'8;  in. 

J.  K.  Swifi. 

Johnson  Anderson,  s.  of  Joseph  of  Bos> 
ton,  m.  Esther  Prichard,  d.  of  Benja- 
min, Apr.  4,  1761. 

1.  Asa,  b.  July  25,  i7r<>.  (?) 
Hannah,  bap.  Jan.  1  j,  17''//'' 
Benjamin,  hap.  Oct.  u,  17'^.G. 

John.son  m.  Lucy  Hodge,  Aug.  4.  1783.^ 

Abraham  Andruss,  Seno^*  [and  Rebec- 
ca] ;  record  0/ ye  children: 

May   I.  Rebeckah,  b.  Dec.  16,  1672;  m.  W.  Hikcox. 
25,     2.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  10,  1074-5; 

1703.  m.  Daniel  Warner. 

3.  Hannah,      b.  Sept.  8.  U-jh  [m.  Z.  Northrop]. 

4.  .Abraham,    b.  On.  14,  if-.'-*). 

5.  Sarah.         b.  Mch.  i(\  i''nj-4; 

m.  Josejih  Lewis,  and  Isaac  Bronson. 

6.  Kacheli,      b.  July  11,  i<S.f  [m.  S.  Orvicel. 

7.  John,  b.  July  16,  I'.-S. 

8.  Thomas,     b.  Men.  6,  16114. 

[He  died  between  July   1st  and  Dec. 
31st.  1729] 
Abraham  Andrus,  Jr.,  s.  of  Abraham,  m. 
Hannah   Stephens,   d.   of    Thomas  of 
Middletown,  Nov.  5,  1702. 

1.  A  son,  b.  Sept.  6,  i7'\;. 

Abraham  Anddruss  s.  of  Jno  [of  Wethers- 
field],  m.  Mabel  Thomas,  d.  of  Sam., 
June  6,  1744. 

1.  Hulda,  b.  Mch.  2,  i74S-'>. 

2.  Eldad,  b.  Y^h.  i,  1747-b. 

3.  Klihu,  b.  Jan.  10,  174J-50. 

4.  Loly,  b.  Nov.  3,  17^1. 

5.  A.senath,  b.  Mch.  15.  1754. 

6.  Ethan,  b.  May  o,  i7^''. 

7.  Oylive,  b.  May  30,  17^0. 

8.  Rhodah,  b.  July  i.>.  1701. 

9.  Ephriam,  b.  May  18,  i-')5. 
10.  Mabel,  b.  July  :o,  i7'i8. 

Anna  Andrews  m.  Nathan  Scott,  1777. 
Daniel  Andrews: 

7.  A  dau.  Etathier,  b.  Apr.  6,  1785. 

David  and  Margaret  Andrus,  children 
born  in  Waterbury: 

1.  John,  b.  Feb.  17,  1749. 

2.  Marjfarct,  b.  Nov.  15,  1752. 

3.  David,  b.  Feb.;  d.  Aug.  17,  1754. 

4.  A  dau.  b.  Sept.  30,  1755. 

5.  David,  b.  Apr.  16,  1757. 

6.  Achsah,  b.  Alch.  18,  1759. 

7.  Elijah,  b.  Dec.  18,  i7^«j. 

8.  Reuben,  b.  Sept.  5,  1762;  d.  May  30,  1763. 

Margaret,  wife  of  David,  d.  Apr.  19, 
1763.  Their  d.  Mary,  b.  at  Kensing- 
ton [April.  1748].  d.  Aug.  21,  1749. 


Andrews.  Andruss. 

Elihu  Andrews  m.  Sarah  Brown  [d.  of 
Dan.],  Dec.  15.  1775. 

1.  Abijah,  b.  Oct.  13,  1776. 

2.  Asenath,  b.  Oct.  26,  1777. 

3.  Syrus,  b.  Mch.  17,  1780. 

4.  Elihu,  b.  Feb.  26,  1782. 

Elizabeth  Andrews  m.  Mcrrit  Nichols, 

1837. 
Ethan  Andrews  m.  Sarah  Prichard,  Dec. 

8,  1 7 So. 

Eunice  Andrews  m.  Levi  Mix,  17S9. 

Geo.  P.  Andrews,  b.  Jan.  24,  1821,  and 
Roxana  Coley,  b.  June  12.  1823— lx)th 
from  the  State  of  New  York — were  m, 
Dec.  3.  1S45. 

I.  Samuel  Ffisbie,  b.  in  Litchfield,  May  15,  1845. 

Harriet  Andrews  m.  Hanford  Isbell,  1S39. 
Ira  Andrews  m.  Martha  Andrews,  Mch. 

1.  Chester,  b.  July  (\  178S. 

2.  lohn.son.  b.  Aug.  7.  i7<j«j. 

3.  Marsh.»ll,  b.  Aug.  s,  1793. 

Jesse  Andrews  m.  Loly  Brooks,  May  8, 
1791. 

1.  Miles,  b.  Feb.  cj,  1702. 

2.  Ansel,  b.  Apr.  4,  171^4. 

John  Andruss  [s.  of  Abr.,  Sr.]  and  Martha 
[d.  of  Thomas  Warner]: 

7.  Patience,  b.  Oct.  1726. 

8.  Ebcnczer,  b.  Apr.  2u,  17^0. 

Leander  Andrews  m.  Cornelia  Easton — 
both  of  Bristol — July  13,  1S51. 

Lois  Andrews  m.  Benj.  Terrill.  175O. 

Martha  Andrews  m.  Eliah  Parker,  1759. 

Martha  Andrews  m.  Ira  Andrews,  1787. 

Martha  Andrews  m.  J.  D.  Perkins,  1844. 

Mary  Andruss  m.  John  Rew,  1743-4. 

Mary  Andrews  m.  Francis  Peck,  1835. 

Mary  Andrews  m.  Chas.  Chatfield,  1850. 

Melvina  Andrews  m.  A.  A.  Perkins.  1843. 

Moses  R.   Andrew  m.   Betsey   Lounds- 

bury,  May  6,  1833. 
Rhoda  Andrews  m.  Titus  Fenn,  1779. 
Ruth  Andrews  m.  Enoch  Woodruff,  1S37. 

Thomas  Anddrus,  s.  of  Abr.,  Sr.,  m.  Mary 
Turner,  d.  of  John,  Nov.  2,  1725. 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  12,  1727. 

2.  Mary,  b,  Sepi.  21,  172^:  d.  Aug.  22,  1731. 

3.  Mary.  b.  Mch.  2,  1734. 

William  Andruss,  s.  of  John.  m.  Martha 
Wilhams,  d.  of  James.  Feb   1736  7. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  17.  17J7-S;  »"•  J-  Doolittle. 

2.  Martha,  b.  June  3,  1740. 

3.  lames,  b.  Dec.  19,  1743. 

4.  NN'illianis  (later  William),  b.  Apr.  5,  1745. 

5.  John,  b.  Oct.  28,  1747. 

6.  Timothy,  b.  Dec.  i,  1749. 

[Dr.  W.  A.  Alcott  gives  to  William.  Sr., 
Mehitable,  Diadama.  and  by  a  second 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP9 


Andrews.  Arnst. 

wife,  James  and  Ruth;  the  first  James 
having  been  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree. 
To  William,  Jr.,  he  gives  Cornelius, 
Anna.  b.  Sept  i,  1777,  m.  ObedAlcott, 
and  Laura  (b.  1790.  ace.  to  family 
records)  m.  Seth  Thomas.] 

William  Andrews,  Junr.,  m.  Submit 
Frost,  May  6.  1766. 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  ii,  1767, 

2.  William,  b.  Jan.  13;  d.  Jan.  14,  1760. 

3.  Luther,  b.  July  2,  1770;  d.  Oct,  6,  1773. 

4.  Kilo,  b.  Feb.  3,  1773. 

5.  Luther,  b.  Apr.  13,' 1775. 

Zina  Andrews,  s.  of  Simeon,  m.  Sarah 
Hotchkiss.  July  21,  18 14. 

Frances  [Boem],  wid.  of  Richard  An- 
thony, m.  Benjamin  Wetmore.  1758. 

David  Arnold  m.  Hannah  Prindle,  d.  of 
Jonathan,  July  6,  1763. 

1.  Jonathan,  b.  May  i6,  1764. 

2.  Smith,  b.  Mch.  31,  1766, 

Hannah  d.  July  21,  1766,  and  David  m. 
Mary  Swain,  relict  of  Walter,  Sept.  20, 
1769. 

Joel  R.  Arnold  [Rev.]  and  Julia: 

Ambrose  Henry,  bap.  July  31,  1831. ^ 
Charles  Rockwell,  bap.  Mch.  10,  1833. 
Luther  Hart,  bap.  May,  1835. 

Nathaniel  Arnold: 

Nathaniel  [hap.  Feb.,  1703-4]. 

John,  d.  Nov.  18,  1736. 

Sarah  [bap.  Mch.  3,  1703-4];  d.  Nov.  22,  1736. 

Susanna  [bap.  May  23,  170S];  m.    James  Hull, 

(These  bap.  in  Hart.) 
Josiah,  b.  in  Hartford,  Sept.  12,  171J  [d.  before 

'742]. 

Elizabeth  Arnold,  widow,  and  mother 
to  Nathaniel,  d.  in  Wat.  Feb.  3,  1740-1. 
He  d.  Sept.  13.  1753. 

See  also  John  Richason. 

Nathaniel  Arnold,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m. 
Elizabeth  Richason,  d.  of  John,  dec'd, 
July  26,  1732.  Capt.  Nathaniel  d.  May 
12,  1777,  a.  76.     Elizabeth  d.  Oct.  11, 

1773. 

1.  Timothy,  b.  June  4,  1733. 

2.  Noah,  b,  June  5,  1735. 

3.  Sary,  b.  Dec.  5,  1738. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  Apr.  7,  1740;  m.  Titus  Fulford. 

Frederick  D.  Arnst  m.  Mrs.  Martha 
Smith.  May  1,  1828.  She  m.  Thomas 
Warner,  1832. 

Garry  Arnst,  s.  of  John  of  Salem,  m. 
Catharine  J.  Phelps  from  New  Haven, 
Nov.  17,  1826 

John  Arnst  [from  England]  m.  Margaret 
Webb  of  Salem,  Oct.  21,  1784.'' 

[He  had  13  children:  Daniel,  John,  Sheldon, 
Harzilla  and  Polly  drownedj  Barzilla,  Polly, 
Harshall,  Marshell,  Frederick,  Ruth,  Mar- 
garet, Garry.] 

Polly  Arnst  m.  Marcus  Terril,  1822. 


Arnst.  Atwater. 

Ruth  Arnst  m.  Caleb  Granniss,  iSio. 
Eunice  Ashley  m.  Sam.  Scott.  1763. 
Sarah  Ashley  m.  Obad.  Richards,  1752. 
Betsey  Atkins  m.  Prosper  Hull,  1825. 

David  Atkins  m.  Cornelia  Cleavor,  Feb. 
12.  1784-'* 

1.  Nancy,  Jan.  i8,  178:;. 

2.  Randal,  May  26,  17S6. 

3.  Mnason,  Jan.  29,  1788. 

Elizabeth  Adkins  m.  Jon.  Parker.  1766. 
Elizabeth  Atkins  m.  Joel  Lane,  1776. 
Esther  Atkins  m.  A.  H.  Smith.  1S27. 

Garry  Atkins  of  Medina,  Ohio,  m.  Luzina 
Pnchard,  Jan.  30.  1S37. 

John  and  Elizabeth  Adkins :  children 
born  in  Wat  : 

5.  Timothy,  b.  Dec.  27,  1754. 

6.  Daniel,   ) 

and        Vb.  Apr.  17,  1757, 

7.  Samuel,  \ 

8.  lohn,  b.  June  25,  1759. 
y.  Reuben,  1 

and        >b.  Mch.  24,  1764. 
10.  Mary,      \ 

Joseph  Atkins,  Jr.,  s.  of  Joseph,  m. 
Phebe  Hall.  d.  of  Heman  of  Farm. 
July  30.  1767.  [He  moved  in  1805,  to 
Smyrna,  Ohio.] 

1.  Rosanna,  b.  Mch.  5.  1768. 

2.  Silva,  b.  Nov.  3.  \^f~i•). 

3.  Asahel,  b.  P'eb.  20,  1772. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  i,  1774. 

5.  Xenia,  b.  June  30,  1776;  d.  Jan.,  1777. 

6.  Adah,  b.  Jan.  9,  1778. 

Josiah  Atkins,  s.  of  Josiah.  m.  Sarah 
Rogers,  d.  of  Deac.  Tosiah.  Jan.  31, 1779. 
(He  died  17S2,  and  his  widow  m.  Amos 
Culver.] 

1.  Sally,  b.  Nov.  20,  1780  [m.  Asahel  Lewis]. 

2.  Josiah.  b.  Sept.  15,  1781    [d.  a.  18] . 

Levi  Atkins,  Jr.  of  Wolcott  m.  Eunice 
A.  Grilley,  Feb.  6,  1S4S. 

Mary  Atkins  m.  Amos  Morris,  1S16. 

Samuel  Atkins  [s.  of  Samuel  of  Wolcott], 
m.  Belinda  Bronson,  d.  of  Philenor, 
Feb..  1S24. 

1,  Ellen,  b.  May  21,  1825;  m.  H.  C.  Munson. 

2.  Edwin,  b.  Aug.  16.  1833. 

Amos  Atwater  of  Columbia  m.  Julia  M. 
Hoadley,  Dec.  28.  1820 — and  d.  June  8, 
1834,  a.  36  « 

Clarissa  Atwater  m.  S.  H.  Nichols,  1836. 

Jane   Atwater   m.   Ansel   Spencer,    Jr., 

1832. 
Jonathan   Atwater,    and    Eunice    from 

Woodbridge:'^ 

Polly,  bap.  Sept.  9,  1804. 

Lemuel  Atwater  m.  Polly  Dudley,  May 

17,  1814 
Lucinda  Atwater  m,  Emery  Mann,  1828. 


lO^p 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URY, 


Atwater.  Austin. 

Mehitable  Atwater  m.  Eli  Bronson,  1773. 

Melinda  Atwater  m.  Roswell  Humiston. 
1831. 

Moses  Atwater  d.  May  5,  1827. 

Nancy  Atwater  m.  Eldad  Hotchkiss, 
1823. 

Timothy  Atwater  m.  Lydia  Humiston, 
Nov.  14,  1781.'* 

Ruth,  b.  July  30,  1782. 
Elam.b.  July  i,  1785. 

[Thomas  Atwell  m.  Eunice  Matthews,  d. 
of  Phineas,  and  had,  at  least, 

Lovina,  b.  Aug.  13,  1787,  She  m.  Sept.  2,  1809. 
in  Whitestone.  N.  Y.,  Rev.  Glezen  Fillmore, 
and  is  now  (Feb.,  1893)  living  in  Clarence,  N. 
Y.,  at  the  age  of  lo^l'z  yrs.J 

Anna  Atwood  m.  Uri.  Bronson,  1799. 

David  M.  Atwood  of  Watertown  m.  Mary 
Maria  Spellman  of  Norfolk,  May  11, 
i85i.-' 

Gerry  Atwood  m.  Eliza  Ann  Hyde,  Feb. 
4.  1834. 

Jane  Atwood  m.  J.  R.  Richardson,  1846. 

Lucy  Atwood  m.  Abel  Woodward,  1765. 

Mary  L.  Atwood  m.  H.  Sandland,  1S28. 

Abel  Austin,  s.  of  Abel.  m.  Abigail  Par- 
ker, d.  of  Wait—all  of  Wallingford— 
Feb.  5,  1795. 

1.  Arden,  b.  Feb.  29,  X796. 

2.  Aaron,  b.  Nov.  17,  1803. 

David  W.  Austin,  s.  of  Edmund,  m. 
Nancy  Beecher,  b.  May  3,  18 16,  d.  of 
Hezekiah  of  Prospect,  Jan.  16,  1842. 

William  Edmund,  b.  June  10,  1844, 

Edmund  and  Sarah  Austin: 

[He  d.  Mch.  1791,  a.  52;  she,  Mch.  1812, 
a.  70.  J 

Elizabeth  and  Eunice,  bap.  at  St.  James's  church, 
July,  1768. 

Children  bom  in  Wat. 


♦1.  Job,  b.  Jan.  n,  1769 
2.  Ruth,  b.  Oct.  10,  175 


.    770- 

3.  Edmund,  b.  May  19,  1773, 

4.  Lemuel,  b.  June  22, 1775;  d.  April  7,  1845,  a.  7o.« 

5.  Sarah,  b,  Jan.  12,  1780;  d.  June  23,  1782. 

6.  Lois,  b.  Apr.  20,  1781. 

7.  Abner,  b.  Sept.  17,  1782. 

8.  Oren,  b.  Oct.  26,  1784. 

Edmund  Austin,  s.  of  Edmund,  m.  Ana 
Wheeler,  d.  of  David,  of  Derby,  May 

5,  1795. 

1.  Nancy,  b.  Oct.  24,  1796;  d,  Dec.  5,  1S13. 

2.  Polly,  b.  Sept.  25,  i7i>-^;  m.  Rev.  Ransom  War- 

ner; d.  Mch.  21,  iS;:8.' 

3.  David  W.,  b.  Jan.  27,  1802. 

4.  Sally,  b.  June  26,  1S04;  cl.  Sept.  g,  1S20. 

5.  Kunice  A.,  b.  Oct.  30.  1S07;  m.  C.  Adams. 

6.  Eli/a,  b.  Sept.  12,  i8ro;  m.  C.  Adams. 

7.  Nancy  Maria,  b.  Apr.  13,  1815;  m.  S.  W.  Hall. 

Ana  d.  Feb.   7,   1S19,  a.  43;    and  Ed- 


AusTiN.  Bailey. 

mund  m.  Esther  Porter,  d.  of  Francis, 
Jan.  5,  1820. 

I.  Ellen  Minerva,  b.  Sept.  3,  1822. 

Elizabeth  Austin  m.  Shadrack  Benham. 

175S. 

Lauren  Austin  m.  Eliza  Stebbins,  Tan.  i. 
1S37. 

Orrin  Austin,  s.  of  Edmund,  and  Sarah 
Hall,  b.  Aug.  1790  d.  of  Jared  of  Ches- 
hire, m 181 1. 

Leverett  C,  b.  Feb.  n,  1812:  d.  Apr.  14,  1840. 
Nancy  Lcvina,  b.  Mch.  21,  1814;  m.  Luther  Brad- 
ley. 
William  Hobart,  b.  Dec.  25,  1816. 
Sarah  Emma,  b.  July  14.1810;  ra.  A.  .S.  Lyon. 
George  Willis,  b.  Oct.  29,  1822. 
Caroline  Maria,  b.  July  '24,  1825. 
Frances  Augusta,  b.  Jan.  21,  1830. 

William  H.  Austin,  s.  of  Orrin,  m.  Jane 
E.  Richmond,  b.  Nov.  21,  1822,  a.  of 
Bishop  of  Cheshire,  Apr.  24,  1842. 

1.  Caroline  Amret,  b.  Oct.  25,  1843. 

2.  Frederic  Hooper,  b.  May  10,  1846. 

Amos  Averet:^ 

Eunice,  b.  Mch.  i,  1780. 
Augustus,  b.  Aug.  7,  1782. 
Sarah,  b.  July  26,  1784. 
Ransom,  b.  July  3,  1786. 

Abel  Bacheldor,  s.  of  Reuben  of  New 
Haven,  was  m.  to  Thankfull  Cook,  d. 
of  Henry,  by  Mr.  Tod  of  Northbury, 
May  7,  1747. 

1.  Lemuel,  b.  Sept.  14;  d.  Nov.  1748. 

2.  Abel,  b.  July;  d.  June  (?)  1751. 

3.  Roze,  b.  N'ov.  3,  1752;  m,  Z.  Curtis. 

4.  Buley  (a  dan.),  b.  July  7,  1755. 

5.  Abel,  b.  Apr.  24,  1758. 

6.  Content,  b.  Mch.  10,  1760. 

7.  Thankful,  b.  Sept.  24,  1763. 

8.  Lemuel,  b.  Feb.  14,  1768. 

Philemon  Bacheldor  and  Mary  (from 
Northfield,  1809):* 

Linus,  bap.  July  t,  1810. 

bap.  May  10,  1812. 

Sall^-,  bap.  Dec.  5,  1813. 
Connne,  bap.  Apr,  26,  1818. 

Amzi  D.  Bacon  of  Woodbury,  m.  Mary 
Leonard,  Nov.  19,  1843. 

Louisa  A.  Bacon  m.  Patrick  Curtiss,  1839. 

Sarah  Bacon  m.  Wm.  B.  Frost,  1848. 

John  Bagshaw  of  Birmingham,  Eng.,  m. 
Ann  Moshier  of  Baltimore,  May  21,1838. 

John  Bahan  m.  Catharine  Kenare  in  Ire- 
land, Jan.  II.  1S37. 

1.  Esther,  b.  in  Ire.,  Nov.  27,  1837. 

2.  Margarett,  b.  in  Ire..  Dec.  4,  1839. 

3.  Richard,  b.  in  Ire.,  Feb.  2,  1845. 

4.  Mary  Ann.,  b.  Aug.  2,  1846. 

Frederick  A.  Bailey  of  Thompson,  m. 
Salina  Moses  of  Harwinton,   Nov.    3, 

1-^35. 


♦  The  compiler  cannot  explain  this  numbering. 


FAMILY  RECO 

Bailey.                                         Baldwin.  Bale 

Julius  C.  Bailey  m.  Rebeccah  F.  Judd,  Ebec 

May  9,  1847.  for 

William  A.  Bailey  m .  Amanda  A.  Porter,  26, 

Feb.  17,  1S35.  I.  I 

Hector  W.  Baird,  b.  May  31,  1787,  s.  of  3'  p 

Clark  of  Watertown.  m.  [Apr.  10,  iSio]  4.  ^ 

Sally  Leavenworth,  b.  Jan.  25,  1789,  d.  5-  A 

of  Samuel.  Eli  E 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  25,  1812.  to^ 

2.  David,  b.  Oct.  1818;  d.  Oct.  20,  1845,  toil 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  20,  1827.  ttt- 

See  also  Beard.  „ 

I.  R 

Abigail  Baldwin  m.  Sam.  Lewis.  1776.  '•  ^ 

Abigail  Baldwin  d.  July  11.  1812.^  4!  M 

Adah  Baldwin  m.  David  Hikcox,  1794.  Eliza 

Alsop   Baldwin,  s.    of   Theophilus,    m.  Elizal 

Elizabeth    Sherman,    d.   of   Amos    of  p..     . 

Amity,  Oct.  13,   1773.     [He  was  b.  in  ^^Y**' 

Amity,  Feb.  i.  1741-2.  "®' 

I.  Amos,  b.  Mch.  26,  1775;  m.  Sarah  Law,  and  had  Df.    I 

Alsop,  b.  Nov.  17,  1800.]  Nev 

Elizabeth  d.  Aug.  7.  1775,  a.  23,  and  d.  c 

Alsop  m.  Bathsheba  Smith,  d  of  Eben-  Feb 

ezerof  Woodbury,  Sept.  16,  1778.     [She  j  ^ 

d.  June  15,   1S15,  a.  63;  he,  June  23,  a!  k. 

1S24.]  3.  El 

Anna  Baldwin  m.  Eli  Adams,  1775.  Isaac 

Anne  Baldwin  m.  Wm.  McKay,  1797.  ^^^ 

Anna  Baldwin  m.  Earl  Sperry,  1823.*  \^ 

Benjamin  Baldwin,  s.  of  Col.  Jonathan, 

m.  Elizabeth  Cook  [b.  in  Wal.  Dec.  11,  {'  ci 

1756],  d.  of  Moses,  dec'd,  June  18, 1778.  3.'  d 

1.  Cleora,  b.  Apr.  10,  1779;  m.  S.  Judd.  Tisaa*- 

2.  Malinda,  b.  Nov.  10,  1781.  Isaac 

Elizabeth,  wife  of    the    above-named  "^'  • 

Benjamin,  d.  May  24.  1797.     Benjamin,  Jame; 

husband  of  the  above-named  Elizabeth,  in  t 

d.  Mch.  19,  1801.  of  I 

Comfort  Baldwin  m.  John  Bronson,  1728.  Por 

Daniel  Baldwin  [s.  of  Dan.  of  Wal.]  and  ^^ 

Temperance  [Austin,  m.  Feb.  2,  1786];  \^^ 
record  of  children  is  as  follows: 

3.  lietsey,  b.  Apr.  17,  1791.  '•  P 

4.  Levi.  b.  Sept.  i,  1793.  2.  S 

5.  Isaac,  b.  July  9.  1798. 

6.  Fanny,  b.  May  1,  I'S*)!.  3-  ^ 

David  Baldwin  m.  Martha  Perkins,  Feb.  "*' 

25,  1778.=^  5.  P 

1.  Amos,  b.  Dec.  12,  1778.  T'pj 

2.  Treat,  b.  June  13,  1780.  \    y 

3.  Dav  d,  b.  Apr.  25,  1782.  \^'^ 

4.  Anne,  b.  Feb.  29,  1784.  dia 

5.  Martha,  b.  Jan.  25,  1786. 

David   Baldwin,    s.   of    Maj.   Noah,   m.  J^^" 

Hannah  Leavenworth  [b.  Oct.  3,  1779],  ^^ 

d.  of  Sam.  Jan.  30,  i8ck3.     He  d.  Mch.  ^ 

14,  1S42.  ^^3 

1.  Lovisa.  b.  Nov.  i^,  1800;  d.  Nov.  1813.  The 

2.  Melissa,  b.  June  17,  1803;  m.  (i.  Hull.  Ba 

3.  Julia,  b.  July  s    1805;  ni.  S.  I).  Chipman,  t, 

4.  I)enison,  b.  Apr.  30,  i8ii;d.  Nov.  1813,  ^^  ^ 

5.  Davis,  b.  Nov.  19",  18 15.  2^t 


12  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Baldwin.  Baldwin. 

born  May  27.  1690.  Her  mother  died 
52  days  after,  and  her  father  died  the 
second  week  of  November,  the  vear 
after,  or  1691. 

Mary,   born   ihe  8th  of  September,   1711,  at  9 

o'clock  at  night  (m.  Timothy  Porter). 
Martha,  born  the  23ci  of  March.  1713,  about  3 

o'clock  at  nitcht  (m.  Ed.  Scovill). 
Abigail,  born  February  17,  i7if>-i7,  about  mid- 

nij^ht  (m.  Stephen  Wclton). 
Rachel's  birthday,  March  17,  1720,  at  6  o'clock 

in  the  morning. 
Jonathan,  born  September  15,  172^. 
Kunice,  born  Mitrch  11,  i7.»f',  about  noon. 
Hannah,  l>orn  August  2d,  1728,  at  7  o'clock  in 

the  morning. 
Esther  was  twin  with  Rachel,  and  died  May  oth 

after. 
Hann.ih  died  Dec.  10,  174-.  ajjed  t>j  years, 
Eunice  deceased  three  wecksaficr,  l.muary  loth, 

aged  21  years. 

My  wife  died  November  10th,  1759." 
Jonathan  d.  Jan.  5.  1761. 

Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jr.,  s  of  Jonathan, 
m.  Mary  Bronscm,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  Nov. 
12,  1747.  He  d.  Apr.  2,  1^02;  she  d. 
May  17.  1S21. 

I.   Eunice,  b.  Sept.  u,  174S;  d.  Mch.  '.».  1749-50. 

.'.   McUjscent,  b.   Nov.   lO.  17:');  m.    [Lsiiac  Hooth] 

Lewis,  and  Phinejis  I'ortcr. 
^   Bervainin.  b.  Nov.  24.  17?.?  (d.  Mch.  ly,  iSt<ij. 

4.  Noah.  b.  Jan.  2;.  17^3. 

5.  Jonathan,  b.  Feb.  27,  17^7  [d.  in  Marietta,  Ohio, 

Mch.  7,  iSi'i|. 
t'.   Hannah,  b.  ( )ct.  11,  17-,)  [m.  Mile*  Culver  and 

d.  childless]. 
7.   David,  h.  Dec.  30,  i7'^2;  d.  Aukr.  20,  i7''4. 
h.   Eunice,  b.  Aug.  2j,  17'is  L'l.  Jan,  >■'■.  if4'i). 
<i.   .Mary,  b.  Jan.  i.j.  i-;r\-;  Id.  Oct.  i->|>'. 

Jonathan  Baldwin  of  Burlington  m.  Jane 
Wooster  of  Nau.,  Mch.  25.  i>^^) 

Leonard  Baldwin  of  Torrington  m.  Susan 
M.,  relict  of  H.  Hadley.  Oct.  19,  1S29. 

Lucius  Baldwin,  b.  Nov.  1813,  s.  of  Alan- 
son,  and  Elvira  Hotchkiss,  b.  Apr.  22, 
1813.  d.  of  Curtiss,  m.  Apr.  12,  1S35, 

1.  Eliza  Lucretia.  b.  Feb.  20,  i^3'>;  d.  Feb.  24,  1S41. 

J.  Ellen,  b.  .Sept.  15,  iS;,7. 

3.  Lu/ane,  b.  Nov.  4,  iS^i. 

4.  Wallace,  b.  N(»v.  .t<i.  1841,  d.  Aug.  17,  1644. 

5.  .Agusta  Lueza,  b.  Jan.  17,  1S43. 

Maria  L.  Baldwin  m.  \Vm.  Dick,  1845. 

Marshall  Baldwin,  s.  of  Matthew,  late  of 
Wood  bridge,  dec'd,  m.  Leva  Maria 
Potter,  d  of  Samuel,  Sept.  7,  1S20. 

Martha  Baldwin  m.  Ed.  Scovill,  1739. 

Mary  F.  Baldwin  m.  A.  A.  Scott,  1S51. 

Mercy  Baldwin  m.  Wooster  Tuttle,  1S02. 

Noah  Baldwin,  s.  of  Col.  Jonathan,  m. 
Elizabeth  Ives,  Aug.  3,  1775.  [He  d. 
Jan.  9,  1S13;  she  d.  Sept.  3,  1826,  a.  74.] 

1.  David,  b.  Dec.  29,  1775. 

2.  Lucina,  b.  Feb.  5,  1778;  m.  I.  Prichard. 

3.  Leonard,  b.  Mch.  28.  1780. 

4.  Anna.  b.  July  12,  178J. 

5.  Isaac  Lewis,  b.  Oct.  17,  1784. 
[6.  William,  b.  May  2.  1787. 

7.  Sally,  b.  Jan.  24,  1790. 

8.  Noah  G.,  b.  Apr.  19.  1792.] 


Baldwin.  Ba&ber. 

Polly  Baldwin  m.  Sam.  Cowell,  iSio. 

Rebecca  Baldwin  m.  J.  C.  Pratt.  184S. 

Rosetta  Baldwin  m.  H.  Hotchkiss,  iv^35. 

Rowena  Baldwin  m.  Wm.  Chipman.  1S40. 

Thaddeus  Baldwin  [s.  of  Eben.]  m. 
Thankful  Alcox  [d.  of  John  and  De- 
borah], Jan.  iS,  1770. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  27,  1771. 

2.  Thankful,  b.  Aug.  »>,  1773. 
^   Hannah,  b.  Jan.  b,  177'.. 

4.  Lydia,  b.  April  12,  177^. 

5.  Thaddeus,  b.  Jan.  .i^,  i^^-y, 
(>.  Lynuin.  b.  Sept.  24.  1764.2 

7.  Nice  (dau.),  b.  Oct.  11,  17^^. 

Theophilus  Baldwin  [b.  in  Amity,  Xov. 
27.  1735I  ^-  Sarah  Strong,  d.  of  Adino 
of  Woodbury,  Apr.  24,  1776. 

Theophilus  Baldwin  of  Middlebury  m. 
Millecent  Parde,  July  13,  iv'^2S. 

Truman  Baldwin  of  Salem  m.  Anne  Hurl- 
but  of  Roxbury,  Jan.  19,  1797.* 

Vienna  £.  Baldwin  m.  S.  G.  Hill.  1S25. 

William  Baldwin,  s.  of  Major  Noah.  m. 
Chloe  Hotchkiss,  d.  of  btephen,  Feb. 
27,  1S13. 

1.  Joseph  Ives,  b.  Aug.  27,  1S14. 

2.  Tamer  Eli/.,  b.  June  27.  XS19. 
^  WiKi.im,  h.  May  15,  i>:?4. 

4.  (»e<)r.w;c,  b.  Sept.  4,  I^2'■. 

5.  ktbec^A,  b.  July  15,  laao. 

Hannah  Ball  m.  Nath.  Tompkins,  1762, 
and  Jesse  Hickox,  17^1. 

Moses  Ball,  s.  of  Caleb,  m.  Hannah  San- 
ford,  d.  of  Ezekiel.  June  3,  1756. 

1,  Mabel,  b.  Jan.  4,  1757. 

t Moses  d.   175S]  and  Hannah  m.  Joel 
)utton,  1762. 

Timothy  Ball  from  Bethany,  b.  Xov.  3, 
l7'^3,  m.  Oct.  6,  1S06,  Betsey  Biscoefrom 
Bethany,  b.  Feb.  17,  17SS.    She  d.  Jan. 

2,  1846. 

1.  Betsey  Finett,  b.  in  Beth.  Aug.  1,  1807. 

2.  Harriet,  b.  in  Beth.  Apr.  7,  ibcjg. 

3.  Eliza  Statira,  b.  in  Beth.  July  i3,  1811. 

4.  Argus,  b.  in  Beth.  Mch.  26,  1815;  d.  at  Tampa 

Bay.  Florida,  Oct.  J7,  1839, 

5.  Bcnnet,  b.  May  19,  1822. 

Edward  Bancroft  [s.  of  Francis  and  Mi- 
nerva (Prichard)]  of  East  Windsor,  m. 
Mary  E.  Hayden  [d.  of  Festus],  Dec. 
14,  1S42. 

Henry  Banks  and  Sarah  E.  Scovill — both 
of  Litchfield — were  m.  Mch.  9,  1851. 

Bridget  Bannon  m.  Wm.  Coghlon,  1S49. 

Patrick  Banan  m.  Ann  Reed  in  Ireland, 
Jan.  6,  1837.    She  d.  Oct.  7,  1S46,  a.  42. 

1.  Christopher,  b.  Oct.  x,  1842. 

2.  Rosann,  b.  Sept.  30,  1844. 

Charity  Barber  m.  Abel  Sutliff,  1770- 


FAMILY  RECO 


Barker.  Barnes. 

Eliasaph  Barker:'' 

Esther  b.  Oct.  29,  177^. 
Eliasaph,  b.  Jan.  1,  1770. 
Ephraun,  b.  July  6,  17S2. 
Danie),  b.  Jan.  17.  \-j>i(\ 
Wright,  b.  June  23,  1789. 

Nelson   Barker  of  Harwinton  m.  Jane 
Rowley  of  Winsted,  Mch.  24,  1S45. 

Peter  Barker,  s.  of  Usal,  m.  Ruth  Curtis, 
June  7,  1764. 

1.  Zenas,  b,  Jan.  26,  1765.  . 

2.  Martha,  b.  May  23,  1767. 

3.  Cloe,  b.  July  17,  X7<x^. 

Rebecca  Barker  m.  Ebenezer  Foot,  1761.^ 

Solomon  Barker,  s.  of  Usal.  m.  Hannah 
Richards,  d.  of  Jonah  of  Hartford,  May 

9.  1759- 

I.  Solomon,  b.  Nov.  9,  1759. 

Solomon  Barker,  a  son  of  Sylvia  Sanford, 
b.  Jan.  9,  I7S4."' 

Usal  Barker  and  Martha: 

Martha;  m.  F>ra  Sanford.  1759. 
9.   Esther,  b.  Mch.  jo,  1750;  m.  A.  Blakeslee. 
TO.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  ^4,  17,2. 

II.  Jonathan,  b.  July  8.  175-. 
12.   Mary,  b.  May  9,  1757. 

Uszal  Barker,  s.  of  Usal,  m.  Desire  San 
ford,  d.  of  Ezekiel,  May  5,  1757. 

Elisha  J.  Barnard  m.  Augusta  A.  Brooks 
of  Prospect,  June  19,  1S43. 

Abby  Barnes  m.  Philemon  Holt,  1S06. 

Abraham  Barnes,  s.  of  Sam.,  m.  Phebe 
Clark,  d.  of  Caleb,  Aug.  20,  1744. 

1.  Abraham,  b.  Mch.  25,  1745. 

2.  Zuba,  b.  June  21,  1746;  m.  Solomon  Tompkins. 

[Abraham  died  in  the  French  War] 
and  Phebe  m.  Gideon  Scott,  1755.  (She 
d.  before  1762.) 

Amanda  Barnes  m.  Isaac  Brown,  1S17. 

Ye  record  of  Benjamin   Barnes,   Sen., 

children, 

I.  first  Benjamin  was  born  ye  beginning  Sept: 

Apr.  i'>84. 

o      2.  John  was  hern  Aug.  12  =■  1686. 

1706.  4.  a  soon  Thomas  was  born  May  ye  ■»  11  =  i^^?, 

3.  a  soon  was  born  May  ->  1^89. 

5.  a  soon  ebenezer  was  born  March  =■  15th  =  1693. 

6.  a  daughter  .Sarah  was  born  August  =  15  =  i'v5. 

7.  a  soon  Samll  born  al)ought  Mch  =  ifi  —  iC^t-j. 

The  third  lx>rn  of  the  above  barns  being  a  soon 

dyed  ye  s;ime  May  it  was  born. 
The  first  born  son  lienjamm  Barns  deyed  in  May. 

Sarah  I>arnes  mother  to  the  above  named  children 
deyed  decembcr  the  21  in  ye  yer  171 2. 

The  5  son  Ebene/er  dyed  March  10,  1713. 

The  alxjve  named  Benjamin  Barnes  the  Father 
Dyed,  Apr.  24,  1731,  Accounted  about  Stj  years 
old. 

[Benj.  and  John  w^ere  hap.  in  Farmington,  Dec.  i, 
i6&y;  Thomas,  June  8,  i69fj.  Sarah  m.  ftenry 
Day,  Jr.,  of  Colchester,  1723.  J 


Bar! 

Benj 

Ds 

1.  ( 

2.  I 

0.    t 

7. 1 

Calel 

Me 
De< 

r.  J- 
Danit 

nah 
San 

1.  H 

2.  T 

4!  B< 

6.  E( 

[Est 

Dimoi 

Ebenc 
\Va 
4.  z< 

Edwfl 
We 

Eli  E 

Th< 

I.  G 
Hanr 

Isaac 

tis, 

1,  L 

2.  I 

3.  c 

5-  >* 
6.  S 

E! 

Isaa< 

SOI 

I.  ] 

2.    i 

3. 1 

John 
Be 
Sa 

28, 


2. 

3- 
4- 


i! 


5f 


14  Ap 


UI8T0RY  OF  WATERBUHr. 


Barnes.  Barrit. 

Jonathan  Barnes,  s.  of  John.  m.  Sibbel 
Bartholomew,  d.  of  Seth,  Nov.  22, 178 1. 

1.  Policy,  b.  Ausr.  23.  1782, 

2.  Stephen,  b.  Dec.  .^a,  1783;  d.  Nov.  3,  1S06. 

3.  Sally,  b.  May  3,  178^1. 

4.  Merrit,  b.  Auji.  30,  1788. 

5.  Ransom,  b.  Oct.  5,  i7i/j. 

6.  Garrey,  b.  Oct.  12,  1792. 

7.  Harriot,  b.  Aug.  2,  1794. 

8.  Charry,  b.  Mch.  i,  1797. 

9.  Chloe,  b.  Mch  28,  1803;  d.  Mch.  24,  1804. 

Lucy  Barnes  m.  Noah  Humiston,  176S. 

Nathaniel  Barnes,  s.  of  Nathl.,  m.  Lydia 
Elvvel,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  Oct.  3,  1753. 

1.  Ambrose,  b.  Apr.  5,  1754. 
a.  Ebenezer,  b.  Feb.  28.  1756. 

3.  Philip,  b.  Dec.  26,  1757;  d.  July  16,  1758. 

4.  Philip,  b.  May  to,  1759. 

5.  Nathaniel,  b.  May  30.  1761. 

6.  Lidda,  b.  Sept.  28,  1763. 

Rebecca  Barnes  m.  Joseph  Payne,  1823. 

Samuel  Bernes,  s.  of  Benj.,  m.  Mary 
Johnson,  d,  of  John  of  Derby,  June  4, 
1722.     She  d.  May  12,  1760. 

X.  Abraham,  b.  Aug.  5,  1723. 

2.  Mary,  b.  May  24,  1725;  m.  John  S/atcrr£t\  1755. 

3.  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  27,  1726. 

4.  Martha,  b.  Sept.  4,  1728;  m.  John  S/ofcr,  1750. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  May  39,  1730;  m.  Luke  Fulford,  and 

Daniel  Barnes. 

6.  Anne,  b.  Mch  y,  1732-3;  d.  June  17,  T733. 

7.  Ann,  b.  May  2§,  1734;  m.  John  Scovill. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  20,  1736-7. 

9.  David,  b.  May  29,  1739. 

Sarah  Barnes  m.  Stephen  C.  Frost,  1817. 

Thomas  Herns  [cordwinder,  1724]  s.  of 
Benj.,  m.  Susanna,  d.  of  Edward  Scovill 
of  Haddam,  Jan.  14,  1721,  and  d.  Nov. 
29.  1772. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  7,  1722;  d.  Jan.  i,  1775-6. 

2.  Susanna,  b.  Aug.  18,  1724;  m.  M.  T errill. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Julv  18,  1727;  d.  Aug.  3,  1750 

4.  Thomas,  b.  June  13,  1731;  d.  July  2.  1753. 

5.  Hulda,  b.  Mch.  19,  1734;  d.  June  22,  1753. 

6.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  4,  1736. 

Titus  Barnes,  s.  of  Daniel  of  New  Haven, 
m.  Sarah  Peck,  d.  of  Sam.,   Apr.  11, 

1759- 

1.  Asenath,  b.  Dec.  13,  1760. 

(Loly);  m.  Eliakim  Welton,  1788. 

William  B.  Barnes  (or  Banes)  of  Bur- 
lington, m.  Irene  Smith,  in  Bristol, 
May  8,  1S42. 

James  and  Esther  Barrit,  children  born 
in  Wat. 

1.  Philip,  b.  Nov.  2,  1755. 

2.  Richard,  b.  Apr.  i,  1758. 

James  Barrit  d.  Oct.  14,  1767.  in  the 
8Sth  year  of  his  age.  [Probate  records 
add  Solomon,  John,  Joseph,  James, 
Robert,  William,  Sarah,  Mary  Wood- 
ruff, Martha  Bronson,  Experience  and 
Esther.] 


Barrows.  Bassett. 

William  B.  Barrows  from  Attleboro, 
Mass.,  b.  Sept  5,  iSii.  and  Julia  Doug- 
lass from  Paterson.  N.  J.,  b.  Sept.  15, 
1S12,  were  m.  Sept.  1832. 

1.  .Augustus,  b.  July  29,  18 u- 

2.  Adeline  Julia,  b.  Oct.  16,  1836. 

Abiel  Bartholomew,  s.  of  Seth,  m.  Mary 
Hungerford,  d.  of  David,  Apr.  14,  1785. 

1.  Ira,  b.  May  6,  1786. 

2.  William,  b.  Jan.  i'^,  1788, 

3.  Polly,  b.  Mch.  i,  1702. 

Daniel -Bartholomew  m.  Hannah  Sutliff, 
July  4,  1771. 

1.  Isaac,  b.  Mch.  31,  1773. 

2.  Eunice,  b.  Aug.  7,  1775. 

Hannah   Bartholomew  m.   Elias    Cook, 

1S13. 

Jane  Bartholomew  m.  B.  F.  Leaven- 
worth, 1S33. 

Joseph  Bartholomew  and  Phebe  [cl.  of 
Nathl.  Richason].' 

Tamer,  Bennet,  Joseph,  and  Hannah,  bap.  Jan. 

12,  i8fxj. 
Orson,  bap.  June  27,  1802. 
Phebe,  bap.  June  24,  1804. 

Osee  Bartholomew,  s.  of  Seth  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Lydia  Saxton,  d.  of  Eben- 
ezer, Nov.  16,  177S. 

1.  James,  b.  Aug.  7,  1779. 

2.  Gershom,  b.  Men.  12,  1781. 

3.  Cloe,  b.  Oct.  3,  1782. 

4.  Eben,  b.  June  29,  1785. 

5.  Isaac,  b.  Oct.  18.  1791. 

6.  Hepsy,  b.  Sept.  6,  1743. 

Sarah  Bartholomew  m.  Timothv  Pond, 
1764. 

Seth  Bartholomew,  s.  of  William  of  Bran- 
ford,  m.  Hepzibah  Robbard,  d.  of  Abiel, 
Jan.  22,  1755. 

1.  Osee,  b.  Nov.  7,  1755. 

2.  Leve  (dau.),  b.  Jan.  21,  1757. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Mch.'  28,  1738. 

4.  J^ihil,  b.  Mch.  14,  i75g;  m.  Jonathao  Barnes. 

5.  Mary,  b.  May  24,  \-jto. 

6.  Irene,  b.  July  25,  1761. 

7.  Seth,  b.  Nov.  14,  1762. 

8.  Abiel,  b.  Apr,  2,  1764. 

9.  Hepzibah,  b.  Tan.  24;  d.  Feb.  10,  1766. 

10.  Gershom,  b.  June  8,  1767. 

11.  Levi,  b.  Jan.  22,  1769. 

Seth  Bartholomew,  s.  of  Seth,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Hungerford,  d.  of  David,  Dec.  16. 
17S4. 

1.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  7,  1785. 

2.  Rosanna,  b.  June  17,  1787. 

3.  Milly,  b.  July  15,  171/5. 

4.  Betsey,  1).  Nov.  9,  1792. 

5.  Tared,  b.  Feb.  11,  1794. 

6.  David,  b.  Mch.  28,  1798;  d.  Jan.  10,  1801. 

Sibel  Bartholomew,   m.    Dan.    Hikcox, 

1766. 

Charles  B.  Bassett  of  Milford,  m.  Julia 
E.  Hickox  [d.  of  Leonard],  Mav  19, 
1851. 

Eliza  Bassett  m.  W.  B.  Riggs,  1S30. 


FAMILY  EECOB, 


Beach.      Beach 


Bassett. 
Levi  Bassett:' 

Esther,  b.  Nov.  13.  1773. 
Lyman,  b.  Apr.  17,  1779. 
Eathan,  b.  Oct.  10,  1781. 
Sally,  b.  Jan.  13,  17S4. 

Lois  Bassett  m.  David  Luddenton,  1755. 
Martha  Bassett  m.  John  Sutliff,  1747. 

Ruth   Bassett  m.    David  Hummerston, 

1743- 

Eliza   Bassford   m.   Vincent    Ibbertson, 
1S49. 

William  Bassford  of  Eng.  m.  Mary  J. 
Wilcox  of  Litchfield,  Mch.  23,  1845.' 

William  Bassford  m.  Alice  Marshall,  Jan. 
16,  1848. 

Ann  W.  Bateman  m.  Joseph  Kane,  183S. 

Stephen  Bateman  m.  Mariah  Benham,  d. 
of  Elihu,  Jr.,  Sept.  20,  1S26. 

Susan  Bateman  m.  Dr.  J.  D.  Mears,  1S35. 

Benjamin  Bates  m.  ''Loruanda  foott," 
Feb.  9,  1776.'' 

Jemima  Catlin,  l>ap.  Aug.  5,  178 1.* 

Lewis  Bates  of  North  Haven  m.  Emma 
E.  Hine,  Nov.  29,  1849. 

Betty  Baxter  m.  D.  B.  Tompkins.  17S3. 

Isaac  Baxter  m.  Harriet  Russel,  Oct.  31, 
1821. 

Maria  Baxter  m.  Ed.  Robinson,  1S27. 

Almira  Beach  m.  H.  S.  Pardee,  1837. 

Anson   Beach  of  Cheshire  m.  Caroline 
Cande,  Apr.  28,  1S33. 

Asa  Beech,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.   Elizabeth 
Benham,  d.  of  Shadrack,  Feb.  i,  1781. 

1.  Asa  Austin,  b.  Nov.  15,  17S6. 

2.  Mehitabel.  b.  Dec.  10,  1788. 

3.  John,  b.  Dec.  a,  1790. 

4.  Elizabeth  Lane,  b.  June  3,  1794. 

Asel   Beach   [s.   of  Moses]  and   Keziah 
[Royce],  chil.  bom  in  Wat. : 

1.  Lois,  b.  Tuly  4,  1761. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  14,  1763. 

3.  Asahel,  b.  Nov.  g,  1766. 

Desire  Beach,  wid.,  d.  Nov.  20,  1S44,  a. 
66. « 

Elihu  Beach,  first  child  that  is  born  in 
Wat. : 

Elihu  b.  May  26,  1764. 

Elizabeth  Beach  m.  F.  G.  Northrop,  1S46. 

Guy  W.  Beach   m.  Cornelia  Sanford  of 
Naugatuck,  Sept.  12,  1847. 

James  C.  Beach  of  Cheshire  m.   Eliza 
Hitchcock  [d.  of  Truman  B.].  Nov.  17, 

1835. 

James  Beach  d.  Feb.  15,  1S41,  a.  59. 


Joel  B 

d.  of 

1.  Nai 

2.  Am 

John  1 
Hoac 

1.  Luc 

2.  Poll 

3.  Am 

4.  Luc 

Ham 
son, 

Joseph 

perie: 

(.M 

8.  Joi 

9.  An 

10.  .-Vn 

11.  Asi 
Th 

Joseph 

nah  I 
June 

1.  Sail] 

2.  Dav 

3-  .Ios« 
4.  Cat) 
s.  Lau 
6.  Har 
Am< 

Lucius 

field, 
and  ' 
1S36. 

A  sc 

Ad 

Juli 

Luna  I 
Lydia 
Maria 
Miners 

Moses 

Bud 

1845. 

Thadd 

June 

Rach< 
Lucre 
Abiga 

Abiga: 

Mary 

Natha 
m.  i: 
Apr 

1.  Sa 

2.  Sa 

3.  Al 

4.  Nj 

See 

Abel< 

Alc( 


16  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATEHBURY, 


Beardslee.  Heebe. 

Elizabeth  Beardslee  m.  William  Cooper, 
1843. 

Joseph  Beardsley  of  Monroe,  m.  Althea 
Hotchkiss  of  Prospect.  Apr.  iS,  1S51. 

Levi  Beardsley,  s.  of  Jesse,  m.  Esther 
Porter,  d.  of  Col.  Phineas,  Jan.  15, 17S9. 

1.  Esther,  b.  Nov.  21,  1791;  m.  G.  Graves. 

2.  Tallman,  b.  Dec.  13,  1794. 

[Samuel  Beardslee  m.  Eunice  Brown  of 
Waterbury,  May  17,  1737.  He  d.  before 
Jan.  14,  1761.] 

William  D.  Beardsley,  s.  of  Daniel  of 
Reading,  m. Elvira  Stevens, d.  of  David, 
Nov.  7,  1S16. 

1.  James  H.,  b.  Feb.  4,  1810. 

2.  J  Twin  daughters,  b.  Mch.  8,  182^.    One  d.  Mch. 

3.  )  12,  1823;  the  other  named  Ksther  Stevens. 

William  Beardsley  m.  Amanda  Smith, 
Apr.  28,  1S33. 

Dr.  Daniel  Beckley  m.  Leva  Lewis,  d. 
of  Capt.  John  of  Salem,  in  Wat..  Mch. 
22,  17S7.  She  d.  Feb.  i6,  1797.  [He  d. 
in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1842,  a.  85.] 

1.  Gordon  Lewis,  1).  Oct.  17,  1788. 

2.  Flora,  b.  Apr.  27,  1701. 

3.  Leva,  b.  Feb.  28,  17  >s- 

Amzi  Beebe,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Jerusha 
Summers  of  Milford,  Mch.  28,  1802.^ 

Lockey,  b.  May,  i^^y,  m.  C.  A.  Russell. 

David  Beebe,  s.  of  Lieut.  Jonathan,  dec'd, 
m.  Lydia  Terrill,  d.  of  Moses,  Feb.  i, 
176S.     [He  d.  in  Ohio,  Nov.  11,  1840,  a. 

93.J 

1.  Allace,  b.  Dec.  8,  1768. 

2.  Arah.  b.  Nov.  13,  1770;  d.  Nov.  14,  1773. 

3.  Electa,  b.  June  8,  177^. 

4.  Lydia,  b.  July   20,  1775    [d.  Aug.  17,  1833,  a. 

86',  yr-;.] 

5.  Ksther,  b.  June  27,  1777  [m.  Xoah  Terrel]. 

6.  Eunice,  1).  Sept.  17,  1779. 

7.  David,  b.  Sept.  2,  178 1. 

8.  Molly,  b.  Oct.  is,  1783  [m.  Wyllys  Terrill,  s. 

of  Joel|. 
I).  Chester,  b.  Nov.  5,  1785. 

10.  Augustus,  b.  Apr.  18,  1788. 

11.  Lonion  Constant,  I),   [an.  11,  i7';i   [d.  in  Ohio, 

Fcl).  4,  1827,  unm.f. 

Eli  Beebe  m.  Elizabeth  Baldwin,  Apr.  6, 

I77S.^ 

Eunice  Beebe  m.  Sam.  Lewis,  1763. 

Ira  Beebe,  s.  of  Lieut.  Jon.  Beebe,  m. 
Jemima  Hickox,  d.  of  Gideon.  Aug. 
1758.  [He  d.  Dec.  29,  1792,  a.  59(57?;; 
she  d.  Apr.  i,  1S18,  a.  77.] 

1.  Kli.  b.  Jan.  v>,  17-^ 

2.  Usley    (Ursula!,    I).    Jan,    9,     1701     [m.    Walter 

\Voosicr|. 

3.  Ach«ia,  '1.  Mch.  9,  i7f'3;  m.  Sam.  Ames. 

4.  Armenia,  b.  July  lo,  \-;(<y,  m.  A.  .Morgan. 

5.  Borden,  b.  Sept.  5,  i7'>7. 

Jane  S.  Beebe  ra.  Burr  Benham,  1829. 


Beebe.  Beebe- 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Beebe  fb.  May  2,  170^' 
s.  of  Joseph  and  Menitable  of  New 
London,  m.  at  Lyme,  Hannah  Lewis 
b.  Nov.  26.  1716,  d.  of  William,  who 
was  s.  of  John  (and  Elizabeth  Huntley) 
b.  about  1655.  s.  of  John  Lewis,  w^ho 
came  to  America  in  the  Hercules,  1635. 
According  to  town  records,  they  were 
m.  Mch.  12,  1731-2;  ace.  to  ch.  rec, 
Mch.  18,  1735, 

1.  Ira,  b   July  30,  1735. 

2.  Zeruah,  b    Feb.  4,  1737-8;  m.  \.  Terrill. 

3.  Zcre,  b   July  2,  1740. 

4.  Borden,  b.  Aug.  3,  1742.] 

"An  account  of  ye  children  of  Leut. 
Jonathan  Beebe  Recorded  in  Wat. 

Jonathan  beebe  was  born  Sept.  24,  1745. 
David  beebe  born  Aprill  12-1747. 
Scba  Beebe  was  l)orn  Aprill  6-1749. 
Reuben  Beel)e  was  born  Au^j.  28,  1751. 
Si  las  Constant  was  born  Jan.  15,  1750. 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Beebe  Dyed  Jan.  20, 

1759. 
Borden  Beebe  Dyed  In  June,  1760." 

Jonathan  Beebe,  s.  of  Lieut.  Jon.  dec'd, 
m.  Azubah  Warner,  d.  of  Abraham, 
dec'd,  Aug.  25,  1767. 

1.  Dorcas,  b.  Apr.  15,  176S   (d   in  Canandai^a,  N. 

v.,  i3i4|. 

2.  William,  b.  June  23,  1770  [d.    in   Grafton,   O., 

1840I. 

3.  Clarissa,  b.  July  ig,  1772:  d.  Nov.  4,  1774. 

4.  Theodorus,  b.  Oct.  10,  1775. 

Joseph  Beebe,  s  of  Ephraim  of  Say  brook, 
m.  Tameson  Terrill,  d.  of  Moses,  Apr. 
15.  17:3. 

1.  Temperance,  b.  Oct.  14,  1773. 

Levina  Beebe  m.  Sylvester  Clark,  1830. 

Lockey  Beebe  m.  C.  A.  Russell,  1825. 

[Orellana  Beebe,  s.  of  Zera,  m.  about 
17(^0.  Sarah  Hickox,  b.  Apr.  15,  1774. 

1.  Cokely,  1).  Feb.  171^1. 

2.  Philena  b.  May  6,  1703.] 

Reuben  Beebe,  s.  of  Jonathan  and  Xene 
Matthews,  d.  of  Jeoram  of  New  Hart- 
ford, in  the  Province  of  New  York; 
chil.  b.  in  Wat. 

2.  Fanny,  b.  Aug.  20,  1775. 

Reuben  Beebe,  s.  of  Ephraim,  m.  Han- 
nah Scott,  d.  of  Enoch,  June  24.  1776. 
He  d.  July  20,  1812.^  She  d.  Feb.  25, 
1807. 


Am/i.  I).  Feb.  2?,  1777. 
Cloe,  b.  Aug.  13,  1778. 
Isaac,  1).  Jan.  i,  17^). 
Reuben,  b.  Aug.  ^,  1781. 
Hannah,  b.  Nov.  15,  1782. 
6.  Thankful,  i).  Aug.  17S4. 


3- 
4- 


Reuben  C.  Beebe  m.  Abigail  Wooster — 
all  ot  Salem — Nov.  2S,  1S36.* 

Russell  Beebe  from  the  State  of  New 
York.  m.  Esther  Bristol  of  Oxford,  Oct. 
9.  I7S'^.« 


FAMILY  RBCO, 


^^^^^-  Beecher. 

Sabria  Beebe  m.    Isaac  Chatfield.    Jr., 

i8o6.«  ^ 

Sarah  Beebe  m.  Eben.  Porter,  1774. 

[Silas  Beebe,  s.  of  Zera,  m.  Sally  Ellis, 
b.  Mch.  13,  1772,  in  Granby,  Conn. 
Feb.  8,  1790.  . 

X.  Alanaon,  b.  Feb.  21,  1791. 

Silas  moved  to  Chenango  Co.  N.  Y. 
1793.] 

Simeon  Beebe  [m.  Anne  "Terir'  of 
Lyme,  Aug.  i,  1750. 

I    Elisha,  b.  Feb.  3,  X7S0.1. 

Anna],  m.  Ebencrcr  Tyler,  1771. 

"Chil.  bom  in  Wat." 

1.  Clarissa,  b.  Aug.  20,  1753. 

2.  Simeon,  b  Jan.  95,  1755. 

3.  Martain,  b.  Aug.  ao,  1756. 

4.  Ephraim,  b.  Mch.  10,  1757. 

5.  Mehitable,  b.  Dec.  13,  1759. 

6.  Stephen,  b.  Oct.  11.  Vjel. 

7.  Phylena,  b.  July  n,  1763. 

[Est.  probated  Sept.  2,  1777.  Ashbel. 
Artemus,  Thaddeus  and  Polly  are  also 
mentioned.] 

[Temperance  Beebe  m.  Abial  Roberts 
1773.J  ' 

Zera  Beebe,  s  of  Lieut.  Jon.,  m.  Keziah 
VVarner,d.  of  Abr.,  dec'd,  Mch.  19, 1761. 


Beec] 

Dai 

ter, 
10.  ( 

XX.    < 

12.    Il 

13.  S! 
M.  ( 

'5.  J 

Dai: 

Dec 

David 
Mar 
cott 
a.  3: 

Eliza  I 

Emily 

Esthe  I 

Expei 

Hanm 

Hezel 

T« 
H<i 

Hezi 

Al 
W 


1774. 


2.  Joseph,  b.  Ian.  9,  176^. 

A^K "*'  iT-   'Z^o.    Lucy.    Roderick,  b. 
Abraham,  b.  1780.  ' 

Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  n,  1784. 

Levi,  b.  Feb.  19,  1785. 

Zera  d.  at  Solon,  N.  Y.  in  1803.] 
Abel    Beecher,    s.    of  Joseph  of   West 
Haven,  m.  Lydia  Porter,  d.  of  Eben 
Aug.  31,  1762. 

1.  Abel,  b.  Feb.  21,  1765. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  21,  1770. 

Abraham  Tolles  Beecher  of  Woodbridee 
m.  Mary  Anne  Lewis,  Oct.  19,  1831. 

ffranklin  K.,  b.  1832. 
Herbert  W.,  b.  Feb.  i,  1840.] 

Amelia  Beecher  m.  J.  C.  Fenton,  1851. 
Betsey  Beecher  m.  Ransom  Steele,  1821. 
[Daniel  Beecher,  s.  of  Daniel  of  Wood- 
bndge,  d.  m  Nau.,  April,  1848. 

X.  Sukey.  died  young. 

3.  Baldwin,  b.  1786. 

4.  Anna,  b.  1788;  m.  Calvin  Thayer 

5.  Fanny;  m.  Ezra  Porter. 

6.  Susan;  m.  Milo  Lewis. 

Daniel  m.  his  second  wife,  Electa  Beebe, 
a.  of  David,  about  1792. 

'■  ""'&?:  d'olA'moV.'^'  ™-  """"'  '^'3.  Susan 

8.  Abiah;  m.  Sam.  Hoadley. 

9.  Julius. 

2 


John  ] 
cott, 

Justus 

Inl 
In' 

Lewis 
Care 

Melita 

Nancy 
1842 

Polly  ] 
Polly  ] 

Polly, 

Neal 

Sally  ] 

Sarah 

Sophia 
Mrs.  1 

Sai: 

Benjac 

Bet 
Joe 

Mary  j 

Amos 

Pierj 

Eunice 
Smith 

1834. 


18  AP 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 


Bellamy. 


Benham. 


James  Bellamy,  s.  of  Matthew  of  Wal., 
m.  Mary  Osborn,  d.  of  Ephraim  of 
Wood.,  July  lo,  1740. 

Lucy  Bellamy  m.  Abijah  Gamsey,  1772. 

Aaron  Benedict  [s.  of  Daniel],  and  Esther 
Trowbridge  [b.  Nov.  1748 J,  m.  Dec.  13, 
1769.     [He  d.  Dec.  16,  1841,  a.  96.] 

1.  Rebekah,  b.  Aug.  31,  1772;  m.  Eli  Clark. 

2.  Daniel,  b.  Jan.  17,  1774;  d.  Nov.  5,  1781. 

3.  Polly,  b.  Apr.  24,  1777. 

4.  Amos,  b.  July  6,  1780. 

5.  "Sarah  or  Sally,"  b.  Aug.  22,  1782. 

6.  Aaron,  b.  Aug.  9,  1785. 

7.  A  son,  b.  Mch.  10;  d.  Apr.  25,  1788. 

8.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  zi,  1789. 

Aaron  Benedict,  s.  of  Aaron  of  Middle- 
bury  m.  Charlotte  Porter,  b.  Oct.  29, 
1789.  d.  of  Abel,  Sept.  — ,  1808. 

1.  Charlotte  Ann,  b.  Mch.  27,  i8zo;  m.  S.  M.  Buck- 

ingham. 

2.  Frances  Jennet,  b.  Nov.  22, 1812;  d.  Feb.  18, 1830. 

3.  George  W.,  b.  Nov.  26,  1814. 

4.  Charles,  b.  Sept.  23,  18 17. 

5    Mary  Lyman,  b.  Sept.  24,  1819;  m.  John  S.  Mit- 
chell. 

ApoUos  Benedict  of  Danbury  m.  Amanda 
Sanford,  Oct.  18,  1820. 

Charles  Benedict,  s.  of  Aaron,  m.  Cor- 
nelia M.  Johnson,  d.  of  John  D.,  Oct. 
I,  1845. 

I.  Amelia  Caroline,  b.  Apr.  4,  1847. 

[2.  Charlotte  Buckingham,  b.  June  x,  1850.] 

Elizabeth  Benedict  m.  Sam.  Stow,  1780.' 

George  W.  Benedict,  s.  of  Aaron,  m. 
Caroline  R.  Steele,  d.  of  Austin,  Feb. 
7,  1838. 

1.  Mary  Caroline,  b.  July  29,  1839. 

2.  Frances  Jennet,  b.  Jan.  2,  1S42. 

3.  George  Henry,  b.  May  18,  1844. 
[4.  Aaron  Austin,  b.  Oct  5,  1849.J 

John  Benedict  m.  Jane  A.  Yelverton  of 
Oxford,  Oct.  20,  1850. 

Abigail  Benham  m.  Timothy  Frost,  1764. 

Adelia  Benham  m.  George  Grilley,  1834. 

Benjamin  Benham,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Sarah 
Hall,  d.  of  John— all  of  Wallingford^ 
Apr.  19,  1756. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  6,  1757. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  23,  1760. 

3.  Elizabeth  Roycc,  b.  Nov.  27,  1763. 

4.  Abi,  b.  May  25,  1769. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  July  21,  1773. 

Benjamin  Benham,  Jr.  s.  of  Benj.,  m. 
Rebekah  Tuttle,  d,  of  Reuben  of  North 
Haven,  Nov.  9,  1790. 


1.  Lovisa,  b.  Aug.  23,  1791. 

2.  Enos    1 

and     >-b.  Jan.  15,  1793. 

3.  Jarvis  ) 


Benham.  Benham. 

Charlotte  Benham  m.    Shelton    Smith, 

1837. 
Daniel  Benham  and  Clarissa:' 

Norman,  bap.  May  27,  1821. 
Marda  Ann,  bap.  May  z8,  1823. 

Ebenezer  Benham  and  Desire: 

1.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  15,  1757. 

a.  Martha,  b.  Aug.  24,  1758. 

3.  Isaac,  b.  Oct.  21,  1760. 

4.  Ester,  b.  Sept.  23,  176a. 

5.  Anar  (dau.),  b.  July  xx,  1764. 

6.  Ebenezer,  b.  July  2x,  X766. 

Edwin  Benham  of  Nau.  m.  Patty  Ann 
Hotchkiss  of  Bethany,  May  12,  1844. 

Hannah  Benham  m.  Henry  Cook,  1745. 

Isaac  Benham  and  Lucy  [Cook].     She 
d.  Feb.  17,  1796.  , 

z.  Catherine,  b.  July  ao,  1761;  d.  Jan.  15,  1764. 
a.  Katharine,  b.  Oct.  za,  1765;  d.  Apr.  6,  1770. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  July  xz,  X769  [m.  Betsey  Tuttle  and 

d.  Jan.  33,  x8ax.] 

4.  George  Wyllys,  b.  June  a3,  d.  Aug.  a,  177X. 

James  Benham  and  Elizabeth: 


X.  Jesse,  b.  Apr.  Z4,  X768. 
a.  James,  b.  Dec  [X769I . 


Burr  Benham,  s.  of  Elihu,  m    Jane  S. 
Beebe,  d.  of  Augustus,  Mch.  i,  1829. 


_.  . c  1x769] . 

3.  Samuel  Curtis,  b.  July  19,  Z77a. 
Shadrack,  bap.  Sept.  Z7,  Z775.' 

Joseph  P.  Benham  from  Middlebury  m. 
Martha  Langdon  from  Sheffield,  Eng^., 
June  28,  1845. 

X.  John,  b.  Jan.  a,  Z847. 

Joseph  R.  Benham  m.  Hannah  Bodine 
of  New  Jersey,  May  28,  1834.  He  d- 
Mch.  18,  1838,  a.  35.' 

Lydia  Benham  m.  Abel  Bronson,  1768. 

Maria  Benham  m.  Stephen  Bateman,i826. 

Mehitable  Benham  m.  Zebah  Parrel,  1 796. 
Reuben  Benham' s 

Reuben,  bap.  at  St.  James  Ch.  Dec.  x,  Z766. 

Reuben  Benham  m.  Lamont  Merriman, 
Oct.  II,  1775. 

'*  ^a"nd*"  \^'  ^^^'  7»  '77^;  and  bap.  at  St.  James 
a.  Clarissa)     ^**- 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  9,  Z778. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Mch.  ao,  Z78Z. 

Samuel  Benham,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Han- 
nah Johnson,  d.  of  Jesse,  Nov.  20, 1799. 

X.  Fredus  Mindret,  b.  July  9,  x8ox. 
a.  Thomas  Miles,  b.  Mch.  4,  1803. 

3.  Polly,  b.  Jan.  Z7,  Z805. 

4.  Susan  Maria,  b.  Jan.  3Z,  Z807. 

Sarah  Benham  m.  A.  H.  Davis,  1850. 

Shadrack  Benham,  s.  of  Joseph,  dec'd, 
m.  Eliz.  Austin,  d.  of  Joshua,  aU  of 
Walling^ord,  Dec.  4,  1758. 

x.  Marcy,  b.  Apr.  9,  X76Z. 
a.  Leucv,  b.  June  za,  Z763. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  az,  Z765;  m.  Asa  Beach. 

4.  Mary  Curtis,  b.  Aug.  37,  X767. 

5.  Catharine,  b.  Feb.  X7, 1770;  m.  Wm.  Rowley,  Jr. 

6.  Lowly,  b.  Jan.  aa,  X773. 

7.  Harvy,  b.  Oct.  84,  1776. 


8.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  6,  Z783. 
6.  Marcy,  b.  July  a6,  X785. 


FAMILY  REQOi 


Benham.  Bissell. 

Thomas  Benham  and  Hester: 

5.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  19,  1786. 

Widow  Benham  d.  1831,  a.  84.* 

Mary  Benet  m.  Benj.  Stillwell,  1754. 

Catharine  Benton  m.  Th.  Homer,  1832. 

George  Benton  m.  Jane  Brown— both  of 
Hartford — May  6,  1850. 

Norman  A.  Bidwell,  b.  Oct.  4,  1798,  s.  of 
Jared  of  Watertown,  m.  Rebecca  Steele, 
d.  of  Daniel,  Dec.  24,  1822. 

I.  George  Austin,  b.  Nov.  96,  1825. 
a.  Frederic  Sherman,  b.  July  a6,  1829. 
3.  Mary  Jane,  b.  July  4,  1832. 

John  W.  Bigelow,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m. 
Electa  Judd,  d.  of  Walter,  Jan.  31, 1825. 

Egbert  F.  Bill  of  Monterey,  Mass.  m. 
Angelina  L.  Frost,  Oct.  11,  1847. 

Louisa  Bill  m.  Lamed  Wilkinson,  1807. 

Mary  M.  Bill  m.  Lamed  Wilkinson,  1836. 

Jane  Binyon  m.  John  Hodson. 

Edwin  M.  Birge  of  Coventry,  N.  Y.,  m. 
Myretta  Porter  [d.  of  Truman],  May  6, 

1833. 
Elijah  Birge  m.  Abigail  P.  Peck,  Sept. 

28,  1783  » 

Elijah,  b.  April  14,  1785. 
Fanny,  b.  Feb.  1787. 
Horace,  b.  Jan.  31,  1789. 

Augusta  Briscoe  m.  Luke  Pond,  1838. 
Betsey  Biscoe  m.  Tim.  Ball,  1846. 
Frances  A.  Biscoe  m.  Wm.  Wattles,  1840. 
[Betsey  Bishop  m.  David  Hay  den,  1797.] 

Catharine  Bishop  m.  Leverett  Stoddard, 

1840. 
David  T.  Bishop  of  North  Haven,  m. 

Caroline  Ives  [d.  of  Giles].  Sept.  8, 1825. 

Samuel  Bishop  d.  Nov.  12,  1847,  a.  45.' 
Susanna  Bishop  m.  David  Norton,  1767. 
Ephraim  Bissel  and  Abigail  [Curtis?  from 
Tolland]: 

a.  Thomas,  b.  Nov.  13,  1739. 

Ephraim  Bissell  [b.  1736],  s.  of  Eph., 
dec'd,  m.  Susanna  Warner,  d.  of  Sam.. 
Nov.  5,  1756.  He  d.  Sept.  17,  1760,  and 
Susanna  m.  Abiel  Roberts,  1771. 

I.  Eunice,  b  Oct.  26,  1757;  m.  R.  Webb. 
a.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  8,  1759. 

Garry  Bissell,  s.  of  Hiram,  m.  Sarah 
Maria  Hull,  d.  of  Elias,  in  Litchfield, 
June  20,  1831. 

1.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Nov.  34,  1833;  d.  Mch.  21,  1834. 
a.  Mary  Eliza,  b.  Jan.  29,  1835;  d.  June  12,  1837. 

3.  Lucy  Maria,  b.  Oct.  26,  1836. 

4.  Augusta  Louiza,  b.  Sept.  21,  1838;  d.  Oct.  4, 1839. 

5.  Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  Oct.  29,  1840.    (These  b.  in 

Litchfield.) 

6.  Hiram  Elias,  b.  Tulv  15,  1843. 

7.  Charles  Henry,  b.  Apr.  95, 1846. 


Blac] 

Char 

fon 

Irena 

Samu 

Ne^ 
of  I 

Sarat 

185] 

Esthc 
Josep 

4.  Fi 

Seth 

176c 

ci 

A 

Abner 

full 

1.  s 
a.  J' 

4.  C 

5.  M 

6.  Z 

7.  A 

8.  B 

9.  T 

Tha 
m.  V 

10.  St 

XI.    Ji 

Adna  \ 

11,  I 

Amasf 
Barl 
d.  Ji 

I.  Mi 

a.  Lyi 

3.  En 

An 

Amos 

Amos ! 

m.  Ji 

Angeli 

1839. 

Asher 

New 
Hum 
Oct. 

1.  Sab 

2.  Sail 

3.  Am 

4.  Gac 

5.  Ash 

Bela  B 

1785.= 

Lini 
Ami 

Betty  ] 


EI8T0RT  OF  WATBRBVBT. 


Blacksleb.  Blakslbb. 

David  Blackalee,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas,  m. 

Phebe  Todd,  d.  of  Calebof  New  Haven, 

Nov.  39,  1743. 

1.  Thomu,  b.  Sept.  17,  1744- 

Phebe  d.  Oct,  4,   1744,  and  David  m. 

Abigail  How,  d.  of  John,  May  18, 175a. 

[Hed.  1781;  she,  1799.] 

I.  Eli,  b.  Mch.  11, 17s]. 
3-  Alt,  b.  May  13,  .jsS. 

4.  Phtbe,  b.  Jane  14,  '758. 

5.  Zit,  b.  Oct.  ji,  1760;  d.  Anj.  ji,  1771. 
L  Bede,  b.  Nov.  9,  1763. 

7.  AdnjL  b.  Jm.  31.  176s  [d.  Ang,  30,  i8m). 

Deborah  Blackslee  m,  John  Alcos. 
Dennis  Blalceslee  m.  Susan  E.  Cowel, 
Sept.  II.  1848. 


[Ebenezer    removed    to    New    Haven 
where  were  bom   to    him,   1734-1753, 
Lydia,   Jotham,   Seth,    Ebenezer,    Je- 
mima,  Isaiah  and  Ichabod.] 
Ebenezer  Blakeslee  and  Martha: 

7.  Lydu.  b.  Stpt.  6,  1781. 


Blakeslbe.  Blakslbb. 

John  Blakeslee,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Olive 

Curtiss,  d.  of  Samuel,  Mcb.  4,  1745. 

..  John.  b.  Mch.  J,  ,j,s-6. 

S.  Obcd,  b.  AuE.  99,  i7st. 

«.  OUve,  b.  Mcb.  39,  17^3  [m.  ElDaOuu  Ual. 

J.  LetlU,  b.  Apr.  I,  ijAo;  i.  June  ji.  1761. 

B.  LcRii,  b.  Miy  37,  176]  (in.  In  P(huI|. 

9.    Turd,  h.  July!,  I7«s. 

to.  Sallo.  b.  Aug.  30,  i7«S  [a.  Stephen  Scymoiir]. 
It.  CuitK  h.  fib.  .6, 1J70. 

Jotham  Blakeslee,  s.  of  Jottaam  of  North 
Haven,  m.  Bede  Gunn,  d.  of  Nathaniel. 
June  7,  1792. 


Eli  Blakeslee  m.  Lettice  Curtis.  Oct.  31. 

■773- 

..  Pme,  b.  JuM  .s-  '775. 

I.  Orph*.  h.  Nov.  3,  1776. 
Emily  A.  Blakeslee  m.  Edward  Nichols, 

1850. 
Enos  Blakeslee  d.  Feb.  10,  iSij,  a.  S4-* 
Esther  Blakslee,  d.  of  Thomas,  ha.*!  ason, 

i™,  b.  D«.  8,  .7fi5. 
Esther  Blakeslee  m.   Philip  Tompkins, 

1787-* 
Jacob  Blackalee  [m.  Elisabeth  Barnes. 

1.  Abntr.b.Msy  15,1731. 

I.  Aniie.li.  Oct.  6.  1733;  m.  AmmBronion. 

3.  Cad.  h.  Dec.  11,  .735;  d  Hay  /,  iiSj, 

4,  Aiher,  b.  May  13.  i73a~->ll  boni  in  M<»  HaveD.] 


J.  Loiie,  b.  June  3,  •7'>5- 

Jude  Blakeslee,  s.  of  Abraham,  dec'd.  of 
New  Haven,  m.  Experience  Blakslee, 
d.  of  Thomas,  Nov.  13,  1758. 

I.  Abl.  h.  Apr.  ^B.  1759  [>n-  Jese  HumiBoo,  and 

d.  May  9.  .8,7]. 
a.  Polley.  fa.  Jan.  s,  1761. 
3.  Bela,  b.  Sept.  n,  i7«9  (d.  July,  i8ij]. 


Micah,  b.  Sept.  11,  17M. 
Either,  b.  Oct.  15.  lyM. 

Levi,  b.  June  !,  1J74;  d.  Apr.  6,  17 
Bertha,  b.  Mch.  16.  177;. 


6.  Either. 


Laura  Blakeslee  m.  Philo  Bronson,  1S31. 
Lydia  Blakslee  m.  Amos  Prichard,  1768. 
Lydia  Blaksley   m.  Sol.  Allin,  1773. 
Maria  Blaksley  m.  Pinton  Delany.  1S49. 
Mary  Blackslee  m,  Benj.  Upson,  1743. 
Micah  Blakeslee    m.    Rhoda  Hopkias, 

Dec.  17,  1789.* 
Moses  Btackstee,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Mehit- 

able  AUyn,  d.  of  Gideon,  Nov.  17. 1746. 

..  H«ekiah,  h,  Jan.  J7.  174J-S. 

i.  Keiiah,  b,  Sept.  ao,  1749;  d.  Feb.,  1755. 

3.  Anio.,  t.  Jan.  10,  m,;  I  July.  .jsj. 

4.  Maiy.b,  Feb.  10,1754. 

5.  Keztah.  b.  Mcb.  >t.  1736. 


Z^rt'-F 


"■  ''*^d  F  b 


Tacobd.  Mch.  25.1767.  Hannah  Blacks- 
lee,  the  mother  of  Jacob,  dyed  in  Water- 
bur>-,  at  said  Blackslee's  house,  July  23, 
1749,  in  the  90th  year  of  her  age. 
James  Blakslee  [b.  Apr.  27,  1699],  s.  of 
Sam.  [and  Sarah  Kimberly]  of  West 
Haven,  m.  Thankfull  Upson,  d.  of  Ser- 
freant  Stephen,  Sept.  15.  '724,  and  d. 
June  12,  1734,  a.  87.  (?) 

1.  Rube,,  b.  Jan.  .B,  .7^5-6. 
a.  Tilly,  h.  June  10.  1718. 

3.  Mehilablc,  h.  Aug.  ii,  i?}!. 

4.  Jamea,  b.  Fab.  j,  ijji-*' 


b.  July  1. 

Moses  Blakslee,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Han- 
nah Dunbar,  d.  of of  Wallingford, 

SepL  24,  1753. 

9.  Cateb,  b.  Oct.  i>,  1756;  d,  Apr.,  1757. 
3.  A  dan.,  b.  Apr.  1.  1758. 

Nana  Blakley  of  New  Haven  m.  Mary 

Dudley,  June  16,  1829. 
Noah  Blakeslee  m.   wid.   Annis  Curtis, 

Mch.  21,  1771. 

Patience  Blakslee  m.  Jesse  Alcoz,  1763. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP21 


Blakslbe.  Blakslee. 

Phebe  Blakslee  m.  Eben.  Cook,  1744. 

Phebe  Blakeslee  m.  Dan.  Harrison,  1774. 

Phebe  Blakeslee  m.  Jesse  Fenn,  1782.' 

Ruben  Blackslee,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas, 
m.  Mary  Ford,  d.  of  Barnabas,  Sept. 
19,  1748. 

z.  Ruthf  b.  Feb.  4,  1748-9. 

2.  Submit,  b.  Feb.  24,  1750-1. 

3.  Silas,  b.  Nov.  30,  1752. 

4.  Enos,  b.  May  11,  1755. 

5.  Lois,  b.  Oct.  -xOy  1757. 

6.  Eunice,  b.  Feb.  14,  1760. 

Reuben  Blaksle  [s.  of  James]  and  Rhodah 
[Griswold.     He  d.  Jan.  4,  1813.] 

1.  Reubin,  b.  June  7,  1763. 

2.  Mehitabell,  b.  June  29,  1765;  m.  Seldon  Scovill. 

3.  Louisuanna,  b.  Jan.  36,  1768;  m.  Rich.  Nichols. 

4.  Rhoda.  b.  Jan.  xi,  1771. 

5.  Samuel],  b.  July  8,  1773. 

6.  James,  b.  May  6,  1775. 

7.  Griswold,  b.  Apr.  22,  1777. 

Salmon  Blakeslee  m.  Asenath  Blakeslee, 
Oct.  ii,  1787.* 

z.  Chloe,  b.  May  z8,  1789. 

Samuel  Blakeslee:^ 

Jacob,  b.  Mch.  17,  1780. 

Betsey,  b.  Nov.  2,  1782. 

Jesse,  o.  Jan.  22,  X785;  d.  Mch.  22,  1789. 

Austin,  b.  Oct.  22,  1787. 

Olive,  b.  May  z,  1789. 

Sarah  Blakeslee  m.  James  Smith,  1789.* 

Stephen  Blakslee,  s.  of  Abraham  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Lida  Blakslee,  d.  of  Capt. 
Thomas,  Jan.  11,  1758. 

X.  Levi,  b.  Dec.  6,  1758. 

Lydiad.  Aug.  23,  1766,  and  Stephen  m. 
Rachel  Allin,  Nov.  25,  1766.  He  d. 
Mch.  20,  1768. 

Susanna  Blakslee  m.  B.   H.  Doolittle, 

1785. 

Wid.  Temperance  Blakeslee  m.  Eliakim 
Potter,  1777.' 

Cynthia  Blakeslee,  b.  Feb.  X7,  1775. 

Thomas  Blakslee  [s.  of  Ebenezer  of 
North  Haven]  and  Mary: 

[i.  David,  b.  Nov.  7,  Z722. 

2.  Reuben,  b.  Mch.  19,  Z724-5. 

3.  ^foses,  b.  June  30,  1727. 

4.  Mary^  b.  Sept.  7,  1729;  d.  Dec.  2,  1750. 

5.  Submit,  b.   X732;  d.  June  Z7,  Z750 — all  bom  in 

New  Haven.] 

6.  Experience,  b.  Jan.  3, 1734-5J  m.  Jude  Blakeslee. 

7.  Lydea,  b.  July  6,  1737;  m.  Stephen  Blakeslee. 

8.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  6,  1739. 

9.  Abigail,  b.  Dec.  22,  1741;  m.  Jacob  Potter. 

Thomas  Blakslee,  Jr.,  s.  of  David,  m. 
Lydia  Bradley,  Aug.  14,  1764. 

1.  Asenath,  b.  Mch.  8,  1765. 

2.  Bethiah,  b.  Mch.  30,  Z767;  m.  Eli  Barnes. 

3.  Cloe,  b.  Feb.  Z3,  X769. 

4.  Mabel,  b.  Mch.  30,  Z77Z. 


Blakslee.  Boughton. 

Tille  Blakslee,  s.  of  James,  m.  Hannah 
AUyn,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  dec'd,  of  New 
Haven,  Apr.  24,  1751. 

z.  Archibald,  b.  Aug.  Z4,  Z752. 
2.  Thankfull,  b.  Sept.  Z7,  Z755. 

Diantha  Bliss  m.  David  Thompson,  1828. 

Lucinda  Boak  m.  Bur.  Chatfield,  1832. 

Henry  Book  (Boaks)  m.  Hannah  Wil- 
liams, d.  of  Thomas  of  Watertown, 
Aug.  18,  1789. 

Henry  Boax  of  Sheffield  m.  Maria  Leo- 
nard, Oct.  24,  1836. 

Sarah  Boardman  m.  James  Williams, 
1776. 

Theodore  Bocemsdes  m.  Emerit  Adams, 
July  20,  1835. 

Thomas  Bokamds  m.  Bridget  Kelly, 
Mch.  14,  1851.* 

Hannah  Bodine  m.  J.  R.  Benham,  1834. 
Bethollomi  Bolt  [and  Lois  Porter]. 

Timothy,  bap.  Jan.  29,  Z769.S 

Levi  Bolster  from  Bangor,  Me.,  m.Mercia 
Warner,  d.  of  Ard.,  May  5,  1836. 

z.  Elwin  Horatio,  b.  Nov.  8,  Z836. 

2.  Edwin  Levi,  b.  Aug.  20,  1838. 

3.  Juliette,  b.  Aug.  2,  1840. 

4.  Horatio  Abram,  b.  Jan.  27,  Z843. 

5.  Jane  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  2z,  Z845. 

William  C.  Boon,  b.  at  Norwich,  Aug.  8, 
1807,  m.  May  18,  1829,  Lovisa  Hanks, 
b.  at  Mansfield,  Jan.  6,  1806. 

z.  Julia  M.,  b.  at  Windham,  June  28,  1830. 

2.  Harriet  E.,  b.  at  Windham,  Apr.  34,  1832. 

3.  Dewitt  H.,  b.  at  Windham,  June  Z3,  Z834. 

4.  Allen  Foster,        ) 

and  >b.  at  Meriden,  Nov.  z,  Z838. 

5.  Edward  Payson, ) 

John  C.  Booth,  s.  of  Philo  of  Newtown, 
m.  Eunice  Tucker  of  Ox.,  Feb.  19, 1840. 

z.  Sarah  Henrietta,  b.  Apr.  22,  Z846. 

Julia  Booth  m.  E.  D.  Houghton,  1836. 

Abigail  Bostwick  m.  Jas.  Wright,  1781."* 

Andrew  Bostick  m.  Abigail  Wei  ton,  d. 
of  Peter,  Mch.  8,  1775. 

z.  Isaac,  b.  Mch.  6,  Z776. 
2.  Andrew,  b.  Oct.  22,  1778. 

Eliza  J.  Botsford  m.  J.  S.  Isbell,  1837. 

Henry  C.  Botsford  of  Whitneyville  m. 
Caroline  Warner,  Aug.  17,  1851. 

Clarissa  Bouton  m.  Hershel  Stevens,  182 1. 

Cynthia  Boughton  m.  S.  S.  Hartshorn, 
1836. 

Isaac  Boughton,  s.  of  Jonas,  m.  Caroline 
Upson,  d.  of  Obad.,  May  15,  1833. 

z.  George  Arnold,  b.  Nov.  7,  1835. 

2.  Susan  Maria,  b.  Mch.  23,  Z837. 

3.  Henrv  Isaac,  b.  Apr.  iz,  Z84Z. 

4.  Isabel,  b.  May  7,  Z843. 

5.  Elizabeth  C,  b.  Feb.  27,  Z846. 


HIBTOBT  OF  WATERBURT. 


BOUGHTOH. 

James  Bough  ton 

as,  i8ji. 
/unes  Bouebton, 

Naugatuc,    ra, 
Bradley,  b.   in  ib: 
Wolcott,  and  d.  Ji 


JoDftB  Bouebton  from  Norwalk.  b.  Oct. 
7.  1779.  and  Lydia  Hine  from  North 
Milford,  b.  Nov.,  1778,  were  m,  Apr, 


Bradlev. 
a.  Alvira  Bunnell,  Aug. 


:S,  d.   of   Heman   of 


I.  Clurlcg.  b.  Sept. 


::rFt 


'.  H.  C 


b.  A^  I,  1806. 
5.  l«Mc,  b.  July  ij,  .808. 
i.  Subh,  b/F«t.  ,1,  .8... 

y.  Smith  M.,'b.  iuM"!^  I'sto;  d.  Apr.  i,  if 
10.  Btuey  J«ne,l).  Jone  .i,  iBij;  d.  July  i. 

Lanra  Bouton  m.  Lewis  Stcblnns,  i 
Lettice  Bouden  (7) : 

Lemuel,  bap.  Apr.  J 


Martin   BouEhton   m.   Rosanah    Curtis. 


Oct.  1 


Otive  Bonton  m.  L.  M.  Judd,  i8z6. 
Silas  Bouton  m,  Julia  A.  Hotchkiss — all 

of  Salem — Oct.  12,  1823, 
John  Bonrk  m.   Mary  Cannon — both  of 

Humphreysville— Feb.  2,  1S51. 
James  Bowe  m.  Mary  Kelly,  July  4,  xSji, 
"Daniel  Boice  and  Mary  Heath,  m.   in 

England. 


J" 


I.  in  Nov 


No  record  and  a  poor  memory  by  the 

mother."* 

Daniel  d.  Nov.  12,  1847,  a.  69.' 
Mrs.  Thomas  Boyce  d.  Mch.  7,  1843.  a. 

24.' 
Thomas  "Boys"  m.  Susanna  Fairclough, 

Feb.  iS,  1S44. 
David  Boyden  from  Mass.,  b.   Feb.   14, 

171)1,   m.   Lucy  Ann  Scott,  d.  of  Joel, 

May  -    -"- 


I.   AIOOK 


>.  Mch 


ei  MuuL  b.  Ocl.  6,  18:3:  m.  F.  A.  Weliou. 
r,  b.  tidi.  ib.  1833. 

Electa  Brace  m.  Chas.  Hotchkiss,  1S33. 
Bracket,  see  Brocket. 
Alatheah  Bradley  m.  Abner  Scott,  1783. 
Anet  Bradley  m.  Anna  Guernsey,  d.  of 

Joseph,  May  12,  1778.' 

.,  M.r™»,  b.  Apr.  10,  .779. 

3:HuW;V^/i,yi%'7'4V 


Bradley.  BaocKET. 

Aner  Bradley,  Jr.  (grandson  of  above), 

m.  Harriet  M.  Pierpont,  Oct.  9,  184.8.+ 

Ebeoezer    Bradley,   Jr.,    m.    Mebitable 

Castle,  Aug.  12,  1765. 

..  J«ed.b.J.U.,7,,jM. 

Elizabeth  Bradley  m.  Gad  Smith.  176+. 
Frederick  Bradl^   of   New   Haven   m. 

[Lydia]  Maria  Bronson,  Sept.  19,  1830. 
Jane  Bradley  m.  A.  E.  Blakesley,  184;. 
John  E.  Bradley,  s.  of  Enos,  m.  Caroline 

Newton,  d.  of  NathL.dec'd,  Jan.  1,1824. 
John  L.  Bradley  m.  Harriet  Bunnell  of 


John  L.  Bradley  m.  Harriet  1 

Woodbridge.  Nov.  18,  1830. 


Lnania  Bradley  m.  L.  S.  Norton.  1S33.* 
Luther  Bradley,  b.  Aug.  14.  1811.  s.  of 

Stephen  of  Prospect,  m.  Nancy  Austin. 

d.of  Orrin.  Oct,  23,  1833. 

I.  M»rgitell  Augun*,  h,  Sept.  13,  .8j,. 
.,  Juli.  .Maria,  b.  July  ;6,  .Stj. 

Lydia  Bradley  m.   Th.   Blakeslee,   Jr., 

1764. 
Lym, 
Enos,  m.  Hannah  I 
of  Joseph.  Jan.  30,  1820. 

1.  Samuel  Eli.b.  Aug.  ^,  1833. 

3.    Frasklin  Elliot,  b.  June  16.  1S30-  d.  Oct.  i%,i&^o. 

Miriam  Bradley  m.  Abishai  Castle,  1760. 
Polly  R,  Bradley  ra.  C.  E.  Gaylord.  1831. 
Salty  Bradley,  d,  of  Heraan  of  Wolcott, 
b.  in  1825. 

t.  A  child  by  Robert  Andren,  Diune  Aba  Elin- 
Sally  m,  James  Bouton,  1842. 

1.  Joseph^  b,  Jan..  ,843. 

Sophia  Bradley  m.  H.  C.  Welton.  1833. 


Ann  Brewster  n 
Beri  S.  Bristol  i 

31.  1847. 


Dan.  Welton,  1755. 
.  Ellen  L,  Hull.  Aug. 


Esther  Bristol  m.  Russell  Beebe.  17SS.* 
Hiel  Bristol  ra.  Chastina  Potter  [d.   of 

Aaron],  Aug.  9,  1835. 
Miranda  Bristol  d,  Dec.  2S.  1809.  a.  39.* 


Alfred    Bracket   m.    Mrs.   Sally    Cande, 

Apr.  25.  1830. 
Ann  Brocket  ra.  Gideon  Hotchkiss,  1737. 


nude  on  the  margin  \>v  S.  B.  Minor. 

celebnutil  in  Ok  new  (EpiicspaU  church. 


FAMILY  EEQOm 


Brockbtt.  Bronson. 

Asahel  Brockett,  s.  of  Peter,  m.  Clarissa 
Goodrich  from  near  Hamden,  Mch., 
1842. 

X.  Augusta,  b.  June,  1843. 

2.  Frances,  b.  May,  1845. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.,  1847. 

Benjamin  Brocket,  b.  Nov.  22,  1763,  was 
m.  to  Rebeckah  Matthews,  b.  May  2, 
1765,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Beebe  of  Wood- 
bridge,  Aug.  9,  1791. 

Harriet  Brocket  m.  Sam.  Peck,  1822. 

Lydia  Bracket  m.  Smith  Miller,  1825. 

Mary  Bracket  m.  Isaac  Bronson,  1755. 

Peter  Brockett,  s.  of  Zenas,  m.  Oct.  6, 
1812,  Pamelia  Brown,  b.  Sept.  22,  1794, 
d.  of  Reuben. 

1.  Asahel,  b.  Aug.  i9,  1813. 

2.  Mary,  1 

and    >b.  Nov.  28,  1815. 

3.  Maria, ) 

4.  Sallv,  b.  Oct.  28,  1817. 

5.  Rachel,  b.  July  26,  1820;  d.  Feb.  5,  1838. 

6.  Reuben,  b.  Apr.  5,  1823;  d.  Aug.  9,  1825. 

7.  Jesse,  b.  Feb.  19,  1825. 

8.  Kansom,  b.  July  3,  1827;  d.  Mch.  15,  1831. 

9.  Amelia,  b.  Nov.  12,  1829. 

10.  James  Ransom,  b.  July  3,  1832. 

XI.  Lucretia,  b.  June  zi,  1837;  d.  June  28,  184 1. 

Polly  Brocket  m.  Samuel  Hill,  1807. 
Sarah  Brocket  m.  James  Bronson,  1750. 
Zenas  Brackits  [and  Abigail  Johnson]  : 

1.  Cloe,  b.  July  15,  1781. 

2.  Anna,  b.  June  3,  1783;  m.  Benj.  Farrel. 

3.  Peter,  b.  Sept.  17,  1784. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  Jan.  21;  d.  Sept.  16,  1787. 

5.  Abigail,  b.  July  i,  1788. 

6.  Rebecka,  b.  Apr.  30,  1790;  m.  Loveland  Judd, 

Z8Z2. 

7.  Rhoda,  b.  Sept.  34,  1792;  m.  Jesse  Wooster. 

8.  Zenas,  b.  Apr.  28;  d.  May  14,  1794. 

Abel  Bronson,  s.  of  Lieut.  Josiah,  m. 
Lydia  Benham,  Dec.  15,  1768. 

z.  Sarah,  b.  June  2,  1771. 

2.  Abel  Blakeslee,  b.  Oct.  i,  Z775. 

Lydia  d.  June  6,  1782,  and  Dr.  Abel  m. 
Esther  Itawkins,  Oct.  24,  1784.  He  d. 
Aug.  2,  1805;  she,  June,  1823. 

3.  A  son,  b.  Feb.  2;  d.  Feb.  3,  Z786. 

4.  Lvdia,  b.  Mch.  2z,  Z787. 

5.  Elvira,  b.  Aug.  25,  Z789. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  i,  Z79Z. 

7.  Joseph  Perrv,  b.  Sept.  25,  Z794. 

8.  Homer,  b.  Mch.  20,  Z796. 

Abigail  Bronson  m.  R.  S.  Seymour,  1828. 

Amanda  M.  Bronson  m.  Thomas  Towns- 
end,  1835. 

Amasa  Bronson  (or  Amzi),  s.  of  Ebenezer, 
m.  Sarah  Frost,  d.  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  Mch. 
31,  1789(8?). 

X.  Lucina,  b.  Dec.  21,  1789. 

t.  Billv  Au^sta,  b.  Nov.  Z4,  X79Z;  d.  Jan.  Z4,  Z794. 

).  Philamelia,  b.  Jan.  21,  1794. 


Bronso 

[Amfl 
Mch. 

[Capt.] 

Anna 
1751. 

z.  Liu 

2.  Phc 

3.  Tai 

4.  Zer 

5-  SiN 

6.  Till 

7.  No« 

8.  Noi 

9.  Ami 
zo.  Ant 
zz.  San 
12.  Silv. 

[Anna 
Sarah 
Sept., 

Amos  V 

s.  of 

1827, ". 

1804,  d 

z.  Mary 

[Deac] . 
m.  Mi 
Feb.  I 

z.  Amas 

2.  Esthc 

3.  Amaa 

4.  Mary 

5.  Than  : 

6.  Luce, 

7.  Samu  ! 

8.  Silve,  I 

[Mary 
Silvia  [ 

Anson  1 1 
Philer  : 
Timot  ] 

z.  Saral 
bul  . 

2.  Willi  I 

3.  Nels.  : 

4.  Mar] 

i8i 

Asa  Bi  I 

Mch.,  I 

1785. 
d.  Jul  i 

z.  And  : 

Mini  ' 

julti  I 
Mar; 

Hen  ' 
Sara 

z8.  , 

Free  I 


2. 

3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 


2. 

3- 


4.  Billy  Augustus,  b.  June  Z4,  Z796. 

5.  Samuel  Marshall,  b.  Jan.  2,  1800. 

6.  Julius  Gustavus,  b.  Dec.  2Z,  z8oz. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  22,  Z805. 


Asahel 

Esthc 
dec'd 
Esq. 

z.  Sail 

a.  Wii: 

of 


84  *p 


BISTORT  OF  WATBRSURT. 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

Aurelia  Bronsoo  m.  Ransom  Mix,  1819. 

Belinda  Bronson  m.  Sam.  Atkins,  1824. 

Benjamin  Brooson,  s.  of  John  [of  Isaac], 
m.  Lois  Richards,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd, 
Mch.   14,   1738.     He  d.   Nov.   16,    1745, 
and  Loism.  Silas  Hotcbktss.  1748. 
I.  Hanoah.  b.  No».  16;  d.  Nuv.  iS.  .738. 
I.  Rulh,  b,  Sepc.  30, 1730;  m.  Samuel  Scovill. 

3.  Cloe,  b.  D«,  .,  1711;  d,  Jan.  16,  ij4i-». 

4.  SiiBuel.  b,  D«.  10.  174>. 

5.  Benj«mio.  b.  May  8, 1746;  d.  Dte.  «,  1765. 


Robtrt  Hotchliisi,  Samuel  Cook,  and  Gushths 

Spencer,  bap.  Ftb.  II.  iSlD. 
Suiao,  bap.  Scpl,  16,  i8ia. 

Benjamin  and  Pamela: 

Nancy,  bap.  Feb.  11,1821. 
Bennet  Bronson,  s,  of  Stephen,  m.  Anna 
Smith,  d.  of  Richard  of  Koxbury,  May 


Beonson. 

David  Bronson,  _     ._     _.  ..„ 

Porter,  d.  of  Dr.  Daniel,  dec'd,  Mch. 

1772.     He  d.   July  13.   1799,  and  she. 

Nov.  16.  1814. 

I.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  10.  1774  [m.  Eiekiel  Stow]. 

3.  David, b.  Feb.].  177;  rm.EliubethEsteibiuk. 
and  d.  Mcb.  16,  i83i[. 

3.  Anna,  b.  Nov.  3,  1775  {a.  Zerah  Biown], 

Delight  Bronson  m.  A.  F.  Woodin,  1941. 

Ebenezer  Brunsen,  s.  of  Isaac.  Sen'.,  m. 
Mary  Hull,  d.  of  doctor  Benjamin  Hall 
of  Wallingford,   '     "  ... 


1716. 


BlONSON. 

of  Josiah,  m.  Anna 


1  November  the  7, 


Adatler 


™;'m.'j^.  Bait 
6,  1716;  i.  NnT.  1. 


n.  Wmum 


1.  Henrr,  b. Jan.  30.  iSoi. 

3.  lease,  t.  rib.  8,  i9o6;  d.  Apr.  14.  1831. 

4.  Thomas.b.  Jan.  4,  1808. 

;.  Elizabclh  Anna,  b.  Mch.  3,  1811;  d.  Apr.  6,  181;. 

J.  HB'!ri*l%liifia.  b.'stpl!  is"*?';;  m!  Zinah  Mui- 

Anna,  wife  of  Bennet,  d.  Mar.  4,  i9iy 
[about  sunset],  and  he  m.  his  second 
wife,  Elizabeth  Maltby,  d.  of  Benjamin 
of  Branford,  May  6,  iSzo. 
8.  Rebecca  Taialec,  b.  Feb.  id,  1813;  m.  D.  F. 
MaJtby. 

Elicabeth  d.  June  12,  1840  [on  Friday 
morning,  at  6.45  o'c,  and  Bennet  m. 
Nancy  Daggett,  d.  of  Jacob  of  New 
Haven,  May  87,  1841.  He  d.  Dec.  n, 
1850,  at  9  A.  M. :  she  d.  at  New  Haven, 
Aug.  14,  i867],» 

Betsey  D.  Bronson  m.  Gains  Hitchcock, 
■833. 

Charles  Bronson,  s.  of  Philenor,  m.  Falla 
Roberts  from  Bristol,  May  16,  1836, 

I,  Lncinda.  b.  Jul,      "      " 


Ebenezer     Bronson,    s,     of     Ebenem 

(above),    m.    Miriam     Nichols,    d.    of 
Richard.  Apr.  7.  1763,  and  d.  May  6, 
iSoS.     [She  d.  July  12,  1812,  a.  71.] 
1.  Jo«ph,  b.  Mcb.  1,  17(1, 

7.  "769;  d.  Nov.  14^  .7 

Uov.  14.  I7JI  [m.  Hep 
iBoD.  and  d,  iSiol. 

'.  b.  Feb.  91.  1774  [n>.  Fanor  M<m>ca|. 
-     '  ■■    •--     rj78. 


;n  Almi 


.  '83.). 


ry  W  hi  Ling. 

[Deac]  Daniel  Bronson,  s.  of  Thomas. 
dec'd,  m.  Esther  Bronson,  d.  of  Dcac. 
Andrew,  July  19,  1770.  He  d.  Nov.  2, 
1824.  and  she,  June  34,  1819, 


3.  Noa 


IJan 


Au,  b.  No 
in  the  Gnat  Brook]. 
4.  Leva,  b.  Apr.  lo,  177S:  d.  June  31,  1800. 
Belinda,  b.  May  31.  1780;  d.  July  >i.  17^8. 
J  Twins,  died  in  one  haul  alier  tnnh.  Nov.  9, 


K 


-  Apr.  a,.  'jSj^l-n^Wn,  Co^eji). 

.,  Aaa.T).  Sept.  8,  1788. 

.  Andrew,  b.  Dee.  14, 1791:  d.  Oct.  18. 1791. 


4,  Saiah-b  Dec.      

5.  Suia,  b.  May  7,  1769;  d.  Nov.  _,,  _.  __. 
'    " "   ■''-  -     I7JI  [m.Tiepsibah  Hi 


b.  Apr. 


[mlG^Smit* 


(All  IhcK,  cicept  Clarisu,  lived  over  So  yean.l 

Eli  Bronson,  s,  of  Isaac,  m.  Mebitablc 
Atwater,  d.  of  Capt.  Eneas  of  Walling- 
ford,  Mch.  4,  1773, 
■■  En«,.'> 


White 


t  Phitadel) 
.  b.  Nov.  i 


'tU' 


t-^.. 


S,  Philo,  b.  May  ij,  1781  (m.  Chli 
Elijah  Bronson,  s.  of  Lieut.  Josiab. 
Lois  Bunnell,  d.  of  Stephr"     '  ' 
lingford,  Mch.  lo,  1778. 


of  WaJ- 


1.  Giles,  b.  Feb.  13,  1760, 
[j.  Irene,  b.  Mav  38.  17B3. 
4.  Sabra,  b.  Met.  9.  1784. 
;.  Helata,  b.  Feb.  il,  irB6. 

6.  Silath.  Feb.  .5.  1788. 

7,  ElijSi,  h.  Jan.  1,  1794. 

9!  Pd^b.'D«!*3?i79?f 
Elizabeth  Bronson  m.  Sam.  Stanley,  17M. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP25 


Bronson.  Brunson. 

Elnathan  Bronson,  s.  of  Moses,  was  m. 
to  the  widow  Rachel  Hill  of  New  Fair- 
field, by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Lewis, 
Dec.  26,  1744. 

1.  Jesse,  b.  Sept.  it,  1745. 

2.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  22,  1747. 

3.  Terusha,  b.  Jan.  15,  1749-50. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Feb  29,  1751-2. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  3,  1753. 

Ellen  Bronson  m.  Chas.  Cowell,  1851. 

Emily  Bronson  m.  Divine  Piatt,  1830. 

Ethel  Bronson,  s.  of  Capt.  Isaac,  m. 
Hepsibah  Hopkins,  d.  of  Joseph,  Esq., 
Dec.  30,  1787  [and  d.  1825J. 

^'  >  Twins,  b.  and  d.  Sept.  11,  1790. 

3.  Alfred,  b.  Oct.  13,  1791:  d.  Apr.  6,  1792. 

4.  Erastus,  b.  Feb.  18,  1793. 

5.  Betsey,  b.  May  6,  1795. 

6.  Emma,  b.  Sept.  7,  1797. 

7.  Isaac,  b.  Aug.  19,  d.  Dec.  31,  1800. 

Ezra  Bronson,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m.  Su- 
sanna Judd,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd,  Sept. 
6,  1753.  [He  d.  Sept.  i,  1795;  and  she, 
Oct.  13.  1828.] 

1.  Michel,  b.  Mch,  25,  1754. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  26,  1757;  ra.  William  Leaven- 

worth. 

3  Mark,  b.  Aug.  4,  1762. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  Rich.  6,  1766  [m.  Stephen  Welton]. 

5.  Anna,  b.  Dec.  26,  1770;  m.  Joseph  Cook. 

6.  Meliscent,  b.  June  27,  1773  [m.  Wm.  Durand]. 

Harris  and  Hannah  Bronson : 

Charles  Hopkins,  bap.  Apr.  28,  1817.I 

Harry  Bronson.  s.  of  Joseph,  3d.  of  Pros- 
pect, m.  Charlotte  Osborn,  d  of  Daniel, 
2d,  of  Middlebury,  Dec.  15,  1839,  who 
d.  July  24.  1S48,  a.  34. 

1.  Henry  Westly,  b.  Oct.  6,  1841. 

2.  AUtce  Jennet,  b.  Mch.  25,  1846. 

Henry  Bronson  [s.  of  Rennet,  m  Sarah 
M.  Lathrop,  a.  of  Samuel,  June  3, 
1831]. 

I.  Samuel  Lathrop,  b.  Jan.  12,  1834. 

4  George,  b.  Sept.  27,  1836;  d.  Jan.  30,  1837. 

3.  Nathan  Smith,  b.  Nov.  20,  1837. 

Henry  Bronson  m.  Charlotte  Thompson, 
Sept.  2,  1849. 

Huldah  Bronson  m.  David  Welton,  1833. 

Isaac  Brunson,  Senior,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  [d.  of  John  Root]  His  children 
that  were  born  in  Waterbury: 

4.  Mary,  h.  Oct.  15.  1680;  m.  Thomas  Hikcox  and 

DcHC.  Sam.  Hull  of  Woodbury. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  ifiSj;  d.  May  10,  1707. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Jan.  16,  1685-6. 

7.  F^henezcr,  b,  Dec,  if)88. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  15,  1691;  ra.  Stephen  Upson. 

9.  Mercy,  b.  Sept.  29,  1694   [m.  Richard  Bronson]. 
[Isaac  was  b.  1670,  John,  1673,  and  Samuel,  1676, 

in  Farmington] 

3» 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

Isaac  Bronson  (2),  s.  of  Isaac,  Sen^  m. 
Mary  Morgan,  d.  of  Richard,  Sen',  of 
New  London,  June  3,  1701. 

1.  Terusha,  b.  Nov.  8,  1703  [ra.  Paul  Welch). 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Mch.  27,  1707. 

3.  Anpe,  b.  Aug.  28,  1709;  m.  Dan.  How. 

4.  Josiah,  b.  June,  1713. 

5.  Mary,  b.  May  29,  1716  [ra.  T.  Hine]. 

6.  Nathan,  b.  Mch.  29,  1719;  d.  Dec.  4,  1722. 

7.  Tames,  b.  Nov.  6,  1721  [d.  1725]. 

8.  Patience,  b.  Apr.  14, 1725;  m.  Stephen  Hopkins. 

9.  James,  b.  Oct.  22,  1227. 

Mary  d.  Sept.  23,  1749,  and  Isaac  m. 
Sarah,  wid.  of  Deac.  Joseph  Lewis, 
May  14,  1750.  He  d.  June  13,  1751,  a. 
81.  (Her  death  is  recorded  with  that 
of  her  first  husband.) 

Isaac  Bronson  (3),  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Eunice 
Richards,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd,  July  3, 
1734. 

1.  Ix>ise,  b.  Jan.  26,  1734*5;  m.  Isaac  Prichard. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Oct.  2,  1736. 

3.  Hannah,  d.  Jan.  31,  1738-0;  m.  Timothy  Clark. 

4.  Lydea,  b.  June  29,  1741;  d.  Sept.  10,  1749. 

5.  Eli,  b.  June  30,  1743. 

6.  Patience,  b.  De^.  12,  1746;  d.  Aug.  17,  1749. 

7.  Seth,  b.  Dec.  7,  1748. 

Eunice  d.  Sept.  6,  1749,  and  Isaac  m. 
Abigail  [Brocket],  wid.  of  Caleb  Mun- 
son  of  Wallingford,  Nov.  22,  1750.  [He 
d.  Dec.  7,  1799.  a.  93.] 

8.  Titus,  b.  Oct.  5,  175 1. 

9.  Abigail,  b.  Aug.  12,  1753. 

Isaac  Bronson  (4),  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Mary 
Bracket,  d.  of  josiah  of  Wallingford, 
Feb.  13.  1755.  He  died  Apr.  15,  1826, 
a.  90;  she  d.  Aug.  i,  1816,  a.  76. 

1.  Eunice,  b.  Dec.  4,  1755  [H.  1775!. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  15,  1757. 

3.  Isaac,  b.  Mch.  10,  1760  [m.  Anna  Olcott,  and  d. 

at  Greenfield  Hill,  May  zo,  1838). 

4.  Laban,  b.  Feb.  15,  1762;  d.  Nov.  28,  1801. 

5.  Ethel,  b.  July  22,  1765. 

6.  Chancey,  b.  the  last  day  of  1767;  d.  May  16, 

1768. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  May  i,  1769;  m.  Eli  Hine. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  21,  1775. 

9.  Virtue,  b.  Mch.  92,  1778  [m.  Nancy  Carringtonj. 

J  air  us  Bronson,  s.  of  Titus,  m.  Irena 
Mallory,  d.  of  David  of  Woodbury, 
Jan.  II,  1804. 

I.  Charles,  b.  July  5,  1804. 

James  Bronson,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Sarah 
Bracket,  d.  of  Josiah  of  Wallingford, 
Aug.  22,  1750. 

z.  Roswel.  b.  Sept.  9,  1751. 

a.  Sarah,  b.  Tan.  5.  Z754;  m.  John  Adams. 

3.  Levy,  b.  June  Z2,  17^7  [m.  Matte  Slaughter]. 

4.  Asael,  b.  Nov.  28,  1759. 

5.  Thankful,  b.  Mch.  5,  Z762;  m.  Amos  Hinman. 

6.  Jese,  b.  July  z,  1763. 

Jennet  Bronson  ra.  Nelson  Cowell,  1836. 
Jerusha  Bronson  m.  Wm.  Hickox,  1830. 


26  AP 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

Jesse  Bronson,  s.  of  James,  m.  Esther 
Osborn,  d.  of  Nathan  of  Woodbury, 
Sept.  30,  1784. 

1.  Benoni,  b.  Mch.  i,  1786. 

2.  Marshal,  b.  Nov.  2a,  1787. 

3.  Alviny,  b.  Aujf.  30,  1789. 

4.  Leman,  b.  Jan.  15,  1792. 

John  Bronson,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Mary 
Hikcox,  d.  of  Samuel  and  Hanna,  in 
Waterbury,  Nov.  9,  1697. 

I.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  9,  1698;  m.  Samuel  Porter  and 

John  Barnes, 
a.  John,  b.  Apr.  23,  1701. 

3.  Hanna,  b.  Oct.  31,  1704  [m.  Nathan  GaylordJ. 

4.  Jemima,  b.  Aug.  27,  1706;  m.  Stephen  Hopkins. 

5. 
6. 


^.  jemima,  d.  Aug,  27,  1700; 
}.  Joseph,  b.  July  15,  1709. 
3.  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  2,  171 1. 


Mary  d.  Mch.  21,  1713,  and  John  m. 
Hannah  Richards,  wid.  of  Thomas, 
dec'd.  sometime  in  June,  1727.  [He  d. 
Jan.,  1746-7],  and  Hannah  m.  Ebenezer 
Richason,  1749. 

7.  Tamer,  b.  Mch.  14,  1730;  m.  Jos.  Nichols. 

8.  Ezra,  b.  Apr.  24,  1732. 

9.  Phebe,  b.  Mch.  23,  1734;  m.  Nathaniel  Richa- 

son.- 

John  Brounson,  Jr.,  s.  of  John,  m.  Com- 
fort Balding,  d.  of  William  of  Strat- 
ford, Mch.  28,  1728. 

1.  Rhode,  b.  Mch.  30,  1729;  m.  Joshua  Graves. 

2.  Amoz,  b.  Feb.  ^,  1 730-1. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Men.  6,  1734,  m.  David  Foot. 

4.  Thankful,  b.  Sept.  6,  1736  [m.  Mose^  Foot]. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  25,  1738-9  [m.  Aaron  Foot,  1760, 

and  d.  Feb.  10,  1824]. 

6.  John,  b.  Dec.  22,  1742. 

7.  Cloe,  b.  Dec.  29,  1745  [m.  Col.  Barker  of  Nine 

Partners,  N.  V.]. 

John  Bronson:' 

William  Bradley,  bap.  Oct.  28,  1821. 

John  Bronson's  wife,  Hannah,  d.  Sept. 
15,  1842,  a.  47. 

Joseph  Bronson,  s.  of  John  [of  Isaac],  m. 
Anna  Southmayd,  d  of  John,  June  i, 
1732. 

1.  A  dau.,  still-bom,  Aug.  28,  1733. 

2.  Millesent,  b.  Dec.  24,  1734;  d.  Mch.  8,  17^15, 

3.  Eldad,  b.  July  i,  1736;  d.  Aur.  18,  1749. 

4.  Desire,  b.  July  9,  1738;  m.  Jon.  Guernsey. 

5.  Seba,  b.  Sept.  23,  1740. 

6.  A  dau.,  still-born. 

7-  j-Still-lwrn. 

9.  Still-lx>m. 

10.  StiIl-l>orn,  and  the  mother  died  a  few  days 

after,  Aug.  18,  1749. 

The  above  named  Anna  Southmayd, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Bn)n.son,  d.  Aug. 
12.  1749  (still  another  record  says  Aug. 
11);  and  Joseph  m.  Mary  Fulford,  d.  of 
Lieut.  Gershom,  May  2,  1750.  [He  d. 
Sept.  19.  1771;  she,  Mch.  6,  1S12,  a.  85.] 

z.  Anna,  b.  May  22,  1751;  m.  Heman  Munson. 
a.  Bela,  b.  Mch.  7,  1757. 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

Joseph  Bronson,  s.  of  Ebenezer,  m.  Han- 
nah Porter,  d.  of  Dr.  Preserved,  Dec. 
23,  1784,  who  d.  Sept.  18,  1839. 

I.  Sarah  Gould,  b.  July  ai,  1785  ;  d.  Feb.  11,  1794 
a.  Nancy  Fluvia,  b.  Aug.  13,  1787;  m.  W.  J.  Per- 
kins. 

3.  Lavinia  Porter,  b.  Sept.  9,  1789. 

4.  Cloe,  b.  Jan.  28,  1791. 

5.  Preserved  Porter,  b.  May  i,  1794. 

[Lieut.]  Josiah  Bronson,  s.  of  Isaac,  m. 
Dinah  Sutliff,  d.  of  John,  July  23,  1735. 

I.  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  zo,  1736;  m.  James  Porter. 

Dinah  d.  Jan.  10,  1736-7,  and  Josiah  m 
Sarah  Leavenworth,  wid.  of  David  of 
Woodbury,  May  15,  1740. 

1.  David,  b.  Tune  25,  1741. 

2.  Abel,  b.  May  30,  1743. 

3.  Zuba  (Azubah),   b.   Apr.  28,  1745;    m.    Abner 

Munson. 

4.  Ruben,  b.  June  5,  1747. 

5.  Thaddeus,  b.  July  22,  1749. 

6.  Josiah,  b.  Feb.  i,  175 1-2. 

7.  Elijah,  b.  May  15,  1755. 

Sarah  d.  Aug.  28,  1767,  and  Josiah  was 
m.  Dec.  23,  1767,  to  Rebekah  Hurlbut, 
relick  of  Joseph  of  Woodbury,  by 
Thomas  Can  field,  v.  m.  Rebekah  d. 
June  12,  1797,  and  Josiah  m.  June  12, 
1798.  Mrs.  Huldah  Williams  (called 
Mary  on  Oxford  rec.)  [wid.  of  Samuel?] 
He  d.  Feb.  20,  1804,  a.  90. 

Josiah  Bronson,  Jr.,  s.  of  Josiah,  m.  Ta- 
bitha  Tuttle,  d.  of  Ezekiel,  Jan.  20, 
1780. 

1.  Truman,  b.  Jan.  5,  1781. 

2.  Alvin,  b.  May  19,  1783. 

3.  Jpsiah,  b.  Sept.  19,  1786. 

4.  Edward,  b.  Sept.  i,  1789. 

5.  Nancy,  b.  Feb.  27,  1793. 

Judson  Bronson,  s.  of  Jo.seph,  m.  Emily 
G.  Terrill,  d.  of  Alvin.  Sept.  24.  or  Oct. 
28,  1827.     (Two  entries.) 

1.  Mary  Ellen,  b.  June  27,  1829. 

2.  Caroline  Lavinia,  b.  Sept.  18,  1831. 

3.  Charlotte  Ann,  b.  Dec.  24,  1834. 

4.  Edward  Lampson,  b.  Nov.  24,  1840. 

Emily  d.  June  7,  1842.  and  Judson  m. 
Sally  Ann  Perkins,  [wid.  of  Jesse,  and] 
d.  of  Geo.  Knowlton,  Nov.  23,  1844. 

Julius  G.  Bronson,  s.  of  Amasa,  m.  Julia 
Newton,  d.  of  Nathan,  Sept.  9,  1830. 

z.  Samuel  Marshall,  b.  Apr.  i,  1832. 
2.  Charles  Henry,  b.  Oct.  5,  1835. 

His  first  wife  d.   Dec.  15,  1841,  a.  35. 
His  second  wife,  Minerva  Newton,  sis 
ter  to  his  P.  wife,  and  was  widow  of 
Joseph  S.    Leavenworth,    b.    July   11, 
1804.     They  were  mar.  Feb.  27,  1845. 

A  child,  b.  Mch.  10,  1847. 

Levi  Bronson,  s.  of  Seba,  m.  Sarah  Prin- 
dle,  d.  of  Eleazer  of  Watertown,  May 

23.  1783 

[His  children  were:  Elea/er,  Mary,  m.  Jared 
Warner,  1803;  Olive.  Anner,  Nancy,  Lovisa, 
Chauncey,  Anna,  Wnecler,  and  Lovimus.] 


FAMILY  RECOB 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

I^ucy  Bronson,  d.  of  Deac.  Andrew;  Re- 
cord of  her  child  by  Joseph  Hopkins, 
Jr.,  s.  of  Joseph,  Esq. 

Sally,  b.  June  aa,  1784. 

Maria  Brooson  m.  Fred.  Bradley,  1830. 

Mark  Bronson,  s.  of  Ezra,  m.  Esther 
Hopkins,  d.  of  Joseph,  Sept.  16,  1784 
[and  d.  1797.     Esther  d.  18 14]. 

1.  Harry,  b.  Aug.  4,  1787. 

2.  Nancy,  b.  June  21,  1789;  m.  Cyrus  Clark. 

3.  Esther,  b.  Jan.  28,  1794;  d.  Jan.  11,  1795. 

4.  Edward,  bap.  May  7,  1797  (his  mother  being  a 

widow). 

Mary  J.  Bronson  m.  Caleb  Grannis,i848. 

Mehitable  Bronson  m  Newton  Hine,  Jr., 
1830. 

Mercy  Bronson  m.  John  Jtidd,  1731. 

[Lieut.]  Michael  Bronson,  s.  of  Capt. 
Ezra,  m  Eunice  Nichols,  d.  of  Joseph, 
dec'd,  July  3, 1776,  and  d.  July  25,  1822. 

1.  Clarissa,  b.  Sept.  30,  1776  [ra.  A;ior  Bronson], 

2.  Horatio  Gates,  b.  Oct.  a,  1777' d.  ^^^'  23»  ^825. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Feb.  12,  1780;  m.  Joel  Scott. 

4.  Ezra,  b.  Dec.  6,  1783. 

Minerva  Bronson  in.  C.  L.  English,  1840. 

• 

Moses  Bronson,  s.  of  John,  dec*d,  was 
mar.  at  Stratford  to  Jane  Wiat,  Nov.  6, 
1712,  and  d.  Aug.  12,  1754. 

1.  Unice,  b.  Dec.  23,  1714;  m.  EH.  Welton. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  2,  1717:  m.  John  Warner. 

3.  Nathan,  b.  Sept.  5,  1719. 

4.  Martha,  b.  June  14,  1721. 

5.  Elnathan,  b.  Oct.  a,  1723. 

6.  Comfort,) 

and      ^b.  Mch.  29,  1726. 

7.  Charity,  ) 

8.  Esther,  b.  Feb.  6,  1727-8. 

9.  Jerusha,  b.  Feb.  9,  1729-30;  m.  Thomas  Will- 

iams. 

10.  Jemima,  b.  May  25,  1732, 

11.  William,  b.  May  30,  1734. 

12.  Moses,  b.  Jane  19,  1736, 

13.  Naomi,  b,  Mch.  28, 1739  [m.  Jonathan  Hughes]. 

Nancy  Bronson  m.  Shelden  Mcrriam, 
1821. 

Nathan  Bronson,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Obe- 
dience Williams,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd, 
Feb.  22,  1749-50. 

1.  Ruben,  b.  Nov.  28,  1750. 

2.  A  dau.,  b.  Feb.  17,  1753. 

Obedience  d.  Mch.  13,  I75[3],  and  Na- 
than m.  wid.  Abigail  Lewis,  June  29, 
1769.     She  d.  Nov.  17,  1800,  a.  90. 

Noah  Bronson,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Huldah 
Sperry,  d.  of  Capt.  Jacob,  Dec.  28, 1795. 


1.  Sally,  b^Aug.  11,  1796 

">•  J 

1839] 


a.  Maria  Balinda,  b.  June  17,  1800  [d.  Oct.    18, 


1 

3J 


Huldah  d.  Oct  3,  1829.  and  Noah  m. 
Chloe  Peck  [d.  of  Ward],  Feb.  16, 
1840. 


Bronsi 

Noah 
m.  I 
Med 

[En 
Shi 
Hii 

Oliver 

Clarl 
b.  S 
Wall 

1.  He; 

Philen* 
inghi 

Philo  : 
Blak( 
Sept. 

X.  Ben 

2.  Wil 

3.  Luc 

4.  Mai 

5.  Hei 

Pitkin 
John 
Merr 
ter  0 

1839. 

1.  Jol 

2.  Ed^ 

Polly  ] 

Ralph  : 

N.  Ti 

Reube:  i 

Tenii  i 
Nov. 

1.  Ed  • 

2.  Sar  t 

Rosel 

m.  5  I 
Nov, 

1.  Bei  : 

2.  Ro  ( 

3.  Mi  ) 

Sally  ] 

Sally    I 

Capt.    i 
Ten^  : 

Sen.  , 

1.  B  • 

2.  Si  I 

3.  C  I 
4.1  ' 

Ten  ; 
San:  i 
San-  ] 

6.  S    1 

7.  I    > 

8.  \    1 

9.  J    1 

10.  1    r 

Tan  I 
3ci,     I 


28^ 


HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT, 


3- 
4. 

5. 
6, 

7- 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

ted  to  the  church.  Same  date,  Isaac 
and  John  were  bap.,  also  Phebe,  one  of 
the  household  of  Samuel  Bronson.* 

Samuel  Bronson,  Jr.  [s.  of  Deacon  An- 
drew] : 

1.  Andrew  Hull,  b.  Feb.  18,  1797. 

Samuel  Bronson  (called  Samuel  the  3d), 
s.  of  Major  Samuel,  m.  Emily  Hunt.  d. 
of  James  of  New  Haven,  Mch.,  1803. 
She  d.  Jan.  5,  1828,  a.  48. 

X.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.,  x8o6. 

2.  Emily,  b.  July,  1808, 

3.  Temperance,  b.  Jan.  x8,  1810;  m.  Geo.  Root. 

Sarah  Bronson  m.  Chas.  English,  1844. 

Seba  Bronson,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Mary 
Hikcox,  d.  of  Abraham,  July  5,  1764. 
[He  d.  Jan.;  she,  July,  1816.] 

1.  Levi,  b.  June  24,  1765. 

2.  Olive,  b.  luly  3^1766. 
Azor,  b.  Jan.  i,  1768. 
Joseph,  b.  June  3,  1769. 
Anna.  b.  Feb.  5,  1771. 
Seba,  b.  Sept.  26,  1772. 
Herman,  b.  Dec.  18,  1774. 

8.  Thomas  Gage,  b.  Apr.  19.  1776. 

9.  Abraham,  b.  Apr.  11,  1778. 

10.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  13,  1780;  m.  Ard  Warner. 

XI.  Bela,  b.  Apr.  3,  1782. 

Selah  Bronson*  [and  Ann  Daily]: 

John  Wheton,  bap.  Oct.  4,  1816. 
Ann;  m.  W.  M.  Drake,  1830. 

[Deac]  Seth  Bronson,  s.  of  Isaac,  m. 
Cloe  Prichard,  d.  of  George,  Nov.  27, 
1770.  [He  d.  Jan.  i6,  1S05,  and  she, 
Oct.  II,  1S28.] 

1.  Anna,  b.  June  19,  1773. 

2.  Cloe,  b.  Dec.  28,  1777  [ra.  David  Tyler]. 

3.  Jonas,  b.  Sept.  25,  1779  [ra.  Melinda  Baldwin]. 

4.  Markus,  b.  Sept.  8,  1781  [m.  Rebecca  Thomp- 

son]. 

Sherman  Bronson,  b.  Jan.  13,  1799,  s.  of 
Joseph,  m.  Harriet  Scott,  d.  of  Joel, 
1820. 

Jennet  Nancy,  b.  An^.  i6,  1820. 

Catharine  A.,  b.  Jan.  25,  1823;  m.  A.  H.  Martin. 

Sophia  Bronson  m.  W.  S.  Smith,  1837. 

[Deac]  Stephen  Bronson,  s.  of  Thomas, 
Esq.,  m.  Sarah  Humaston,  d.  of  Caleb, 
Esq.,  May  17,  1764  He  d.  Dec.  15, 
1809;  she,  July  27,  1822. 

X.  Mercy,  b.  Dec.  17,  1764;  m.  John  KiriKsbury. 

2.  Jesse,  b.  June  9,  i7^>6;  d.  Feb.  4,  178b  [of  small- 

pox]. 

3.  John,  b.  Aug.  14,  1768;  d.  Jan.  22,  1782. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  Dec.  26,  1770;  d.  Oct,  ai,  1773. 

5.  Content  Humaston,  b.  May  14,    1773;   d.   Mch. 

28,  1806. 

6.  Bennct,  b.  Nov.  14,  1775. 

7.  Susanna,  b.  Apr.  6,  1780;  m.  Joseph  Burton. 

Susan  Bronson  m.  A.  E.  Rice,  1832. 


Bronson.  Bronson. 

Thaddeus  Bronson,  s.  of  Josiah,  m.  Abi- 
gail Wilmot,  Dec.  10,  1772. 

X.  Abigail,  b.  June  xo,  1773  [m.  D.  Prichard]. 

2.  Uri,  b.  May  to,  X778. 

3.  Olive,  b.  Men.  17,  1779. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Mch.  21,  1781. 

5.  Jerusha,  b.  May  21,  1784. 

6.  Fared,  b.  Tune  18,  1791. 

7.  Ruth,  b.  May  17,  1793. 

Abigail  d.  May  25,  1793,  and  Thaddeus 
m.  Anne  Hitchcock,  Jan.  5,  1794.  He 
d.  Mch.  2,  1825. 

[Lieut.]  Thomas  Brounson,  s.  of  Isaac, 
Sen'',  m.  Elizabeth  Upson, d.  of  Stephen, 
Sen',  Dec.  21,  1709. 

1.  Thomas,  b.  Tan.  5,  X710-X1. 

2.  Stephen,  b.  Nov,  25;  d.  Dec.  30,  1712. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr,  18,  1714;  d.  May  24.  1715. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  24,  1716;  m.  Eben.  Warner. 

The  above-named  Thomas  Brounson, 
husband  to  the  said  Elizabeth. d.  May  26, 
1777.  The  above-named  Elizabeth,  wife 
to  the  said  Thomas,  dye^  Mch.  30, 1778. 

Thomas  Brounson  [Esq.],  s.  of  Thomas, 
m.  Susanna  Southmayd,  d.  of  John, 
Sept.  25,  1734. 

1.  Stephen,  b.  Jime  30,  1735. 

2.  Su»anna,  b.  Dec.  7,  1736  [m.  Rev.  Elijah  Sill]. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  8,  1738  9. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  June  21;  d.  June  30,  X741. 

Susanna  d.  Aug.  13,  1 741,  and  Thomas, 
s.  of  Lieut.  Thomas,  m.  Anna  Hopkins, 
d.  of  Stephen,  Jan.  9,  1745-6.  He  d. 
June  25,  1759  [of  measles],  and  she  m. 
rhineas  Royce. 

5.  David,  b.  Sept.  25,  X748;  d.  Aug.  lo,  1750. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Mch.  10,  1751. 

7.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  28,  1752;  m.  Jos.  Upson. 

8.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  30,  1755;  m.  Dr.  Roger  Cooaot 

[and  Josiah  Hatch]. 

9.  Ruth,  b.  Feb.  23,  1759  [m.  Dr.  Jesse  Upson]. 

Thomas  Bronson,  Jr.  (3).  s.  of  Thomas, 
dec'd,  m.  Elizabeth  Hickcox,  d.  of 
Capt.  Samuel,  Aug*.  25,  1774.  [She  d. 
Mch.  15,  he,  Mch.  16,  1813;  and  they 
were  buried  in  one  grave  ] 

I.  Molle,  b.  Mch.  i8,  1775  [m.  Dan.  Hikcox]. 

[Thomas  Bronson,  s.  of  Bennct,  m.  Cyn 
thia  Elizabeth  Bartlett,  d.  of  Cyrus  M 
late  of  Hartford,  dec'd,  Feb.  13,  1839. 
He  d.  Apr.  20,  185 1,  at  11:45  a.  m. 

1.  Harriet  Anna,  b.  June  2,  1840. 

2.  Julius  Hobart,  b.  Apr.  30,  1842. 

3.  Edward  Bennet,  b.  June  13,  1843.] 

Titus  Bronson,  s.  of  Isaac  [3],  m.  Hannah 
Cook,  d.  of  Moses,  deed,  Feb.  11,  1779. 
[He  d.  May  20,  1820;  she,  Apr.  i,  1841.] 

1.  Jairus,  b.  Dec.  9,  1779. 

2.  Horade,  b.  Feb.  15,  1782. 

3.  Augustus,  b.  June  24,  1784. 

4.  Esther,  b.  Oct.  19,  1780  [m.  John  Hine]. 

5.  Titus,  b.  Nov.  27,  1788, 

6.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  18,  1791. 

7.  Sally,  b.  Sept.  13,  1794  [m.  A.  Benham]. 

8.  Leonardj  b.  June  24,  1797  [ra.  Nancy  Richard- 

son,  wid.  of  Merrit  Piatt]. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP29 


Bronson.  Brown. 

Tyler  Bronson,  see  L.  S.  Beach. 

Uri  Bronson,  s.  of  Thaddeus,  m.  Anna 
At  wood,  d.  of  Elijah.  Dec.  5,  1799. 

William  S.  Bronson,  s  of  Anson,  m. 
Diadama  Gaylord.  b.  July  8.  iSii,  d.  of 
Seth  of  Bristol,  Mch.  24,  1841. 

1.  Franklin  Gaylord,  b.  Dec.  20,  1844. 

2.  Ella  Antoinetic,  b.  Jan.  16,  1847. 

Zenas  Bronson,  b.  1800.  s.  of  David,  and 
Anna  M.  Chatfield,  b.  June  25,  1804  d. 
of  Dan.,  were  mar.  Dec.  31,  182S.  He 
d.  Oct.  26,  1 8 34. 

I.  Stiles  A,,  b.  Feb.  25,  1830;  d.  Sept.  17,  1831. 
?.  Elizabeth  A.,  b.  Mch.  6,  1832. 

3.  Enos  S.,  b.  Aug.  n,  1834. 

Augusta  A.  Brooks  m.  E.  J.  Barnard,  1843. 

David  Brooks  m.  Amanda  Jordon,  Feb. 
25,  1844. 

Deborah  Brooks   m.    Barnabas    Lewis, 

Elizabeth  Brooks  m.  John  MuUings  1S44. 

Enos  Andrew  Brooks  d.  Mch.  3,  1814,  a. 

52.^ 
Hannah  Brooks  m.  John  Clark,  1747,  and 

Cornelius  Graves,  1751. 

Loly  Brooks  m.  Jes.se  Andrews,  1791. 

Mary  Brooks  m.  G.  B.  Aldrich,  1839. 

Nancy  Brooks  m  J.  B.  Pel  ton,  1847. 

Sarah  Brooks  m   Eben  Hoadlcy,  1843. 

Mrs.  Abner  Brown  d.  Mch.  23, 1845,  a.  53.* 

Anne  Brown  m.  W.  R.  Judd,  1821. 

Aseph  Brown,  s.  of  Daniel,  m  Tamer 
Hall,  d.  of  Nathaniel,  Aug.  i,  17S2. 

1.  Ralph,  b.  Nov.  28,  1782. 

2.  Isula,  b.  Sept.  6,  1784. 

3.  Eunice,  b.  >ept.  11,  17B6. 

4.  I^choa,  b.  Sept.  2,  178S. 

,  Augustus  Brown,  s.  of  James,  m.  Fran- 
ces Elizabeth  Burton,  d.  of  Joseph, 
Mch.  6,  1844,  who  d.  Apr.  10,  1851. 

I.  Charles  Augustus,  b.  Jan.  11,  1845. 
[2.  Frances  Elizabeth,  b,  Mch.  23,  1848. J 

Candice  Brown  m.  E.  B.  Leavenworth, 
1S40. 

Daniel  Brown,  s.  of  James,  was  mar.  to 
Sarah  Turrill,  wid.  of  John,  and  d.  of 
Nathl.  Merrills,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Richard 
Mansfield,  May  20,  1750. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  28,  1751  [went  to  Vermont]. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  27,  1753;  m.  E.  Andrews. 

3.  David,  b.  Oct.  23,  1755. 

4.  Asaph,  b,  Sept.  4,  1757. 

5.  Silva,  b.   Feb.  13,  ^^fK>   [m.  C.  Clark  and   C. 

GrilleyJ. 
f).  Salmon,  b.  May  9,  1762;  d.  Apr.  15,  1766. 

7.  Klias,  b.  July  11,  i7'j5   [ni.  Eunice  Hal!].     He 

d.  July  20.  1844;  she,  Mch.  4,  1842,  a  79.^ 

8.  Salmon,  b.  Sept.  28,  i7'^i7  fm.  Lois  Richards]. 
w.   Lydia,  b.  F'eb.  24,  177"  [m.  Moses  Hall]. 

10.  Noah,  b.  May  24,  1773  [ra.  Lois  HallJ. 


Brown.  Brown 

Daniel  Brown,  Jr.:^ 

Lovina  and  Denina  (?),  bap.  Oct.  9,  1767. 
Reuben,  bap.  Apr.  23,  1769. 

Daniel  Brown,  b.  June  27,  1802,  s.  of 
Reuben,  and  Betsey  Manchester  from 
Dover,  N.  Y.,  b.  June  22,  1800,  were 
mar.  in  May . 

X.  Eliza  Ann,  | 

and         vb.  Dec.  19,  1830. 

2.  Jane,  j 

3.  Adelia,  b.  May  17,  1834. 

4.  William  Henry,  b.  Mch.  15,  1835. 

Daniel  Brown  m.  Sarah  Butler  of  New 
Haven,  Oct.  9,  1842. 

Ebenezer  Brown  m.  Rebeccah  Luding- 
ton,  Feb.  28,  1781. 

1.  Willis,  b.  Mch.  17,  T783. 

2.  Esther,  b.  Aujj.  18,  1785;  d.  Sept.  3,  1793. 

3.  Rosannah.  b.  Mch.  11,  1787. 

4.  Smith,  b.  May  13,  1788. 

5.  Levi,  b.  Jan,  27,  1791. 

6.  Sally,  b.  June  26,  1792. 

7.  Esther,  b.  Nov.  30,  1793. 

Elam  Brown,  s.  of  James,  m.  Naomi 
Frost,  d.  of  Samuel,  Dec.  27,  1753. 

X.  Elam,  b.  Jan.  17,  1755. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b,  Jan.  16;  d.  May  23,  1757. 

3.  Corneleous,  b.  Dec.  15,  1761. 

Elizabeth  Brown  m.  Chester  Neal,  1823. 

George  W.  Brown  of  Meriden  m.  Susan 
M.  Woodruff,  Jan.  31,  1847. 

Giles  Brown  d.  Nov.  24.  1S37,  a.  76.- 

Hezekiah  Brown,  s.  of  Samuel,  m. Rachel 
Prindel,  d.  of  Lieut.  Jonathan,  Apr.  16, 

1758. 

1.  Zere,  b,  Sept.  18.  1759. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  19,  1762;  d.  June  3,  1781. 

3.  Olive,  b.  Jan.  25,  1764;  m.  Bela  Blakeslee. 

4.  Hezekiah,  b.  Dec.  16,  1765;  d.  Mch.  12,  1770 

5.  Jonah,  b.  Oct.  16,  1767. 

6.  Rachel,  b.  Jan.  14,  1770;  m.  Prcs.  Hikcox. 

7.  Toannah,  b.  Apr.  23.  1774. 

8.  William  Warner,  b.  Nov.  10,  1776. 

Isaac  Brown,  s.  of  Elias,  m.  Amanda 
Barnes,  d.  of  Eliphalet  of  Plymouth, 
Nov.  27,  1817.  He  d.  Nov.  29,  1837,  a. 
55;  she,  Sept.  16,  1845,  a.  48.'^ 

1,  Mary  Janeit,  b.  Nov.  i,  1818. 

2.  David,  b.  Feb.  11,  1821. 

James  Brown  (i)  and  Elizabeth  [Kirby] 
of  New  Haven  formerly.  An  account 
or  record  of  their  chil.  b.  in  Wat.  [He 
d.  May  15,  1760,  in  his  75tl>year.] 

9.  Daniell,  b.  Nov,  6,  1723. 
10.  Rebeckah,  b.  Sept.  13,  1726;  m.  J.  Warner. 
The  8th  child  and  4ih  son,  Asa,  dyed  July  14, 

[Other  children  were:  James,  Joseph,  Elam. 
Sarah,  Fli/.abeth,  who  m.  Wm.  Scovill,  and 
Eunice.] 

James  Brown  (2),  s.  of  James,  m.  Han- 
nah Tompkins,  d.  of  Edmund,  Dec.  16, 
1744.  in  the  18th  year  of  King  George 
the  Second's  reign.   [He  d.  1760,  during 


BISTORT  OF  WATEBBUBT. 


Brown.  Broivn, 

the  French  War,  at  Littlt  Falls,  on  tht 
Mohawk.] 


Brown. 

Joseph  Brown,  s.  of  Ji 


I.  Hannah 
Johnson,  d.  of  Timo'thy  of  Derby,  Oct. 


5.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  U.  'K'- 

6.  Elxnizer.  b.JiiV3o.  i;;;  [d,  inlhePnrh.  No 

13.  1B.4I. 

James  Brown  (3).  s.  of  Tames,  tn.  Hai 
nah  Culver,  d.  of  Davitlof  Farmingtoi 
Mch.  20.   1770. 


J.  Hinnah,  b.  July  34,  i77>. 

Hannah  d.  May  30.  17S3,  and  James  m. 

Oct.   31,   1783.   Eunice   Mallory.   d,    of 

Thomas  of  Woodbury. 

3.  Levi,  b.  July  10,  178.;  d.  Apr.  17,  1785- 

Eunice  d.  Apr,  15,  1793,  and  James  m. 

[his  third  wife]  Rosanna  Perkins,  wid. 

[of  Edward  of  Bethany)  and  d.  of  Isaac 

Judd,  Sept.  13.  1792. 


1.  Tiniolhy,  kbit.  ..„  . 


rP»r; 


763. 


Laura  Brown  m.  Edward  Wclton,  1.^25. 
Mary  Brown  m.  John  Marcloud,  17S0. 
Mary  M.  Brown  m.  Sam'l  Warner,  [S32. 
Mary  Brown  ni.  Thomas  Juris,  1S37. 
Pamelia  Brown  m,  Peter  Brockett,  1S12. 
Pbilo  Brown,  s.  <>(  Deac.  James,  m. 
Esther  Ives,  d.  of  Giles,  Sept.  16,  1824. 

1.  William  Htnty,  b,  Apr.  6.  iBj?. 

Polly  Brown  m.  Harvey  Alien,  1832. 
Rachel  Brown  m.  Harvey  Patchen,  1S2S. 
Mrs.  Reuben  Brown  d.  Apr.  18,  1S41.  a. 


..  Philo.  b.  Jan. 
?.  William,  b.  J 
3.  Maty  Ann.  b. 


b,  July  =,  .6.5. 

Jftnc  E.  Brown  m.  Isaac  Baldwi 

Jane  Brown  m.  Geo.  Benton.  1^50. 

Jesse  Brown,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Mary 
Ann.  wid.  of  David  Wheeler,  and  d.  of 
Eliphalet  Prichard,  Sept.  11.  i.Sss- 


1.  John  D„  b.  Oci.  8,  183.. 
3,  Htnry  William,  b.  Jan,  7.  ,859. 
1.  CaTOline  Kuih,  b.  Dec.  17,  1843. 
5.  Sarah  JtnnM.  b.  June  ,j.  .8,6. 

RuthE.  Brown  m.  Fred.  Goldsmith, i. 
Sally  Brown  ra.  Harvey  Judd,  1S21. 
Samuel  and  Johannab  Brown: 

[He  d,  before  Apr..  1745  ] 


;:fct;-WSv«':;. 


Samuel  Brown,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Sarah 
Castle,  d.  of  Isaac,  Mch.  3S,  1750.    [He 


1.  Mary,  b.  Ftb.  .i,  17«^":  d.  May  .7,  175a 

1.  Mary,  b.  Sepi.  j,  m'  {>"  J"l">  CloURh). 

J.  Ann«,  b.  0«.n,  .7SS  l».  /"I'n  Fleming,  and  d, 

,.  Hlnna^' b.^O«.  i,  1737;  d.  D«    15,  -761. 

Anne  d.  June  21.  1759,   and   John  m. 


Sarab  D.  Brown  m.  R.  E.  Perkins,  iSji. 

William  Brown,  s.  of  Deac.  James,  tn. 

Sarah  S.  Kingsbury,  d.  of  John,  Esq., 


J;  bJSidVb.lJyiS,'"'?^"'' 
8.  Lydia    bjul,  ,,  ,7^. 

Sanh.  bap.  June  7,  1778.* 


Sarah  d.  May  28,  1S41.  and  William  n 
Vienna  Fenn.  b.  Jan.  31.  :Sa5.  d.  1 
Asa  of  Middlebury,  Mch.  35.  1S44. 


FAMILY  BECOB 


Bruise.  Bull. 

George  Bruise  of  New  Haven  m.   Re 
becca  Sarah  Forrest,  Apr.  30,  1848. 

Alfred  Bryan  of  Watertown  m.  Betsey 
Hungerford,  Nov.  15,  1S26. 

Andrew  Bryan,  s.  of  Thadeus  of  Water- 
town,  m.  Roxana  Peck,  d.  of  Ward, 
July  3,  1814. 

1.  Lucius  P.,  b.  Mar.  6,  1817. 

2.  George  A.,  b.  Dec.  15,  1819. 

3.  Charles,  b.  Nov.  10,  X822. 

4.  Edward,  b.  Sept.  20,  1825. 

5.  William  Henry,  b.  Feb.  7,  1828. 

Benajah  Bryan  m.  Lucy  Davis,  Jan.  20, 
17S0.8 

John,  b.  Oct.  8,  X780. 
Lucy,  b.  Oct.  20,  1785. 

[Lucius  P.  Bryan  m.  Jennett  White  of 
Durham,  Aug.  25.  1836.] 

Daniel  Buck  of  Farmington  m.  Mary 
Hikcox,  Oct.  13,  1829. 

Hannah  Buck  m.  Obadiah  Scott,  1716. 

Sarah  Buck  m.  John  Welton,  lyoT). 

The  age  of  William  Buck,  entered  Jan. 
2,  1753.  William  Buck,  the  son  of 
Elizabeth  Chelson,  ah'as  Buck,  born 
about  Oct,  II,  1 75 1,  and  this  day  bound 
out  by  the  townsmen  of  Waterbury  to 
Mr.  Samuel  Peck,  as  appears  by  inden- 
ture and  with  the  consent  of  the  au- 
thorities. • 

Chloe  E.  Buckingham  m.  M.  S.  Beach, 

1845. 
Ebenezer  N.  Buckingham  of  Oxford  was 

mar.  to  Betsey  Sperry  of  Bethany,  ai 

Naugatuck,  Sept.  15,  1834. 

Hannah  Buckingham  m.  Irijah  Terrell. 

1778. 

Samuel  Buckingham,  s.  of  Nathan  of 
Derby,  m.  Ruth  Fairchild,  d.  of  Nathan 
of  Derby,  June  28,  1785. 

1.  Cyrenius.  b.  May  30,  1786. 

2.  Ruth,  b.  Mch.  I,  1788. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  May  15,  1790. 

4.  Lester,  b:  Aug.  16,  1794. 

5.  Auffustus,  b.  Aug.  22,  1797. 

6.  Esther,  b.  Oct.  11,  \^^f). 

7.  Nathan  Fairchild,  b.  June  10,  iSuj. 

Scovill  M.  Buckingham,  s.  of  John,  m. 
Charlotte  Ann  Benedict,  d.  ot  Aaron, 
May  18,  1835. 

1.  John  Aaron,  b.  Apr.  x,  1B39. 

Lester  P.  Buell  of  Plymouth  m.  Louisa 
M.  Tuttle,  Sept.  29,  1851. 

AnnBuggbe  m.  Roger  Prichard,  Jr.,  1742. 

Widow  Mary  Bull  d.  July  4.  1756.  [She 
was  widow  of  Deac.  Thomas  Hikcox, 
and  of  Deac.  Samuel  Bull  of  Woodbury, 
whom  she  mar.  Nov.  23,  1747-8  ] 

Mary  Bull  m.  Philip  Tompkins,  1766. 


BUNCE 

Daniel 

Sara 
mar. 
May^ 

Alvira 

[Benja 
Dert 
and  ( 

Cba 
Reu 

Elu 

Eunice 
Harriet 
Hezeki 

Orn 

James  ^ 

Ann 

Jehiel  1 
ance  \ 

Lois  Bu 

Lois  Bi 

Luanna 

Lydia  E 

Margar 

Samuel 

6,  182  , 

Samuel  i 
Mch. 

Williar 

m.  Sj  ] 
1826. 

Williar 

bury, 

Roxani  I 
Abigail 

Elizab<  : 

1738. 

Otis  Bi  [ 

na  \^ 

30,   l{    ! 

21,  li  ; 

1.  Car 

2.  Ed^   I 

Julia  E  I 
a.  10 

James    : 

16,  1    i 

Joseph  I 
Trur  I 
Deac 

X.  All    • 

2.  Ma    I 

S      ! 

3.  SU!      1 


82  AP 


IIT8T0RT  OF  WATERS URT, 


Burton.  Byrnes. 

Susanna  d.  July  14.  iSii  [and  Joseph 
m.  Ann  Eliza  Clark,  d.  of  Capt.  Uzziel 
of  Sheffield,  Mass.,  Jan.  2,  1815. 

4.  Frances  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  26,  i8ifi;  m.#  Augus- 

tus Brown. 

5.  Charles  U.  C  ,  b.  June  14.  1818. 

6.  George  W,,  b.  Mch.  i.  1822.] 

William  H.  Bush  [from  New  London] 
m.  Eliza  A.  Clark  [d.  of  John],  Mch. 
18,  1850. 

Isaiah  Butler  [b.  Sept  12,  1726]  and  Re- 
becca; children  born  in  Waterbury: 

Tryphosa,  b.  May  15,  175^;  m.  M.  Dunbar. 
Solomon,  b.  Feb.  23,  1758. 
Jonathan,  b.  Apr.  26,  1760. 

Lydia  Butler  m.  Phinehas  Royce,  Jr., 
1772. 

Michael  Butler  m.  Margaret  Lynch,  Nov. 
I,  1849, 

•Nathan  Butler  [b.  June  i,  1732,  m.  Dec. 
8,  1755.  Rebecca  Rogers,  d.  of  Deac. 
Josiahof  Branford,  and  d.  Oct.  17,  18 11, 
at  Clinton,  N.  Y. 

Asenath,  Salmon,  Elsie,  Lorain,  and  Pamela,  b. 

I755-I770]- 

6.  Herva,  b.  July  17.  1771. 

7.  Calvin,  b.  Oct.  6,  1772. 

Sarah  Butler  m.  Daniel  Brown,  1842. 

William  Butler  of  Plymouth  m.  Augusta 
Merriman,  Mch.  22,  1840. 

Elizabeth  Byington  m.    Miles   Gaylord 
1S45. 

Isaac  Byington,  s.  of  Jared,  Esq.,  m. 
Esther  Smith,  d.  of  Anthony. 

1.  Edwin,  b.  Oct.  29,  1800. 

2.  Emeline,  b.  Oct.  4,  1802. 

3.  Frederick,  b.  Aug,  2,  1804. 

4.  Henrietta,  b.  Apr.  30,  1806. 

5.  Avis,  b.  Dec.  10,  i8<>3. 

6.  Melissa,  b.  Feb.  4,  1810. 

Jared  Byington,  s.  of  David,  m.  Rebecca 
Porter,  d.  of  Thomas,  Apr.  22,  1779. 

1.  Isaac,  b.  Antj.  12,  1771). 

2.  Asahel.  b.  Feb.  i,  17SJ. 

3.  Orren,  b,  Nov.  11,  17H3. 

4.  Jesse,  b.  Nov.  15,  178s. 

5.  Clarissa,  b.  .Vpr.  i,  1788. 

6.  Rcl)ccca.  b.  Feb.  ig.  17/). 

7.  Anne,  b.  Veh.  29,  1792 

8.  Stephen,  b.  Sept.  20,  1794. 

Orrin  Byington  m.  Rebecca  M.  Tuttle — 
both  of  Wolcott — Apr.  11,  1832. 

Widow  Mehitable  Byington  d.  Feb.  13, 
1809,  a.  81. 

Rachel  Byington  m.  Augustus  Rose,  1836. 

Sarah  Byington  m.  Levi  Norton,  1S42. 

James  Byrnes  of  Lower  Canada  m.  [Julia 
Gallagher,  1836.    She  d.  and  James  m.] 


J' 


Oct.  7,  1837. 
d.  at  birth. 


Byrnes.  Camp. 

Caroline    E.    Grilley,    d.   of  Jeremiah, 
Sept.  14,  1843. 

I.  John, 
and 
[2.  A  dau. 

^*  >•  Twins;  died. 
4-  1 

5.j  Margaret,  b.  Jan.  24,  1847. 

John  Byrnes  m.  Mary  White—both  from 
Lower  Canada — May  11,  1S37. 

1.  Henry,  b.  Apr,  4,  1838. 

2.  John,  b.  Nov.  5,  1840. 

3.  James,  b.  Jan.  10,  l8^2. 

4.  Peter,  b.  Apr.  11,  1844. 

5.  Matthew  David,  b.  .Mch.  18.  1846. 

John  Byrnes  m.  Mary  Donnelly,  Sept.  21, 

1S51.'* 

Michael  Byrns  m.  Ellen  Hanley,  Aug.  4. 

i85i.« 

[Jesse  Cady  m.  Eunice  Ward,  d.  of 
Arab] 

Mary  Cady  m.  Joseph  Riggs,  1831. 

Betsey  Caldwell  m.  Sam.  Munson,  1S40. 

Lucretia  Caldwell  m.  W.  H.  Stoddard, 

1858. 

Israel  Calkin  m.  Sarah  Hoadley,  d.  of 
William  and  Sarah.  Aug.  11.  1752;  cer- 
tified by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth. 

X.  Lucy,  b.  July  18,  1753;  m.  Joel  Tuttle. 

2.  Appelina,  b.  July  8,  1755. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  1,  i757.« 

4.  Rozwell,  b   Oct.  6,  1761. 

5.  Ebenezcr,  b.  .Aug.  5;  d.  Aug.  7,  1765. 

6.  Ithiel,  b.  Jan.  14,  1767. 

7.  Mary,  b.  Oct.  26,  1770. 

8.  A  son,  b.  Oct.  8,  177a. 

[Roswell  Calkins,  and  Eunice  Hine,  b. 
in  Derby,  May  12,  1763,  were  m.  Sept 

8,  1782 

Almira,  b.  Feb.  14,  1784;  m.  David  Lewis. 
Lovewell,  b.  Dec.  18.  1785-  m.  Jerusha  Smith. 
Lucy,  b.  Mch.  3,  1781);  ra.  EHsha  Newell. 
Marcia,  b.  Jan.  28,  1791;  m.  Chester  Bcebe. 
Julia,  b.  May  28,  1794;  m.  Christopher  Ripley. 
Chloe,  b.  A  UK.  6,  1796;  m.  Josiah  Sabea. 
Nancy,  b.  July  1,  i7()g;  m.  Amos  Brign. 
K!izalx:th,  b.  Aug.  jo,  1801;  ro.  James  Eaton. 
Mary,  b.  Sept.  6,  1803;  ra.  John  Storm.] 

Abel  Camp,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Rachel 
Welton,  d.  of  John,  Apr.  14,  1741. 

1.  Ame,  b.  Dec.  5,  174a;  m.  Samuel  Warner, 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  17,  1744;  d.  Aug.  15,  1749. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  6,  1746. 

4.  Able,  b.  July  11,  1748. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  28,  1750. 

6.  Eunice,  b.  Sept.  a6,  1753:  dyed  in  Litchfield, 

Sept.  12;  and  her  dau.  Sept.  8,  1772,  in  five  ^ 
davs  after  she  was  born. 

7.  Rachel,  b.  Sept.  20,  1754;  d.  Sept.  26,  i7i;7. 

8.  Rachel,  b.  Feb.  21,  17S8. 

9.  Eldad,  b.  June  25,  1760 
10.   Bethel,  b.  Feb.  25,  1763. 

Adah  Camp  m.  W.  H.  Savage,  1838. 


*  He  had,  at  one  time,  four  great-grandsons  in  Hamilton  College. 


FAMILY  RECOB 


Camp.  Camp. 

Benajah  Camp  (s.  of  Joab).'* 

Orren,  b.  Aug.  29,  1786. 
Chloe,  b.  June  9,  1788. 

Comfort  Camp  m.  Dr.  Jesse  Porter,  1808. 

Emma  Camp  m.  John  Patterson,  1849. 

Isaac  Camp  m.  Rachel  Meky,  Nov.  22, 
1770. 

1.  Isaac,  b.  Aug.  ^,  1771;  d.  Jan.  z,  1772. 

2.  Abner,  b.  Jan.  21,  1773. 

Jeremiah  Camp  m.    Elizabeth   Downs, 
Aug.  10,  1823. 

I.  Emma  Ann,  b.  Aug.  7,  1829. 

Joab  and  Thankful  Camp: 


5- 

6. 

7. 
8. 

9. 
10. 

II. 


Thankful,  b.  July  ix,  1750. 

John,  b.  Apr.  14,  1753. 

Ephraim,  b.  June  23.  1756. 

Sarah,  b.  Apr.  3,  1758. 

Phebc,  b.  Nlay  3,  1760;  m.  Daniel  Ford. 

Benajah,  b.  July  20,  176a. 

Joab,  b.  July  5,  1764. 


Julia  Camp  m.  Jerome  B.  Strong,  1835. 

Lyman  Coe  Camp,  b.  July  3,  1820,  s.  of 
Lyman  C.  of  Durham,  m.  Ulissa  E. 
Savage,  b.  Nov.  i,  1820,  d.  of  Seth  of 
Berlin,  May  21,  1843 

1.  Harriet  Pratt,  b.  Feb.  27,  1844. 

2.  Lyman  Coe,  b.  Sept.  17,  1846. 

Sally  Camp  m.  Sherman  Hickcox,  1824. 

Samuel  Camp  [s.  of  Edward,  m.  Doro- 
thy Whitmore  (widow  of  Josiah  of  Mid- 
dletown),  July  17,  171 2,  in  Milford. 

I.  Mehitable,  b.  Aug.,  1713. 

i.  Joel,  b.  May,  1715  (paid  taxes  here,  1739-42). 

3.  Abel,  b.  Dec.  1717;  ra.  Rachel  Welton. 

4.  Stephen,  b.  Feb.,  1720. 

Samuel  moved  to  Wat.  about  1733]  and 
d.  Apr.  22,  1 741.  Dorothy  d.  Sept.  2, 
1749.    (Recorded  with  AbeVs  family.) 

Samuel  and  Betty  Camp:  Record  of  their 
being  mar.  in  Milford,  Oct.  22,  1766. 
[He  d.  Apr.  22,  1841.] 

1.  Belly,  b.  in  Milford,  May  2,  1767. 

2.  Abel,  b.  Feb.  11,  1769. 

3.  Samuell,  b.  Apr.  24,  1772. 

4.  Eunice  Hall,  b.  May  2,  1774. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  8,  1776. 

Samuel  Camp,  s.  of  Joab,  m.  Mary  Row(?) 
d.  of  Daniel  of  Farmington,  Dec.  7, 
1769.     She  d.  Dec.  27,  1777. 

Samuel  and  Tryphena  Camp:^ 

Mary,  b.  May  11,  1781. 
Rhoda,  b.  Mch.  17,  1783. 
Phineas  Royce,  b.  July  14,  1785. 
Samuel,  b.  Feb.  2,  1787. 

Stephen  S.  Camp  from  Plymouth,  b.  July 
II,  1804,  m.  Abijjfail  Harrison  from 
North  Branford,  Nov.  14,  1832. 

1.  Marcus  Harrison,  b.  Mch.  26,  1835. 

2.  Maria  Mabel,  b.  Tune  3,  1841. 

3.  Sarah  Smith,  b.  Aug.  19,  1846. 


Cande 
Abiga 
CaroU 
Comfo 
Contei 

Enos 

Hat< 

[He 

Hanna 

Harve^ 

daT? 

Horace 

Veru 
May 

[i.  Ro 

Joseph 

Hant 

Jan. 
udd- 
1824. 

Julia  C 
and  G 

Levere 

Chan 

[Noah 
Samu 
Retui 

Clar 
Ri 
to 

Sally  I 

1831. 

Timoth 

1769. 
June 

J.    lose 

2.  Mar 

3.  Con 

James 

Suttc 

Mary  i 
Helen  ( 
Cynthi 

Rebecc 

1807. 

Rosett 

1843. 

Sarah 

Edwar 

Apr. 

Jared 

Russ 

Patty  < 
Polly  ( 

Preser 

of  [\ 


M** 


BISTORT  OF 


Caster.  Castle. 

W.  Humiston   [widow  of  Samuel  G.], 
ami  d,  of  Israel  Holmes,  June  [lo].  1S2S. 

J.   FranVlin.  b.  Dec,  lo,  1810;  d.  Apr.  19.  iBj(. 

1.   Fmnklii^  h.  Stpl.  30.  'in- 

i.  Cnjlta  Krederic.  b.  Sept.  aj,  .841. 

Restore  Carter  of  Philadelphia  m.  Emily 

Sperry  [d.  of  Anson),  Nov.  20,  1838. 
Sarah  Case  m.  Rev,  Abr.  Fowier,  17S1. 
Dennis  Casey  m.  Mary  Sheehan,  Feb. 

1851. 
tohn  Casey  rn.  Bridget  McCabe,  Apr.  1 

1851. 
James  Cass  m.    Mary  Boylan,  Jan. 

iflso.' 
James  CassJan  m.  Honora  Delaaey,  Nc 

Abishai  Castle,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Merria 
Bradley,  d.  of  Ebeneier,  Mch.  14.  i;' 
,.  Bradiej,  b,  Dec.  s,  1761;  d-  Julj  '9.  '777- 
■..  A.h=r,  b.  M.y  ..^  ijSj. 
1.  Surih,  b.  Apt.  19, 1765. 

4.  Filo,  h.  Feb.  16,  1715s. 

5.  MoM«,  b.  July  .6,  .770. 

7.  Saranel,  b.  Apr.  n,  1777- 
Asatael  Castle,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Deborah 
Allen,  d.  of  Gideon,  May  is,  1745- 

1.  T«pher,  b.  F»h.  H.  '74S-6. 
1.  Levi,  b.  Oct.  !.3,  1717- 


Castle.  Chatfiei. 

Marcia  d,  Apr.  ii,  1.S21,  and  Isaac  n 


J,  John,  b,  Apr.  J4,  .7SJ. 
Asher  Castle  m.  Phobe  Merriman,  Dec. 

28,  17S4." 
David  E.  Castle  m,  Marv  Martin,  Dec, 

IS.  '850. 
Harriet  Castle  m.  Philander  Hiiie,  1836. 
Isaac  Castle,  s.  of  Isaac  of  Woodbury, 

ni.  Tapher  Warner,  d.  of  John,  Jan.  21, 


s.  Atiiba.  b.  J«..  «,.  .737-s. 
Tapher  d.  July  20.  1740,  a.nd_Isaac_n 


r-Jf-. 


b.'^;p" 


133a. 


1.  Ju» 


Jehiel  Castle  m.  Mary  Johnson— both  pf 

Wooclbridge — Jan.  20,  iSoj.* 
Marcia  Castle  m.  C.  E.  Moss,  1S42. 
Polly  Castle   in.   Woodward  Hotchldis, 

Samuel  and  Hannah  |  Hotchkiss]  Castle: 

EmelJnt;  m.  Edward  Cbilicnden. 
Li^iy;  va.  (ieorge  Nanbrop. 

Samuel  A.  Castle,  s.  of  Samuel  of  IV>s- 
pect,  m,  Mary  Ann  Steele,  d.  of  EHsha. 
May  7,  iS4(j, 


Sarah  Castle  m.  Harvey  Judd,  1782.' 
Satab  Castle  m,  Willis  Johnson.  1S43, 
Beth  Castle  m.  Olive  Stevens,   Dec,  2S, 

Tapher  Castle  m,  William  Tuttle,  176;. 
Stephen  M.  Cate  from  Meredith,  N,  H., 

m.  Adelia  E.  Ovitt.  d.  of  Amus,  Mch. 

i3,  1839. 

I,  Siephen  M,.  b,  Apr,  6.  1B40, 

a,   Imoeint  AuElut^b,  J»n,  n.  18,4, 

J,  AdeT.S  Ellen,  b.  Nov,  jd,  1846, 

William  Cay  of  Cheshire  m,  Fanny  Far- 
rcU,  d.  of  Zebah,  Feb,  3.  1827. 

Rev.  Jabez  Chadwick  m.  Miss  Sarah 
Stewart  of  Lee,  Mass,.  Jan,  8,  1801, 


Mary  Chambers  m.  Wni,  Warner,  170s. 
Hannah  Chapman  ni.   Reuben   Parker, 

Maria  Chapman  ra.  Wm,  Dickinson, :S4o, 
Annah  Charles  m.  Ebenezer  Judd,  176;. 
John  C.   Chase  ra,   Marj'  A,   Beman  of 

Waiicii,  Mch.  17,  1S51. 
Lucy  Chase  m,  Franklin  Potter,  iSjo, 
Willis  G.  Chase  of  N'ew  Preston  m,  Chloe 

A,  Potter  [d,  of  Samuel],  Mch,  17,  iSji. 
AnnaChatfield  m.  David  Wooster.  iSii. 


Isaac  B.  Castle,  s,  of  John  of  Watertown, 
m.  Marcia  Chittenden.  A.  of  Asahel, 
Esq.,  of  Prospect, 


tfass.,  b.  Apr,  15, 

1!  Ijion.  EliMbiih!b!  Mci 

|:  K^oJ  M.ii  h.  Jm.  13.  Va^, 

filleph  Ei»Brd,ij.Apt.  14,  1843. 
enry  Delisn,  b.  Fek  iB,  1645. 


,B3,, 


FAMILY  BECOM 


Chatfield.  Chatfield. 

Charles  T.  Chatfield  [s.  of  James],  m 
Mary  E.  Andrews  [d.  of  Benjamin  H.], 
Oct.  15,  1850. 

Cyrus  Chatfield  m.  Philena  Martin  of 
Prospect,  Apr.  2,  1848. 

Daniel  Chatfield  [s.  of  William,  m.  Pru- 
dence Baldwin,  d.  of  James.  He  d. 
July  II,  1818,  a.  83;  she,  Mch.,  1828,  a. 
92. 

Daniel.     Reuben.] 
James,  bap.  Mch.  19,  1780.I 

Daniel  Chatfield  [s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Esther 
Lounsbury.     She  d.  May  6,  1848,  a.  76. 

1.  David,    a.  Leonard.]     Enos,  Esther,  Polly,  who 

m.  J.  N.  Morriss,  and  Anna  Maria  who  ni. 
Zenas  Bronson,  were  bap.  Apr.  28,  1817.1 

David  Chatfield,  b.  Sept.  9.  1794,  s.  of 
Daniel,  m.  June  5,  1820,  Polly  Hitch- 
cock, b.  June  10,  1795,  d.  of  Caleb  of 
Southington. 

z.  Jane  E.,  b.  Aug.  2a,  1822;  m.  M.  £.  Judd. 

2.  Polly  Ann,  b.  Sept.  5,  1824. 

3.  Cvrus,  b.  May  16,  1826. 

4.  Fidelia,  b.  Feb.  16,  1828. 

5.  Emeline,  b.  Mch.  3,  1833. 

Dennis  Chatfield,  s.  of  Joseph,  ni.  Mary 
Jane  Matthews,  d.  of  Zeba,   Dec.   18, 

1.  Charles  D.,  b.  May  29,  1840. 

2.  Frances  Jane,  b.  July  2,  1842. 

3.  Lyman  B.,  b.  Jan.  28,  1845. 

Henry  Chatfield,  s.  of  Joseph,  and  Re- 
becca Merriman,  b.  Sept.  14, 1813,  d.  of 
Samuel  of  Plymouth  (and  wid.  of  Henry 
Terrill),  m.  Aug.  29,  1836. 

1.  Ellen,  b.  Oct.  3,  1838. 

2.  Emma.  b.  Aug.  i,  1840. 

3.  John  Henry,  b.  Sept.  15,  1843. 

4.  James  Madison,  b.  Oct.  28,  1845. 

Isaac  Chatfield,  Jr.,  m.  Sabria  Beebe, 
Nov.  I,  i8o6.* 

James  Chatfield,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Tamer 
Nichols,  d.  of  Simeon.  Mch.  4,  1812. 
She  d.  Apr.  30,  1822,  and  James  m. 
Huldah  Iiikcox  [d.  of  Timothy],  June 
16,  1824. 

I.  A  son,  b.  and  d.  May  9,  1825. 

[2.  Charles  Timothy,  b.  June  21,  1826.] 

Joseph  Chatfield  [m.  Polly,  d.  of  David 
and  Submit  (Hotchkiss)  Payne.] 

Joseph  Edward. 

Fanny,  b.  May  27,  1803;  m.  Ed.  Russell. 
Rebecca;  m.  R.  M.  Wheeler,  1828. 
Mitty  [b.  July  13,  1806];  m.  Albert  Wooster. 
Burrit,  b.  Feb.  27,  1808. 
Mary  [d.  unmarried]. 
Dennis,  b.  July  3,  1812. 
Henry,  b.  Sept.  10,  1816. 
Samuel.     All  these  bap.  Apr.  11,  1821.I 
Jane  Bradley,  bap.  Oct.  14,   1821    [adopted  by 
Lyman  Bradley,  and  m.  Dr.  Blakeslee]. 

Joseph  Edward  Chatfield  [s.  of  Joseph] 
m.  Nancy  Scovill,  d.  of  William,  Nov. 
24,  1823. 

Jane  and  George,  bap.  July  6,  1828. 


Chatf 

Nan 
Phel 
Dec. 

[El 

Jose] 
Hun 

Mary  { 

Samue 
and 


4.  Joa 

5.  San 

6.  Jo9< 

7.  Josi 

8.  Rac 

J  cam 
m.  wi 

(She 

Samuel 
Oct.  s 

Elizabe 

1.  Ruhi 

Samuel 

his  w 
in  the 

I.  And 

[Mahf 
John 
wid.  ( 
She  T 
Josep 

Harriet 
John  C 

6.  Sara 

7.  Simi 

Elizabe 

Hiram 

beth 
riage 
mout 
Sept. 

Sabra  ( 

Hunj  : 

Samuel 

b.  Ju 
Ham  I 
Dec. 

X.  Sai    . 

2.  Sh    I 

I:  ^ 

5.  Ge 

6.  To     I 

7.  Ti 

8.  Ra    I 

9.  Ds 

TO,    El'       i 

XX.  M( 


mSTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 


CHiPMAN.  CLAKK, 

Samuel  D.  Chipnuui,  s.  of  Samuel,  m. 
Julia  Baldwin,  d.  of   David,  Apr.   21, 


«lha  A.,  b.  tuiy  )o. 
ihn  B..  b.  Mch.  iS.  la 


William  Chipman,  b.  Aug.  i6,  iSii.  3.  of 
Samuel,  m.  May  6,  1S40,  Roweaa  Bald- 
win,  b.   Apr.   11,    i3i6,   d.   of   Elias  of 
Humphreysville. 
I.  lane  Eliiabelh.  b.  Sepl.  10.  7841. 
1.  3u«i.  Nancy,  b.  Nov.  is,  i8m- 

[Asahel  Chittenden,  s.  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mehitable  (Beebe).  m.  Anna  Lewis,  d. 
of  John,  Jr.,  1783.     He  d.  May,  1813. 

..  ClarilM.b.  Mch.3.  ,,84. 
3,  Amanda,  b.  D«.,  17S7. 

'"""'''iiE™"" 


>.  Edna 


9.  Richard  Handy,  b.  Dec,,  1B09.] 

Edward  Chittenden,  s.  of  Asahel  of  Pros- 
pect m.  Bmeline  Castle,  d.  of  Samuel, 
Apr.  3.  1823. 

I.  Emelinc.  b.  [n  Proipect.  May  91.  i3l9. 
a.  Elltn  A.,  b.  in  PfMptcI,  JaM  .j,  1831. 

David  Chriaee  and  Hannah  [Wilmot 
were  mar.  in  Bethlehem  Society,  Nov. 
15.  1753. 

..  l«niioa|  b.  in  Woodbuiy,  Ma 
a.  Mary.b.  in  W«  - 


fHibury.  May  si, 
buiy,  Ucb.  lo.  t: 


Abigail  Church  m.  Erastus  Welton,  1776. 
George  Watson  Church,   bap.  June  22, 


Cla«k.  Clark. 

Amos  [3.  of  John]  and  Eunice  Clark: 

^i;«a  EmdiK'p^f,;!^?"'  S  "'""' 

Asahel  Clark,  b,  Aug.  g.  1739.  son  of 
William,  m.  Dec.  ig,  iSis.  Ruth  A. 
Selkrig.  b.  July  sS,  1791.  d.  of  Osee  of 
Litchfield. 

Edirin.  b.  Occ.  14,  iSij;  d.  Kov.   13. 


'«3t- 


:ph  Hopblna, 


^  Stpl.  4 


'■£L.... 

k  F^nMvik.'V.'lioy.  nVsjs: 'i^E?'w"'l'i=n 

7.  Em.liiH!  Eliza,  b.   Mch.   17,  iBj8;  d.    Nov.    ; 

iStl. 

8.  Jad*  Rebtcca,  b.  May  6,1831;  d.  Feb.  n,  iS, 
o.  tharie.  Rodney,  b.   fuly  ,.  ,8jj. 

10.  Manha  Jane.  b.  Met.  ,,,  1836. 
Betsey  Clark  m.  Thomas  Judd,  iSoo. 
Betsey  Clark  m.  Russell  Todd,  1S36. 
Caleb  Clarlc  m.  Lois  [How,  Jan.  ig,  172 

1.  Mar^ry.  b.  Apr.  14.  1733;  en.  Slcpbca  Jddc 


I.  Aitrahain  Barnes  ud 

II  that  b.  in  Wallingford,  arc  ndi  manuooed 

in  Caleb-.  «ll,l 

in  Waterbury: 

b,  b.  Dec.  14.  173a. 

iet,  b.Sep^,^^'I7^7^    '     "'""''' 

Caleb  m.   Apr.  jo,  1750,   Rebecca,  wid. 
of  Samuel  Thomas,  andd.  July  29,  1768. 
Caleb  Clarlc,  s.  of  Caleb,  m.  Elizabeth 
How,  d.  of  Daniel,  Nov.  6.  1756. 


Cyrus  Clark,  Esq.,  s.  of  Ebenezer  of 
Washington,  m.  Nancy  Bronson.  d.  of 
Mark,  dec'd,   Feb.  5.  1S07,  and  d.  Jaa. 


'lephtn  Olin.  b.  Ocl.  14.  1843. 


".i8.3;d.S 
8ij;in.  tValL 


Zeba.  Sept.  26,  1S42. 

.,  flora  Coidilia,  b.Jnly  1.  1846. 
Thomas  Claffey  m.   Mary  Phalan,  Jan., 
1S40. 

2.  Frank,"  b!  Sept.  1',  1844. 
,.  Thomoi,  b.  July  17.  .346. 

Alice  Clark  m.  John  Weed,  1735. 
Allen  Clark  of  Mitford  m.  Charlotte  Guil- 
ford, Nov.  2S,  1832. 


James* Ed<«rd,  bap.  June  i6,  1S14. 
"Polly  d.  July  16,  iSii]  and  Daniel  t 


FAMILY  RECO, 


Clark.  Clark. 

Daniel  B.  Clark  m.  Delia  A.  Welton  of 
Wolcott.  Mch.  27,  1834. 

David  Clark,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Hannah 
Nichols,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Lebanon,  Oct. 
27,  1772. 

I.  Hannah,  b.  June  5,  1774;  m.  Reuben  Adams. 

[Edward  Clark,  s.  of  Eli.  m.  Caroline 
Smith,  d.  of  Matthew,  Aug.  26,  1823. 
She  d.  Dec.  21,  1836,  and  Edward  m. 
Maria  P.  Stone,  d.  of  Ezekiel,  Dec.  6, 
1837,  and  d.  Feb.  5,  1849. 

I.  Edward  Payaon,  b.  Apr.  10,  1845.] 

Edward  S.  Clark  from  Westhampton, 
Mass.,  m.  Sophia  D.  Clark  from  Hat- 
field. Mass.,  Oct.  16.  1844. 

I.  Catherine  Sophia,  b.  Aug.  xo,  1845. 

Eli  Clark,  s.  of  Timothy,  m.  Rebeckah 
Benedict,  d.  of  Aaron,  Dec.  28,  1792, 
and  d.  Dec.  20,  1843. 

1.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  3,  1793;  d.  Sept.  7,  1816. 

2.  Polly,  b.  July  31,  1796;  m.  Merlin  Mead. 

3.  Maria,  b.  Mch.  xa,  1799;  m.  Solomon  M.  Smith 

of  New  York,  May  13,  iSao.  He  d.  Apr.  10. 
x82a,  and  she  m.  [Rev.]  John  T.  Baldwin  of 
New  Milford. 

4.  Harriet,  b.  Nov.  30,  i8oa;  m.  Edward  Scovill. 

5.  Edward,  b.  June  4,  1805. 

6.  Eli  Benedict  b.  Feb.  22,  1808. 

7.  Charles,  b.  Nov.  22,  1810. 

8.  Mary  Ann,  b.  July  20,  18x3. 

9.  Timothy  Bronson,  b.  Nov.  10,  1815. 
10.  James,  b.  Sept.  x8,  1818. 

Elias  Clark  from  Washingfton,  b.  Feb. 
24,  1780.  and  Elizabeth  B.  Newton  from 
Roxbury,  b.  May  26,  1781,  m.  Oct.  8, 
1 801. 

1.  Samuel  Goodrich,  b.  July  X9,  1802;  d.  Feb.  x6, 

1803,  in  Washington. 

2.  Elizabeth  M.,  b.  Dec.  x6,  1803;  m.  R.  Holmes. 

3.  Elias  Newton,  b.  Oct.  7,  1806;  d.  July  is,  1812. 

4.  Thomas  Elmore,  b,  Jan.  3,  1808;  d.  Nov.    17, 

18^0,  in  Arkansas. 

5.  Daniel  Baker,  b.  Oct.  17,  18x1. 

6.  Elias  Newton,  b.  Nov.  14,  1814. 

7.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  July  i,  1817;  m.  Henry  Minor. 

8.  George  Hobart,  b.  Mch.  xs,  i8ai;  d.  Aug.  24, 

1840,  in  Arkansas. 

Eliphalet  Clark  m.  Abigail  Garnsey  [b. 
in  Milford,  1726],  d.  of  Jonathan  (ist). 
She  d.  June  17,  1746. 

1.  Abigail,  b.  May  11,  1746;  m.  Jonas  Hikcox. 

Eliza  Clark  m.  Edward  Marks,  1S38. 

Elon  Clark  from  Milford,  b.  May  12, 1792, 
and  Lois  Fenn  from  Middlebury,  b. 
Dec.  26,  1794,  m.  Feb.  4,  1813. 

X.  Benjamin  Fenn,  b.  Oct.  31,  1815. 

2.  Charles  D..  b.  July  20,  X822. 

Lois  d.  May  i,  1827,  and  Elon  m.  Sally 
B.  Hull.  d.  of  Jo.seph,  Oct.  18,  1827. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  25,  1828;  m.  C.  S.  Vancleef. 

4.  Elizabeth  M.,  b.  Mch.  5,  1830;  m.  Joel  Scott. 

5.  Frederic  S.,  b.  Mch.  22,  1832;  d.  Feb.  10,  1834, 

6.  Emily  A.,  b.  Sept.  17,  1836. 

Emma  Clark  m.  Charles  Upson,  1823. 


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88  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URY, 


Clark.  Clark. 

Phebe  Clark  m.  Ephraim  Roberts,  1770. 

Polly  Clark  m.  Elijah  Hotchkiss,  1795. 

Rebecca  Clark  m.  Daniel  Steele,  1790. 

Sally  Clark  m.  Bezaleel  Scott,  1827. 

Susan  J.  Clark  m.  G.  B.  Hazard,  1S41. 

Sylvester  Clark  of  Watertown  m.  Levina 
Beebe,  d.  of  Amzi,  dec'd,  of  Salem, 
Jan.  4,  1830. 

Thomas  Clark,  s.  of  William  of  Lebanon, 
m.  Sarah  Strong,  d.  of  John  of  Wind- 
sor, June  27,  1 71 7.  (Cloth  weaver,  in 
deed  of  1724.) 

1.  Marah,  b.  Oct.  31,  1718;  m.  Timothy  Judd  (not 

Benj.  Harrison). 

2.  Timothy,  b.  Mch.  22,  1721-22;  d.  Nov.  23,  1727. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  13,  1723;  m.  Stephen  Upson,  3d. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  31,    1726    [m.   Rev.   Solomon 

Mead,  Jan.  7,  1765;  d.  July  24,  1800I. 

5.  Hephztbah,  b.  Oct.  17,  1729;  m.  Jos.  Hopkins. 

6.  Timothy,  b.  May  19,  1732. 

7.  Esther,  b.  June  22,  1735;  m.  Phineas  Porter. 

8.  Thomas,  b.  Jan.  26,  1737-8. 

9.  David,  b.  Apr.  25,  1740. 

Sarah  d.  Sept.  iS,  1749,  and  Thomas 
m.  Mary  Harrison,  relict  of  Benjamin, 
July  30,  1760.  and  d.  Nov.  12.  1764. 

Thomas  Clark,  s.  of  Thomas,  Esq., 
dec'd,  m.  Mary  Hine,  d.  of  Daniel  of 
New  Milford,  Mch.  20,  1765. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Dec.  31,  1765;  d.  July  26,  1766. 

2.  Rusha,  b.  July  13,  1767. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  June  15,  1770;  m.  Lemuel  Harrison. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  xo,  1772. 

5.  Aurila  (Aurelia),  b.  Feb.  3,  1779. 

Her  soa,  Benjamin  Upson,  bap.  Apr.  28,  1817.I 

[Thomas  d.  suddenly  Oct.  25,  1779]  and 
Mary  m.  Benjamin  Upson,  Jan.  24, 
1780. 

Timothy^  Clark,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Sarah 
Hopkms,  d.  of  Timothy,  dec'd,  Nov.  4, 
1756. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  9,  1757*.  d.  May  6,  1770. 

Sarah  d.  Oct.  21, 1757,  and  Timothy  m. 
Hannah  Bronson,  d.  of  Isaac.  June  13, 

1759. 

2.  Aaael,  b.  July  i6,  1760  [d.  Dec.  16,  1787J. 

3.  William,  b.  June  ix,  1763. 

4.  Eli,  b.  Oct.  2,  1764. 

5.  Molle,  b.  Oct.  10,  X766. 

Hannah  d.  Sept.  15,  1783  [and  Timothy 
m.  his  third  wife,  Elizabeth  Porter,  d. 
of  Thomas.  She  d.  Feb.  i,  1815],  and 
he,  Sept.  18,  1824,  a.  92. 

Walter  Clark  of  Mobile  m.  Mary  Ann 
Clark  [d.  of  Cyrus],  Aug.  26,  1839. 

William  Clark,  s.  of  Timothy,  m.  Sarah 
Carrington  of  New  Haven,   Apr.   14, 

1785. 

Clarissa,   Laura,   Asahel,   Almira,   Elias,  Sally 

and  William,  bap.  July  z6,  xSox.l 
Fanny,  bap.  Apr.  29,  1804. 
Margaret,  bap.  Mch.  18,  1809. 


Clark.  Cole. 

William  Clark  m.  Nancy  J.  Adams,  Sept. 
iS.  1828. 

Mary  Clauson  (wid.)  m.  Timothy  Judd, 

1783. 

John  Cleary  m.  Mary  Rutigan,  Sept.  14, 

1851.8 

Cornelia  Cleaver  m.  David  Atkins,  1784.* 

Martha  Clemens  m.  Edmund  Woodford, 

1S47. 

Janett  Cleveland  m.  C.  P.  Welton,  1847. 

Mary  Cleveland  m.  Lucius  Curtiss,  1S37. 

William  J.  Cleveland  m.  Harriet  A.  Mer- 
rill. Oct.  II,  1849. 

Dr.  Daniel  Clifford: 

Hannah,  bap.  Apr.  3,  176S.9 
Elizabeth;  m.  Zenas  Hungerford,  1791. 

James  Harvy  Cobborn  m.  Eunice  Bun- 
nell, Feb.  19,  1784. 

1.  Rebekah,  b.  Feb.  i,  1785. 

2.  Chester,  b.  July  17,  1787. 

Asahel  Coe  and  Maria  [Wetmore]: 

Charles  Wetmore,  bap.  Aug.  2,  1831. 
Edward  Baldwin,  bap.  Sept.  i,  1833. 

Flora  Coe  m.  Anson  Stocking,  1825. 

Isaac  Coe,  s.  of  John  A.  Coe  of  Derby, 
m.  Augusta  A.  Hoadley,  d.  of  Hiel, 
Apr.  19,  1 841. 


I.  Catharine  Grace,  b.  Nov.  6,  1842. 
3.  Irving  Hiel,      ) 

and  Vb.  May  12,  1847. 

3.  Isaac  Harvey,  1 


Israel  Coe : ' 

Russell,  bap.  Sept.  x,  1822. 
Cornelia;  m.  Israel  Holmes,  1848. 

James  M.  Coe  m.    Bridget  Breeman — 
both  of  Wolcottville — Feb.  10,  1S49. 

John  Coe  of  Oxford  m.  Mary  Hoadley, 
Sept.  3.  1837. 

Orril  Coe  m.  Samuel  J.  Stocking,  1834. 

Robert  Coe  of  Bethany  m.  Emily  J.  Hor- 
ton.  May  18,  1842. 

Mary  Ann  Colby  m.  Orange  Gillet,  1834. 

John  Cole,  s.  of  John,  m.  Sarah  Page,  d. 
of  Timothy — all  of  Wallingford— Aug. 

24.  1754. 

I.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  28,  1755. 
a.  Thankful,  b.  Oct.  16,  1757. 

Sarah,  wife  of  John,  d.  Nov.  27.  1757. 

3.  Timothy,  by  his  second  wi/e^  b.  Oct.  la,  1759. 

4.  John,  b.  July  18,  1761. 

5.  Luraine,  D.  Nov.  17,  1763. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  Aug.  26,  1766. 

Mary  A.  Cole  m.  Edgar  Hotchkiss,  1843. 

Moses  Cole  [s.  of  Samuel  of  Wallingford] 
and  Mary: 

3.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  17,  1751. 

4.  Moses,  b.  Aug.  4,  1753. 


FAMILY  RECOl 


Coles.  Constant. 

Sarah  Coles  d.  Jan  30,  181 1,  a.  80.' 

Thomas  Cole  [s.  of  Thomas  and  Martha 
(Judd),  m.  June  20, 1744,  Mary  Williams, 
b.  Sept.  25,  1 719,  d.  of  James.  He  d. 
Mch.  I,  1805. 

I.  Eunice];  m.  Samuel  Doolittle. 

a.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  24,  1747;  d.  July  6,  1749. 

3.  A  son,  b.  Oct.  26,  1749. 

4.  Abi^rail,  b.  Nov,  26,  1751;  d.  Mch.  9,  1776. 

5.  Levy  (son),  b,  June  8,  1753. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  28,  1755  [m.  Gideon  Leavenworth 

of  Woodbury,  and  d.  1836J. 

7.  Experience,  |  d.  Jan.  14,  1788. 

and         Vb.  Feb.  22,  1758- 

8.  Sarah,  )  m. Woodruff. 


i 


9.  Thomas,  b.  Nov.  20,  1760. 

William  and  Esther  Coal: 

9.  Benjamin,  b.  May  29,  1759. 

10.  Reuben,  b.  Sept.  9,  1761. 

See  also  Cowles. 

Rozana  Coley  m.  G.  P.  Andrews,  1845. 

Eunice  Collins  m.  James  Hickcox,  1777.' 

John  Collins  m.  Mary  Thompson,  Feb.  5, 
1S51. 

Sheldon  Collins,  b.  May  14,  18 14,  s.  of 
Ahira  of  Nau.,  m.  Lucy  Newton,  b. 
1822,  d.  of  William  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 
May  14,  1845. 

X.  William  Newton^  b.  Mch.  14,  1846. 

Letetia  Combs  m,  Stephen  C.  Warner, 
1841. 

William  Comes  fb.  1781,  s.  of  William 
and  Eunice  (Weed),  m.  Esther  Bron- 
son,  Sept.  21,  1802,  in  Waterbury. 

William  Dennis,  b.  May  7,  2808.] 
Janette  Belinda,  bap.  May  5,  x8i6.l 

[Dr.]  Roger  Conant,  s.  of  Col.  [Shubael] 
of  Mansfield,  m.  Elizabeth  Bronson.  d. 
of  Thomas,  dec'd,  July  14,  1774,  and  d. 
Feb.  8,  1777  [in  his  33d  year,  on  Long 
Island ;  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.     His  widow  m.  Josiah  Hatch]. 

1.  Clarissa,  b.  Oct.  4,  1775;  d.  Apr.  1,  1777. 

Jonathan  Condar  of  New  London  m. 
Mary  Gillemore,  Nov.  12,  1848. 

Edward  Condrum  m.  Maria  Sullivan — 
both  of  Naugatuck — Sept.  23,  1850. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Conklin  d.  in  Waterbury, 
Apr.  5,  1765. 

Catharine  Conkling  m.  Culpepper  Fris- 
bie,  and  Jesse  Leavenworth,  1761. 

Patrick  Conlon  m.  Catharine  Reed,  May 

15.  1850- 
John    Connor    m.    Bridget    McDonner 

(McDonald),  in  Ireland,  1845. 

X.  Dennis,  b.  Nov.  30,  1845. 

2.  Ellen,  b.  May  28,  1847. 

[Silas  Constant  m.  Amy  Lewis,  d.  of 
John,  and  d.  at  Yorktown,  N.  Y.,  Mch. 
22.  1825 — Pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church.] 


Cook 

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40  Ap 


HiarORT  OF  WATSRBUET, 


Cook.  Cook. 

John  Cook  m.  Martha  Shipley,  May  17, 
1846. 

Jonathan  Cook,  s.  of  Henry,  m.  Ruth 
Lutington  of  New  Haven,  June  15, 
1735- 

1.  Jonathan,  b.  Mch.  29,  1736. 

2.  jes»€,  b   Feb.  i,  1739. 

3.  Titus,  b.  May  2,  1741. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  21,  1744. 

5.  Abel,  b.  May  18,  1747. 

Joseph  Cook,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Anna  Bron- 
son,  d.  of  Ezra,  Aug.  18,  1792. 

1.  Edward  Bronson,  b.  Mch,  x8,  1793. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  12,  1794. 

3.  Susanna  Judd,  b.  Oct.  25,  1797;  m.  Mark  Leav- 

enworth. 
4    Sally  Leavenworth,  b.  Oct.  31, 1799;  m.  Solomon 
Curtis. 

5.  Nancy,  b.  Nov.  16,  rSoi;  m.  William  Scovill. 

6.  Nathan,  b.  Jan.  8,  1804. 

7.  George,  b.  Apr.  8,  x8o6  [d.  Jan.  19,  1815]. 

8.  George  William,  b.  Feb.  28,  1811. 

[Joseph  Cook  d.  Mch.  26,  1855,  and  his 
wife  ten  hours  after,  on  the  same  day.] 

Joseph  Cook,  formerly  from  Eng.,  m. 
Rutha  Granniss,  wid.  of  Caleb,  Jan.  3, 

1827. 

Lucian  P.  Cook  of  Barnwell,  S.  C,  m. 
Sarah  B.  Judd  [d.  of  Hawkins],  Oct. 
15,  1838. 

Lucy  Cook  m.  Isaac  Benham. 

Martin  Cook  of  Southington  m.  Jerusha 
Frost  [wid.  of  Alpheus],  Mch.  19.  1S38. 

Mary  Cook  m.  J.  W.  Dermott,  1851. 

Moses   Cook    [eldest   s.    of   Samuel    of 
Wallingford  m.  Sarah  Culver,  June  18, 
•  1740. 

1.  Charles,  b.  Tune  3,  1742;  m.  Sybel  Munson. 

2.  Moses,  b.  >Iay  30,  1744. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  June  13,  1747;  d.  in  Middlebury,  Apr. 

5,  1823,  unmarnedj. 

Children  born  in  Waterbury: 

4.  Esther,  b.  Jan.  27,  1749-50  [m.  Joseph  Beebe]. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  15,  1752;  ra.  Tienj.  Baldwin. 

6.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  xo,  1755;  m.  Titus  Bronson. 

Sarah,  d.  Jan.  4,  1760,  and  Moses  m. 
Dinah,  wid.  of  Benj.  Harrison,  Jr.,  June 
7,  1762,  who  d.  Oct.  4,  1792. 

7.  Lydia,  b.  Mch.  27,  1765;  m.  John  Hickcox. 

The  above  Moses  Cook  died  by  a  wound 
upon  his  head,  which  wound  was  occa- 
sioned by  a  stroke  from  an  Indian  with 
a  flat-iron  which  weighed  4^  lbs.,  on 
the  7th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1771, 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Clarks,  in  Bethany, 
and  expired  the  12th  day  of  said  De- 
cember. Said  Indian  had  his  trial  the 
Feb.  following,  for  murdering  the  above 
s'd  Cook,  and  sentence  to  be  hang'd  on 
the  17th  day  of  June  following. 


Cook.  Corcoran. 

Moses  Cook,  Jr.,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Jemiah 
Upson,  d.  of  Joseph,  dec*d.  Nov.  4,  1766. 
She  d.  Mch.  6,  1821  [he,  Dec.  1831]. 

1.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  4,  1767. 

2.  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  27,  1769;  d.  1835,  mimarried. 

3.  Daniel  b  Jan.  5,  1773. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  5,  1775. 

5.  Anna,  b.  Mch.  8,  1778;  m.  Mark  Leavenworth. 

6.  Elias,  b.  Dec.  26,  1783. 

Samuel  Cook,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Charity 
Warner,  b.  June  15,  1796,  d,  of  Enos, 
Nov.  7,  1813. 

1.  Anna  Maria,  b.  Sept.  28,  1815;  m.  L.  E.  Rice, 

[Samuel,  d.  Jan.  22,  1835.  and]  Charity 
m.  Leveret  Candee. 

Samuel  Cook  of  Winchester  m.  Sarah  A. 
Downs.  Oct.  21,  1835. 

Sarah  Cook  m.  Ezekiel  Sanford,  1765, 

Sarah  Cook  m.  Amos  Seymour,  1787. 

Sibble  Cook  m.  Samuel  Hills,  1791. 

Sybel  Cook  m.  Thomas  Welton,  1797. 

William  Cook  [s.  of  Zenas,  and  Mari- 
etta Plumb,  d.  of  Aaron,  m.  1837. 

Aaron  Plumb,  b.  1838:  died  1830. 

Carlos  Wilcox,  b.  1830;  d.  1841.J 

George  Augustus  ana  Celestia  Ashley,  bap.  Sep. 

4»  1842.1 
[Carlos  Wilcox,  b.  about  1844.] 

*Zenas  Cook,  s.  of  Joel  of  Plymouth,  ra. 
Polly  Lewis  [d.  of  Samuel.  Jr. J  Feb. 
1800. 

X.  William,  b.  Apr.  X7,  1802,  in  Plymouth. 

2.  Sarah  Curtiss,  b.  Jan.  16.  1807,  in  Plymouth. 

3.  George  L.,  b.  June  6,  1809,  in  Salem;  d.  Not. 

28,  I 831. 

Polly  d.  Aug.  24,  1809,  and  Zenas 
m.  Betsey  Porter,  d.  of  Col.  Phineas, 
May  20,  TSio,  and  d.  April  25.  1S51. 

4.  Lucien  Porter,  b.  in  Salem,  Mch.  18,  18 n 

5.  Harriet  M..  b.  Dec.  9,  1812;  m.  H.  H.  Peck. 

6.  Catharine  L.,  July  2.  1815;  m.  Augustus  Smith. 

7.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  27,  1818. 

Mary  J.  Cooley  m.  C.  J.  Godfrey,  1834. 

Betsey  J.  Cooper  m.  E.  E.  Prichard,  1S27. 

Desire  Cooper  m.  Peter  Welton,  1766. 

Sary  Cooper  m.  Samuel  Frost,  1759. 

William  Cooper  from  Eng.,  b.  Dec.  i5» 
1 8 19,  m.  in  New  Haven,  Aug.  20,  1843. 
Elizabeth  Beardslee,  b.  Dec.  19,  1827, 
d.  of  Eleazer  of  New  Haven. 

1.  John  Henry,  b.  in  New  Haven,  July  3,  1844. 

2.  Sarah  Elizabeth,  b.  June  8,  1846. 

John  Corcoran  m.  Elizabeth  Neville,  Jan. 
28,  1841. 

1.  Margaret  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  29,  1842. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  31.  1844. 

Margaret  Corcoran  m.  Ed.  Stanley,  1835. 


*  Zenas  Cook  had  thirteen  grandchildren,  and  bat  two  great-grandchildren :  William  Cook  and  Edward 
Elliot,  sons  of  Celestia  Cook  and  Ezra  Haskill  of  New  York. 


FAMILY  RECOR 


CORCX)RAN.  COWELL. 

Timothy  Corcoran  of  Ireland  and  Sarah 
Glover  of  Birm.,  Eng.,  m.  Jan.  7,  1831. 
Children  bom  in  Waterbury: 

1.   Tames,  b.  Jan.  7,  1833. 
3.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  29,  1835. 

3.  Rosetta,  b.  Jan.  7,  1839. 

4.  Sarah  Ann,  b.  Dec.  3,  1841. 

5.  Timothy,  b.  Dec.  29,  1846.  * 

William  Corcoran,  d.  May  9, 1841,  a.  34.' 

Mercy  Gillett  Coshier  m.  Henry  Wooster, 
1773. 

John  Cossit,  s.  of  Ranne  of  Simsbury,  m. 
Mary  Hopkins,  d.  of  Capt.  Timothy, 
dec'd,  May  13,  1760. 

1.  Orpha  b.  June  28,  1761;  m.  William  Adams. 

Mary,  d.  Tan.  11, 1765,  and  John  m.  Su- 
sanna Kiflum,  relict  of  Dan.,  Sept.  23, 
1767. 

2.  John,  b.  Oct.  28,  1768. 

3.  Susanna,  b.  Oct.  26,  1770. 

4.  Chauncey,  b.  July  2a,  177a;  d.  Sept.  35,  1776. 

John  Cossett,  Jr.,  s.  of  John,  m.  Rebecca 
Hine,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  June  17,  1799. 

X.  Isabinda,  b.  Nov.  15,  1799. 
a.  Almedia,  b.  Feb.  23,  1801. 

3.  Ranney,  b.  May  14,  i8oa. 

4.  Alma,  b.  Nov.  28,  1803. 

5.  Susanna,  b.  May  12,  1806. 

6.  Rinaldo,  b.  June  29,  1808. 

[Lydia  Cosset  d.  June  26,  1821,  a.  95.] 

Mary  Cosset  m.  Thomas  Welton,  1742. 

Thomas  Costly  (Costello  ?)  m.  Catherine 
.  McMahon,  Feb.  18,  iSsi.* 

William  Coughlan  m.  Bridget  Bannon, 
July  3,  1849. 

Elizabeth  Cowd  m.  Thomas  Jones. 

William  Cowd  from  Eng.  m.  LeveAnn 
Grilley,  d.  of  Henry,  Feb.  6,  1837. 

I.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Mch.  7,  1838. 

a.  Leve  Ann,  b.  Jan.  8,  1844. 

3.  Harriet  Elizaliieth,  b.  Aug.  ao,  1846. 

Amasa  Cowel,  s.  of  James,  m.  Susanna 
Sperry,  d.  of  Jesse,  Nov.  22,  1790. 

X.  Stephen  Upson,  b.  May  29, 1791. 

Frances,  wife  of  James,  from  Milford 
Church,  1811.^ 

Betsey  Cowel  m.  Lyman  Allen,  1831. 

Charles  Cowell  m.  Ellen  Bronson,  June 
29,  1851. 

Nelson  Cowell,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Jennet 
Bronson,  b.  Dec.  2,  1817,  d.  of  Joseph 
and  Polly  of  Prospect,  Sept.  20,  1836. 

1.  George.  Hubert,  b.  Mch.  25,  1840. 

2.  Julia  Annett,  b.  Aug.  20,  1843. 

Samuel  Cowell,  b.  Oct.  4,  1786  [s.  of 
James  of  Milford],  m.  Polly  Baldwin, 

5» 


Co  WEI 

b.  Ji 
brid 

« 

1.  Bet 

2.  Ne 

3.  Ma 

4.  M« 

5.  Ge« 

6.  Jol 

7.  Ch4 

8.  Ma 

9.  Jul 

Stephc 
mera 
Osee 

I.  Alb 

a.  Em 

3.  Hal 

4.  Mai 

5.  Sus) 

6.  Nao 

7.  Io« 

8.  Mar 

9.  EUe 

Ira  Co* 

ingto 

Thoma 
Jan., 

Crissy, 

James 
d.  of 
and  ( 

1.  Ed^ 

2.  Ma  ; 

Timot) 

4.  Mo  I 

es  I 

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l^ 


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Johr 

Sat  . 
La  I 
An 
Ms  : 

Sara  1 
Salb  . 
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BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT. 


Culver.  Cuhtiss. 

Nov.  7,  1793.    [He  d.  SepL  7,  1S49,  a. 
76:  and  she.  1844.] 


6.  SMpbcn  Hopkins,  b.  Dec.  'xi,  iSio. 

7.  Mikl.  b.  Sept.  19,1816. 

Sylvia  Culver : ' 

Jane  Cumminga  m,  W.  B.  Gregory,  1S4S. 
M*ry  A.  Cammiogs  m.  H.  B.  Wolt.  1*50. 
Daniel  CniuiuiEliam  m.   Bridget   Do1a.n, 

July,  1846. 

,.  John.  b.  Mcb,  ,,  .3,,. 

m.    Mary   Glynn. 


Cu  BTISS.  CUKTIS. 

Eli  Curtisa  m.  Mary  Hopkins  [d.  of  John]. 

Feb.  24,  1783.' 
Enoch  [s.  of  Samuel]  and  Rachel  Curtiss: 

\.  EliMbilh'.VMch'.  s^'fj^a. 
Esther  M.  Curtis  m.  Bennet  Scott,  iSzg. 
[Esther  Merriam  Hull  Curtis  m.  Nathan- 

iel  Barnes,  1798,  Elisha  Wilcox,  1799, 

andd.  1839.] 
Gideon  Cnrtisa  m.  Zerviah  (Sutliflf),  wii 

of  Benjamin  HikcoK,  Apr.  3,  1810. 


y;  m.  A»  Dan 


Abel  and  Frcelove  Curtice: 

3.  David,  b.jM).8,  ,744-i. 

4.  Oliver,  b.  Del.  10,  I7.fi- 

5.  Free  Love,  b.  Jan.  lu. 

6.  Eiiiabelh,  b.  Apr.  ..' 
J.  Rchectiih,  b.  Sept.  15.  nil- 
g.  Hannuh,  b.  Apr.  to,  17S5. 
9.  AhLKail,  b.  Apr.  aj,  1761. 

Ad«h  Curtis  m.  Reuben  Matthews,  1772. 
Ambrose  Curtisa  m.  Sarah  Hungerford, 

^fay  14.  1850- 
[Lieut.]  Daniel  Curtice,  s.  of  Isaac  of 

Wallingford,  and   Letlice  [Ward]    his 

wife.    [She  d.  Oct.  i,  1749,  a,  39;  he. 

Dec.   1750.  a.  43.] 


>■  JA" 


1.  LUK  (Lucyl  b,  AuV.  2,, 


1    J.CI 


Sarah 
.,  Rutli, 


[1,  b.  Nov 


,.  Nov.  6, 


».  D-nW,  b.  Jul, 

[Daniel  Cnrtisa  of  Southbury  m.   Tryel 

Ward,  Nov.  16,  1768.] 
Daniel    Curtiss    of   Goshen    m,    Phebc 

Pritfhard,  Nov.  25,  1S39,  and   d.  Jan. 

11.  1844,  a.  31. 
David  Curtis  ni.  Elizabeth  Hill,  Apr.  ao, 

1769. 

Ebenezer  Curtiss,  [eldest]  s.  of  Daniel, 
dec'd,  m.  Annis.  d.  of  Ensign  John 
Warner,  Jan.  23,  1751-2. 


4.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  33.  'J^h 
s.  Marl(.b.Sep<.  ;,  17^1. 

6.  Phebe,  b,  Web.  ij,  i?^. 

7.  Tbomaa,  b.  Feb.  18.  17*1 
».  Levi.  b.  SepL  10,  ijae. 


1.  Leva,      I 


[Isaac  Curtiss,  s.  of  Daniel  of  Isaac,  m. 
Lydia  Foot.  d.  of  Moses,  Nire.  30. 1763. 
Shed.  Sept.  6,  17SS. 

..  Jo;ilham,  b,  Jan,  ,S,  ,765.] 

James  Curtis,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Jndah 
Elwell,  d.  of  Eben.  Sept.  4,  1751. 
1,  Sar.h  b.  M.j-  ,,  1,;.. 
a.  Hile.  b.  July  ;fi,  .754:  m.  Oliver  Curtii. 


James  Curtias  m.  Thankful  Weed,  May 

20,    1779. 

Jesse  Curtice,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  m.  Sa- 
rah Yale.  d.  of  Elibu  of  Wallingford, 
Dec.  IS,  (754- 


>,   I.yman.  h.  May  .5,  175c.. 

3.  Nfary.  b.  J.n.  j6,  „bv-  i.  Dec.  .76). 

John  F.  and  Esther  Curtis: 

Jotham  Curtiss,  s,  of  Daniel,  dec'd.  r 


Jotham  m.  Esther,  wid.  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min Hull.  1770. 

I.  Linus  Fenn,  1.  •>(  liaac. 


iMbeih,  b 
Leph.1 


™.  Gecsl 


Lucius  Curtisa,  3.  of  Gideon,  m.  Mai 
Cleveland  from  Goshen,  Sept.  12,  183' 

J.  Henry  L.,  b.  Nov.  o,  iSiB. 
1.  FranCiin,  b.  Feb.  14.  iS'i- 
f  Uwi'.C.'.b.-ijSy=V,"4i. 

L^ia  Curtiss  m.  C.  J.  Merriam,  1846. 
Maria  Curtis  m.  Bennett  Scott,  1829. 
Olive  Curtis  m.  Juhn  Blakeslee,  1745. 


FAMILY  RECOR 


Curtis.  Curtis. 

Oliver  Curtis  m.  Hila  Curtis,  Nov.  14, 
1774* 

X  Chloe,  b.  June  3,  1775. 

a.  F'rcclovc,  d.  June  24,  1777. 

3.  Clarissa,  b.  Aug.  22,  1779. 

4.  Hilas,  b.  Feb.  28,  1782 

5.  Cyrene,  b.  Nov.  27,  1784. 

6.  Alartha,  b,  Aug.  3,  1787. 

7.  Oliver,  b.  June  25,  1789. 

Patrick  Curtiss  from  Wolcott,  b.  Mch., 
1S17,  m.  Louisa  A.  Bacon  from  Bur- 
lington, Nov.,  1839. 

1.  George  William,  b.  July  30,  1840. 

2.  Emerett  Louisa,  b.  Apr.  9,  1843. 

Phebe  Curtis  m.  John  Porter,  1770. 
Phinehas  and  Mary  Curtis: 

1.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  lo,  1769. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  28,  1772. 

3.  Rebcckah,  b.  Dec.  23,  1774. 

4.  Zenas,  b.  Aug.  za,  1779. 

Rosanah  Curtis  m.  Martin  Boughton» 
1830. 

Samuel  Curtice,  s.  of  Stephen,  was  m.  to 
Dinah  Clark,  d.  of  Joseph,  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Samuel  Todd,  as  he  certifies,  May 

8.  1740. 

I.  Joseph,  b.  Feb.  3,  1740-1. 

a.  Alice,  b.  Jan.  5,  1743;  ra.  Isaac  Barnes. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Mch.  19,  1745. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  x,  1747. 

5.  Eli,  b.  Feb.  10,  1748-9. 

6.  Lois,  b.  Sept.  10,  1750;  m.  John  Stitliff,  Jr. 

7.  Titus,  b.  Nov.  13,  1752. 

8  Benjamin,  b.  July  6,  1755. 

9.  Dinah,  b.  Nov.  a,  1757. 

10.  Istai,  b.  Mch.  25,  1760. 

11.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  12,  1764. 

Sarah  Curtis:' 

Leavee  Smith,  bap.  June  6,  1779. 

Sarah  Curtis  m.  Marshal  L.  Terril,  1830. 

Simeon  Curtis,  Jr.,  of  Southbury  m. 
Hannah  Bronson,  May  18,  1831. 

Solomon  Curtis  of  Southington  m.  Sally 
L.  Cook,  d.  of  Joseph  and  Anna,  Jan. 
I.  1827. 

X.  Sarah  Emily,  b.  Feb.  15,  1828. 

Stephen  Curtis,  Jr.,  s.  of  Stephen  m. 
ThankfuU  Royce,  d.  of  Josiah  of  Wal- 
lingford,  Oct.  2,  1752.* 

X,  Stephen,  b,  July  20,  X752. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  20,  1754. 

3.  Caleb,  b.  Nov.  24,  1756. 

4.  Josiah,  b.  Sept.  25,  1758. 

5.  Felix,  b.  Dec.  9,  1761. 

6.  ThankfuU,  b.  May  27,  1763. 

William  E.  Curtis  of  New  York  m  Mary 
A.  Scovill  [d.  of  William  H.],  Sept.  2, 
1851.- 

I.  Williiim  Edmund,  b.  in  New  York  City,  June  2, 

1855. 


CURTK 

Zadoc 

25.  1 

X.  An 

Josepb 

nath 

X.  Sop 
2.  Ma 

L  email 

Hole 

Young] 

16,  I' 

X.  Am 

James 

setts 

Nancy 
1 841. 

Justice 
m.  L 
July 

I.  Elij 


2.  Elie 

3.  Joh 

t  h 

6.  Joh 

7.  San 

Amelia 


Ue 


I. 
3. 

3- 
4. 

5. 
6. 

7- 


Julia  A 
Asa  Dj 

Jur 

Asa  Di 

1772. 

Asa  as 

Ma 
Ly< 
Lu( 
A» 
Ani  I 

RO!    I 

Fre 

Eunice 

third 

Jemial 

1766. 

John  I 
abet 

Mary    , 

Titus  ] 
She 

X.  An    I 

2.  En    I 

3.  Pl>    I 

4.  Hi 

WUlia 

Es 

Samu( 

3.  Ar    I 

4  s. 

5.  Lc 


'*'  This  was  the  year,  it  will  be  remcml)ered,  when  the  chan 
the  new  year  began  Jan.  xst. 


44  Ap 


BISTORT  OF  WATBRBURT. 


Daverin.  Dayton. 

John  and  Jane  Daverin: 

John,  b.  Jan.  19,  1741-3. 

Eunice  R.  Davies  m.  W.  H.  Scovill,  1827. 

Lemuel  Sanford  Davies  of  New  Haven 
m.  Stella  Maria  Scovill  [d.  of  Edward], 
Sept.  14,  1847. 

Abel  H.  Davis  m.  Sarah  Benhamof  Mid- 
dlebury,  May  i,  1850. 

Ann  Davis  m.  W.  Davis  Luckn(?).  1844. 

Edward  Davis  m.  Ann  Farrell— both  of 
Naugatuck— Apr.  29,  1851. 

Emerett  Davis  m.  Harrison  Tomlinson, 
1841. 

Emily  Davis  m.  Constant  L.  Adams, 
1830. 

Hannah  Davis  m.  Richard  Welton,  177a 

Louisa  Davis  m.  Noble  Leavenworth, 
1824. 

Lucy  Davis  m.  Benajah  Bryan,  1780.* 

Lucy  Davis  m.  Hart  E.  Hubbell,  1848. 

Marietta  Davis  m.  N.  W.  Morgan,  1838. 

Morris  Davis  was  m.  to  Hannah  Doolit- 
tle,  d.  of  Thomas,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Richard 
Mansfield,  June  3.  1753. 

I.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  i,  1754. 

a.  Margaret,  b.  Sept.  20,  1756. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  May  7,  1759. 

4.  Cattern,  b.  Sept.  3,  1751  (1761). 

5.  Ann,  b.  Aug.  z8,  1764. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Sept.  131  1767. 

Rhoda  Davis  m.  Charles  Demorest,  1846. 

Sarah  M.  Davis  m.  Asa  A.  Yale,  1850. 

Thomas  Benedict  Davis,  b.  Jan.  5,  1819. 
from  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Emeline 
H.  Gunn,  b.  Jan.  i,  1822,  from  Water- 
town,  m.  Apr.  12,  1840. 

z.  Edward  Franklin,  b.  Dec.  24,  1845. 

Henry  Mills  Day,  s.  of  Rev.  Henry  N., 
was  b.  Oct.  20,  1838. 

John  Daye  m.  Margaret  Smyth— both  of 
Terryville— Jan.  7.  1850. 

Charles  Dayton,  s.  of  Capt.  Michael,  m. 
Sene  (Asenath)  Gernsey.  d.  of  David, 
Sept.  30,  1773- 

1.  Pliment,  b.  Oct.  17,  1774- 
a.  Charles,  b.  Sept.  17,  1776, 

3.  PoUc,  b.  Nov.  IX,  1778. 

4.  Roxana,  b.  Mch.  17,  1781.* 

5.  Chauncey,  b.  Mch.  i,  1783. 

6.  Matthew,  b.  Apr.  17,  1785. 

7.  John  Guernsey,  b.  Apr.  4,  1787. 

David  Dayton,  s.  of  Michael,  m.  Eliza 
beth  Welton,  d.  of  Peter,  Mch.  25, 1773. 

t.  Betty,  b.  Nov.  3,  1774. 

2.  David,  b.  Feb.  29;  d.  Dec.  30,  1777  (1776?). 
3    Sal,  b.  Dec.  2,  1778. 

4.  David,  b.  Dec.  3,  1781.* 

5.  Daniel,  b.  June  i,  1784. 

6.  Olive,  b.  Jan.  9,  1787. 

7.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.  15,  1789. 


Dayton.  Dennby. 

Justus  Dayton  m.  Hannah  Titus,  July 

10,  1777.8 

I.  spencer,  b.  Oct.  ai,  1778. 
3.  Russell,  b.  Sept.  9,  1780. 

3.  Rhoda,  b.  June  19,  178a, 

4.  Jonah,  b.  July  31,  1783, 

5.  Mehitable,  b.  Sept.  33,  1785. 

6.  Beulah,  b.  Feb.  30,  1787. 

Lyman  Dayton  m.  Abiah  Matthews,  July 
26,  1787.' 

I.  William,  b.  Feb.  34,  1788. 

Michael  Dayton,  s.  of  Isaac  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Mehitable  Doolittle,  d.  of 
Samuel  of  Wallingford,  Jan.  29,  1746-7. 

X.  Charles,  b.  Nov.  3,  1747. 
3.  David,  b.  July  23,  1749. 

3.  Mirriam,  b.  Jan.  26,  1751. 

4.  Michael,  b.  Sept.  11,  1752. 

5.  Justice,  b.  June  9,  1754. 

6.  MehitUble,  b.  Sept.  zz,  Z756;  m.  Samuel  Sey- 

mour. 

7.  Lowlv,  b.  Mch.  31,  Z758. 

8.  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  16,  Z759;  m.  Amasa  Mattoon. 

9.  Isaac,  b.  May  30,  1761. 
zo.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  27,  1762. 
ZZ.  Lyman,  b.  Aug.  27,  Z764. 
Z3.  Olive,  b.  Feb.  6,  Z766. 

James  Dean  m,  Mary  Biroy,  Sept.  i,  1851. 

Samuel  S.  DeForest  m.  Huldah  Hitch- 
cock, May  18,  1835.    . 

Finton  Delany  m.  Maria  Blakesley,  Feb. 
20,  1849. 

James  Delaney  m.  Eliza  Bowe,  June  4, 
1851.* 

John  Delaney  m.  Bridget  Doolan,  July 

11,  1851.® 

Matthew  Delany  m.  Bridget  Parker.  Oct. 
23,  1844. 

z.  Catharine,  b.  Aug.  4,  1845. 
3.  Martin,  b.  Apr.  z8,  Z847. 

Patrick  Delany  and  Mary  Delany  were 
m.  in  New  Haven,  Apr.  8,  1837. 

z.  John  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  zz,  Z838. 

Patrick  Delaney  m.  Mary  Finch  (?),  Nov. 
26,  1849. 

Thomas  Delany  from  Ireland  m.  Char- 
lotte Denny  from  New  Preston,  Aug.. 

1839. 

X.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  6,  Z840. 

William  Delaney  m.  Julia  Doolen,  May 
23,  1848. 

Tryphena  Delano  m.  Silas  Grilley,  1800. 

Horace  Deming  of  Woodbury  m.  Almira 
Amanda  Stoddard,  Nov.  23,  1831. 

Charles  Demorest  m.  Rhoda  S.  Davis, 
Nov.  I,  1846. 

William  Denair  m.  Catharine  Connor, 
June  21,  1848. 

George  W.  Denney  m.  Mary  Smith,  Feb. 
14,  1847. 


FAMILY  RECORl 


Dermott.  Doolittle. 

James  W.  Dermott  m.  Mary  Cook— both 
of  Plymouth — Feb.  i6,  1851. 

Michael  Devrick  m.  Alice  Denair,  Feb. 
20,  1848. 

William  Dick  of  Bytown,  Canada  West, 
m.  Maria  L.  Baldwin  of  Naugatuck, 
May  II,  1845. 

Charlotte  Dickerman  m.  Nathan  Piatt, 
1829. 

William  Dickinson  of  Say  brook  m.  Maria 
A.  Chapman  of  Berlin,  Mch.  17,  1840. 

James  Dillon  m.  Ann  Garvey  in  Ireland. 

I.  Francis,  b.  in  Ireland,  Aug.,  1841. 

Charity  Dixson  m.  Samuel  Hikcox.  1768. 

Phebe  Dodd  d.  Feb.  27,  i8i5.» 

Patrick  Doherty  m.  Margaret  Cassian — 
both  of  Watertown — July  15,  1849. 

Michael  Donahue  m.  Bridget  Co3'le  in 
New  Haven,  July  7,  1839. 


I.  Thomas,  b.  May  ao,  1840. 

W 


2.  Michael,  b.  in  Wisconsin,  Sept.  16,  1844. 

3.  Ellen,  b.  Dec.  16,  1846. 

Thomas  Donahue  m.  Christiana  Riley  in 
Ireland,  Oct,  1844. 

1.  Barney,  b.  Nov.  t,  1845. 

2.  Rosetta,  b.  Mch.  8,  1847. 

Cornelius  Donnelly  m.  Rachel  Elizabeth 
Lowry  in  Ireland,  1826. 

Tames,  b.  Feb.  8,  1834. 
Mary  Ellen,  b.  Feb.  z6,  1837. 

Cornelius  d.  July,  1840,  and  his  wid.  m. 
Tcrrence  McCaffrey,  May,  1841. 

Michael  Donnelly  m.  Ann  Donnelly, 
Sept.  23,  1 85 1. 

John  Doolan  m.  Maria  Fitzsimmons,  July 
22,  1851. 

Abel  Doolittle,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Thank- 
full  Moss,  d.  of  John— all  of  Walling- 
ford—Mch.  19,  1744-5.    [He  d.  1765.] 

1.  Mary,  b.  Tan.  28,  1746-7;  m.  Jon.  Scott. 

2.  Thankful!,  b.  June  x,  1749;  m.  Lot  Osbom. 

3.  John,  b.  fan.  31,  1750. 

4.  Jenisha,  b.  Dec.  13,  1752. 

5.  Melees,  b.  Jan.  22,  1755. 

6.  Abel,  b.  Dec.  2,  1757. 

7.  Abi,  b.  Mch.  9,  1760. 

8.  Uri,  b.  Sept,  13,  1762. 

Mary,  mother  of  Abel  d.  Dec.  20, 1760. 

Abraham  Doolittle's  three  children  d. 
1 800-1 807.* 

Alfred  Doolittle  of  Prospect  m.  Elizabeth 
T.  Baldwin  at  Prospect,  Dec.  24.  1843. 

Benajah  Hall  Doolittle  m.  Susanna 
Blakeslee,  d.  of  Eben.,  Nov.  17,  1785. 

X.  Nancy,  b.  Aug.  i,  1786. 

2.  Amzi,  D.  Aug.  18,  1788. 

3.  Alford,  b.  Dec  12,  1791. 


DOOLIT 

Eliasa] 

8,  17: 

X.  Mil< 

Poa 

San 

Ami 

Elizabi 

1776. 
Enos  ai 

3.  Eno 

4.  Obe 

Esther 

Eunice 

Hannal 

James  1 
Welt< 
Dec.  J 

Jamei 
une 

1.  Dini 

2.  Tho 

3.  Sam 

Jerushi 

1752. 

Jesse  i 

Ann ' 

Jesse  J 

m.  El 
1830. 

1.  Mar 

2.  Elm  ' 

3.  Sara  i 

4.  Dan  . 

5.  Emi  I 

Lyman  I 

Eno 

Mehita^ . 

1746. 

MehiUI 

1766. 

Samuel 

Euni(  ! 

1.  Dav  i 

2.  Ben;  i 

3.  Ben  1 

4.  Mar  , 

5    JoM 

Selim  ]  I 
Tuttl 

1.  Luzi  ' 

2.  Cha   • 

Seymoi  [ 

E.  Pi  i 

Thank  1 
Thoma 

6.  San;    1 

7.  Dai    I 
Am 
Cat 

Ham  ; 
m.  S  : 
Apr. 


46  ^p 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS UBT. 


DoRAN.  Downs. 

Michael  Doran  m.  Bridget  Brophy,  June 
17,  1848. 

Leonard  L.  Dougal  (?)  of  New  Haven  m. 
Emerett  A.  Scovill,  Nov.  24.  1831. 

Abigail  Douglass  m.  David  Hotchkiss, 

1763- 
Alexander  Douglass  m.  Anne  Scott,  Jan. 

29.  1767- 
Julia  Douglass  m.  W.  B.  Barrows,  1S32. 

Elizabeth  Dowd  ra.  Daniel  Clark,  1759. 

Honor  Dowd  m.  Nathaniel  Merrills,  1781. 

Jacob  and  Mary  Dowd: 

12.  Elizabeth,  b,  Nov.  ^,  1761. 

Their  6th  child,  Elirabeth,  d.  Oct.  10,  1761. 

Mary  Dowd  m.  Ambrose  Hikcox,  1762. 

Rebecca  Dowd  m.  Thomas  Foot,  Jr.,  1762. 

James  S.  Downey  d.  Mch.  4,  1835.  a.  37.* 

Martin  Downey  m.  Jane  Wheelan,  Apr. 
10,  1849. 

Michael  Downey  m.  Catharine  Lynch 
from  Ireland,  Jan.,  1845. 

X.  James,  b.  Jan,  24,  1846, 

Ann  Downs  m.  David  Sprague,  1828. 

Anson  Downs,  b.  Sept.  1798,  s.  of  David, 
m.  Oct.  26,  1823,  Eveline  Welton,  b. 
Jan.  23,  1800,  d.  of  Thomas. 

1.  Thomas  L.,  b.  July  9,  1824J 

2.  Elmore  Lucius,  b.  Oct.  xB,  1826. 

3.  Mary  Ellen,  b.  Nov.  30,  1829. 

4.  William  Wallace,  b.  Jan.  25,  1835. 

5.  John  Frederic,  b.  June  a6,  1837. 

6.  Dwight  Mortimer,  b.  July  23,  1839. 

David  Edson  Downs,  s.  of  John,  m.  Jen- 
net Morehouse  from  Wash.,  Nov.,  1837. 

I.  John  Benjamin,  b.  June  i,  1845. 

Elizabeth  Downs  m.  Nathaniel  Gunn, 
Jr.,  1763. 

Elizabeth  Downs  m.  Jeremiah  Camp, 
1823, 

Elmira  Downs  m.  John  Woodruff,  1832. 

Franklin  Downs  of  Bristol  m.  Emeline 
M.  Upson   Nov.  4,  1844. 

Harley  Downs  m.  Leonora  Welton — both 
of  Wolcott— Apr.  2,  1826. 

John  Downs,  b.  July  28,  1783,  s.  of  Da- 
vid, m.  1805,  Harriet  Tolles  from  Wood- 
bridge,  b.  Dec,  1785. 

1.  Caroline,  b.  June  i,  iSf/;  m.  Joseph  Webb. 

2.  Willard,  b.  Dec.  28,  i8n8. 

3.  Julia  Abigail,  b.  May  6,  181  x;  m.  Dennis  Prich- 

ard. 

4.  David  Edson,  b.  July  14,  1813. 

5.  Polly    Hubbard,   b.   July   6,    1816;    m.    Berlin 

Thomas. 

6.  Ann  Eliza,  b.  Nov.  24,  1818. 

7.  Harriet  Cornelia,  b.  Sept,  17,  1821;  m,  (J.  H. 

Newel. 

8.  Mary  Amelia,  b,  Feb.  10,  1824. 

9.  John,  b.  Dec.  31,  1826;  d.  Nov.  16,  1828. 
10.  Marvin  John,  b.  Oct.  12,  1830;  d.  1831. 


Downs.  Dunbar. 

Millc  Downs  m.  Shelden  Smith.  1825. 

Sarah  Downs  m.  Samuel  Cook,  1835. 

Susan  Downs  m.  Jesse  Scott,  181 1. 

Willis  Downs  m  Martha  Sperry — both 
of  Westville— Apr.  i,  1845. 

William  M.  Drake  from  Bridge  water. 
Mass  ,  b.  Jan.  9, 180S,  m.  Ann  Bronson, 
d.  of  Selah,  Aug.  22,  1830. 

1.  Emily  E.,  b.  June  27,  1831. 

2.  Cornelia  A.,  b.  Feb.  6,  1833. 

3.  Martha  M.,  b.  July  30,  1834. 

4.  William  Franklin,  b.  Sept.  i,  1840. 

The  wife  of  William  above-named,  d. 
Oct.  24. 1840.  The  second  wife,  Laura, 
d.  Mch.  1847.  When  they  were  m., 
Mch.  31,  1845,  she  was  the  widow  of 
George  Guilford.  Her  original  name 
was  Laura  Rice. 

John  Dudley  m.  Welthy  E.  Post,  Dec.  25, 
1839. 

Mary  Dudley  m.  Nans  Blakley,  1829. 

Polly  Dudley  m.  Lemuel  Atwater,  18 14. 

John  Duff  m.  Bridget  Farman,  1850. 

Aaron  Dunbar  m.  Mary  Potter  [d.  of  Dan- 
iel], Mch.  26,  1773. 

I  Daniel,  b,  Mch.  28,  1774. 

2.  Mary,  b.  May  26,  1776. 

3.  Aaron,  b,  Mch.  2,  1779. 

4.  Asaph,  b.  Sept.  i,  1780. 

5.  Keturah,  b.  Nov.  4,  1782. 

6.  Lyman,  b.  Jan.  18,  1785. 

7.  Hall,  b.  Nov.  15,  1786. 

Clarissa  Dunbar  m.  G.  E.  Ellis,  1840. 
Dinah  Dunbar  m.  Joel  Cook,  1768. 
Edward  Dunbar,  record  of  chil. : 

1.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  21,  1754. 

2.  Sarah    b.  June  9,  1756;  m.  Lent  Parker. 

3.  Jilcs  Curtis,  b.  Apr.  26,  1758. 

4.  Avis,  b.  May  7.  1760. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  4,  1761. 

6.  Content,  b.  Oct.  15,  1763. 

7.  Eunice,  b.  Oct.  14,  1765. 

Emily  Dunbar  m.  C.  P.  Lindsley,  1843. 

Eunice   Dunbar  m.  Victory  Tomlinson, 

1785." 

Frederick  Dunbar  m.  Axa  Ames,  Oct.  i, 
1824. 

Hannah  Dunbar  m.  Moses  Blakeslee,i753. 

John  Dunbar  and  Temperance  [Hall,  m. 
in  Wallingford,   1743,  where  they  had 
ten  children]: 
Children  that  were  b.  in  Wat. 

1.  John,  b.  Oct.  28,  1760. 

2.  Charity,  b.  Feb.  20,  1763. 

3.  Ade,  b.  Fel).  28,  1765. 

4.  Molly,  b.  Jan.  5,  1767. 

5.  David,        I 

and  >b.  May  26,  1770. 

6.  Jonathan,  ) 

and  their  mother  d.  the  same  day.    John 
Dunbar  d.  Oct.  4,  1786.^ 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP47 


Dunbar.  Dutton. 

Lucina  Dunbar  m.  Thomas  Painter,  1787.* 

Mary  Dunbar  m.  Ebenezer  Elwell,  1745, 
and  Stephen  Seymour,  1767. 

Miles  Dunbar  m.  Tryphosa  Butler,  May 
3.  1779. 

1.  Isaiah,  b.  June  4,  1781. 

2.  John,  b.  Feb.  23,  1784. 

3.  Miles,  b.  Feb.  26,  1786. 

Olive  Dunbar  m.  Thomas  Fancher,  1765. 

William  B.  Dunbar  from  Bristol,  b.  June 
28.  181 1,  m.  Jan.  4,  1838,  Mary  Merrill, 
b.  Feb.  5,  1820,  d.  of  Jared. 

1.  Hannah  E.,  b.  in  Bristol,  Apr.  28,  1836. 

2.  Emely  Henrietta,  b.  Nov.  26,  1839. 

3.  Lucy  Ann,  b.  July  10,  1841. 

4.  Leontine  Genevra,  b.  Oct,  12,  1843. 

5.  Charles,  b.  June  27,  1847. 

Esther  Dunk  m.  Nathan  Saunders,  1777.' 

Patrick  Dunn  m.  Johanna  Clery,  July 
14,  1850. 

Jared  D.  Durand  of  Meriden  m.  Lucy  E. 
Roberts,  Oct.  13,  1849. 

John  G.  Duryee  d.  Aug.  7,  1840,  a.  46. 

[Aaron  Dutton,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Dorcas 
Southmayd,  d.  of  Samuel,  Apr.,  1806. 
He  d.  June,  1849;  she,  Sept.  17,  1841. 

Mary,  b.  Nov.,  1807;  Founder  of  "Grove  Hall 

Seminary,"  New  Haven. 
Dorcas  S.,  b.  Jan.,  1810. 
Samuel,  b.  Mch.,  1812. 
Samuel  W.  S„  b.  Mch.  14,  1814:  Rev.  S.  W.  S. 

Dutton  of  the  North  Church,  New  Haven. 
Aaron,  b.  July,  1816. 
John  Southmayd,  b.  July,  1818;  d.  1834. 
Anna,  b.  1820;  d.  1831. 
Matthew  Henry,  b.  1822:  d.  1841.] 

Ambros  Dutton,  s.  of  David,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Peck,  d.  of  Samuel,  Feb.  27,  1754. 

Amos  Dutton,  s.  of  David,  m.  Thankful 
Humastone,  Oct.  25,  1764. 

A  son,  b.  Feb.  8;  d.  Feb.  i6,  1768. 

Thankful  d.  Feb.  22,  1768,  and  Amos 
m.  Sarah  Turner,  Nov.  3,  1769. 

2.  Enos.  b.  July  31,  1770. 

3.  Jesse,  b.  Apr.  27,  1772. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  2,  1774. 

5.  Ransom,  b.  Feb.  22,  1778. 

Dameris  Dutton  m.  Daniel  How,  1763. 
David  and  Judith  Dutton: 

14.  Titus,  b.  Dec.  21,  1749. 

Elizabeth  Dutton  m.  Daniel  Allcox,  1759. 

Eunice  Dutton  m  James  Warner,  1761. 

Joel  Dutton,  s.  of  David,  m.  the  wid. 
Hannah  Bull,  d.  of  Ezekiel  Sanford, 
Feb.  16,  1762. 

I.  Moses,  b.  Oct.  i6,  1762. 

Dr.   Osee   Dutton   m.    Elizabeth    Trow- 
bridge, Jan.  19,  I7S3.« 
Huldah,  bap.  Oct.  11,  1786. 

Polly  Dutton  m.  Chauncey  Root,  1823. 


Dutton.  Eggleston. 

Thomas  Dutton:    Chil.  b.  in  Wat. 

Reuben,  b.  in  Wal.  Feb.  21,  1757. 
Reuben,  b.  Mch.  28,  1758. 
Thomas,  b.  Mch.  31,  1760. 
Matthew,  b.  May  14,  1762. 
[Hannah,  Keziah,  and  Rice  d.  youne. 


Hannah,  b.  Sept.  13,  1776. 
Aaron,  b.  May  26,  1780.J 


Thomas  Dutton,  3d,  m.  Tenty  Punder- 
son,  Sept.  5,  1782.' 


1.  Matthew  Roycc,  b.  June  30,  1783. 

2.  Chester,  b.  July  2,  1785. 


Samuel  Earls,  s.  of  John  of  East  Hamp- 
ton on  Long  Island,  m.  Mary  Welton, 
d.  of  John. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  June  38,  1738. 

2.  Rhoda,  b.  Oct.  16,  1740. 

Cornelia  Easton  m.  Leander  Andrews. 

1851. 

Lieut.  Eaton  d.  May  lo,  1828,  a.  24. 

William  Eaves,  Jr.,  m.  Melissa  Payne  of 
Hartford,  Nov.  23,  1835. 

Samuel  Edmonds  d.  Jan.  6,  1836.  a.  36.* 

Isaac  Edwards  m.  Esther  Foot  Tune  26 
1786.3  "^ 

X.  Betsey,  b.  Apr.  23,  1789. 

Julia  Edwards  m.  Isaac  B.  Castle,  1823. 
Nathaniel  and  Margit  Edwards: 


X.  John,  b. 


5,  1750;  d.  Oct.  31,  X770. 


5.  Isaac,  b.  Sept.  30;  d.  Dec.  27,  1761. 

Nathaniel  d.  Mch.  20.  1768: 
[Probate    rec.   gives    also,   Nathaniel. 
Margaret  Scott  (w.  of  Woolsey),  Abi- 
gail Blake,  Eunice  and  Asahel.J 

Nathaniel  Edwards,  Jr.,  s.  of  Nathaniel, 
m.  Abiah  Strickland,  d.  of  David,  Mch 
II,  1762. 

1.  Lois  Beadles,  b.  June  27,  X762;  d.  June  22,  1775. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  June  29,  1764. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  June  28,  1766. 

4.  David,  b.  Mch.  i,  1769. 

^'  m"!7'  \^^\}^*  '771. 

6.  Millea,  b.  Mch.  21,  1774. 

7.  Lois,  b.  Dec.  19,  1777. 

John,  b.  Dec.  7,  1783;  d.  Feb.  16,  1784.3 

Esther  Eelles  m.  Jared  Terrell,  1781. 

Mary  Elles  m.  Absolom  Tinker,  1780. 

Stephen  A  gen  (Egan)  m.  Margaret  Grales 
in  Ireland,  18.37. 

1.  Bridget,  b.  Dec.  i6,  1840. 

2.  Catharine,  b.  Dec.  24,  1844. 

3.  Ellen,  b.  Mch.  16,  1847. 

James  and  Ruth  Eggleston: 

1.  Lydia,  b.  Nov.  16,  1773. 

2.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  5,  1775. 

3.  James,  b.  Oct.  13.  1777.8 

4.  Koswell,  b.  Oct.  i8,  1779. 

5.  Prosper,  b.  Sept.  30,  1781. 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


Egleston.  Elton. 

John  and  Sarah  Egleston: 

John    Eggleston   of    New    Mi!  ford    m. 

Sarah  Softly,  Mch.  2,  1851. 
Lydia  Eldeikin  m.  George  A,  Russell, 

Rev.  Henry  B.  Elliot,  Pastor  of  the  Ctm- 


1.  Kcnry  Aujjuuui,  b.  Mch.  ij.  1^45. 
Mra.  Darwin  Ellis  d.  Oct.  25,  1S46,  a.  40,' 
Frederick   A.   Ellis   m.   July   Martin  of 

Woodbrirtge.  Feb.  11,  1S2S. 
George    O.    Ellis    from     Attleborough. 

Mass.,   ni.  Clarissa  Dunbar  from  Ply- 
)uth,  Apr.  :,  1S40. 


..  J<* 


b.jM 


Susan  Ellis  m.  Ephraim  Roberts,  i3ii. 

William  EUia  from  Attleborough,  Mass. 
b,  June  a,  iSoS,  m,  Mch.  30,  1S4;,  Juf 
tina  Abbott  from  Middlebury,  b.  Apr 
2S,  183S  [d.  of  David  and  Hannah]. 


,.  Apr. 


1846. 


Ebenezer  Elton  [b,  i7>3,  s.  of  Ebene:ier 
of  Branford,  m.  Hannah  Ward  of  Mid- 
dletown,  where  he  resided. 


S-  Dr. , 


t;S8-7,1. 


,  1746  (paid  una 


7.  RjcbanL  b,  Sepl.  t^,  I75°^  ^-  J^^^K- 

i.  Eliubcth;  d.  in  ialux^. 
Hannah  d.  1754.  and  Btienezer  m.  Han- 
nah B«con  of  Middletown.  Jan.  23,  1755. 

9.  Dr.  John,  b.  Qa.  i.  1755:  m.  I.ucy  Prince,  and 
d.  iB™,    Hil  .un,  Dr.  Saimwl,  b.  Sept.  6.  i;^. 
ro,  Eiiabelh.  b.  IlK.,  I75«. 
II.  Richard;  d.jaiarancy. 
tl.  Rtaodi,  b.  Sav.  16.  175,). 
II.  BcnjuniD,  b.  Apr.  i,  1761. 
.4.  Huuuhid.  Inlnlincy. 

ig.  Eilher,  b.  Dec.  g,  i;7i.l 
w.  Muhin  Noib.  b.  July  ii.  nSi.' 
John  P.  Elton,  s.  of  Dr.  Samuel  of  Water- 
town,  m.  Olive  Hall,  d.  of  Capt.  Moses, 
May  -"    --- 


°'  Stab'  i.  bt^'^sJ'l^l3. ' 
Catharine  d.  Jan.  g.  1743,  and  Ebcneier 
m.  Hannah  Scott,  d.  of  Edmnnd,  July 
17, 1744.  He  d.  Dec.  34,  1753.  and  Han- 
nah m,  John  How,  1754.  [Other  chil- 
dren were:  Ebenezer,  Jonathan,  Catha. 
rine,  ni.  A.  Ludington,  Judith,  m.  James 
Curtis,  and  Lydia,  m.  Nathaniel 
Barnes.) 

Ebenezer  Elwell,  s.  of  Ebcn.,  tn.  Ruth 
Moss,  d.  of  Solomon  of  Wal..  Nov.  so. 
1741.  She  d.  Apr.  13,  1743.  and 
Ebenezer  m,  Marj-  Dunbar,  d.  of  John  oi 
Wallingford,  SepL  24. 1745.  He  d.  Jan. 
14,  1767;  his  wid.  m.  Stephen  Seymour. 

Samuel  Elwell,  s.  of  Ebenezer.  dec'd.  m. 
Hannah  Francber,  d.  of  William,  jane 
14,  1755- 


4.  0,iM,  b.  Mch,  7,  1763. 
John  Enderton  of  Litchfield  m.   Nancy 

Warner,  d.  of  Ard,  May  2.  1S30. 
Charles   L.   English  of  New  Haven  m. 

Minerva  Broasoa,  July  15,  1S40. 

Charles  m.  his  second  wife.  Sarah  Bron. 

son.  Apr.  3,  1S44. 
Maria  English  m.  George  Gillsert.  i*3'J 
Lucy  Essex  ni.'Edward  J,  Fuller,  iB?i, 
Mercy  Evans  m.  Samuel  Todd,  i73g. 
Oliver   Evans   of    Sherman   in.    Harrist 

Adams  of  Salem  Bridge.  Jan.  15.  lJj3- 
Randal  and  Phebe  Evans: 

3.  Arjid.  b.  Apr.  i.  1757;  d.  Scpi,  i^,  17*^. 


3.  thlTlM   P 


:..  Apr. 


,837- 


4.  Jobn^MnKi,  b.  Mch.  14.  1S4;. 
Lemuel  W.  Elton  m.  SUtira  Gibburd, 
Sepi  8.  i8?o 


t   Mary,  h.  Tun*  a,  17(5.. 
5,  Clot,  b.  Dec.  ..  17*3. 

[Capt.  Randol  d.  Mch.  24.  177S.  a.  50- 

his  wife,  Jan,  19,  177S,  a.  just  46  yrs.] 

George  Faber  m.  Sarah  Frisbie,  Jen.  1. 

James  Pagan  m.  Margaret  KeUy,  i'^^f 

Abiel   Fairchild,  Jr.,   m.   Hannah  Chal 

field.  Feb   23,  1757.' 
Edmund  B.  Fairchild  of  Watertown  m 

Martha  J.  Leavenworth,  May  7,  iSu. 
Joseph  Fairchild,  s.  of  Abial  of  Derby, 

m,  Huldah  Porter.d.  of  James,  Feb.:-, 

1757.     Hed.  Dec.  1,  1757,  and  Huldab 

m.  D.  Taylor. 

,,  j™pb,  b.  Dec,  ,,  ,757. 

Joseph  Fairchild  of  Oxford  ra.  Haniul 
Wheeler  of  Derby,  Nov,  9.  17S0.' 


FAMILY  RECORDS, 


AP49 


Fairchild.  Farrell. 

Ruth  Fairchild  m.  S.  Buckingham,  1785. 

John  Fairclough,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  La- 
vinia  Osborn.  d.  of  Daniel  of  Nauga- 
tuck,  Feb.  17,  1843. 

I.  Elizabeth  Susanna,  b.  May  24,  1845. 

Joseph  Fairclough  m.  Elizabeth  Mills— 
both  from  Birm.,  Eng. — Oct.  i,  181 7. 

I.  John,  b.  Apr.  lo,  1818. 

a.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  28,  i8ax  [m.  D.  Boyce  and]  L.  L. 
Russell. 

3.  Susanna,  b.  Jan.  24,  1823;  d.  Aug.  4,  1847— all 

bom  in  Birmingham. 

4.  Charles,  b.  in  New  York,  Feb.  17,  i8a8. 

5.  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  11,  1831. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  6,  1833. 

7.  Matthew,  b.  Mch.,  1835;  d.  Sept.  25,  1836. 

8.  James,  b.  Mch.  xi,  1837. 

Susanna  Fairclough  m.  Thomas  Boys, 
1844. 

Hannah  Francher  m.  &am.  Elwell,  1755. 

Ithiel  Fauncher  m.  Mary  Hull,  Nov.  24, 

1774. 
James  Fancher,  originally  of  Stratford, 

m.  Mary  Scott,  d.  of  Obadiah,  Mch.  18, 

1762. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  11;  d.  Oct.  30,  1763. 

2.  David,  b.  Oct.  7,  1765. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  11,  1767;  d.  Apr.  24,  1783. 

4.  Salvenus,  b.  July  14,  1770. 

5.  Mary,  b.  May  23,  1773. 

6.  James,  b.  Jan.  17,  1776. 

7.  Cloe,  b.  Mch.  26,  1778. 
Sarah,  b.  Tulv  8,  1783.8 
William,  b.  Aug.  18,  1785. 

Lemuel  Fancher  m.  Sarah  Loomis,  June 

I,  1779.'  ♦ 

Thomas  Fancher  m.  Olive  Dunbar,  July 
30,  1765. 

z.  Adin,  b.  June  22,  1766. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  May  15.  1768  [killed  by  the  fall  of  a 
tree,  X70X,  at  iCinland,  N.  Y.]. 

3.  Olive,  b.  May  10,  1770. 

4.  Eneas,  b.  May  2,  1772. 

William  and  Thankful  Francher: 

II.  Ithiel,  b.  Mch.  29,  1748. 

12.  Veal,  b.  Sept.  2t,  1751;  d.  May  11,  1754. 
Samuel,  d.  Tan.  8,  1753. 
Ebenezer,  a.  Aug.  18,  1758. 

Thankful,  wife  of  William,  d.  Aug.  19, 
1759,  and  William  d.  the  next  day. 

William  Fancher,  s.  of  William,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Luddenton,  d.  of  William,  Apr.  5, 

1755. 

1.  Reufus,  b.  Aug.  25,  1757. 

2.  Deborah,  b.  Mch.  15,  1759. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  9, 1762. 

Almon  Farrel,  s.  of  Zebah,  and  Emma 
Warner,  b.  Aug.  30,  1808,  d.  of  Mark, 
m.  May  i,  1826. 

1.  Franklin,  b.  Feb.  17,  1828. 

2.  Juliette,  b.  Mch.  x8,  1830. 

3.  Margarett,  b.  Sept.  20,  1834. 

4.  Malvina^  b.  Feb.  15. 1837. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  20,  1839. 

6.  Frances  Elinor,  b.  July  10,  1844. 

Ann  Farrell  m.  Edward  Davis.  1851. 
6* 


Farrell.  Fenn. 

Asa  Farrell  of  Prospect  m.  Ann  Seely, 
Sept.  8,  1 841. 

[Benjamin  Farrel,  b.  1753.  and  Lois 
Williams,  b.  1755,  were  m.  Dec.  15, 
1775.     Shed.  Jan.  11,  1802. 

1.  Zebah.  b.  Oct.  7,  1776. 

2.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  17,  1778;  m.  Joseph  Nichols. 

3.  Lowly,  b.  Mch.  16,  1783. 

4.  Lois,  b.  July  20,  1785;  m.  Silas  Payne. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  Dec,  5,  1788. 

6.  Polly,  b.  Jan.  xi,  1797.J 

Benjamin  Farrell,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m. 
Levee  Frost,  d.  of  Rev.  Jesse,  and  d. 
Oct.  26.  1838. 

1.  Chloe  Ursula,  b.  Jan.  4, 1812;  m.  M.  C.  Wedge. 

2.  Polly  Selina,  b.  Mch.  4,  x8i^. 

3.  James,  b.  Sept.  21,  1817;  d.  June  7,  1830. 

4.  Amos  Miles,  b.  Mch.  4.  i8ao. 

5.  Levee  Jennet,  b.  Apr.  8,  1825;  m.  M.  E.  Terrell. 

6.  Julia  Henrietta,  b.  Apr.  27,  1828. 

7.  James  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  lo,  1831. 

Benjamin  Farrel  of  Prospect  m.  Anna 
Brockett  [d.  of  Zenas],  Sept.  19,  1831. 

George  Farrel,  s.  of  Zebah,  m.  Nancy 
Perkins,  d.  of  Jesse  of  Bethany,  Jan. 
22,  1837. 

1.  Catharine  Emma,  b.  Nov.  6,  18^8. 

2.  Georgiana,  b.  Oct.  18,  1840;  d.  Nov.  28,  1842. 

John  Farrell  m.  Jane  Conray,  July  28, 
1850. 

Zebah  Farrel,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m.  Mehit- 
able  Benham,  d.  of  Elihu,  May  16, 1798., 

X.  Lucreiia  Smith,  b.  May  13,  1799;  d.  Sept.,  1812. 

2.  Almon,  b.  Oct.  12.  1800. 

3.  Sally  Benham,  b.  Nov.  12,  i8o2j  m.  S.  Tyler 

4.  Fanny,  b.  Sept.  17,  1804;  m.  William  Cay. 

5.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  25,  1806;  ra.  Hubbard  Smith. 

Mary  Fay  m.  Martin  Marshall,  1842. 

Thomas  Feeney  m.  Catharine  O'Brien, 
June  17,  1848. 

Aaron  Fenn:^ 

Lyman,  b.  Aug.  26,  1770. 
Sally,  b.  Dec.  9, 1771. 
Aaron,  b.  Dec.  20,  1773. 
Erastus,  b.  Dec.  29,  1781. 
Polly,  b.  Aug.  13,  1785. 
David,  b.  Nov.  12,  1787. 

Abijah  Fenn,  s.  of  Isaac  of  Watertown, 
m.  Nancy  Rexford,  d.  of  Rev.  Elisha  of 
Huntington,  May  19,  1793. 

1.  Elisha  Rexford,  b.  Feb.  24,  1794. 

2.  Lydia  Maria,  b.  Mch.  25,  1796. 

Adelia  Fenn  m.  Asahel  Watrous,  1839. 

Amos  Fenn  [s.  of  John]  m.  Eunice  Doo- 
little,  Nov.  18,  1766. 

I.  Frederick  Doolittle,  b.  Dec.  23,  1767;  d.  1769. 

Eber  [s.  of  Thomas]  and  Lydia  Fenn:^ 

Lydia,  b.  May  15,  1786. 

Gamaliel  Fenn  [s.  of  Jpbn  of  Milford]  m. 
Ruth  Porter,  d.  of  Tim.,  Oct.  12,  1774. 

1.  Gamaliel,  b.  Feb.  16,  1775. 

2.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  27^  1777. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  ao,  1782. 

4.  John,  b.  Apr.  15,  1788. 

5.  Ruth,  b.  Jan,  10,  1792, 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS VRT. 


Pnw. 

Harris    Fenn   m.    Jane 
Davidl.  Oct,  6,  1839. 


Abbott    [d.  of 


Isaac  Penn,  3.  of  Thomait,  dec'd,  ro. 
Mehitable  Humaston,  d.  of  Caleb,  May 
7. 1770.  [He  d.  Hch,  iS;  and  she,  Nov, 
23.  iSaS-l 

L,  Lfniu,  bp  Auc,  «,  1770. 
U.  Atdj^  b.  Jun.  »,  ,77,;  d.  J.11.  .,  .836.] 

3.  Mehiuble,  b.  J»n.  ji,  1776. 

4.  Babra.  b.  Apr.  9,  1770. 
RoHLU  (Marthu?),  b.  D«.  i.  t7St. 


Fenk.  Fwca. 

Thomas  Fena  [s.  of  Edward  and  Abigail 

Williams]  and  Christian: 

5.  Sanh,  b.  Aug.  »,  17;}:  m.  Jew  Saoford  ? 

Christian  d.  Hay  i,  1768;  Thomas.  Apr. 

35,  1769,  (a.  62.  leaving 

Lydia;  m.  Bcujih  Peek, 


Hanrul 


,d  Efcr.] 


Jesse  Fenn  m.  Chloe  Thompsiin,  July  5. 
I73r.' 


Chloe  d.  June  21,   1782.  and  Jesse 
Phebe  Blakeslee,  Dec.  3,  17S1. 

I.  Horiuxs  b.  Oct.  ij,  1783. 
3.  Lyman,  b.  Nov.  »,  1785. 
[John  Fenn  from  Wallingtord,  1753: 

Mary  b.  .730.     John,  b.  .; 


ciel^ 


IS.] 


Irene    San  ford, 


1 347. 


^^%'^:, 


t  Rkw;  b;  nSv.  it;  '.7 


1.  Rboda  Andrews,  Mch.  16, 


1.  Rboda,  b.  Jniy  7,  1783. 


(.  Consu 


,  '78s- 


John  Femi,  s.  of  John,  m.  Hepzibab  Will- 
iams, d.  of  James,  Jan.  26,  1757. 

I.    lahn,  b,  Oct.  =6,  .7S7. 

a.  Olive,  b.  Mch.  =7.  '760;  ">■  Hiekiel  Sruil. 

J.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  4,  r703. 
John  Fenn  m.  Eunice  Scott,  d.  of  Anus, 

May  34,  1780.' 
Loia  Fennm.  Elon  Clark,  1813. 
Nathan  Fenn  of  New  Haven  m,  Caroline 

Lane  [wid.  of  Edwin],  Dec.  39.   1S44. 

Sbcd.  Ju]y  3.  [.'^46,  a.  24.' 
Samuel  Fenn  m,   Sarah  Scott,  Juno  24, 

1762.* 

Samuel  Fenn,  Jr., 
Nov.  3,  1767. 
I.  Irsnia,  b.  May  13,  i;»B. 

;ii,  b.  Auk.  "8.  ■77'. 
Tianlilul,  b.  Apr,  a,  1776. 

Samnel  Fenn,  s.  of  John,  ra.  Rachi 
bom,  d.  of  Daniel,  SepL  8,  i7(iS. 

j!  Either,  b.  Sept,  ='>.  iTy's- 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  4,  1779. 

5.  Asa,  fa,  Aut  tg.  .783- 

6.  Kacbd,  b,  Oct,  14,  17S6. 

Samuel  Fenn,  b.  May  23,  1813.  s.  of  Asa 
of  Middlebury,  m,  Maria  Cowel,  A.  of 
Samuel,  June  17,  1S34.  who  d.  Aug,  11, 


Vienna  Fenn  m.  William  Brown,  iPj-j 
Anna  Fenton  m,  Richard  Welton,  1714. 
John   C.    Fenton   of  Ashtabula,    O,,   m. 

Amelia  Beecher  of  Prospect,    June  aj 

■  S51. 
Mary  Fenton  ni.  Gcrshom  Scott,  172^. 
[Dr.  Edward  Field  of  Enfield,  b.  July  1. 

1777,  m,  Sally  Hhldwin,  d.  of  Dr.  Isaac, 

Apr.  30,  1S07. 

,.  Juni„.  L„  b.  Feb.  .,  .BoS. 

Sally  d.  Aug.  8,  i8o3,  and  Edward  m. 
Esther  Baldwin,  d.  of  Dr,  Isaac,  Jan., 
i3io.     He  d.   Nov.   17.   1E40;  she.  May 


-y  BildwiD,  b.  Jan.  11 
<'Miirga«t,b,  SFch.'l 


Siw.  9,  iE^:- 
n.  t.  B.  Mtt- 


Abigail  Finch  m.  Daniel  Hall. 
Hannah  Finch  m,  J,  B.  Candee,  1795. 
Harriet  Finch  m.  Gilbert  Thomas,  1S3S. 
James  W.  Finch,  b.  of  Ashael,  m.  Polly 

Lowry,  d.  of  Richard  of  Southingion, 

Apr.  3,  1S32. 

..  Cornelia  E„  b.  Feb.  .4.  'SjS- 

J.  Alice  M.,  b,  Feb.  «S,  i8j7. 

i.  Caroline  J.,  b.  Oct.  .7, -M'- 

Joel  Finch  m.  Sally  Saaford  of  Prospect, 

Julia  Finch  m,  Horace  P.  Welton,  lin- 
Lydia  Finch  m.  Eli  Osbom,  i793- 
Maria  Finch  m.  Seth  Higby,  1338. 


FAMILY  RBC0RD8. 


AP61 


Pinch.  Foot. 

Mary  A.  Finch  m.  Willis  Johnson,  1837. 
Timothy  Finch  m.  Bridget  Doolan,  June 

17,  1848. 

Samuel  C.  Fisk,  b.  in  Heath,  Mass.,  Dec. 

1,  18 14,  m.    Feb,   5,   1839.  Abigail  B. 
Wait,  b.  in  West  Boylston,  Mass.,  Mch. 

2,  1820. 

1.  Jane  A.,  b.  in  Oxford,  Mass.,  Jan.  5,  1840. 

2.  Charlotte  A.,  b.  in  Worcester,  Dec.  a6,  1843. 

3.  Andrew  Fayette,  b.  Dec.  9,  1846. 

Cynthia  Fitch  m.  John  Adams,  1794. 

James  Fitzpatrick  m.  Ann  Rennan,  Sept. 

18,  1851.8 

John  Fitzpatrick  m.  Mary  Inglesby,  Sept. 
21,  1851.* 

Owen  Flanigan  m.  Catharine  Coughlan, 
Mch.  3,  1851. 

Annis  Flinn  m.  AAtipas  Woodward,  1788. 

Timothy  Flinn  m.  Catharine  McAlister, 
May  25,  185 1. 

Lewis  B.  FoUett  m.  Ann  P.  Steele,  [d.  of 
Norman  of  Derby],  Sept.  18,  1836. 

Abigail  Foot  m.  Joel  Roberts,  1766. 

Active  Foot  m.  Israel  Frisbie,  1783. 

Amos  and  Abigail  Foot:' 

Sallv,  b.  Aug.  30,  1775. 
Hicl,  b.  July  30,  1777. 

iesse,  b.  Nov.  a6,  1780. 
[artha,  b.  Nov.  38,  1784. 
Ebenezer,  b.  Aug^.  35,  1786. 

David  Foot  [b.  Nov.  ii,  i73ol,  s.  of  Mo- 
ses, now  of  Waterbury,  m.  Hannah 
Bronnson.  d.  of  John,  Feb.  28,  1752 
[and  was  killed  in  the  attack  upon  Fair- 
neld,  1779.    She  d.  1795]. 

I.  Tryphena,  b.  Feb.  13,  1754. 

3.  Ruth,  b.  Oct.  8,  1756;  [m.  Ancr  Woodin]. 

3.  A  dau.,  b.  Apr.  15;  d.  May  13,  1760. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  4,  1761. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  iDec.  x6,  1763. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  3,  1763.  {}) 

7.  Hannah,  b.  Dec.  16,  1764.  (?) 

8.  Comfort,  b.  June  33,  1769. 

9.  Rebeckah,  b.  Nov.  3,  1773. 

David  Foot,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Mary  Sco- 
vill,  d.  of  Ezekiel,  Apr.  11,  1776. 

X.  Abraham,  b.  May  8,  1778. 
3.  David,  b.  Jan.  30,  1780. 

3.  Olive,  b.  tcb.  33,  1783.' 

4.  Mercy,  b.  Dec.  9,  1783. 

5.  Russel,  b.  May  7,  1786. 

6.  Elijah,  b.  May  10,  1788. 

Ebenezer  Foot,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Mar- 
tha Moss,  d.  of  John  of  Wallingford, 
June  17,  1752,  and  d.  Dec.  23.  1763. 
[Martham.  John  Hart,and  John  Thomp- 
son, and  d.  in  Goshen,  1804,  a.  71. 

X.  Martha,  b.  Auff.  85,  1753. 
3.  Hannah,  b.  Feb.  36,  1756. 

3.  Olive,  b.  Mch.  6,  X758;  d.  July  31,  1750. 

4.  Olive,  b.  July  xa,  1760;  d.  Apr.  34,  17M. 

5.  Olive,  b.  July  24,  1763. 


Foot.  Foot. 

Ebenezer  Foot,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Rebecca  * 
Barker,  d.  of  Uzal,  July  i,  1761,  and  d. 
at  Horseneck,  June  i,  1778;  Rebecca  m. 
Ezekiel  Sanford. 

Elizabeth  Foot  m.  Noah  Griggs,  1765. 

Esther  Foot  m.  Isaac  Edwards,  1788.* 

Isaac  Foot,  s.  of  Dr.  Thomas,  m.  Sarah 
Selkrigg,  [d.  of  William,]  Aug.  21, 1770. 

x.  Allin,  b.  Jan.  22,  1771. 
3.  Anna,  b.  July  30,  1773. 

3.  Isaac,  b.  Jan.  16,  1774. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  June  30,  1779. 
[5.  Titus,  b.  Aug.  35,  1781.] 

Jacob  Foot,  s.  of  Dr.  Thomas,  m.  Esther 
Doolittle,  Dec.  25,  1766. 

T.  Abiah,  (dau.)  b.  Aug.  31, 1767;  d.  Jan.  X3,  X774. 
3.  Reuben,  b.  July  x6;  d.  Nov,  14,  1769. 

3.  Reuben,  b.  Dec.  4,  1770. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  X7,  X773. 

5.  Miles,  b.  Sept.  13,  X77A. 

6.  Jacob,  b.  June  14;  d.  June  32,  1776. 

7.  Abi,  b.  Auff.  33,  1777;  d.  Jan.  1797. 

8.  Eunice,  b.  Mav  3,  1779. 

9.  Betsey,  b.  Men.  9,  i783.» 

10.  Sylvia,  b.  Tune  18,  X783. 

11.  Jacob,  b.  Apr.  31,  1789. 

Esther  d.  Aug.  30,  1790;  and  Jacob  m. 
Rhoda  Saxton,  w^id.  of  Jehiel,  May  26, 
1 791. 

Joel  B.  Foot  of  New  Haven  m.  Sarah 
Scovill,  May  22,  1826. 

John  Foot,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Esther  Mat- 
toon  [d.  of  David],  July  25,  1764. 

X.  Ebenezer,  b.  Apr.  x6,  X765;  d.  Feb.  x6,  X768. 
3.  John,  b.  Dec.  X7,  1766;  d.  Aug.  13,  1773. 

Esther  d.  Mch.  10,  1769,  and  John  m. 
Mary  Peck,  July  20,  1769. 

3.  Esther  Matoon,  b.  July  30,  1770. 

4.  Ruth,  b.  Aug.  39,  177X. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  July  6,  1775. 

6.  John,  b.  Apr.  35,  X775  [a.  unmarried,  x8o6]. 

7.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  34,  X778. 

8.  Sabrea,  b.  June  39,  1779  [d.  X780]. 

Jonathan  Foot  m.  Lydia  [Sutliff,  d.  of 
John,  June  14,  1727.  He  d.  June  26, 
1754;  sne,  Sept.  27,  1768. 

X.  Jerusha,  b.  in  Branford,  Oct.  x,  I7a8-  d,  X741. 
3.  Eunice,  b.  in  Branford,  July  a6,  173X]:  m.  Timo- 
thy Williams. 

2.  Aaron,  b.  Dec.  8,  X734. 
[4.  Lydia,  d.  Dec.  x,  1748.] 

Joseph  Foot  m.  Thankful  Ives  [d.  of  Ste- 
phen of  Wal.],  Nov.  6,  1768.  [He  d. 
June  29,  1789;  she,  Feb.  3,  1792,  a.  48.] 

X.  Mary.  b.  Aug.  xa,  X769;  d.  Sept.  7,  X77X. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  4,  X773. 
3.  Stephen,  b.  Jan.  34,  1774. 

Lorinda  Foot  m.  Benjamin  Bates,  1776. 

Mary  Foot  m.  Isaac  Morgan,  1786. 

Moses  Foot,  b.  Tan.  13,  1701-2  fm.  Mary 
Byington,  d.  of  John  of  Branford,  June 
22,  1726.  She  d.  J&n-t  1740,  a.  30],  and 
Moses  m.  Ruth  Butler,  Nov.  5,  1740. 


62  AP 


HI8T0RT  OF  WATERBURT. 


Foot.  Foot. 

He  d.  Feb.,  1770;  she,  Aug.  7,  1792, 
a.  85. 

[His  heirs  were  David,  Moses.  Aaron— who  m. 
Mary  Bronson,  d.  of  John,  Nov.  i^,  1760 — Eb- 
eoezer,  Obed,  Rebecca,  and  Lydia  Curtis]. 
Mary  had  d.  Feb.  31,  1758. 

[Moses  Foot,  Jr.,  b.  1735,  m.  Thankful 
Bronson,  d.  ot  John,  Jr.,  Aug.  12,  1756. 
She  d.  Sept.  5, 1757,  and  Moses  m.  Amy 
Richards,  d.  of  Jonas  of  East  Hartford, 
May  17,  1759- 

I.  Bronson,  b.  Sept.  5,  1757.I 

Nathan  Foot,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Merriam 
Selkrigg,  d.  of  William,  dec*d,  June  12, 

1759. 

X.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  3,  1760. 

a.  Nathan,  b.  Nov.  i6,  1761. 

3.  Millecent,  b.  Nov.  6,  1763. 

4.  Abijah,  b.  Mch.  23,  1766. 

5.  Uri,  b.  July  12,  X768. 

6.  Jesse,  b.  Sept.  17,  1770. 

Obed  Foot  [b.  Nov.  25,  1741],  s.  of  Moses, 
m.  Mary  Todd,  d.  of  Samuel,  Dec.  3, 
1761. 

z.  A  dau.,  Asenah,  b.  Sept.  19,  1763. 

Samuel  Foot,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Mary  Ly- 
on, d.  of  John  of  Hadam,  June  5,  1750, 
and  d.  June  9,  1776. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  10,  1750-1:  d.  Apr.  9,  1768. 

2.  David,  b.  Jan.  24,  1753. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  July  i,  1755. 

4.  Anne,  b.  Oct.  16,  1757. 

5.  Samuel,  b.  May  2,  x76o« 

6.  Huldah,  b.  Feb,  13,  1762. 

7.  Luce,  b.  Oct.  8,  1764;  d.  May  7,  1767. 

Dr.  Thomas  Foot  and  Elizabeth  [Sutliff. 
He  d.  Dec.  19,  1776,  a.  77. 

Samuel,  b.  1723.   Jemima,  b.  1725;  m.  Abraham 

Htckox. 
Elizabeth,  b.  1728.   Ebenezer,  b.  1730. 
Timothy,  b.  1735]  • 

Children  b.  in  Waterbury: 

8.  Nathan,  b.  Jan.  25,  1737-8. 

9.  Thomas,  b.  May  10,  1740. 
xo.  John,  b.  Aug.  ax,  X742. 
IX.  Jacob,  b.  Oct.  30,  1744. 

12.  Joseph,  b.  Apr.  3,  X747. 

13.  Isaac,  b.  Mch.  25,  X750. 

Thomas  Foot,  Jr.,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Re- 
becka  Dowd,  d.  of  Mr.  [John J  Dowd  of 
Middleton,  May  17,  1762. 

I.  Amos,  b.  Jan.  xs,  1763. 
a.  Rachel,  b.  June  18,  1764. 

Timothy  Foot,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Sarah 
Garnsey,  d.  of  Jonathan,  June  5,  1755. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  29,  1756. 

2.  Timothy,  b.  Nov.  4,  1757;  d.  Tune  X5,  X762. 

3.  Jemima,  b.  Nov.  9,  X759;  m.  K.  T.  Reynolds. 

4.  Levy  (a  son),  b.  Oct.  5,  1761. 

5.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.  15,  1764. 

6.  Timothy,  b.  Apr.  5,  X768, 

7.  Jonathan  Northrop,  b.  May  17,  X774;  d.  1776. 

Sarah,  d.  Oct.  22, 1777,  and  Timothy  m. 
Lucy  [Parks],  wid.  of  Preserved  Wheeler 
of  Woodbury,  Mch.  11,  1778.  [He  d. 
May  8,  1799;  she,  Mch.  9,  1815. 

I.  Lucy  Roxanna,  b.  Apr.  29,  X779]. 


Forbes.  Forrest. 

Clarissa  A.  Forbes  m.  Ruel  Potter,  1S25. 

Abel  Ford  m.  Susanna  Painter,  Sept.  25, 
1771. 

X.  Huldah,  b.  Dec.  x6,  1772. 
2.  Joel,  b.  Nov.  IX,  X774. 

Amos  Ford,  a  stranger,  d.  Dec.  6,  1837, 
a.  71.* 

Barnabas  and  Mary  Ford: 

6.  Zilla,  b.  July  12,  1734;  m.  Thomas  Way. 

7.  Abel,  b.  Jan.  29,  1737-8. 

Barnabas  d.  Mch.  lo,  1746  7. 
[Prob.  rec.  add  Ebenezer.  Cephas,  Enos, 
Sarah,  who  m.  Abel  Sutliff,  and  Mary, 
who  m.  Reuben  Blakeslee.] 

Cephas  Ford,  s.  of  Barnabas,  m.  Sarah 
How,  d.  of  John,  May  18,  1752,  and  d. 
Nov.  4,  1758.    Sarah  m.  A.  Luddington. 

X.  Mary,  b.  Nov.  19,  1752.  ♦ 

2.  Daniel,  b.  Nov.  16,  1754. 

3.  Cephas,  b.  Sept.  21,  X758. 

Daniel  Ford  [s.  of  Cephas?]  m.  Phebe 
Camp,  Mch.  6,  1780.^ 

X.  Nancy,  b.  Feb.  9,  X78X. 

2.  Aaron,  b.  June  24,  1782. 

3.  Betsey,  b.  June  17,  1784. 

4.  Isaac,  b.  June  18,  1786. 

5.  Phebe,  b.  Mch.  2,  X789. 

Ebenezer  Ford,  s.  of  Barnabas,  m.  Mar- 
tha How,  d.  of  John,  July  8,  1752. 

X.  Barnabas,  b.  May  7,  1753;  d.  Oct.  2,  1754. 

2.  Amos,  b.  June  24,  X754. 

3.  Anise,  b.  Oct.  X2,  X756. 

4.  Barnabas,  b.  Jan.  29,  X759. 

5.  Eunice,  b.  Sept.  27,  X760. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  22,  X768. 

Elias  Ford,  Esq.,  s.  of  Nath'l  of  Cheshire, 
m.  Eunice  Cook,  d,  of  Samuel  of  Wal., 
Oct.  14,  1798,  and  d.  Sept.  9,  1836. 

1.  Tared  K.,  b.  May  23,  x8oo. 

2.  William  Y.,  b.  Aug.  27,  1802. 

4.  Samuel  C,  b.  Mch.  X5,  i3o6. 

6.  Harriet C.,b.  Feb.  X2,  x8i6;  m.  Samuel  Hoplcios. 
The  third  and  fifth  d.  in  infancy. 

Enos  Ford  was  m.  to  Rebecca  Jenkins  of 
Litchfield  by  Judah  Champion,   Nov. 

5.  1772. 

X.  Keziah,  b.  Aug.  4,  X773, 
2.  Lucy,  b.  July  30,  X775. 

Miles  B.  Ford  of  Prospect  m.  Betsey 
Moses,  July  19,  1840. 

Zerab  Ford,  s.  of  Thaddeus  of  Cornwall, 
m.  Semantha  Payne,  d.  of  Thomas, 
Apr.  5,  1 801. 

1.  Elevia,  b.  Jan.  14,  x8o2. 

2.  Chauncey,  b.  Jan.  8,  1804. 

George  Forgue  of  Newtown  m.  Emily  A. 
Scovill  of  Naugatuck,  May  23,  1841. 

Alfred  Forrest  m.  Melissa  Wright — both 
from  England — Jan.  15,  1846. 

x.  A  son,  b.  July  7,  X847. 

Jane  E.  Forrest  m.  Miles  Morris,  1847. 


FAMILY  RECORDS, 


^P53 


Forrest.  Francis. 

John  M.  Forrest,  s.  of  Samuel,  b.  Oct. 
23,  1805,  in  Birmingham,  Eng.,  m. 
Tamer  Allen,  d.  of  Isaac,  Mch.  6,  1829. 

X.  Rebecca  S,,  b.  Nov.  la,  1829;  in.  G.  BruL<<e. 

2.  Mary  Jane,  b.  Mch.  19,  1831. 

3.  Harriet  M.,  b.  Aug.  27,  1832. 
4..  Samuel  A.,  b.  Sept.  8,  1838. 

5.  Annetta  L.,  b.  Nov.  26,  184T. 

6.  John  Earnest,  b.  Feb.  6,  1844. 

7.  Bellmont  G.,  b.  June  i,  1846. 

Phebe  Forrest  m.  William  Stanley,  1850. 
Sarah  Forrest  m.  Reuben  Brown,  1828. 
Susan  Forrest  m.  Thomas  Warner,  1848. 

Fortune,  servant  of  Dr.  Preserved  Por- 
ter, and  entered  by  Dr.  Porter.  Record 
of  Fortune,  a  Negroe's  children: 

Tacob,  b.  May  27, 1786. 
Mira,  b.  Dec.  29,  1788. 
Roxa,  b.  Apr.  30,  1792. 

(Added  in  a  different  hand:) 
Africa,  b.  Sept.  16,  1772. 

George  Foster  d.  Jan.  25,  1848,  a.  33.* 

Rev.  Abraham  Fowler  m.  Sarah  Case  of 
Simsbury,  May  14,  1781. 

1.  Abraham  C,  b.  May  29,  1785. 

Sarah  d.  Jan.  26,  1795,  and  Abraham 
m.  Rebeckah  Judson  [d.  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah]  of  Stratford,  Sept.  7,  1795.  [He 
d.  Nov.,  1815,  a.  70.] 

Abraham  Fowler,  s.  of  Rev.  Abraham 
[m.  Fanny  Porter,  d.  of  Nathan,  and  d. 
at  sea,  Apr.  30,  1834]. 

Sarah  Rebecca,  Henry  Porter,  Stern  Humphrev, 
Fanny  Prudentia,  and  Julia  Ann,  bap.  Mcfi. 
5,  1818. 

Ambrose  Baldwin  Fowler,  s.  of  Thad- 
deus,  m.  Lowla  Sophronia  Fowler,  d. 
of  Maltby — all  of  Guilford— Apr.    13, 

1828. 

1.  Lowla  Todd,  b.  Feb.  a8,  1829. 

2.  Lois,  b.  Nov.  23,  1832;  ra.  C.  [.  Tyler. 

3.  Apollos,  b.  Nov.  15,  1842— all  b.  in  Northford. 

Miner  Fowler  m.  [Mrs.]  Charity  Linsley 
[d.  of  Giles  Ives],  Aug.  6,  1827. 

Dr.  Remus  Fowler  m.  Mary  Miller,  June 
II,  1827. 

William  M.  Fowler  of  Northford  m. 
Bethia  Hopson  of  Wells,  Vt.,  Feb.  6, 
1842. 

Augustus  Fox  m.  Hannah  Warner—both 
of  Naugatuck — Nov.  24,  1839. 

Richard  Fox  of  New  Haven  m.  Elizabeth 
Wilson,  Apr.  9,  1842. 

Anner  Francis  m.  Stephen  Culver,  1793. 

Mary  Francis,  d.  of  Nancy,  b.  Apr.  19, 
1814. 

Mary  Francis  m.  Edward  Sandland. 


Freeman.  Frisbie. 

Caleb  Freeman,  b.  Mch.  20,  1816,  m.  in* 

Kng.  [May  7],  1835,  Jane  Gardner,  b. 

Oct.  10,  1816. 

1.  Mary  Jane,  b.  in  Wolcottville,  Feb.  25,  1838. 

2.  Julia  Emma,  b.  in  Bristol,  May  10,  1839. 

3.  Martha  Maria,  b.  Sept.  23,  1843. 

4.  Sarah  H.,  b.  Sept.  2,  1845. 

5.  Esther  Elirjibeth,  b,  Jan.  8,  1847. 

Henry  Freeman  of  Watertown  m.  Au- 
gusta Jackson  of  Woodbury,  Oct.  9, 
1850  (col.). 

PoUand  Freeman  of  Watertown  m.  Esther 
Siephevens,  Apr.  17,  1825  (col.). 

Richard  Freeman  of  Wat.  m.  Hannah 

Souare  of  Oxford,  Jan.  9, 1792.*  (Dick?) 

Sarah  Freeman  m.  Deac.  Th.  Judd,  1687. 

Andrew  B.  French  m.  Mary  J.  Richards 
of  Woodbury,  Sept.  21,  1851. 

Henrietta  French  m.  Luman  Hall,  1850. 

Electa  Frery  m.  John  Singleton,  1850. 

Abigail  Frisbie  m.  Dan  Tuttle,  1769. 

Almira  Frisbie  m.  David  Somers,  1830. 

Anna  Frisbie  m.  Isaac  Scott,  1753. 

Catharine  (Conkling),  relict  of  Culpepper 
Frisbie,  m.  Jesse  Leavenworth,  1761. 

Charles  Frisbie  was  m.  to  Lydia  Alcox 
by  Alexander  Gillett,  Jan.  4,  1781. 

Daniel  Frisbie,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Eunice 
Hall,  d.  of  Jared,  Sept.  29,  1794,  and  d. 
Nov.  15,  1850,  a.  80.* 

1.  Julia,  b.  Nov,  2,  1795;  m.  B.  T.  Hitchcock. 

2.  Alma^  b.  Sept.  7,  1798;  m.  Artemus  Hoedley. 

3.  Lorram  (Lauren),  k.Vi%.  2,  x8oo. 

4.  Lucius  D.,  b.  June  15,  1804. 

5.  Caroline  E,,  b.  May  i,  1809;  m.  Edward  Scott. 

6.  FMary]  Chloe,  b.  Oct.  i,  181 1. 

[AH  these  died  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  be- 
tween the  ages  of  80  and  84.] 

Ebenezer  Frisbie,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  De- 
borah Twitchel,  d.  of  Isaac,  dec'd,  Nov. 
23,  1 791,  and  d.  in  New  Haven,  O., 
May  14,  1835. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  July  2,  1792;  m.  Horace  Porter,  Jr. 

2.  Clarry,  b.  Aug.  21,  1794;  m.  Timothy  Porter. 

3.  Richard,  b.  June  26,  1796. 

4.  Ame,  b.  July  21,  1798. 

5.  Eben  Wakelce,  b.  Apr.  7,  1800. 

6.  Polly,  b.  Apr.  29,  1802. 

7.  Reuben,  b.  July  3,  1810. 

8.  Emeline.  b.  Mch.  7,  1812;  d.  in  Ohio,  Oct.  27, 

1833,  sne  ha\'ing  been  m.  to  John  Skinner,  left 
one  dau.,  Emily,  b.  June  7,  1831. 

Edward  L.  Frisbie  m.  Hannah  A.  Wel- 
ton  [d.  of  Hershell],  Feb.  11,  1850. 

Elijah  Frisbie  and  Abigail  [Culver].  She 
d.  Apr.  19,  1771;  he,  Feb.  15, 1800,  a.  81. 

Jolyi,  b.  Apr.  8,  1762. 

Hannah  Frisbie  m.  Elnathan  Thrasher, 
1778. 

Israel  Frisbie  of  Branford  m.  Active 
Foot,  d.  of  Capt.  Abr.,  Sept.  22,  1783. 


54  Ap 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 


Frisby.  Frost. 

Lauren  Frisby  m.  Artimetia  Weltoii  [d. 
of  Richard],  1821. 

1.  Sarah  Mariend,  b.  Sept.  aa,  i8a2. 
a.  Edward  Laurens,  b.  Aug.  32,  1824. 
3.  Felicia  Ann,  b.  July  31,  1837. 

Lucius  Daniel  Frisbie  m.  Nancy  Warner, 
Apr.  17,  1831. 

Reuben  Frisbie,  s.  of  Elijah,  m.  Hannah 
Waklee,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  May  25,  1769. 

z.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  ao,  2769;  m.  Mark  Warner. 

2.  Daniel,  b.  Ian.  16,  1771. 

3.  Ebenezer,  8.  Nov.  30,  1773. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  Dec.  9,  1775. 

Hannah  d.  Nov.  22,  1778,  and  Reuben 
m.  Ruth  Seward,  d.  of  Amos,  June  3, 
1779.     He  d.  Sept.  10,  1824,  a.  78. 

Samuel,  Polly,  and  Sally,  bap.  Aug.  lo,  1798.' 

Ruth  Frisbie  m.  Riley  Alcott,  1810. 

Samira  Frisbie  m.  Joel  Johnson,  1827. 

Samuel  Frisbie,  Esq.,  s.  of  Reuben,  m. 
Mrs.  Isabella  Barnes,  Feb.  3,  1813. 

Sarah  Frisbie  m.  Ichabod  Merrills,  1780. 

Sarah  Frisbie  m.  George  Faber,  1851. 

Alpheus  Frost,  s.  of  Jesse,  m.  Jerusha 
Williams,  d.  of  Timothy,  June  19,  1816. 

1.  Mark  Augustus,  b.  Apr.  i6,  1818. 

2.  Lydia  Maria,  b.  Feb.  i,  i8ao-  m.  H.  Williams. 

3.  Melissa,  b.  Jan.  6,  1822;  m.  T.  H.  Patten. 

4.  Electa  Ann,  b.  Feb.  28,  1824. 

5.  Charles,  b.  June  z6,  1826. 

6.  George,  b.  June  10,  1829. 

7.  Styles,  b.  Nov.  7,  1831. 

[Alpheus  d.  in  1834  and]  Jerusha  m. 
Martin  Cook  of  Southington,  1838. 

Charles  Frost  [s.  of  Alpheus]  m.  Mary 
U.  Sperry  [d.  of  Luther],  July  13,  1851. 

David  Frost,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Mary 
Beach,  d.  of  Joseph,  Nov.  5,  1761.  He 
d.  Dec.  15,  1812;  she,  Feb.  6,  1819. 

1.  Jesse,  b.  Oct.  i8,  1762. 

2.  Enoch,  b.  Jan.  8,  1765. 

Enoch  Frost,  s.  of  David,  m.  Anna  Cul- 
ver, d.  of  Stephen,  Sept.  26,  1792,  and 
d.  May  27,  1822. 

1.  Anna,  b.  July  i;  d.  July  2,  1793. 

2.  Stephen  Culver,  b.  July  18,  1795. 

3.  Selah,  b.  Feb.  2,  1798. 

4.  Nancy,  b.  Mch.  31,  1801;  ra.  T.  J.  Payne. 

5.  Enoch  William,  b.  May  7,  1803. 

6.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  2,  1811;  m.  J.  J,  Doolittlc. 

Enoch  W.  Frost,  s.  of  Enoch,  m.  June 
24,  1823,  Lydia  Hall,  b.  June  21,  1804, 
d.  of.  Heraan  of  Wolcott. 

1.  Angeline  L.,  b.  July  a6,  1824;  m.  E.  T,  Bill. 

2.  Eli/a  Ann,  b.  Mch.  23,  1827;  ^-  }^^•^  1831. 

3.  Franklin  Hall.  b.  Nov.  24,  1828. 

4.  William  Dana,  b.  Feb.  23,  1831. 

5.  Ann,  b.  May  5;  d.  May  20,  1833. 

6.  Henry,  b.  Mch.  5,  1836. 

7.  Jane  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  30,  1842. 

George  J.  Frost,  b.  Aug.  17,  18 13,  s.  of 
Daniel,  m.  1833,  Martha  B.  Merriam,  b. 


Frost.  Frost. 

Nov.  6,  1816,  d.  of  Chester  of  Water- 
town. 

1.  Charles  A.,  b.  May  24,  1834. 

2.  William  A.,  b.  Aug.  25,  1836. 

3.  Fanny  J.,  b.  Nov.  12,  1838. 

4.  Martha  J.,  b.  June  28,  1841. 

5.  Sarah  L.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1844;  d.  May,  1846. 

Horace  Frost  [s.  of  WillardJ  from  North 
Haven  m.  Elvira  Hoadley,  d.  of  Arte- 
mus,  Oct.  7,  1835. 

1.  Eveline,  b.  July  31,  1837. 

2.  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  n,  1843. 

Jared  Frost,  s.  of  Willard  of  North 
Haven,  m.  Susan  Eliza  Lambert,  d.  of 
Jesse,  formerly  of  Wat,  May  15,  1842. 

X.  Charles  N.,  b.  July  15,  1843. 

Jason  Frost,  s.  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  m.  Lj^dia 
Prichard,  d.  of  Isaac,  Feb.  5,  1784. 

X.  Polly,  b.  June  24,  1785. 

2.  Ancel,  b.  Feb.  a8,  1790. 

Jesse  Frost,  s.  of  David  of  Southington, 
m.  Abigail  Culver,  d.  of  Lieut.  Stephen, 
Nov.  13,  1783,  and  d.  Oct.  12,  1827. 

X.  James,  b.  Mch.  ax,  1784. 

a.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  29,  1786;  m.  John  Smith. 

3.  Leva,  b.  Apr.  14,  1789;  ra.  Benjamin  Farrell. 

4.  Alpheus,  b.  Oct.  3,  179X. 

5.  Jesse  Beecher,  b.  Mch.  3,  1704. 

6.  Electa,  b.  Nov.  16,  1796;  d.  Oct.  16,  1803. 

7.  Van  Julius,  b.  Mch.  3,  1798. 

8.  Sylvester,  b.  Nov.  19,  1801;  d.  Sept.,  1803. 

9.  Electa,  b.  Jan.  9,  1805;  m.  Edmond  Tonipkins. 
10.  Abigail,  b.  Mch.  9,  1808;  m.  John  Mitchell. 

Mary  Frost  m.  Ezekiel  Smith,  1806. 

Moses  Frost,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Phebe 
Prindle,  d.  of  Jon.  of  Wal.,  Jan.   29, 

1755. 

I.  Jarus,  b.  Jan.  31,  X737',  d.  Sept.  ao,  1758. 
a.  Anne,  b.  Aug.  12,  1759. 

Moses  m.  Els  Selkrigg,  d.  of  William, 
Aug.  13.  1762.  [He  d.  Mch.  10,  1814; 
she,  Jan.  11,  1826,  a.  81.] 

X.  Phcbc^  b.  Sept.  13,  X763. 
a.  Bela  Fenn,  b.  Dec.  xo,  X765. 

3.  Naomi,  b.  Sept.  x8,  X767. 

Polly  Frost  m.  M.  B.  Smith,  1846. 

Rebecca  Frost  m.  Jonathan  Scott,  1729. 

Samuel  Frost  and  Naomi  [Fenn,  d.  of 
Edward  of  Wal.,  m.  Mch.  21,  1733. 

I.  Moses,  b.  Jan.  6,  1734,  in  Wallingford. 
a.  Naomi,  b.  Mch.  31,  1735,  in  Wallingford],  m. 
Elam  Brown. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  15,  1736-7. 

4.  Patience,  b.  Dec.  31,  1738;  m.  John  Hopkins. 

5.  Joel,  b,  Sept.  15,  1741. 

6.  David,  b.  Sept.  16,  X743. 

7.  Timothy,  b.  July  X9,  1744. 

8.  Submit,  b.  Nlch.  24,  1745-6;  m.  W.  Andrews. 

Naomi,  d.  Apr.  7,  1746,  and  Samuel  m. 
Hannah  Wei  ton,  d.  of  George,  Jan.  29, 
1751-2.  She  d.  Jan.  27,  1753,  and  Sam- 
uel  m.  Bettee  Newton,  d.  of  Thomas 
of  Milford,  May  i,  1755.  [He  d.  Dec. 
21,  1803,  a.  97]. 

9.  Bette,  b.  Aug.  27,  X7s8,  m.  Theo.  Taylor. 


FAMILY  RECOJi 


Frost.  Fulford. 

Samuel  Frost,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Sary 
Cooper,  d.  of  Caleb  of  New  Haven, 
Mch.  15,  1759. 

I.  Isaac,  b.  Nov.  34,  1759. 
a.  John,  b.  Oct.  19,  1761. 

3.  aarah,  b  Dec.  a,  1763;  m.  Amaaa  Bronaon. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  15,  1766. 
3.  Rachel,  b.  Mch.  37,  177a. 

6.  Olive,  b.  Jan.  16,  1776. 

7.  Eli,  b.  Feb.  7,  1780. 

8.  David,  b,  Oct.  18,  1783. 

Samuel  Frost  the  third: 

I.  Elisha,  b.  Feb.  36.  1^62. 

3.  Lucy,  the  second  b.  in  Wat.,  b.  May  31,  1766.  . 

4.  Samuel,  b.  May  x8,  1769. 

5.  Arae,  b.  Aug.  3,  1777. 

Samuel  Frost,  Jr.  m.  Clymena  Porter, 
Apr.  24,  1788. 

I.  Silas,  b.  June  19,  1789. 

Stephen  C.  Frost,  s.  of  Enoch,  and  Sa- 
rah Barnes,  b.  Sept.  i8,  1788,  d.  of  Jo- 
siah  of  Wolcott,  m.  Mch,,  1817.  She  d. 
1845. 

X.  Lampaon  Josiah,  b.  Mch.,  18x8. 

s.  Sarah  Ann,  b.  Nov.  xo,  18x9;  m.  A.  G.  Stocking. 

3.  William  Butler,  b.  Nov,  11,  i8ax. 

4.  Julia  M.,  b.  Jan.  3,  x834;  m.  W.  H.  Kirk. 

Timothy  Frost,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Abigail 
Benham,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Wallingford, 
Mch.  17,  1764. 

X.  Hannah  Miles,  b.  Nov   17,  1764;  d.  July,  X807. 
3.  Anne  Dale,  b.  Feb.  23,  X767. 

Abi^il,  bap.  June  18,  X769.* 

Lucmda,  bap.  July  38,  1771. 

William  Butler  Frost,  s.  of  Stephen  C, 
m.  Amelia  Daines  of  Litch. ,  Oct.  5,1841. 

X.  Frederic  Mortimer,  b.  Apr.  17,  1846. 

Amelia  d.  Sept.  24,  1846,  and  William* 
m.  Sarah  Bacon  of  N.  Y.,  Aug.  28,  1848. 

Gersbom  Fulford,  s.  of  Abr.,  m.  Abigail 
Wei  ton,  d.  of  Stephen,  dec'd  Mch.  29, 
1727.     [He  d.  1791,  a.  90;  she,  1790]. 

X.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  16,  x7a7-8;  m.  Joseph  Bronson. 

The  second  lying  in  3  children  at  a  birth.    All 
boys  Dyed. 

5.  Luke,  b.  Apr.  x,  X730. 

6.  James,  b.  Mch.  14,  X732*  d.  May  xo,  X753.  Dyed 

by  beine  drowned  at  Derby  Falls. 

7.  Titus,  b.  Nov.  35,  1733. 

8.  John,  b.  Oct.  ^o,  1735. 

9.  Jonathan,  b.  Dec.  3,  X737. 

10.  Dorcas,  b.  Oct.  x,  X739;   her  child,  Allen,  b. 
Nov.  22,  d.  Nov.  34,  1763. 

II.  IxjLS,  b.  Sept.  6,  d.  Sept.  xo,  1741. 
X3.  Unice,  b.  May  19,  1743. 

13.  David,  b.  Jan.  19,  1747-8;  d,  Aug.  aj,  X749. 

Jonathan  Fulford,  s.  of  Gershom,  m. 
Thankful  Doolittle,  d.  of  Phinehas  of 
Wallingford,  Dec.  12,  1764. 

Ix>is,  bap.  Apr.  13,  1766.* 

Luke,  b.  May  9,  1767  (called  1st  child). 

Luke  Fulford,  s.  of  Gershom,  m.  Hannah 
Barnes,  d.  of  Samuel,  Dec.  20,  1752. 

A  son,  b.  Sept.  23;  d.  Oct.  6,  1753. 

Luke,  d,  1756,  [leaving  a  dau.,  Sarah], 
and  Hannah  m.  Daniel  Barnes,  1758. 


FULFCJ 

Titua 
Susi 
July 

I.  N 

3.   A 

5.  0 

6.  S^ 

7.  Rl 

8.  PI 

9.  N! 
10.  U 

WUIitt 

elin0 

Cynthi 

1845. 

Edwar 
Corn 

Jane  F 

Wildnii 

Mitel 

Bernari 
Irelai 

z.  Ann 

James 

land, 

I.   Toh; 
3.  Ben 

Tboma 

1851.^ 

John  C 

Wooc 
land-  • 

7.  i83i 

X.  Joh  I 
3.  Cat 

3.  Mai  i 

4.  The  1 

John  G  I 

Mary  ( 

Jane  G  i 

Garnsc  i 

Charle 
Brad  i 

Diadai 

Eliza 
Line  . 

Elizab 

m.  y  f 

[John  < 
Heic 

Josept)  I 
rved 
Woo 

Apr.    X. 
ao, 

1703.   a.     \ 
3.     > 


56  ^p 


HI8T0R  T  OF  WA  TERB  UR  F. 


Gaylord.  Goldsmith. 

Livinia  Gaylord  m.  Marvin  Sperry,  1832. 
Lois  Gaylord  m.  John  B.  Alcox,  1785. 
Luther  Gaylord  m.  Laura  Judd,  Aug.  3, 

1833. 
Mary  Gaylord  m.  Stephen  Welton,  1701. 

Marah  Gaylord,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Durham, 
m.  John  Hikcox,  1719. 

Miles  Gaylord  from  Hamden,  b.  June  22, 
1824,  and  Elizabeth  Byington,  b.  Jan. 
28,  1820,  d.  of  Theo.,  m.  Sept.  i,  1845. 

I.  Aurelia  Gertrude,  b.  Aug.  7,  1846. 

Millicent  Gaylord  m.  John  Southmayd, 
Jr.,  1739,  and  Timothy  Judd,  1749. 

Sarah  Gaylord  m.  Thomas  Judd,  1688. 

Michael  Geoghan  m.  Catharine  Kilduif, 
May  4,  1851. 

Jane  Gerard  m.  F.  L.  Potter,  1850. 

Martin  Gibbins  m.  Hannah  Hennessy, 
Sept.  6,  1851. 

Dayid  Gibbs.  s.  of  Obed,  m.  Nancy  Prich- 
ard,  d.  of  Isaac,  Jan.  28,  1822. 

I.  George  Franklin,  b.  Nov.  9,  182a. 
3.  Nancy  Eliza,  b.  Oct.  9,  1824. 

Obed  Gibbs,  s.  of  Eliakim  of  Litch.,  m. 
Hannah  Scovil,  d.  of  Tim.,  Mch.  17, 

1793.  . 

1.  David,  b.  Aug.  26,  1794. 

2.  Ransom,  b.  Aug.  16,  1796. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  2a,  1798;  m.  M.  Clark. 

Statira  Gibburd  m.  L.  W.  Elton,  1839. 

Abigail  Gilbert  m.  Giles  Ives,  1799. 

George  Gilbert,  s.  of  Samuel  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Maria  English,  d.  of  Judson 
of  Oxford,  July  4,  1839. 

1.  Cornelia  Maria,  b.  June  14,  1841. 

2.  Charles  Judson,  b.  June  24,  1843. 

William  B.  Gilbert  m.  Mary  Ann  Root 
of  Litchfield,  Mch.  14,  1847. 

Orange  Gillet  of  Goshen  m.  Mary  Ann 
Colby  in  Norfolk,  Aug.  26,  1834,  and  d. 
in  Goshen,  Aug.  18,  1841. 

1.  Albert,  b.  in  Goshen,  Feb.  17,  1836. 

2.  Alexander,  b.  in  Canaan,  July  19,  1838. 

3.  Mary  Mayretta,  b.  in  Goshen,  June  16,  1841. 

Dolly  Gleason  m.  Rev.  Ed.  Porter,  1789. 

Sarah  Glover  m.  Timothy  Corcoran,  183 1. 

Eliza  Goddard  m.  J.  W.  Worden,  185 1. 

Clement  J.  Godfrey  from  Walpole,  N. 
H.,  m.  Mary  J.  Cooley  from  Amherst, 
Mass.,  May  13,  1834. 

I.  William  Henry  Kellogg,  b.  in  Coventry,  May 
14,  1839. 

Frederic  Goldsmith  from  Plymouth,  b. 
Jan.  22,  1804,  n^-  J^i^e  13,  1S24,  Ruth  E. 
Brown,  d.  of  Reuben,  b.  July  21,  1806. 

1.  Ransom  Hurlbut,  b.  A\x^.  23,  1825. 

2.  William,  b.  Tune  12,  1827. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  May  15,  1829. 

4.  Francis  Edward,  b.  June  15,  1831. 


Goldsmith. 

5.  Lyman,  b.  July  7,  1833. 

6.  Ann  Eliza,  b.  Aug.  37,  1836. 
Eveline,  b.  June  15,  1838. 


Graves. 


Mary  Jane,  b.  Mav  29,  1840. 
9.  Harriet  Maria,  b.  May  28,  1842. 

10.  Nancy,  b.  July  15,  1844. 

11.  Ellen,  b.  Apr.  1847. 

Clarissa  Goodrich  m.  A.  Brockett,  1842. 

Amy  Goodwin  m.   S.  Stoddard,  1780. 

Betsey  Goodwin  m.  Jesse  Hopkins,  1794. 

James  P.  Goodwin  m.  Emily  Grilley, 
Oct.  23,  1845. 

Henry  W.  Goodwin  of  Cabotville,  Mass., 
m.  Caroline  A.  Hinman  [d.  of  Joel], 
May  6,  1846. 

Sarah  Goodwin  m.  William  Adams,  1775. 

Charles  Goodyear  m.  Clarissa  Beecher, 
Aug.  25,  1824. 

Cynthia  [Bateman,  w.  of  Amasa]  Good- 
year d.  Oct.  1 8 16.* 

Harriet  Goodyear  m.  J.  S.  Tomlinson, 

1830. 
Maria  Goodyear  m.  St.  Hotchkiss,  1827. 
James  and  Sarah  Gordan  (Gordon): 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  19,  1745-6;  m.  J.  Lewis. 

2.  Ame,  b.  in  Wat.,  Mch,  5,  1747-8  [d.  young]. 

3.  Phebe,  b.  in  Wat.,  Oct.  14,  1751;  m.  Obad.  Win- 

ters. 

fjames  d.  1752]  and  Sarah  m.  William 
Rowley,  1753. 

Joseph  Gould  of  Da\^on,  O.,  m.  Rachel 
Turner  of  Northfield,  Nov.  20,  1842. 

Sarah  Gould  m.  Dr.   Pres.  Porter,  1764. 

Alonzo  Granniss,  s.  of  Caleb,  m.  Esther 
'  Adelia  Payne,  d.  of  Silas,  Oct.  3,  1837. 

T.  Margaret  Louisa,  b.  Oct.  6,  1840  [d.  1850. 
2.  Frederick,  b.  Oct.  18,  1851.] 

Caleb  Granniss  of  Cheshire  m.  Ruth 
Arnst,  d.  of  John,  Nov.  29,  1810. 

[Edward,  b.  1813. 
Marshall,  b.  1815. 
James,  b.  Aug.  i,  1818. 
Alonzo,  b.  Mch,  27,  1820.] 

Caleb  A.  Granniss  [s.  of  Simeon]  m. 
Mary  J.  Bronson,  Aug.  13,  1848. 

James  M.  Granniss,  s.  of  Caleb,  m.  Irena 
A.  Welton,  d.  of  James  of  Watertown, 
Oct.  7,  1838. 

X.  Henrietta,  b.  Jan.  2,  1845. 

Lydia  Granniss  m.  Darius  Scovill,  1771.' 

Cornelius  Graves,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Han- 
nah (Brooks),  wid.  of  John  Clark,  May 

1.  1751- 

X.  Stephen,  b.  Feb.  2,  1752. 

2.  Benjamin,  b.  Mch.  12,  1754. 

3.  Cornelius,  b.  Mch.  9,  1756. 

4.  Jacob,  b.  Sept.  i,  1758. 

Hannah  d.  Nov.  14.  1759,  and  Cornelius 
m.  Phebe  Prindle,  d.  of  Nathan,  dec'd, 
Aug.  13,  1761. 

5.  Jacob,  b.  July  12,  X762. 


FAMILY  BE00BD8. 


Ap57 


Graves.  Griggs. 

George  Graves,  s.  of  Elijah  of  Hebron, 
m.  Esther  Beardsley,  d.  of  Levi,  June 
6,  1807. 

1.  Tallman,  b.  Mcb.  30;  d.  Apr.  xx,  1808. 

Hannah  (or  Heloise)  Graves  m.  Adna 
Blakeslee,  1786.* 

Joseph  Graves — his  wife,  Sarah,  d.  Mcb. 
16,  1751. 

Joshua  Graves,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Rhoda 
Bronson,  d.  of  Lieut.  John,  Apr.  5,  1750. 

X.  Manerva,  b.  Nov.  26,  1750. 

2.  Simmeon,  b.  Sept.  30,  1753. 

3.  Jesse,  b. JTan.  30,  X755. 

4.  Asa,  D.  Feb.  19,  X757. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  5,  1759. 

6.  Chansey,  b.  Sept.  9,  1761. 

Christopher  Gray,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m. 
Harriet  Phelps  —  both  tTom  Mass.  — 
Mch.  31,  1842.  • 

1.  Joseph  C,  b.  Mch.  27,  1843. 

2.  Harriet  E.,  b.  Sept.  26,  1844. 

Elizabeth  Gray  m.  J.  L.  Darrow,  1848. 

James  M.  Gray  from  Salisbury,  b.  July 

7.  1820,  and  Henrietta  Thomas,  d.  of 
Bradley  P.,  b.  July  18,  1826,  m.  July 

8.  1843. 

X.  Mary  Adeline,  b.  Apr.  7,  X845. 
2.  Franklin,  b.  May  10,  1847. 

William  Green,  b.  Nov.  15,  1820,  and 
Mary  Ann  Perkins,  b.  Feb.  5,  1821 — 
both  in  England— were  m.  June,  1843. 

X.  Ann  Elizabeth,  b.  May  8,  X844. 

Sally  Gregory  m.  NathU  Hikcox,  1800. 

William  B.  Gregory  of  Ridgefield  m. 
Jane  E.  Cummings,  Mch.  28,  1848. 

Elizabeth  Gridley  m.  Sol.  Griggs,  1778.* 
Martha  Gridley  m.  Nathan  Seward,  1779. 
Rev.  Urial  Gridley  m.  Susanna  Norton, 
May  23,  1785' 

X.  Urial,  b.  May  15,  1786. 

Barsheba  Grififen  m.  David  Osborn,  1774. 

Eunice  Griffin  m.  John  Scott,  1730. 

Ruth  Griffin  m.  John  Osborn,  1789. 

Isaac  Griegs  d.  Jan.  27,  1768.  [He  left 
Jacob  of  Walhngford,  Noah,  Samuel, 
Solomon,  Paul,  Sarah,  w.  of  William 
Munson,  and  Rachel  Spencer.] 

Noah  Griggs  and  Hannah: 

X.  Isaac,  b.  Apr.  xi,  1760. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  8,  1762;  d.  Mch.  10,  X763. 

Hannah  d.  Jan.  23,  and  Noah  m.  Eliza- 
beth Foot,  May  26,  1765. 

3.  Jacob,  b.  Oct.  26,  1766. 

4.  Noah,  b.  Apr.  28,  X769. 

5.  Amos,  b.  Jan.  28,  177X. 

Solomon  Griggs  m.  Elizabeth  Gridley, 
Feb.  19,  1778.' 

X.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  8,  X778. 
I.  Joel,  b.  Tulv  3i»  1780. 
).  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  xx,  X782. 


2. 

3. 


Griggs.  Grilley. 

4.  Solomon,  b.  Apr.  20,  X787. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  Sept.  26,  1789. 

Caroline  Grilley  m.  James  Byrnes,  1844. 

Cyrus  Grilley,  s.  of  Tehulah,  m,  Lorain 
Strickland,  d.  of  John,  Oct.  10,  1776. 

X.  John,  b.  Feb.  4,  X777. 

2.  Frcclove,  b.  Sept.  4,  1779. 

3.  Lois,  b. 

4.  David  Strickland,  b.  Dec.  8,  1782. 

Dayis  Grilley,  s.  of  Silas,  m.  Jane  C. 
Scovill,  d.  of  Aaron,  Apr.,  1832. 

X.  Helen  M.,  b.  May  6,  1833. 
2.  Dwight,  b.  Sept.  3,  1834. 

Eunice  Grilley  m.  L.  Atkins,  Jr.,  1848. 

George  Grilley,  s.  of  Henry,  and  Adelia 
Benham  from  Burlington,  b.  Apr.  17, 
18 16,  m.  Apr.  24,  1834. 

1.  George  Marcellus,  b.  May  9,  1835. 

2.  Sophia  Adelia,  b.  Feb.  13,  1840. 

3.  William  Cowd,  b.  June  29,  X842. 

Henery  Grilley,  s.  of  Hew,  m.  Mercy 
Temll,  d.  of  Gamaliel,  July  10,  1763. 

Easter,  bap.  June  22, 1766.S 

Henry  Grilley  m.  Mercy  Culver,  d.  of 
David  of  Southington,  Feb.  24,  1772. 
[He  d.  Aug.  18,  1822]  and  she,  Sept. 
16,  1833,  a.  91.* 

X.  Henry,  b.  Dec.  20,  X772. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  3X,  X774. 

3.  Silas,  b.  Jan.  15,  1777. 

4.  James,  b.  Dec.  24,  1778;  d.  Sept.  x6,  1779. 

5.  Ruth,  b.  Aug.  3x,  X780. 

6.  John,  b.  Jan.  13,  X784. 

7.  David  Clark,  b.  Jan.  6,  1786. 

Henry  Grilley,  s,  of  Henry,  m.  1797,  Ro- 
sanna  Leva  Perkins,  d.  of  Edward  of 
Bethany,  b.  Jan.  14,  1780. 

X.  Edward  Perkins,  b.  Nov.  X798. 

2.  Julius,  b.  June,  x8oo. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  June  16,  1803. 

4.  George,  b.  Aug.  x8,  1807. 

5.  William,  b.  May  a6,  x8xi;  d.  Oct.  3,  1837. 

6.  Henry,  b.  Feb.  7,  1813. 

7.  Leve  Ann,  b.  May  5,  x8is;  m.  Wra.  Cowd. 

8.  Emily,  b.  July  22,  1819;  m.  J.  P.  Goodwin. 

Henry  Grilley,  Jr.,  s.  of  Henry,  m.  Emily 
Gunn,  d.  of  Jarvi^  of  Watertown,  May 
3,  1840. 

X.  Julia,  b.  June  30,  X844. 
a.  George,  b.  Nov.  24,  1846. 

Hew  Grely  (Grilley). 

7.  Daniel,  b.  July  5,  i7«.    ^ 

Elizabeth,  m.  Amos  Temll,  1764. 

Ira  F.  Grilley  of  East  Florence,  N.  Y., 
m.  Marcia  C.  Castle,  Mch.  i6,  1851. 

Jehulah  Grilley,  s.  of  Hew,  m.  Martha 
Wei  ton,  d.  of  Stephen,  Apr.  9,  1754. 

X.  Cyrus,  b.  Mch.  24,  X755. 
2.  John,  b.  Oct.  22,  X756. 

Ede,  bap.  Sept.  X5,  X765.» 

Annathe,  (?)  bap.  Jan.  27,  1771. 

Jeremiah  Grilley,  s.  of  Daniel,  ra.  Anna 
Kellogg,  d.  of  Jos.,  June,  1812. 

X.  Levi,  b.  Mch.  xx,  1814. 

a.  Alma,  b.  May  x,  x8x6;  m.  Ed.  Nichols. 


58^ 


HIS  TOBY  OF  WATERBUBT, 


Grilley. 


Garnsey. 


Jeremiah  m.   Sarah  Ann  Langdon  of 
Cheshire,  Apr.  21,  1844. 

Julia  Grilley  m.  L.  Neal,  Dec.  17,  1821. 

Manly  Grilley,  s.  of  Cyrus,  m.  Betsey 
Mariah  Olds,  d.  of  David  of  Wash.,  May 
5, 1 82 1.    (Another  entry  gives  1822). 

X.  Marshall,  b.  Nov.  33,  1821. 

2.  GeoTj^e,  b.  Aug.  29,  1833;  d.  Nov.  1843. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  s,  1835. 

4.  Albert,  b.  Feb.  6,  1828,  in  Wa.shing:ton. 

5.  Frederic,  b.  Sept.  38,  1831,  in  Torrington. 

6.  William,  b.  Men.  3,  1836,  in  Torrington. 

Orrin  Grilley,  s.  of  Silas,  m.  Grace  Jacobs 
from  North  Haven,  Dec.  5,  1831. 

X.  Orville^  b.  Oct.  3,  1832. 

3.  Catharine,  b.  Nov.  32,  X834;  d.  May  17,  1837. 

3.  Edwin,  b.  Oct.  x6,  X836. 

4.  Thomas  Mortimer,  b.  Aug.  3,  X845. 

Silas  Grilley,  s.  of  Henry,  m.  May  22, 
1800,  Triphena  Delano,  d.  of  Thomas 
of  Sharon,  b.  May  21,  1778. 

X.  Orville,  b.  Feb.  x8oi;  d.  x8o6. 
3.  Orrin,  b.  Aug.  X803. 

3.  Clorinda,  b.  Feb.  1806;  m.  B.  Perkins. 

4.  Minerva,  b.  July,  x8o8;  m.  B.  Stevens. 

5.  Davis,  b.  Jan.  181 1. 

6.  Charles,  b.  July,  18x3;  d.  18x5. 

7.  Marietta,  b.  Feb.  x8i6. 

8.  Elixa,  b.  Sept.  x8i8. 

9.  Charles,  b.  Sept.  18 19. 
10.  Frederick,  b.  Sept.  1823. 

William  Grilly  m.  Eunice  A.  Scott,  Dec. 

9.  1833. 
John  Grimsel  m.  Julia  Merrel,  Dec.  8, 

1850. 

Benjamin  Grinnels  of  Litch.  m.  Harriet 
Johnson  of  Middlebury,  Nov.  24,  1825. 

William  L.  Grennell  of  Penn.,  m.  Ann 
E.  Lloyd,  Oct.  10,  1847. 

Abijah  Garnsey  (Guernsey),  m.  Lucy 
Bellamy,  [d.  of  Joseph,  D.U.]  of  Wooa- 
bury,  Aug.  19,  1772. 

Frances,  b.  Mch.  35,  1778.* 

Silence,  b.  July  14,  1781. 

William,  b.  Jan.  25,  1784. 

Cambriage,  a  servant,  b.  May  16,  1777. 

Lydia,  a  servant,  b.  Mch.  14,  1781. 

Amos  Garnsey,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m.  Esther 
Blake,  d.  of  Joseph,  Feb.  15,  1756. 

X.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  9,  1756. 

2.  Amos,  b.  Oct.  33,  X758. 

3.  Esther,  b.  June  9,  1760. 

4.  Joel,  b.  Jan.  xx,  1763. 

5.  Eldad,  b.  Sept  5,  1764. 

6.  Annis,  b.  Jan.  30;  d.  July  x6,  1766. 
7.-  Annis,  b.  June  24,  1767. 

8.  Ruth,  b.  Mch.  3.  1769. 

9.  Parthena,  b.  Men.  6,  1771. 

David  Garnsey,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m.  Han- 
nah Judd,  d.  of  Samuel,  June  6,  1754. 
[She  d.  Feb.  28,  1776]. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  June  21,  X75[5]. 

2.  Senc,  b.  bept.  19,  X756;  m.  C.  Dayton. 

3.  David,  b.  Mch.  3,  1758. 

4.  Rebecca,  b.  May  23,  X760;  m.  Christ.  Merriam. 

5.  OUve,  b.  May  4,  X762;  m.  Jas.  Merriam. 


Garnsey.  Guilford. 

John  Garnsey,  s.  of  Joseph  of  Milford, 
m.  Anna  Peck,  d.  of  [Deac]  Jeremiah, 
Nov.  28,  1733. 

X.  John,  b.  Oct.  28,  1734. 

2.  Anna,  b.  Oct.  6,  1736. 

3.  Peter,  b.  Nov.  13,  1738. 

4.  Nathan,  b.  May  X4,  174X. 

Jonathan  Garnsey  m.  Abigail  [Northrop, 
d.  of  Samuel  of  Milford,  Jan.  6, 1724-5. 

X.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.,  1^36;  ro.  Eliphalet  Clark. 

2.  Jonathan,  b.  in  Milford,  Feb.,  1729]. 

3.  Amoz.  b.  July  13,  X731. 

4.  David,  b.  Apr.  12,  1734. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  July  7,  1736;  m.  Timothy  Foot. 

6.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  8,  1738-9. 

7.  Isaac,  b.  Dec.  xx,  X74x;  [d.  1767 at  Northampton]. 

Abigail,  d.  Oct.  i8,  1756,  and  Jonathan 
m.  Desire  Scovill,  wid.  [of  Lieut.  Will- 
iam], Mch.  10,  1757,  who  d.  1796,  a.  87. 

Jonathan  Garnsey,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m. 
Desire  Bronson,  d.  of  Jos.,  June  5,  1755. 

X.  Millesent,  b.  Mch.  24;  d.  Aug.  5,  1756. 

2.  Millesent,  b.  May  21,  X757  [m.  Titus  Hotchkiss]. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  July  x8,  X760  [m.  Huldah  Seymour]. 

4.  Southmayd,  b.  Apr.  10,  X763  [m.  Sabra  Scott]. 

5.  Tames,  b.  Mch.  27, 1767  fm.  Annah  Blakesley]. 
[Sidney,  b.  May  7,  1772]. 

.  Joseph  Garnsey,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Mary 
Brown,  d.  of  Samuel,  Apr.  30,  1754. 

X.  Mary,  b.  June  14,  1755. 

2.  Ann,  b.  Dec.  10,  1757;  m.  Aner  Bradley. 

3.  Chansey,  b.  Mch.  25,  X760. 

Joseph  H.  Guernsey,  b.  June  6, 1804,  s.  of 
Joseph  of  WatertoT^m,  and  Elizabeth 
fc.  Turner,  b.  Nov.  26, 1 812,  d.  of  Jacob 
of  Litchfield,  m.  Nov.  26,  1829. 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  xo;  d.  Sept.  7,  X834. 

2.  Caroline,  b.  Nov.  9,  1836. 

3.  Sheldon,  b.  Feb.  X7;  d.  Apr.  X9,  X839. 

4.  Anthony,  b.  Apr.  19,  X840. 

5.  Finctt,  b.  Oct.  4,  1042. 

6.  Jennet,  b.  Oct.  X4,  1843. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  16,  1844;  d.  at  Wol.,  1845. 

8.  sarah  P.,  b.  Apr.  x,  1847. 

Rhoda  Garnsey  m.  David  Hubbard,  1782.' 

Samuel  Gernsey,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m.  Ra- 
chel Lattimore  of  Middletown,  May  10. 
1764. 

X.  Samuel,  b.  Apr.  X765. 

Rachel,  d.  July  9,  1765,  and  Samuel,  m. 
Concurrance  Smedlcy,  Nov.  13,  1766. 

7.  Rachel,  b.  Aug.  X3,  1767. 

3.  Rene,  b.  May  22,  X770. 

4.  Concurrance,  b.  May  98,  X772. 

Samuel  Gamsey's  wid.  Naomi,  d.  Jan. 

17,  1822,  [a.  86]. 

Charles  Guilford,  s.  of  Joshua,  m.  Helen 
Carr,  d.  of  'Lymoxi  of  New  Hartford, 
June  13,  1839. 

1.  Nancy  Maria,  b.  May  17,  1840. 

2.  (ieorjiji'  S.,  b.  Apr.  5,  1842. 

3.  Mary  Emeline,  b.  Dec.  9,  1845. 

George  W.  Guilford  m.  Lora  Rice,  Oct. 

18,  1827. 


FAMILY  BB00BD8, 


AP69 


Guilford.  Gunn. 

Joshua  Guilford,  b.  Feb.  15,  1792,  s.  of 
Simeon  of  Williamsburgti,  Mass.,  and 
Elizabeth  Smith,  b.  Nov.  22,  1803,  d.  of 
Allen  of  Plainfield,  Mass.,  m.  June, 
1824. 

X.  Mary,  b.  in  Cummington  Mass.,  June  x8,  1825. 
a.  Simeon  B.,  b.  in  Manchester,  Mass.,  July  ai;  d. 
Nov.  rSa^. 

3.  Anson  Bolivar,  b.  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  az, 

1830. 

4.  Simeon  Dudley,  b.  at  Pittsfield,  Feb.  6, 183a;  d. 

5.  Delany  (?)  Jane,  b.  at  Pittsfield,  Nov.  7.  1833. 

6.  Joshua,  b.  at  Pittsfield,  Nov.  x6,  1835;  d.  1836. 

7.  Esther,  b.  at  Pittsfield,  Mch.  ax,  X838. 

8.  William  Henry  Harrison,  b.  Feb.  3,  X840. 

9.  Elizabeth  Smith,  b.  Jan.  a4,  1842. 

10.  Electa  Gay,  b.  Nov.  aa,  1844;  d.  X846. 

11.  Charles,  (?)  b.  June  4,  1847. 

Michael  Guilford,  s.  of  Timothy  of  Will- 
iamsburgh,  Mass.,  m.  Anna  Hall,  d.  of 
Moses  R.,  Nov.  27,  1811. 


I.  Jane  Ann,  b.  in  Hardwick,  Sept.  a3,  1812. 
harlotte,  b.  in  F 
m.  Allen  Clark 


1^  — y    —  _    -—    —  — ,    -_  —  ^p — . 

2.  Charlotte,  b.  in  Hardwick,  Mass 


.  aj,  ifl 
.,  Apr. 


10, 1815; 


3.  Sarah,  b.  in  Hardwitk,  Feb.  8,  1818. 

4.  Ralph  Hall,  b.  in  Cum.,  Jan.  ii,  1820. 

5.  Betsey  £Uz.,  b.  in  Plain.,  Men.  15,  i8aa;    d. 

1825. 

6.  Lydia  Brown,  b.  in  Plain.,  Jan.  i,  1824;  d.  i8a6. 

7.  Rebecca  Eliz.,  b.  July  a6,  1826;  d.  Feb.  26, 1836. 

8.  Timothy,  b.  Aug.  30,  1828. 

9.  Moses  Edgar,  b,  Oct.  17,  1830;  d.  Mch.  18, 1836. 
10.  William  Oscar,  b.  in  Wolcott,  Oct.  20,  1833. 

Ruhamah  Guilford  m.  J.  S.  Hay  den,  1819. 

[Abel  Gunn,  s.  of  Nathl. ,  m.  Abigail  Da- 
vis of  Derby,  Dec.  2,  1756. 

I.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  25,  1759]. 

Abel  Gunn,  s.  of  Nathl.  (2d),  m.  Joanna 
Chatfield,  d.  of  Sam.,  Jan.  19,  1784. 

I.  Silas,  b.  Dec.  20,  1784. 

a.  Ransom,  b.  June  9,  1787  [m.  Mary  Nichols}. 

3.  Abel   Festus,  b.  Aug.  7,  1793  [m.  Ranny  Hine]. 

4.  Ame,  b.  Mch.  14,  1799  [m.  Caleb  Main] . 

Emeline  H.  Gunn  m.  T.  B.  Davis,  1840. 

Emily  Gunn  m.  Henry  Grilley,  Jr.,  1840. 

Enos  Gunn,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m.  Abigail 
Candee,  d.  of  Gideon,  Jan.  13,  1763. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  25,  1763. 

2.  Abigail,  b.  July  8,  1765  [m.  Noah  Scovill], 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  14,  1767  [m.  Lem.  WeltonJ. 


4.  Hannah, 
and 


m.  Larmon  Townsend. 
Nov.  3,  1770. 

5.  Enos.       )  m.  Hannah  Burrill. 

6.  Asa,  b.  Apr.  30,  1773. 


V- 


7.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  26,  1777. 

Jobamah    Gunn    [s.  of    Nathaniel],   m. 
Hannah  Candee,  Feb.  6,  1772. 

1.  Isaiah,  b.  Feb.  20,  1773  [ra.  Eliz.  Hull], 

2.  John,  b.  Dec.  24,  1775  [m.  Amelia  Hull]. 

3.  Mehitabel,  b.  Mch.  22,  1777  [m.  Joel  Hull]. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  19,  1779  [m.  Moses  Wood]. 

5.  Jobamah,  b.  Nov.  23,  1781. 

6.  Esther  b.  Feb.  25,  1784. 

7.  Isaac,  b.  June  5,  1786  |m.  Polly  Riggs,  (b.  Feb. 

22,  1786;  d.  Oct.  7,  1813),  and  Huldah  Riggs, 
(b.  July  10,  1796),  dau's  of  John  Riggs.  He 
d.  Sept.  26,  1846] . 


GuNN.  Hagadon. 

Nathaniel  Gunn,  s.  of  Abel  and  Agnes 
(Hawkins)  m.  Sarah  Wheeler — all  of 
Derby — Dec.  10,  1728. 

r.  Mary,  b.  in  Derby,  Jan.  12,  1730;  m.  D.  Woos- 

ter. 
a.  Sarah,  b.  in  Derby,  Feb.  15,  173a;  m.  Capt.  Ja- 
bez  Thompson  of  Derby,  Oct.  as,  1748] . 

3.  Abel,  b.  Aug.  xa,  1734. 

4.  Nathaniel,  b.  Sept.  16,  1736. 

5.  Enos,  b.  Aug.  30,  1738. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Jan.  13,  1740  Fm.  John  Smith]. 
•  7.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  2,  1743  [m. .  Miles]. 

8.  Anne,  b.  Mch  11,  1745-0. 

9.  Jobamah,  b.  Aug.  20,  1748. 

10.  Samuel,  b.  July  13,  1751;  d.  Sept.  15,  1753. 

Sarah  d.  Mch.  8,  1756,  and  Nathaniel 
m.  Sarah  [Smith]  Cambe  (Candee),  wid. 
of  Gideon  of  W.  Haven,  June  30, 1757. 
He  d.  Oct.  25,  1769. 

11.  Loes,  b.  Mch.  7, 1758  [m. Sim. Beebe of  Kent]. 

12.  Mehitable,  b.  June  6,  1/59  [d.  X776J. 

13.  Agnis,  b.  May  26, 1762  [m.  Benjamin  Welton  ?]. 

Nathaniel  Gunn,  Jr.,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m. 
Elizabeth  Downs,  d.  of  Nathl.,  of  New 
Haven,  Apr.  7,  1763. 

I.  Abel,  b.  Jan.  a6,  1764. 

a.  Nathaniel,  b.  Sept.  26,  1766. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  11,  1768. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  3,  1771;  m.  Dan.  Osbom. 

5.  Bede,  b.  July  x6,  1773;  m.  J.  Blakeslee. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  25,  1775;  m.  R.  Welton,  Jr. 

7.  Ame,  b.  Apr.  a3,  1779. 

[8.  Charlotte,  b.  1781;  m.  Sher.  Leavenworth]. 

Nathaniel  Gunn.  Jr.,  s.  of  Nathaniel 
(above),  m.  Deliverance  Harrison,  d. 
of  Samuel,  March  31,  1793.  She  d. 
Mch.  I,  1825. 

1.  Vinson,  b.  May  4,  1794. 

2.  Jarvis,  b.  Nov.  29,  1798;  d.  Aug.  1839. 

3.  Sally,  b.  Oct.  29,  1804. 

[Rev.  Samuel  Gunn,  s.  of  Enos,  m. 
Joanna  Warner,  d.  of  Ard,  Apr.  4, 1785. 

1.  Haviia,  b.  Apr.  19,  1786. 

2.  Leveret,  b.  Jan.  11,  1788. 

3.  Zena,  b.  Apr.  15,  1790. 

4.  Garry,  b.  Apr.  7,  179a. 

5.  Amanda,  b.  July  30,  1793. 

6.  Samuel,  b.  Aug.  d,  1795. 

7.  Apama,  b.  Dec.  16,  1797. 

8.  Enos,  b.  Mch.  8,  1800. 

9.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  2,  1802;  killed  by  falling  from 

the  wagon,  while  the  family  was  crossing  the 
AUeghanies,  en  route  for  Ohio,  Nov.  xi,  1805. 
xo.  Bela,  b.  Sept.  6,  1804.     , 

•*  This  account  taken  from  his  own  well 
worn  pocket-book."  Rev.  Sam.  Gunn 
d.  at  Portsmouth,  O.,  Aug.  25,  1832]. 

Silas  Gunn  from  Oxford  m.  Theodosia 
Johnson  of  Salem,  Nov.  26,  1826. 

Vinson  Gunn,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m.  Julia 
Welton,  May  13,  18 12. 

1.  Lucia  Diana,  b.  Apr.  20,  181 3. 

2.  Olive  Semantha,  b.  Mch.  11,  1824. 

3.  Delia  Amanda,  b.  Apr.  6,  1825. 

4.  Lent  Eells,  b.  May  6,  1832. 

5.  Mary  Ellen,  b.  Apr.  26,  1834. 

Jacob  Hagadon  m.  Jane  Reynolds,  June 
23,  1830. 


60  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 


Hale.  Hall. 

Elizabeth  Hale  m.  Dan.  Hawkins,  1748. 
Reuben  Hail  m.  Diantha  Ward,  Aug.  29, 
1759-    (To  Hartland  in  l^^2^) 

Tamer  Hale  m.  Elisha  Lewis,  1750. 
Abigail  Hall  m.  Ozias  Langdon,  1832. 
Anna  Hall  m.  Philo  Mix.  1797. 
Anna  Hall  m.  Michael  Guilford,  181 1. 
Benjamin  Hall:' 

Lyman,  b,  Auj^.  7,  1784. 
Uenjamin,  b.  Men.  29,  1787. 
Orison,  b.  Dec.  4,  1789. 

Clerana  Hall  m.  Seabury  Pierpont,  1813. 

Daniel  Hall,  b.  Jan.  11, 1778,  s.  of  Jonah, 
m.  Abigail  Finch,  d.  of  Gideon  of  Wol- 
cott,  who  d.  Jan.  2,  1841. 

i.(?)  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  30,  1809. 

2.  Leonard,  b.  Sept.  97.  x8o6. 

3.  Joel,  b.  Oct.,  1813;  d.  Oct.  29,  X838. 

4.  Edward,  b.  Dec,  1815. 

5.  Isaac,  b.  Apr.  2.  1817. 

6.  Minerva,  b.  Men.,  x8ao;  m.  W.  N.  Russell,  1836. 

Eliazer  Hall,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m.  Lidia 
Prichard,  d.  of  Amos,  June  lo,  1789. 

I.  Irenia,  b.  Nov.  xf,  1789. 

Emeline  Hall  m.  C.  Richardson,  1829. 

George  A.  Hall  of  Cheshire  m.  Harriet 
Nichols,  Apr.  25,  1836. 

Harvey  C.  Hall  m.  Jannette  L.  Scarrett, 
Oct.  7,  1850. 

Jennet  C.  Hall  m.  S.  H.  Prichard,  1837. 

Jared  Seely  Hall,  s.  of  Jared  of  Cheshire, 
m.  Rowena  Parker,  d.  of  Zephna  of 
Wolcott,  Mch.  2,  1817. 

1.  Almira,  b.  Sept.  6,  18x9;  m.  Ives  Lewis.? 

2.  Salina,  b.  Jan.  4,  1823. 

3.  Esther,  b.  June,  1825. 

Rowena  d.  Nov.  2,  1832,  and  Jared  m. 
Polly  Welton,  d.  of  Erastus,  May  15, 
1834. 

z.  William,  b.  Oct.  25,  1841;  d.  June  2,  1846. 

John  C.  Hall  m.  JaneMerterof  Norwich, 
Feb.  27,  1848. 

Leonard  Hall,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Elizabeth 
Hungerford,  Mch.  22,  1832. 

X.  Nelson,  b.  July  22,  1834. 
2.  Henry,  b.  May  x,  1837. 

Luman  Hall  of  Plymouth  m.  Henrietta 
French,  Apr.  21,  1850. 

Luther  Hall,  b.  Aug.  26,  1807,  s.  of  Au- 
gustus, and  Maria  H.  Ives,  b.  July  12, 
1813,  d.  of  Titus— all  of  Meriden— m. 
Sept.  16,  1833. 

1.  Susan  Lodima,  b.  in  Meriden,  Feb.  21,  1837. 

2.  Ellen  Maria,  b.  Feb.  21,  1840. 

3.  Luther  Ives,  b.  July  2,  X842;  d.  Nov.  19,  X846. 

Lydia  Hall  m.  Enoch  W.  Frost,  1823. 
Mabel  Hall  m.  J.  M.  Daggett,  1831. 
Margaret  Hall  m.  Jon.  Prindle,  1768. 


Hall.  Hammond. 

Maria  L.  Hall  m.  C.  L.  Hurd,  1843. 

Mary  Hall  m.  W.  M.  Pemberton,  1821. 

Mary  Hall  m.  Garry  Lewis,  1823. 

Mary  Ann  Hall  m.  J.  A.  Bunnell,  1839. 

Moses  Hall,  s.  of  Curtiss,  late  of  Wol- 
cott, dec'd,  m.  Olive  Porter,  d.  of  Doct. 
Timothy,  dec'd,  Feb.  26,  1803. 

X.  Nelson,  b.  Jan.  90,  1804. 

2.  Hopkins  Porter,  b.  Dec.  27,  x8o8. 

3.  Samuel  Wm.  Southmayd,  b.  July  5,  x8x4. 

4.  Olive  Margaret,  b.  June  25,  x8i6;  m.  J.  P.  Elton. 

Nathaniel  and  Margery  Hall: 
He  d.  Jan.  16,  1803. 

2.  Tamer,  b.  Dec.  28,  X760;  m.  Aseph  Brown. 

3.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  28,  X763. 

4.  Esther  Humberviie,  b.  Aug.  11,  1765. 

5.  Moses  Royc,  b.  Nov.  3,  X768. 

6.  Eliezer,  b.  Mch.  26,  1771. 


«.  Hannah  Royce,  b.  July  31,  X777. 

9.  Toses,  b.  June  6,  X781;  d.  Mch.  8,  1835,  a.  54.^ 
xo.  Harmon,  b.  Aug.  x8,  X783. 
XX.  Rhoda,  b.  Oct.  8,  X787;  m.  Titus  Scott,  x8o8. 

Nelson  Hall  and  Lorinda  Marshall  were 
joined  in  holy  matrimony  in  Saint 
John's  Church,  Apr.  27,  1828. 

Phebe  Hall  m.  Joseph  Atkins,  1767. 

Preston  Hall  m.  Lucy  Webster,  Apr.  14, 

1839. 
Rebecca  Hall  m.  W.  H.  Payne,  1829. 

Roxana  Hall  m.  L.  S.  Stevens,  1838. 

Sally  B.  Hall  m.  Elon  Clark,  1827. 

Samuel  W.  [S.]  Hall  m.  Nancy  M.  Aus- 
tin [d.  of  Edmund],  Oct.  10,  1836. 

Sarah  Hall  m.  Benjamin  Benham,  1756. 

Sarah  Hall  m.  Orrin  Austin,  181 1. 

Sidney  Hall  m.  Abigail  Potter,  Sept.  19, 
1830. 

William  Hall  m.  Rebecca  Piatt  Root  in 
England. 

I.  William  Henry,  b.  Oct.  7,  1846. 

Christopher  Halpin  m.  Catharine  Early, 
Feb.  5,  1851. 

John  and  Abigail  Hamalton: 

X.  Mary,  b.  May  22,  X735. 

William  Hammill  of  Little  Falls,  N.  Y., 
m.  Dorcas  F.  Sanford,  d.  of  Asa,  July 

8,  1828. 

Thomas  Hammond,  s.  of  Caleb,  m. 
Thankful  Warner,  d.  of  Samuel,  dec*d, 
Dec.  20,  1752. 

X.  Patience,  b.  Apr.  20,  1755;  m.  Isaac  Judd,  X775. 
2.  Thankful,  and  one  still-born.  May  xo.  1757. 
4.  Orrange,   b.  Jan.  X4,  X760;  m.  Thaade  Scott, 

1781. 

Thankful  d.  July  26, 1760,  and  Thomas, 
s.  of  Caleb,  dec'd,  m.  Sarah,  wid.  of 
Edm.  Scott,  Oct.  21,  1761,  who  d.  Jan. 
I,  1777. 


FAMILY  REOORL 


Hammond.  Harrison. 

5.  Thomas,  b.  Aug.  14,  1^62. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  June  a6;  d.  Sept.  15,  1764. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  June  xa;  d.  July  3.  1765. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  15,  1707;  d.  Aug.  24,  1773. 


Nov.  a6,  1768;  twin  child  d.  Jan. 
10,  X769. 


XX.  Anna,  b.  Apr.  x6,  1771;  d.  Aug.  36,  1773. 

«3,  X773- 


Nov.  10,  1776^  with  the 


9.  josep 

and 

10.  Mary 

XX.  Anna,  b.  Apr.  x6,  X77x; 
xa.  Sarah  Jemima,  b.  Dec. 
X3.  James,  b.  Dec.  16,  X77S. 

[Thomas  Hammond  of  Watertown  had, 
Aug.,  1782,  wife  Sarah,  wid.  of  James 
Doolittle.] 

Thomas  Hammond,  Jr.  m.  Lydia  Ives, 
Nov.  12,  1783.* 

X.  Hannah,  b.  May  13,  1784. 

Lovisa  Hanks  m.  W.  C.  Boon,  1829. 

Aron  Harrison,  s.  of  Benj.,  m.  Jerusha 
Warner,  d.  of  Obad.,  Oct.  26,  1748. 

I.  Tared,  b.  Oct.  13,  1749. 
a.  Mark,  b.  Apr.  o,  X75T. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Men.  15, 1753. 

4.  David,  b.  Mch.  X4,  1756. 

5.  John,  b.  Dec.  3,  X758  [d.  ] 

army.] 

6.  Lucy,  b.  Mch.  i,  X762. 

Abigail  Harrison  m.  David  Warner,  1753. 

Abigail  Harrison  m.  S.  S.  Camp,  1832. 

Benjamin  Harrison,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m. 
Dinah  Warner,  d.  of  Benj.,  Dec.  24, 
1 741,  and  d.  Mch.  13,  1760,  in  his  39th 
year.     Dinah  m.  Moses  Cook. 

X.  James,  b.  Oct.  38,  1743;  d.  Oct.  35, 1760. 
3.  labez,  b.  Oct.  xx,  1744. 

3.  Lydia,  b.  Sept.  24,  1747;  d.  Aug.  6,  1750. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  and  d.  Sept.  4,  X750. 

5.  Rosel,  b.  Dec.  20,  X75X;  d.  Dec.  X3,  X764. 

6.  Daniel,  b.  July  15,  1754. 

Benjamin  [s.  of  Thomas  of  Branford], 
father  of  the  above  Benj.,  d.  Mch.  6, 
1760,  a.  61.  [Their  wills,  dated  same 
day.]  Mary  [Sutliff],  wid.  of  Benja- 
min, m.  Thomas  Clark. 

Caroline  Harrison  m.  G.  F.  Hitchcock, 
1849. 

Daniel  Harrison  m.  Phebe  Blakeslee, 
Jan.  13,  1774. 

Deliver ence  Harrison  m.  Nathl.  Gunn, 

Jr.,  1793. 
Frances  Harrison  m.  Ely  Piatt,  1851. 

Jabez  Harrison  m.  Deborah  Johnson, 
Oct  15,  1772. 

X.  Cloe,  b.  Jan.  33, 1776. 

Jared  Harrison  and  Hannah:* 

1.  Daniel,  b.  May  6,  X77X. 
a.  Rozel,  b.  May  3,  1773. 

3.  Benjamin,  b.  May  15,  X775. 

4.  John,  b.  Dec.  10,  X777. 

5.  Ruth,  b.  May  15,  X780. 

Thtae/bur  preceding  ones  b.  in  Southington. 

6.  Tared,  b.  Nov.  8,  X783. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  36,  X787. 

Lemuel  Harrison  [b.  Nov.  17,  1765,  at 
Litchfield],  s.  of  Lemuel,  m.    Sarah 


Harrisc 

Clark^ 
1790.  i 

X.  Jam4 

3.  bophj 
[3.  Mac! 

4.  Garn 

5.  Step! 

6.  Edwl 

Rosanai 

Sarab 
Soa 

Stephen 
Cathai 
II,  184 

Alva  C. 
Cathar 

1841. 

Rev.  Ira 

John,  1 

X.  David 
3.  Charte 
3.  Haxrie 

Eliphalet 

Wordei 

X.  Eubu 
3.  Phebt 

3.  Dani< 

4.  Alith 

5.  Elizal 

6.  Eliph 

7.  Reb«< 

8.  Harv* 

9.  Lois, 
xo.  Henr 

Mary  Ha 

Sheldon  :  i 
thia  Be 

Voadice  1 1 

John  and 

Adelin 

Cyrus  H 

16,  181: 

Daniel  li  1 

Hale,     ! 
Oct.  9, 

z.  Dorca 
3.  Elizab  I 

3.  Ann*  1 

4.  Saran, 

5.  Mary,  1 

6.  Apani' 

7.  Danie 

8.  Noah,   : 

Esther  I  ; 

1784. 

Mary  Hi  ; 

Miriam     I 
1734.  a 

Hanna  ¥  1 

m.  Jon 

Abigail  ! 
Mary  Hi  1 


62  Ap 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBUBT, 


Hayden.  Hennessy. 

Daniel  Hayden,  b.  Mch.  25,  1780,  s.  of 
Josiah  of  Willi  am  sburgh,  Mass.,  and 
Abigail  Shepard,  b.  Apr.  i,  1775,  d.  of 
Joseph  of  Foxbury,  Mass.,  m.  Aug.  Jo, 
1801. 

z.  Joseph  Shepard,  b.  July  31,  x8ca. 
9.  Abby  Hewes,  b.  Nov.  37,  1804;  m.  J.  S.  Kings- 
bury. 

elia 


3.  Ardelia  Crodef  b.  Dec.  35, 1806;  m.  Israel  Holmes. 

4.  Sylvia  Shepard,  b.  Nov.  25,  1809;  d.  Feb.  x,  18x9. 

5.  Harriet  Hodges,  b.  Nov.  3,  z8z3. 

[David  Hayden  b.  1778,  m.  Betsey  Bish- 
op of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  1797. 

X.  Willard  Boyd,  b.  1799. 
3.  David,  b.  x8oi. 

3.  Eliza  Maria,  b.  1803:  in.  T.  Loveland. 

4.  Harriet  Sopnia,  b.  1807. 

5.  Lorenzo  Bishop,  b.  1810. 

6.  Betsey,  b.  Feb.  zi.  18x3. 

7.  Jane,  b.  z8z6  (all  tnese  bap.  1816.I) 

8.  Charles  Sylvester,  b.  xSaoJ . 

Festus  Hayden,  b.  Feb.  19,  1793,  s.  of 
Cotton  [and  Sally  Miller]  of  Williams- 
burgh,  m.  Sophia  Harrison,  d.  of  Lem- 
uel, Feb.  10,  1816. 

z.  Maria  L.,  b.  Aug.  z6,  z8x8. 

2.  Henry  H..  b.  Apr.  2,  xSao. 

3.  Mary  E.,  b.  Men.  13,  1823;  m.  Ed.  Bancroft. 

4.  James  A.,  b.  Mch.  8,  1825. 

Joseph  Shepard  Havden,  s.  of  Dan.,  m. 
Ruhamah  Guilford,  d.  of  Simeon,  Jan. 
10,  1819,  who  d.  Nov.  27,  1841. 

z.  Hiram  Washington,  b.  Feb.  10,  1820. 
2.  Edward  Simeon,  b.  Oct.  x,  1835. 

Willard  Hayden  and  Sarah: 

I.  Willard  Williams,  bap.  July  6,  X833. 

George  B.  Hazard  of  Canterbury  m. 
Susan  Jane  Clark,  Aug.  22,  1841. 

Reuben  S.  Hazen  of  Springfield  m.  Ma- 
ria A.  Wood,  d.  of  Rev.  Luke,  July 
26,  1821. 

John  Healy  m.  Catharine  Lannan,  Feb. 
20,  1848. 

William  Healy  m.  Cath.  Devricks,  May 

20,  1848. 
Martha  Heath  m.  J.  Robinson,  1829. 
Mary  Heath  m.  Dan.  Boice. 
Abraham  Heaton  and  Mabel: 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  23,  1773. 

2.  I^vi,  b.  Jan.  14,  X774. 

3.  Abrdm,  b.' July  14,  1776.* 

4.  Mabel,  b.  Nov.  2,  1778;  d.  Feb.  2,  1780. 

5.  Mabel,  b.  Dec.  19,  X780. 

6.  Ira,  b.  June  5,  1783. 

7.  Joel,  b.  Nov.  10,  1787. 

Jacob  Heming^way  and  Abigail:-^ 

I.ucretia,  b.  in  Branford,  May  zi,  1785. 
Nancy,  b.  Oct.  21,  1788. 

Elizabeth    Hendrick  m.   John  Walton. 

1738. 
John  Hendrick  and  Martha  [Barret  ?] 

John  Barrit,  b.  Aug.  3,  1778. 

Ambrose  P.  Hennessy  m.  Betsey  Whit- 
lock,  June  5,  1836. 


Hennessy.  Hikcox. 

James  Hennessy  m.  Bridget ,  — 

both  of  Wolcottville — Apr.  20,  1849. 

Abraham  Hikcox,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Jem- 
ima Foot,  d.  of  Thomas,  Apr.  19,  1748, 
who  d.  May  20,  1779.  [He  died  in  the 
British  army]. 

X.  Mary,  b.  July  3,  X748;  m.  Seba  Bronson. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  X3,  1749-50;  m.  Simeon  Scott. 

3.  Jesse,  b.  Apr.  13,  X7sa. 

4.  Jered.  b.  Jan.  xs,  1756. 

5.  Joel,  b.  Apr.  8,  1758  [d.  in  Pcnn.,  x8x7]. 

6.  Timothy,  b.  Jan.  5,  176X. 

7.  Abraham,  b.  June  3,  X765. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  x,  1767. 

9.  Preserve,  b.  Nov.  6,  X768. 

Abraham  Hikcox,  s.  of  Capt.  Abr. ,  dec'd, 
m.  Tamar  Tuttle,  d.  of  Jabez,  dec'd, 
Feb.  24,  1784. 

X.  Ruth,  b.  Nov.  9,  1785. 
3.  Oracena,  b.  Nov.  ix,  X788. 

Amarilla  Hickcox  m.  Isaac  Porter,  1799. 

Ambrose  Hikcox,  s.  of  Ebenezer,  m. 
Eunice  Clark,  d.  of  Caleb,  Dec.  11, 
1740  [d.  June  I,  1792]. 

1.  Ambrose,  b.  Au^.  28,  X741. 

2.  Ruth,  b.  Dec.  x8,  1743;  ra.  Abijah  Wilraot. 

3.  Gideon,  b.  Apr.  19,  1746;  d.  Dec.  X3,  1763. 

4.  Margerum.  b.  Oct.  6,  1748. 

5.  Marcy,  b.  Sept.  36,  1752  [m.  Joel  Judd]. 

6.  Ebenezer,  b.  May  39,  1754. 

7.  Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  X9,  1756;  d.  Nov.  xx,  1769. 

Ambrose  Hikcox,  s.  of  Ambrose,  m. 
Mary  Dowd,  d.  of  John  of  Middle- 
town,  June  10,  1762.     [She  d.  Mch.  17, 

1793]. 

X.  Eunice,  b.  Dec.  i',  X763. 
3.  Gideon,  b.  July  x8,  X764. 

Amos  Hikcox,  s.  of  Thomas,  dec'd,  m. 
Mary  Richards,  wid.  of  Benj.,  May  15, 
1740.  [She  d.  July  19,  1787,  he  d.  Mch. 
I,  1805J. 

X.  Freelove,  b.  Apr.  38,  1741;  m.  Stephen  5>cott. 
3.  Amos,  b.  Mch.  x8,  X743-3;  d.  July  3X,  X749. 

3.  Elisha,  b.  Mch.  3,  1744-5. 

4.  Marcy,  b.  Jan.  25,  1746-7;  d.  July  7,  X753. 

5.  Amos.  b.  Nov.  X3,  1749. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Mch.  X2,  X7S2. 

Benjamin  Hickox,  s.  of  John  [and 
Eunice],  m.  Sarah  Warner,  d.  of  Reu- 
ben, June  10,  1783. 

X.  Darius,  b.  June  30,  1783. 
3.  Sarah,  b.  May  6,  1785. 

3.  Laura,  b.  Sept.  17,  1786. 

4.  Israel,  b.  Mch.  9, 1788. 

5.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  5,  xtqx. 

6.  Benjamin  Warner,  b.  Dec.  36,  X794. 

7.  John,  b.  Jan.  2,  X797. 

Sarah  d.  Jan.  19,  1797,  and  Benj.  m. 
Zerviah  Sutliff,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Wol- 
cott,  Dec.  3,  1797. 


8.  Leveret,  |  d.  Dec.  xa,  X798. 

and       Vb.  July  31,  1798. 

9.  Lydia,     ) 

xo.  Polly  Zerviah,  b.  Oct.  23,  x8o3. 


Daniel  Hikcox,  s.  of  Deac.  Thomas  (2d), 
ra.  Sibel  Bartholemu,  Jan.  15,  1766. 


FAMILY  BECOBi^ 


HiKCOX.  HiCKOX. 

I.  Caleb,  b.  Oct.  x8,  1766. 
a.  DanieU  b.  Feb.  11,  1769. 

3.  Mary,  b.  May  5,  1771;  d.  Feb.  7,  177a. 

4.  Chancy,  b.  July  ax,  1773. 

Sibel  d.  Apr.  2,  1774,  and  Daniel  m. 
Phebe  Orton,  July  5,  1775.* 

5.  Eliazer,  b.  July  95,  1776. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  33,  X778. 

7.  Uri,  b.  Aug.  8,  1779. 

8.  Merriam,  b.  Aug.  x,  178X. 

9.  Sybbel,  b.  Oct.  13,  1783. 

David  Hikcox,  s.  of  John  of  Great  Bar- 
rinffton,  m.  Adah  Baldwin,  d.  of 
Ri(3iard  of  Woodbridge,  Nov.  13,  1794. 

X.  Horace,  b.  Oct.  x8, 1795. 
a.  Addiaon,  b.  May  aa,  X798. 
3.  Abiah,  b.  Apr.  3,  x8oo. 

Ebenezer  Hikcox,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Es- 
ther Hine,  d.  of  Thomas,  Dec,  1714. 

X.  Esther,  b.  June  xo,  17x5;  m.  Stephen  Kelsey. 
a.  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  ao,  17x6. 

3.  Arobrus,  b.  Sept.  a,  X718. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  3,  1730;  m.  Rich.  Nichols. 

5.  Abigail,  b.  Aug.  8,  173a:  m.  James  Prichard. 

Ebenezer  m.  [Abigail]  Stevens,  d«of 
Samuel  of  West  Haven,  Aug.  28,  1729. 
(Was  he  in  Danbury,  1736-41?) 

6.  Ebenezer,  b.  July  ai,  1730. 

7.  David,  b.  Jan.  ao,  1 731-3. 

8.  John,  b.  Apr.  17,  1734. 
la.  Seth.  b.  Dec.  5,  174X. 

Elisha  Hikcox,  s.  of  Lieut.  Amos,  m. 
Thankful  Willard,  Oct,  18,  1764. 

Elizabeth  Hikcox: 

Anna  Lewis,  her  dau.,  b.  Feb.  5,  X776. 

Gideon  Hikcox,  s.  of  Sam.  (2d),  dec'd,  m. 
Sarah  Upson,  d.  of  Stephen,  Aug.  15, 
1734,  who  d.  Jan.  19,  1809,  a.  94.* 

1.  James,  b.  Feb.  xx,  1734-5;  drowned  Feb.,  X744-5. 
a.  Jemima,  b.  Nov.  34,  1736;  m.  Ira  Beebe. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  ix,  1739. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  June  3,  X744;  m.  Austin  Smith. 

5.  Tames,  b.  Nov.  a8,  1746. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  June  ao,  1749. 

7.  Gideon,  b.  May  4,  1753. 

8.  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  a8,  X764. 

Gideon  Hickcox,  Jr.,  s.  of  Gideon,  m. 
Philena  Smith,  d.  of  Austin,  Aug.  29, 

1771. 

X.  David,  b.  Dec.  3,  1773. 
3.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  xc,  X774. 

3.  Polly,  b.  Mch.  4,  X777. 

4.  Hannah  Smith,  b.  July  3,  X78X. 

Hannah  Hikcox  of  Woodbury  m.  O. 
Richards,  1732. 

James  Hikcox,  s.  of  Gideon,  m.  Hannah 
Smith,  d.  of  Austin,  Nov.  28,  1766. 

I.  Olive,  b.  May  7,  1774. 

James  Hickox  m.  Eunice  Collins,  Nov. 
12,  1777.* 

I.  Collins,  b.  Oct.  15,  1778. 
a.  James,  b.  Nov.  a6,  1780. 
3.  Sally,  b. 

James  M.  Hickox  of  New  Haven  m. 
Hannah  Culver,  Feb.  2,  1845. 


HlCKCd 

Jared  I 
Racb 

1777. 

X.   LtH 

3.  Nal 
3.  J«a 

4.  ^^ 

5.  H*j 

6.  A»| 

i.  e2 

9.  Ux{ 
10.  Ra4 

Jesse  1 
nah  S 

X.  Zen« 
3.  MoU] 

Hanni 
Rhodi 
Feb.  n 
d.  Fel 
kins,  r 

John  Hi 

bethf 
Joseph 

[Sept. 
Hil 
Hik 
and 
Th< 

John  Hi 

Eunic< 
first  cl 

X.  Deriu 
3.  Reub  I 

3.  Cloe,  ; 

4.  Benj< 

5.  Lucy 

6.  Davit  , 

ton 

7.  John  I 

John 
Newoi  I 
m.  Th  1 

John  H  I 

Mary 
Dr.  B 

X.  Asa, 
a.  Joan  ( 

3.  Sabn 

4.  Aner 

5.  Leuc  1 

6.  John 

7.  Marj 

8.  Willi  I 

9.  Sara! 

Hi    ! 

Cook,  : 

X.  CarU 

3.  Alon   : 

3.  Sidn    \ 

4.  Sidn   I 

5.  Aa*     ' 

6.  Carl. 

Jonas  ! 

Abigj  '. 
May  I 
Sept.    : 


John 


HISTOBT  OF  WATBBSUBT. 


HfKtOX.  HIKCOX. 

[Joseph  Hikcox  d.  in  Woodbury,  1687, 
leaving 

Wph,  b.  about  1673. 
Dr.  Bcnjimm,  b.  ibbut  167;. 
Mary,  b.  about  167B;  m.  Jowph  G»ylonl,  Jr. 
Elinbclb,  b.  ibout  i6Et:  m.  Jobn  Givloid. 
S.mu,l,  b.  ,ta7.1 

Joseph  Hikcaz,  a.  of  Serg.  Samuel,  m. 

Elizabeth  Gaylord,  d.  to  Joseph,   Sr., 

this  Sd  ot  Feb.,  1(109  of  l7oo- 
Julia  E.  Hikcox  ra.  C.  B.  Bassett,  1S51. 
Lewis  A.  Hickcox  [s.  of  Rev.  Jonas]  tn. 

Lydia  Hickcox,  Sept.  57.  :S26. 

I.   ^!a^y  Sophronia,  bap.  IJcc.  19,  i&i^^ 

Lucimn  E.  Hikcox  m.  Elizabeth  L.  Sher- 
man of  Oxford.  June  ii,  1835. 

Lucius  F.  Hikcox  m.  Eliza  Sherman, 
Mch.  3,  1S37. 

Maria  Hickox  m.  Treat  Peck,  1846. 

Mary  Hickox  m.  Daniel  Buck,  1S29. 

Nnthauiel  Hickox,  s.  of  Jared,  ni.  Sally 
Gregory,  d.   of  Stephen  of  Kent,  Oct. 

Polly  Hickox  m.  Avery  Hotchkiss,  i3io. 
Preserved  Hikcox,  s.  of  Ca'pt.  Abraham, 

m.   Rachel   Brown,  d.  of  Capt.   Heze- 

kiah,  dec'd,  Oct.  3,  1786. 

1,  SaninFl,  b,  Mch,  8,  1787. 

1.  Salla  MktHh.  b.  Mir  'T.  ITS?. 

[Serg.  Sftmuel  Hikcox  m.  Hanna . 

His  inventory  was  taken  Feb.  28, 
1694-S,  at  which  date  the  ages  of  his 
children  were,  as  follows: 

Samuel.  >6.    Hinnab.  14;  n>.  John  Judd,  1696. 

i(:T."jo'hn  B.-Sl^"."EbWih;Vi:  m"?! 

NortoD  at  Fannin>;tQn.    Stephen,  11.     Benia- 

miD,  ^    Meter.  "■    Ebeneur,  i.] 

Sunuel  Hikcox,  s.  of  Serg.  Samuel,  ra. 

Elizabeth  Plumb  [b.  1N.9],  d.  of  John 

of  Miiford,  Apr.  16,  1690.     He  d.  June 

3,  I7i3;she,  Oct  17,  1749. 

T.  A  dau..  b.  and  d.  May,  1691. 


HiK 


I.  Ebeoe- ,-. 

I.  Samuel,  b.  FIov.  1.  i6u:  d.  July  7,  1711. 
^  John,  b.  Nor.   iS  (bap.  Id  >1ilrord,   DfC.   30] 
.696. 

S.  Hantia,  b.  Apr.  a.  [bap.  m  Miiford],  1690]. 
i.  Eliiabclh,  b.  Apr.  6[bap.  inMllfon],Junei4 
ijat',  [m,  Samuel  Smith.] 


i'.  Ci 


,.  __.»h,"l..  Duel's,  ■'7^i'i>i.  J.  PUll  of  Ni 
ID.  Stlaot,  b.  Sept.  19,   171]   [m,  Ahr.   ] 
■7J7l- 


•alk]. 


Capt.  Sfunuel  Hikcox,  a.  of  William,  m, 
Mary  Hopkins,  d.  of  John,  Mch.  8, 
1731.     He  d.  May  13,  1765;  she,  Aug. 
19.  1768. 
I.  Mar^.  b.  O^t- M.  tTJt;  m.  R.  Seyniout. 

4,  Abraham,  b.  Jan.  11,  17=7^. 


b.  Tidy  ,. 


7.   Don*,  b,  Jo^  „,  ,7jfi;  ,n.  John  Wdton. 

Capt.  Samuel  Hickcox  [and  Deac.l.  &  of 
Ueac.  Thomas,  m.  Elizabeth  WelWn. 
d.  of  George,  Nov.  a6,  1741. 


;:  S;-- 


i.  Maiy,'  b.  Sept,  ilJ,  i74«;  aTkuf.  t6.  ij 

J".  EUmbeib;  6.  Aja.  «^75a;  a.  Th.  B, 
b.  May  14,  1754;  m.  John  N, 
;ne   „.   ,7J7>    ■'-     "      ■ 


i,  Jm 


'"'"  '7.  I7S7  [m.  Muy  Buckiuhu]. 
...  Apt.  50,  ijSi 
I.  h.  Sept.  a,  17(0  [m.  Phebc  Sloddud,  i. 
lohn  of  U'oodbury,  Dtc.  i,  177^  and  4. 


Eleanor  d.  Nov.  14,  1767.  and  Samuel 
m.  Charity  Dixon,  Nov.  10,  1768. 

f  Silva,  b.  Ian.  »,  1770. 

6.  Charity,  (>.  July  .s,  W73, 

7.  Samuel  Jnhii»n,  b.  Oct.  31,  1775. 

8.  Saphya,  b.  Juiy  ifi,  177S. 

Samuel  Hikcox,  3d  [s.  of  Samuel  of 
Thomas],  ni.  Sarah  Scovill,  Dec  5. 
and  d.  Sept.   tj.   1778.     Sarah  d. 


Oct.  J 


1776. 


I,  Selden,  b.  Sept.  11,  i&j,-  d.  Oct.  iBo.. 

1.  Siilly,  b.  Age,  ],  tRh;  m.  E.  M.  Payne. 

].  Samuel  Hupkins,  b,  Apr.  .6,  lEio. 
Sarah   M.    Hickcock   m.   J.   W.    Smith, 

1349- 
Sherman  Hickcox   [s.   of  Timothy],  m. 

Sally  Camp,  Apr.  22.  1824. 
Deac.  Thomas  Hikcox,  s.  of  Serg.  Sam- 

uell.    dec'd,   m.   Mary   Brunson,   d.   of 

Serg.   Isaac,  Mch.  27,  1700.       He  dyed 

iine  28,  1728;  and  Mary  m.  Deac.  Sam. 
ull  [Nov.   23.  1748].      She  d.  July  4. 
1756. 
I.  Tboma!,  b.  Oci.  as,  1701- 

';  Mary;  b.  Me£.'o,'  i'^^:  m.  f 'l^arnei.  'i  718. 
4.  Satah,  b.  Jan.  a,  1700-10  (m.  Dm.  Benedict]. 
;.  [Meicyl.m.  lu>c%pkiD>.i73i. 

6.  Amoi,  B.  May  19,  iTij. 

7.  Jooaa,b.Oct3o,  1717. 

,:  Su.™1uC  h.  M'ctl's',??^;  m.  G.  Nkhols,  1741. 
.0.  J.,ne>.  b,Jnnerf,t7.«. 

[Deac]  Thomas  Hikcox,  s.  of  Thomu 
(above),  dec'd,  m.  Miriam  Richards. 
wid.  of  Samuel,  Apr.  19,  173(1.  [He 
d.  Dec.  28,  1787;  she,  Mch.  :3.  t7So]. 


,.  Jama,  t,  *Un,  ;,,  ,7. 
s.  Jamei,  b.  May  B,  .75; 


FAMILY  BECOBli 


HiKCOX.  HiGGINS. 

Thomas  Hikcox,  Jr.,  s.  of  [2(31  Deac, 
Thomas,  m.  Lois  Richards,  d.  of  Thom- 
as, July  17,  1760. 

X.  Sarah,  b.  May  la,  1762. 

Lois,  d.  May  ii,  1764,  and  Thomas  m. 
Thankful  Seymer,  d.  of  Stephen,  May 
12,  1765. 

3.  I^is  Richards,  b.  Mch.  39;  d.  Dec.  19,  1766. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  lo,  1767. 

4.  Lois  Richards,  b.  Oct.  29,  1769. 

5.  Mark,  b.  May  23,  1773, 

6.  Ire,  b.  Mch.  24,  1775. 

7.  Isaac,  b.  July  5,  1778. 

Timothy  Hikcox,  s.  of  Capt.  Abr.,  m. 
Sarah  Nichols,  d.  of  Richard,  May  3, 
1 781.     She  d.  Jan.  24,  1813;  he,  Dec.  8, 

1835.* 

z.  Sarah,  b.  June  27,  1782. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  11,  1783. 

3.  Poila,  b,  Nov,  13,  1784, 

4.  Abram,  b.  May  23,  1786. 

5.  Huldah.  b.  Aug.  4,  1787:  in.  Jas.  Chatfield. 

6.  Leoaara,  b.  Sept.  15,  1788. 

7.  Laura,  b.  Oct.  i,  1790;  m.  Anson  Rronson,  1816. 

8.  Palmira,  b.  Jan.  i,  179a.  * 

9.  Nancy,  o.  Feb.  23,  1793;  d.  May  4,  1801. 
xo.  Lvdia,  b.  Dec.  17,  1794;  m.  L.  A.  Hickox. 

11.  Cnloe,  b.  June  13,  1797;  m.  J.  Talmage. 

12.  Sherman,  b.  Sept.  29,  1798. 

13.  Viana,  b.  June  30,  1800. 

14.  Nancy,  b.  Feb.  8,  1802;  m.  P.  Stoddard,  1827. 

15.  William,  b.  Sept.  12,  1803. 

William  Hikcox  [s.  of  Serg.  Samuel], 
and  Rebeckah  [Andrews,  d.  of  Abra- 
ham, Sr.]. 

2.  William,  b.  Feb.  14,  1699;  deyed  Apr.  12,  1713. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  May  26,  1702. 

4.  Abraham,  b.  Apr.  5,  1704;  deyed  Mch.  16,  17x3. 

5.  John,  b.  .May  8,  1706;  deyed  Apr.  26,  17 13. 

6.  Rebeckah,  b.  Mch.  29,  1708;  m.  C.  Thompson. 

7.  Rachel,  b.  May  i6,  1710;  m.  J.  Prindle. 

8.  Hannan,  b.  June  7,  1714;  m.  D.  Scott. 

William  d.  Nov.  4, 1737,  and  was  buried 
the  5th  of  Nov. 

William  Hikcox,  s.  of  Samuel  [and 
Mary],  m.  Lydia  Saymore,  d.  of  Eben- 
ezer,  dec'd,  Apr.  4,  1745. 

1.  William,  b.  Jan.  14,  1746. 

2.  Consider,  b,  June  ai,  1748. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  July  28,  1751",  m.  Thomas  Welion. 

4.  Lidia,  b.  July  29,  1757. 

t  Rebeckah,  b.  Oct.  14,  1759. 
ydia  d.  June  19, 1762,  and  William  m. 
Abigail  Scott,  d.  of  Edmund,  Jan.  12, 

1763. 

6.  Cloe,  b.  Feb.  7,  1764. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  31,  1765;  m.  Eleazer  Tompkins. 

8.  Asahel,  b.  Nov.  22,  1767, 

William  Hikcox,  s.  of  Tim.,  m.  Jerusha 
Bronson,  d.  of  Horatio  Gates,  Oct.  i, 
1830. 

1.  Mary  Emelinc,  b.  Nov.  5,  1831. 

2.  Margareit  Ann,  b.  Sept.  17,  1H34. 

3.  Sarah  Vienna,  b.  June  28,  183"^;  d.  Dec.  1844. 

4.  Sarah  Maria,  b.  June  13,  X844;  d.  Jan.,  1845. 

Seth  H.  Higby  of  Port  Bryon,  N.  Y.,  m. 
Maria  Finch,  Nov.  ii,  1838. 

Emeline    Higgins  m.   R.    Tuttle,   1832. 
8* 


HiGGINSi 

Eunice  I 

Levo 

Luther  ! 
cott,  n 
Jesse, 

29,  18^ 

X.  Maryi 

2.  Maitl 

3.  Manp 

4.  Timol 

5.  Henn 

6.  Stepli 

7.  Hanoi 

Michael 

July  13 

Andrew 
II.   iSa 
Feb.  23 

I.  Cornel 

Anna  HU 
Betty  HU 
Elizabeth 
Eunice  H 

Harvey .  J 

McUoni 
1809. 

1.  Lucius 

2.  Susan  , 

3.  Richar 

4.  Augusi 

Jared  an( 

Lydia 

Jerusha  1 
Jonathan 

Lemuc 
Rosan 

Obadiah 

Harvc 

6,  17 

PoUy  Hi] 

Samuel  I 

m.  Sibl 
1791. 

X.  Harri< 

3.  Elijah 

4.  Polly, 

5.  .Samu( 

6.  Caroli 

SybiU 
Charh 

Samuel  I 
ett,  d. 
Apr.  21 

1.  Henn 

2.  Juniu 

3.  Sarah 

4.  Eunic 

Stanley 
bethE 

Suza  M 

Betsey  J 


W^p 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS URT, 


HiLLMAN.  HlNE. 

William  Hillman  of  Black  River  m.  Re- 
becca Stevens,  Nov.  i8,  1810." 

Alexander  Hine  of  Naugatuck  m.  Eliza 
A.  Williams,  June  24,  1849. 

Betsey  Hine  m.  Isaac  M.  Allen,  1835. 

Eli  Hine,  s.  of  David,  m.  Hannah  Bron- 
son.  d.  of  Capt.  Isaac,  Oct.  30,  1792. 

1.  Laban  Bronson,  b.  Sept.  25,  1793. 

2.  Alvin,  b.  Sept  24,  1795. 

3.  Josiah.  b,  Sept.  13,  1797. 

4.  Enos.  D.  May  5,  1800. 

5.  Elizabeth  Susan  Maria,  b.  Aug.  38,  1802. 

Emma  Hine  m.  Lewis  Bates,  1849. 

Esther  Hine  m.  Eben.  Hickcox,  17 14. 

Hezekiah  Hine  d.  Sept.  13, 1807;  Eunice, 
his  wife,  Feb.  i,  1813.' 

Hiram  Hine  of  Middlebury  m.  Maria 
Adams,  Oct.  8,  1835. 

Isaac  Hine  m.  Eunice  Wilmot  of  Amity, 
Nov.  6,  1768.  He  d.  Dec.  3,  1807,  a. 
64;  she,  Dec.  29,  1806,  a.  60.  • 

1.  Cloe^  b.  Dec.  8,  1769. 

2.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  10,  1771. 

3.  Isaac  Willara,  b.  July  24,  1774. 

4.  Milliscent,  b.  May  9,  1777. 

Isaac  Hine,  s.  of  Newton,  m.  Anna  An- 
drews of  Woodbridge  (before  181 7). 

Isaac  Hine,  s.  of  Benjamin  of  Middle- 
bury,  m.  Polly  Rowley  of  Winsted, 
1836. 

1.  James  K.,  b.  Nov.  27.  1837. 

2.  Mary  Jane,  b.  July  26,  1840. 

(A  deaf  and  dumb  family  except  Mary.) 

S.  B.  M. 

John  Hine: 

Charles  Edward,  bap.  July  6,  1823. > 

Joseph  Hine  of  Hudson,  O.,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Welton,  July  21,  1836. 

Lewis  Hine  of  Cairo,  Green  Co.,  N.  Y., 
m.  Nancy  (Sarah?)  Hull,  d.  of  Dr.  Nim- 
rod,  dec'd,  Nov.  19,  1827. 

Lucius  Hine  m.  Sarah  Strong  of  Derby, 
June  8,  1835. 

Lydia  Hine  m.  Jonas  Boughton,  1798. 

Maria  Hine  m.  Reuben  Adams,  1837. 

Mary  Hine  m.  Th.  Clark,  1765,  and  Benj. 
Upson,  1780. 

Mehitable  Hine  m.  Thomas  Porter,  1758. 

Milo  Hine  m.  Mary  C.  Smith,  Jan.    i, 

1849. 
Newton  Hine  and  Lois  [Prichard]: 

Elizabeth  S.  and  Newton,  bap,  Apr.  28,  1817.9 

Newton  Hine,  Jr.,  b.  Apr.  2,  1811,  s.  of 
Newton,  and  Mehitable  E.  Bronson,  b. 
Aug.  31,  1813,  d,  of  Southmayd,  m. 
June  3,  1S30. 

X.  I.  Southmayd,  b.  May  i,  1833. 
2.  William  Henry,  b.  Oct.  19,  1840. 


Hine.  Hitchcock. 

Philander  Hine,  s.  of  Daniel  of  Walling- 
ford,  m.  Harriet  C.  Castle,  d,  of  Samuel 
D.  of  Camden,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  24,  1836. 

1.  Estella  Cordelia,  b.  Feb.  x8,  1840. 

Rebecca  Hine  m.  John  Cossett,  1799. 

Spencer  Hine  m.  Sally  Gunn  in  Salem, 
Apr.  25,  1821. 

Thaddeus  Hine  d.  Nov.,  i8i6.« 

A.mos  Hinman,  s.  of  Elijah  of  Southbury, 
.  m.   Thankful  Bronson,   d.  of   James, 
May,  1786. 

z.  Ruthe  Matilda,  b.  Nov.  96,  1786. 

2.  Lecta  Parmela,  b.  May  8,  1789. 

3.  Orlando,  b.  Apr.  x8,  1792. 

4.  Elijah  Porter,  b.  Apr.  19,  1805. 

David  Hinman  m.  Frances  Reynolds — 
both  of  New  Haven — Dec.  4,  1850. 

Joel  Hinman,  Esq.,  m.  Mariah  Scovil  [d. 
of  James],  Oct.  9,  1825. 

[i.  Caroline  A.,  b.  July  9,  1827;  m.  H.  W.  Good- 
win. 

2.  William  L.,  b.  Mch.  12,  1833. 

3.  Eunice  S.,  b.  Sept.  27,  1830. 

4.  Mary  C,  b.  Aug;.  29,  1839.] 

Nelson  Hinman  m.  Laury  Judd,  Jan.  24. 

1837. 
Aaron  Hitchcock  m.  Sarah  H.  Scovill« 

Dec.  30,  1 83 1  [and  d.  Dec.  23,  1834]. 

Anne  Hitchcock  m.  Thad.  Bronson,  1794. 

Benjamin  Hitchcock  [b.  Nov.  24,  1752,  s. 
of  Benj.  and  Rhoda  (Cook)  of  Walling- 
ford,  m.  Eunice  Hotchkiss  (prob.  b. 
Tan.  8,  1755),  d.  of  Daniel.  She  d.  1799; 
he,  1809. 

X.  Anna,  b.  in  Cheshire,  Apr.  19,  1775;  m.  David 
Prichard,  Jr. 

2.  Loly,  b.  X778;  m.  T.  G.  Tyrrel. 

3.  Reuben;  m. Plant. 

4.  Jared;  m.  Loly  Bunnel  of  Cheshire]. 

Children  b.  in  Wat. : 

5.  Manley,  b.  Dec.  23,  1783  [m.  Chloe  Adams]. 

6.  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  31,  X787  [m.  Amelia  OsbornJ. 

7.  George,  b.  June  27,  1789  [lived  at  Watertown, 

N.Y.J. 

8.  Benjamin  Truman,  b.  Aug.  19,  1791. 

9.  Eunice,  b   Feb.  X9,  1793  [m.  Heman  Tyrrell]. 

Benjamin  Truman  Hitchcock,  s.  of  Benj. , 
m.  Julia  Frisbie,  d.  of  Dan.  [Feb.  27, 
1815]. 

X.  Eliza  Finette,  b.  July  18,  x8i6;  m.  J.  C.  Beach. 

2.  Edward  Milton,  b.  July  28,  x8x8. 

3.  Shelton  Truman,  b.  Dec.  ii,  1822. 

4.  Juliett,  b.  July  4,  X828;  d.  June  10,  X831. 

4.  Elmore  William,  b.  May  X3,  X833. 

5.  George  Benjamin,  b.  Sept.  16,  1838. 

Chester  Hitchcock  of  New  Haven  m. 
Julia  Nettleton,  June  24,  1835. 

Daniel  Hitchcock,  s.  of  Peter  of  Walling- 
ford,  m.  Mary  Pecjc,  d.  of  Ward,  Dec- 

7,  1833. 

X.  Edwin  Sherman,  \ 

and  >b.  Apr.  X7,  1834. 

a.  Irving  Lyman,     )  d.  May  x2,  X839. 


FAMILY  BEG0BD8. 


AP67 


Hitchcock.  Hoadley. 

3.  Frederick,  b.  Apr.  18,  1837. 

4.  Mary  Peck,  b.  Apr.  13,  1839. 

Maiy  d.  Dec.  4,  1840,  and  Daniel  m. 
Desiah  B.  Tolls  of  Bethlem,  Apr.  11, 
1842.     He  d.  July  31,  1846. 

5.  Harriet  Eunice,  b.  Mch.  28,  1843. 

6.  George  Gaius,  b.  Aug.  6,  1844. 

Eunice  Hitchcock,  wid.,  d.  Nov.  23, 1809, 
a.  72.' 

Gaius  Hitchcock  of  Wallingford  m. 
Betsey  D.  Bronson,  Apr.  18,  1833. 

X.  Aimer  BronsoD,  bap.  Aug.  30,  X835.1 
a.  James  Newton,  bap.  July  a,  1837. 

Harriet  Hitchcock  m.  Lewis  Russell, 
1824. 

Huldah   Hitchcock    m.   S.   S.   Deforest, 

1835. 
Jesse  Hitchcock  m.  Celesta  Russell  — 

both  of  Prospect— Sept.  22,  1828. 

Mary  Hitchcock  m.  V.  Tuttle,  1824. 

Mary  Hitchcock  m.  Stephen  Sherwood, 

1834. 

Polly  Hitchcock  m.  D.  Chatfield,  1820. 

Susan  Hitchcock  m.  L.  F.  Lewis,  1837. 

Susan  Hitchcock  m.  H.  P.  Welton,  1823. 

Alvy  Hoadley  (s.  of  Asa?)  m.  Aurelia 
Phelps,  Dec.  4,  1821. 

Amy  Hoadley  m.  £.  M.  Stevens,  1824. 

Andrew  Hoadley  m.  Sarah  Lewis,  June 
14,  1770. 

Artemus  Hoadley,  s.  of  Asa,  m.  Alma 
Frisbie,  d.  of  Daniel,  Nov.  16, 1817,  and 
d.  Sept.  18,  1830. 

X.  Esther  Elvira,  b.  Feb.  ai,  1818;  m.  H.  Frost. 

2.  Daniel  Frisbie,  b.  Sept.  13,  1819. 

3.  Eunice  Almira,  b.  Jan.  4,  1822. 

Asa  Hoadley,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m.  Esther 
Tyler,  d.  of  Abraham,  Apr.  7,  1785. 
He  d.  Feb.  6,  1834,  a.  71;  she.  May  i, 
1837,  a.  76.» 

I.  Clarinda,  b.  Jan.  28,  1786. 
a.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  7,  1788. 

3.  Arteraas,  b.  Men.  24,  1791. 

4.  Abram,  b  Jan.  13.  1794. 

5.  Julia,  b.  Feb,  17,  1797;  m.  Amos  Atwatcr? 

6.  Alvah,  b.  Feb.  19,  1800. 

Augusta  Hoadley  m.  Isaac  Coe,  1841. 

Benjamin  Hoadley,  s.  of  Jude,  and  Esther 
Merwin,  b.  Apr.  19,  1777,  d.  of  Joseph 
of  Woodbridge,  m.  Jan.  12,  1796. 

1.  Lawson  Miles,  b.  Oct.  20,  1796. 

2.  Elvira,  b.  Sept.  24,  1798. 

3.  Sabrina,  b.  Oct.  9,  x8oo. 

Eunice  d.  at  Winchester,  Apr.  27,  1809, 
and  Benjamin  m.  Sally  Judd,  Aug.  19, 
1 8 10. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  Apr.  28,  1814. 


Hoadley.  Hoadley. 

CaMn  Hoadley  [b.  Jan.  7,  1805J,  s.  of 
William  of  Salem,  m.  Betsey  Pierce  of 
Southington,  Sept.  25,  1828. 

[Culpepper  Hoadley  m.  Molly  Lewis,  d. 
of  Samuel,  Esq.,  Feb.  5,  1786.'' 

1.  Roxana,  b.  July  15,  1787;  m.  Richard  Ward. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  June  14,  1790;  d.  unm. 

3.  Leonard,  b.  July  20,  1792;  m.  Betsey  Dunham. 

4.  Larmon,  b.  Oct.  12,  1795;  d.  1826  unm. 

5.  Alvin,  b.  Apr.  24,  1798;  m.  Clara  Vose.] 

David  Hoadley  [s.  of  Elemuel,  m.  Jane 
Hull,  d.  of  Ezra,  who  d.  1799,  leaving 
a  dau.,  Jane.  He  m.  Rachel  Beecher, 
d.  of  Jonathan,  and  d.  1840]: 

Jane,  David,  and  Mary  Ann,  bap.  Aug.  x6,  x8xa.l 

*Eben  Hoadley  of  Salem  m.  Sarah  Brooks 
of  Bethany  [Sunday],  May  28,  1843. 

Ebenezer  Hoadley,  s.  of  William  [3d],  m. 
Sarah  Lewis,  d.  of  John,  Jan.  6,  1763. 
He  d.  Sept.  23,  1814;  she,  June  22, 
1809.* 

1.  Philo,  b.  Oct.  12,  1763. 

2.  Chester,  b.  Sept.  23,  177X  [m.  Betsey  Hine]. 

Elemuel  Hoadley,  s.  of  William  [3d],  m. 
Urane  Mallory ,  d.  of  Peter  of  Strat. , 
Jan.  5,  1767. 

X.  Molle,  b.  Nov.  x,  1767;  m.  Asahel  Osbom. 

2.  Calvin,  b.  Jan.  2,  1769. 

3.  David,  b.  Aor.  29,  X774. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  25,  X776. 

5.  Lemuel,  b.  Apr.  20,  1779. 

6.  Luther,  b.  Mch.  30,  1781. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  22,  X786. 

8.  Urania,  b.  May  5,  1788. 

9.  Marshall,  b.  Nlay  3,  X79X;  d.  Apr.  20,  1796. 

Erastus  W.  Hoadley  m.  Abigail  Porter, 
Oct.  13,  1823. 

George  Hoadley  of  Naugatuck  m.  Fanny 
Twitchel  of  Oxford,  Iday  16,  1841. 

Hannah  Hoadley  m.  John  Beach,  1772, 
and  Jesse  Johnson,  1780. 

Harriet  Hoadley  m.  G.  S.  Johnson,  1834. 
Jude  Hoadley  and  Naomi: 

Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  25,  X77X. 
[Asa,  b.  1772.] 

Jude  d.  May  7,  1811,  a.  68  y.  2  m.  17  d. ; 
Naomi  d.  at  Winchester,  Aug.  11, 181 5, 
a.  65. 

Laura  A.  Hoadley  m.  J.  W.  Allen,  1847. 

Lewis  M.  Hoadley  [s.  of  Chester]  m. 
Emily  Horton,  Dec.  5,  1821. 

Marshall  Hoadley  [b.  1801,  s.  of  Will- 
iam and  NancvJ  m.  Nancy  Judd  [d.  of 
Harvey]  in  Salem,  Jan.  18,  1821. 

Mary  Hoadley  m.  Lyman  Johnson,  1780. 

Mary  Hoadley  m.  John  Coe,  1837. 

Nathaniel  Hoadley  [s.  of  Nathaniel  ?]  m. 
Eunice  Tyler,  May  11,  1780. 


*  Their  golden  wedding  was  celebrated  at  the  First  Church,  Sunday,  May  28, 1893,  at  the  evening  service. 


68  *P 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBURY. 


HitADLEV.  Holmes. 

I.  A  dull.,  b.  Md  d.  Au^.  14.  '7S1. 
1.  RoiMU.  b,  Stpi,  IJ,  1783. 

Philo   Hoadlej    m.    Esther   Hine,   d.   of 

Hezekiah,  Apr.  10.  17S3,' 
Sarah  Hoadlej  m.  Leon.  Spencer,  iSst, 
Sarah  Hoadley,  wid.,  d.  June  23,  1817.' 
Sarah  A.  Hoadlej  m.  J.  Thornton,  1838, 
[William  Hoadley  [3d},  b.  about  1707,  s. 
of  Wm.  of  Bi-aaford,  in.  Sarah,  d.  of 
Eben,  Frisbie,  and  d.  before  1785, 


Holmes.  Homei. 

Israel  Holmes,  s.  of  Israel  dec'd,  m.  Ar- 

delia  C.  Hayden.  d  of  Daniel.  June  ;, 


^^t% 


.^.  Apr.  .7.  -Srf 


4.  C)uirl«  Ed.  LitJm 

;.  Hannah  MaifiarEl.  b.  May  ia,  li-fi-'A,  1B44. 

6.   lsr..fl.  b.  M»yi,  .S,i;d.  Oci..  18.3. 

J.  Reuben,  b.  Jan.  .4,  d.  Stpi.  lo,  11,3. 

a.  Margirelt.  b.  bcpl.  aO,  ti^,. 

Hannah  Ardclia  and  Olive  Marine  peritbed  id 


e;  ni.  J«i 


■  '"*•  .. 


WillMun  Hoadley  s.  of  William,  m.  Es- 
Iher  Porter,  d.  of  Joshua,  dec'd,  Ott. 
27,  1761. 


Lucy  HodEC  m.  John  Anderson,  1783.' 
Abraham  and  Abigail  Hodges: 


ber  sil-  yar;  and  ■ 
lohn  Nel«™  TuHl, 
Ul  in  atteinpling  t( 

by  Rev  ""™" 


These  will  certify  that  Mr.  Israel 
Holmes  2d,  of  Waterburj-,  Con.,  and 
Miss  Cornelia  Coe  of  Detroit.  Mich., 
were  united  in  the  bonds  of  matnraonv 
in  the  City  of  Detroit  00  the  S3d  of 
May,  1843,  in  the  presence  of  the  wit- 
nesses herein  named,  and  asreeably  to 
the  laws  of  the  State  of  Micnigan.  and 
the  usages  of  the  Presbyterian"  Church. 


Hannah  Hodges   1 

1825. 
James  Hodson,  s.  of  John,  and  Rosetta 
Smith  from  Middlebury.  b.  Aug.,  1823. 
m.  Nov,  8,  1846. 

,.  John  J™h  Fnnlllin,  b,  June  ,6.  .8,,. 

John  Hodson  m.  Jane  Binyon  in  Birming- 
ham, Eng. 


Pastor  of  ist  Pres.  Church  of  Detroit. 
H-   P.  Anderson,         S- S.  Baknahd.)  „,._„„„ 
A.  E.  B.ssELL.   f  Witnesses. 
Hiles  Holmes,  s.  of  Israel,  m.  Eliza  Jen 
net  [Bradleyof  Cheshire].   Shed.  ^pt. 


b.  Sepi. 


,.    Ian 


b-  July  3, 


„  Apr.  t 


7.  William,  b.  Dec.  17.  i8j7- 

Lorinda  Holcomb  m.  H.  Howe,  1835. 

Mary  Holcomb  m.  L.  W.  Cutler,  1S31. 

Joseph  J,  Hollister  of  Farmington  m. 
Cleora  Wooster.  Aug.  13,  184a. 

Andrew  B.  Holmes  of  Cornwall  m,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Merriman.  Nov.  30,  1S43. 

Frederick  G.  Holmes  [s,  of  Reuben],  m. 
Esther  Nichols,  Dec.  3,  1849- 

Israel  Holmes,  s.  of  Reuben  of  Green- 
wich, m.  Sally  Judd,  d.  of  Capt,  Sam., 


y.   Adrli'nei  h   Sept.  xx,  iBij;  IB.  U,  Smilh- 

Thomas  Homer,  b.  July,  1804.  and  CtUfa 
arine  Bt-nton.  b.  May,  iSoa,  m.  1831. 

1,  Cilliarine  Benlon,  b.  in  Eng.,  Mch.  5.  iSjj. 


7b.  I 
,.  Jan 

Lieut.  Reuben  Holmes,  s.  of  Israel,  m. 
Elisabeth  M.  Clark,  d.  of  Elias.  Nov. 
29  1826.  He  d.  at  Jefferson  Barracks. 
Nov.  4,   1833,  and    she    m.    Leonard 

1.  Fiederick  Guion,  b.  Sepi,  6,  1817. 

Samnel  J.  Holmes,  s.  of  Israel,  m.  Lncina 
Todd,  b.  Mch.  7,  1796,  d.  of  Hezekiah 
of  Cheshire,  May  2,  1822. 

..   Liael.  b.  Aua.  .0.  ,a,3. 
,.  Samuel,  b.  rTov.  30,  .8,4- 

j.  William    bualiiili,   b.  in  Soulhinglon.    Dec,    if. 
litb:  d.  May  ,.  iS,8. 

4.  Saub,  b. July  6.  iS>9,  in  SoulhinElon. 

5.  William  rf.,  b.  Jul,  .s,  .8,,,  in  SoulhinKi^,. 

6.  Hnnnab  Atdelia,  b.  Nov.t,  .834;  d,  .8jj. 

Mercy  Holt  m.  Timothy  Upson,  1833. 
Philemon  Holt,  b.  Oct.,  1781.  s.of  Eben. 

of  East  Havenfor  Harwintiin).  m.  Aug. 

17,  1806,  Abby  Barnes,  b.  Feb.  15,  i;9d. 

d.  of  Ambrose  fmm  Cheshire. 


FAMILY  BECOt 


Hopkins.  Hopkins. 

Asa  Hopkins,  eldest  s.  of  Joseph.  Esq., 
m.  Rebecca  Knowles  Payne,  third  d.  of 
Benj.,  Esq.,  and  Rebecca,  dec'd,  Dec. 
I,  1784. 

1.  Catharine  Payne,  b.  Oct.  34, 1785. 

2.  Amelia,  b.  June  94,  1787. 

3.  Maria,  b.  Oct.  16,  1790. 

Rebecca  d.  Saturday,  Sept.  17,  1791,  a. 
29,  and  Asa  m.  Abigail  Burnham.  d.  of 
the  late  Peter  and  Hannah,  dec'd,  of 
Weathersfield,  Oct.  16,  1793  [and  d. 
Dec.  4,  1805]. 

4.  Henry,  b.  Sept.  3,  1794, 

Consider  Hopkins  was  maryed  to  Eliza- 
beth Grayhara,  Relict  of  Gorg  of  Hart- 
ford, Nov.  4,  1 7 13  [and  d.  in  Hartford, 
1726. 

T.  John,  b.  Sept.  5,  171 4. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  28,  1715-16. 

3.  Asa,  b.  Aug.  8,  1719. 

4.  Consider,  b.  June  9,  1723. 

5.  Elias,  b.  July  5,  1726.] 

David  Hopkins,  s.  of  John,  m.  Mary 
Thompson,  d.  of  Jon.,  dec*d,  of  West 
Haven,  July  4,  1791.  He  d.  Apr.  21, 
1 8 14;  she,  Aug.,  1829.* 

[i.  John,  b.  July  13,  i793'  m.  Abiah  Woodruff,  d. 
of  Jonah,  18 15,  and  had  Samuel,  b.  1816,  Ed- 
ward, b.  1817,  Henry,  b.  1819,  Emily  M.,  b. 
1822,  David  T.,  b.  1825,  George,  b.  1826  (Yale), 
Amelia,  b.  1828,  Willard,  b,  i8jo,  John,  b.  1833. 

2.  Polly,  b.  Nov.  13,  X794;  m.  W,  H.  Hinc.     ^ 

3.  David,  b.  Apr.  7,  1707;  m.  Clarissa  Adams,  d.  of 

Andrew,  and  had  Charles,    Enos,    Andrew, 
Dwight,  and  Jane. 

4.  Mabel,  b.  Sept.  x6,  1799;  m.  Alfred  Stevens. 

5.  Laura,  b.  Mch.  2,  1802;  d.  May  23,  1811. 

6.  Truman,  b.  Jan.  23,  1805. 

7.  Edwin,  b.  Dec.  20,  1808.] 

[Enos  Hopkins,  b.  Mch.  28,  1821,  s.  of 
David,  m.  Clarissa  D.  Morris  at  Wood- 
bury, June  15,  1 841. 

X.  Henry  B.,  b.  Oct.  31,  1842.] 

Harriet  Hopkins  m.  Rev.  Holland  Weeks, 
1799. 

Isaac  Hopkins  [b.  Nov.  25,  1708I,  s.  of 
Eben.  of  Hartford,  m.  Mercy  Hikcox, 
d.  of  Thomas,  Sept.  21,  1732.  She  d. 
May  27,  1790;  he;  Jan.  13,  1805,  a.  96. 

1.  Obedience,  b.  Sept.  1,  1733;  d.  Dec.  i,  1736. 

2.  Symeon,  b.  Aujf.  30,  1735;  d.  Dec.  25,  X736. 

3.  Bede,  b.  Nov.  2X,  1737;  m.  Samuel  Judd. 
4    Simeon,  b.  Nov.  19,  1740. 

5.  Irene,  b.  Dec.  27,  1742-3;  m.  John  Selkrij?,  and 

Nathaniel  Sutliif . 

6.  Ruth,  b.  Dec.  26,  1745:  d.  Sept.  22,  1752. 

7.  Osec,  b.  June  i8,  1748;  d.  Aug.  26,  1749. 

8.  Mitte,  b.  Dec.  14,  1750  [d.  Nov.  4,  1806]. 

9.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  4,  1753. 

10.  Welthe,  b.  Tune  2,  1756;  m.  Charles  Upson  and 

Thomas  Welton. 

11.  Ruth,  b.  Dec.  10,  1759;  m.  Ziba  Norton. 

Mary  [Butler],  mother  of  Isaac,  d.  May 
17.  1744. 

Jesse  Hopkins,  s.  of  Joseph,  Esq.,  m. 
Betsey  Goodwin,  d.  of  Nathl.  of  Hart- 


HOPKI 

ford 

14.  1 

1.  B« 

2.  Sal 

Johni 

fii 

{ 

2.   J« 

3 

3.  o 

4.  St 

5.11 

6.  Sa 


10.  D« 
Hani 
John 
[leavi 

John  H 

Johni 
13.  17 

X.  San 

2.  Sui 

3.  Ma 

4.  Mai 

5.  Loi 

6.  Da^ 

Sarah 
Patie: 
1767. 
1802. 

7.  Rh  > 

8.  Pat 

9.  Jol  [ 

10.  Pat  < 

11.  Suj  I 

12.  Jol  r 

Joseph  I 
Heps  1 
28, 17  ; 

27,  li  : 

1.  Livi  , 

2.  Asa  1 

3.  Jos€  I 
Dar  ( 
EstI  : 
Jess  . 
Hez  i 

8.  Har  1 

9.  Sail   , 

Joseph  ; 

m.  to  I 
of  Sa  1 
son, 

I.  Anr  , 

Gill  I 

Bcc>  1 
Sop 

Jess  , 

JoS"     ( 

Eliz 

Rhoda    : 

1789. 

[Samui 

28,  I    ; 


4. 

5. 
6. 

7- 


2. 

3. 
4. 

5. 

6. 
7. 


70  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UR7. 


Hopkins.  Hopkins. 

Timothy  of  East  Windsor,  and  d.  at 
West  Springfield,  Oct.  6,  1755,  in  the 
5 2d  yr.  of  his  age,  and  36th  of  his  min- 
istry. 

I.,  Timothy,  b.  June,  i/aS;  d.  1807. 
2.' Samuel,  b.  Oct.  31,  1739  (Rev,  S.  of  Hadley, 
1755-1821), 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.,  1731;  ra.  J.  Worthingcon. 

4.  Esther,  b,  1733;  d.  1740.] 

Samuel  Hopkins,  s.  of  Stephen,  m,  Molly 
Miles,  d.  of  David  of  Wallingford, 
dec'd,  June  27,  1771. 

I.  Samuel  Miles,  b.  May  9,  1772. 

Samuel  Hopkins  m,  Harriet  C.  Ford — 
both  of  Salem— Apr.  5,  1837. 

Sarah  Hopkins,  her  child: 

Isabela  Warner,  b.  Jan.  2,  1786. 

Simeon  Hopkins,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Lois 
Richards,  d.  of  Obad.,  Nov.  15,  1764. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  5,  1765. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  June  2,  1767. 

3.  Electe,  b.  July  8,  1770. 


Hopkins. 


HOTCHKISS. 


4.  Isaac,  b.  Jan.  ix,  1773. 

5.  Lois,  b.  July  ai,  1775. 

6.  Richards  Obadiah,  b.  Jan.  11,  1 

7.  Polly,  b.  Sept.  19,  1779. 

8.  Harvey,  b.  June  9,  1782. 


778. 


[Stephen  Hopkins,  s.  of  Stephen  of  Hart- 
ford, m.  Sarah,  d.  of  Lieut.  Th.  Judd, 
Nov.  17,  1686.  She  d.  May  ii,  1693. 
Her  death  is  recorded  in  Hart. ,  also  in 
Wat.,  with  her  father's  family.] 

Stephen  Hopkins,  s.  of  John,  marid  Su- 
sannah Peck,  d.  of  John  of  Wal.,  Aug. 
20,  1718. 

1.  John,  b.  July  28,  1719. 

2.  Stephen,  b.  June  12,  1721. 

3.  Anna,  b.  Sept,  25,  1723;  m.  Thomas  Bronson, 

and  Phineas  Koyce. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  Nov.  lo,  1725;  d,  Sept.  26,  1748. 

5.  Mary;  b.  June  4,  1728;  d.  June  7,  1735. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  June  6,  1730. 

7.  Jesse,  b.  Feb.  12.  1733;  d.  Dec.  3,  1754 

8.  Mary,  b.  Nov.  26,  1735-  d.  Sept.  27,  1748. 

9.  Lois,  b.  June  22,  1738  [m.  Lsaac  John.son,  s.  of 

Benajah,  and  d.  Oct.  16,  1814.] 
10,  David,  b.  Oct.  14,  1741;  d.  Sept,  23,  1748. 

Susanna  d.  Dec.  last,  1755,  and  Stephen 
m.  Abial  Webster,  Rellick  of  John  of 
Farmington,  May  25,  1756.  He  d.  Jan. 
4,  1769. 
Stephen  Hopkins,  s.  of  Eben.,  dec'd,  of 
Hart.,  m.  Jemima  Brounson,  d.  of  John, 
Feb.  26,  1729-30. 

1.  Noah,  b.  Tan.  24,  1 730-1. 

2.  Roswell.  b.  May  18,  1733. 

3.  Micah,  b.  Mch.  9,  1734. 

Stephen  Hopkins,  Jr.,  s.  of  Stephen,  m. 
Patience  Brounson,  d.  of  Isaac  (2d), 
Oct.  II,  1744- 

I.  Anna,  b.  Oct.  1,  1745. 

Patience  d.  June  3,  1746,  and  Stephen 
m.  Dorothy  Talmage,  d.  of  James  of 
New  Haven,  Dec.  16,  1747. 

1.  Saratiel,  b,  Nov,  21, 1748. 


2.  Lemuel,  b.  June  19,  1750. 

3.  Stephen,  b.  Apr.  22,  1754  [d.  1782,  with  small- 

pox]. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  23,  i7S7. 

5.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  29;  d.  Nov.  4,  and  the  mother 

Oct.  22,  1 761. 

• 

Timothy  Hopkins,  s.  of  John,  m.  Mary 
Judd,  d.  of  Deac.  Th.,  June  25,  1719. 
and  d.  Feb.  5,  1748-9.  [She  d.  Dec.  5, 
1744,  and  a  son  of  three  weeks,  four 
days  later.] 

1.  Samuell,  b.  Sept.  it,  1721  [d,  at  Newport,  1803]. 

2.  Timothy,  b.  Sept.  8,  1723, 

3.  Huldah,  b.  Dec.  22,  1725;  m.  Abijah  Richards. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Apr,  11,  1728;  m.  Th.  Upson. 

5.  Sarah,   b.  May  25,  1730;  m,  Tim,  Clark. 

6.  James,  b.  June  26, 1732;  d.  July  14, 1754  [at  New 

Haven;  a  student  at  Yale]. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  16, 1734  [d.  at  Salem,  Mass.,  Dec. 

14,  1814,  having  preached  there  nearly  fifty 
years]. 

8.  Marv,  b.  June  27,  1737;  m.  John  Cossett. 

9.  Mark,  b.  Sept.  18, 1739  [d.at  Great  Barrington]. 

Timothy  Hopkins,  Jr.,  s.  of  Timothy,  m. 
Jemima  Sowrill  (or  Towrill),  d.  of  Ab- 
raham of  Simsbury,  Jan.  14,  1741-2. 

1.  Ehud,  b.  Feb.  x,  1742-3. 

2.  Ichabod,  b.  Dec.  7,  1744. 
[Dorcas,  b.  May  26,  1747. 
Timothy,  b.  Nov.  25,  1750. 

Esther,  b.  Feb.  8,  1752;  m,  David  Porter. 
James,  b.  Aug.  14,  1754. 
Jemima,  b.  May  17,  1757;  m.  Stephen  Sibley. 
Sarah,  b.  June  5,  1760;  m.  Sylvanus  Adams. 
Mary,  b.  1762.     Benjamin. 

Timothy  removed  to  Great  Barrington, 
Mass.,  before  1747,  was  chosen  deacon, 
1753,  and  d.  about  1773.] 

Truman  Hopkins  m.  Julia  Martin,  Aug. 
26,  1824. 

Abner  Hopen's  inf.,  d.  Jan.  16,  i8io.* 

Albon  Hoppen,  s.  of  Benj.,  m.  Charlotte 
Terril,  d.  of  Enoch,  Oct.  13,  1808. 

1.  Andrew  H.,  b.  Oct.  26,  181 1. 

2.  Esther,  b.  Jan.  3,  1813. 

3.  Reuben,  b.  July  i8,  1814. 

4.  Sally,  b.  Nov.  24,  18x9. 

Bethia  Hopson  m.  W.  M.  Fowler,  1842. 

Francis  Horan  m.  Susan  Nolan,  June  13, 
1851. 

Emily  Horton  m.  L.  M.  Hoadley,  1821. 

Emily  Horton  m.  Robert  Coe,  1842. 

Harriet  Horton  m.  A.  H.  Lewis,  1841. 

John  Horton  d.  Feb.  4,  1787  (wife,  Su- 
sanna).* 

John  Horton  d.  May  14,  1799;  Mary,  his 
w.,  Dec.  20,  1804.* 

Mary  Horton  m.  S.  A.  Bunnell,  1823. 

Nancy  Horton  m.  R.  F.  Wei  ton,  1830. 

Clarissa  Hosmer  m.  Leonard  Piatt,  1826. 

Abraham  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Capt.  Gideon, 
m.  Hannah  Weed,  d.  of  John,  Dec.  28. 
1767,  and  d.  Oct.  29,  1806. 


FAMILY  BECO, 


HOTCHKISS. 


HOTCHKISS. 


1.  John,  b.  Nov,  16,  1768. 

2.  Ezra,  b.  Mch.  a,  1772. 

3.  Lois,  b.  June  2.  1773;  m.  los.  Payne,  1795. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  July  5,  1775  [ra.  Amos  Tinker], 

5.  loci,  b.  Nov.  29,  1781. 

6.  Benjamin,  b.  June  15,  1786. 

Abraham  Hotchkiss  d.  Nov.  24,  1802; 
had  wife  Rosetta  from  Bethany,* 

Amos  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Capt.  Gideon,  m. 
Abigail  Scott,  d.  of  Gershom,  Dec.  24, 
1772. 

1.  Woodward,  b,  Oct.  19,  1773, 

2.  Sabria,  b.  July  19,  1777. 

3.  Avera,  b,  Apr.  5,  1779. 

4.  Molly,  b.  Feb.  9,  X783. 

5.  Orel,  b.  Apr.  n,  1785;  d.  Apr.  5,  1789. 

6.  Amos  Harlow,  b.  Feb.  x8,  1788. 

7.  Orrcn,  b.  Apr.  i,  179a. 

8.  Abij^il  Orel,  b.  Sept.  zo,  1799;  d.  1804. 

Amos  Harlow  Hotchkiss  and  Lucretia 
A.:» 

Manila,  bap.  1812;  m.  I.  G.  Smith. 
Alathea,  bap.  Aug.  5,  z8az;  m.  J.  Bfeardsley. 
Sylvia,  bap.  Nov.  17,  1822. 

Amos  H.  Hotchkiss  m.  Sarah  M.  Scott — 
both  of  Salem — [Aug.  29,  1837]. 

Asahel  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Deac.  Gideon, 
m.  Sarah  Williams,  Mch.  22,  1781. 

1.  Sally^  b.  Oct.  27,  1781. 

2.  Curtiss,  b.  May  4,  1783. 

3.  Dyer,  b.  June  24,  1785. 

4.  Esther,  b.  May  21,  1788. 

Sarah  d.  Mch.  28,  1794,  and  Asahel  m. 
Phebe  Merriman  of  Cheshire,  June  7, 
1794. 

5.  Tempy,  b.  Feb.  27,  1797. 

6.  Asahel  Augusta,  b.  June  30,  1799. 

7.  Marcus,  b.  Sept.  i,  1801. 

8.  Phebe  Maria,  b.  Aug.  5,  1805. 

Avery  Hotchkiss  of  Columbia  m.  Polly 
Hikcox,  Oct.  22,  1 810. 

Benjamin  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Abr.,  dec*d,  m. 
Hannah  Beecher  of  Cheshire,  July  26, 
1807. 

[i.  Horace,  b.  Sept.  29,  1809. 

2.  Lyman,  b.  June  4,  18x2. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  Nov.  19,  18 15. 

4.  Emeline,  b.  Dec.  14,  z8i8. 

5.  Rosannah,  b.  Jan.  10,  1820. 

6.  Benjamin  Gilbert,  b.  Aug.  i,  1833]. 

Bronson  Hotchkiss  m.  Abigail  M.  Orton 
of  Sheffield,  Mass.,  Dec.  15,  1825. 

Calvin  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Joel,  m.  Asenath 
Sanford,  d.  of  Jared  of  Cheshire,  Dec. 
23,  1S25'. 

Charles  Hotchkiss  m.  Electa  Brace  of 
Torrington,  Jan.  3,  1833. 

Curtiss  Hotchkiss:^ 

Frances,  bap.  Apr.  30,  1801. 

Betsey^.,  l>ap.  Dec.  29,  181 1. 

Susan,  Dap.  Mch.  19,  1820;  m.  J.  A.  Pierpont. 

Alonzo,  bap.  Dec.  23,  18^1. 

Thompson  Clark,  bap.  Aug.  18,  1824. 

Elvira,  m.  Lucius  Baldwin,  1835. 


HOTCJ 

DavM 

Abi 

17^ 

1.  A 

3    f 

*    a 

6.  O 

Ab| 

vid 

7.  C 

8.  J 
zo.  1 

David 

Max 

El 

La 

David 
July 
Sepi 
X.  Ml 

2.  w1 

3.  Ml 

4.  He 

5.  Da 

Day 

Rob 

Eben 
m. 
Chei 

1.  Ai 

2.  Gil 

» 

Edga] 
Cor  I 

Eldad 

SI  ! 

E  ] 

Eldad 

No^  . 

N  1 

Elijal 

Eli  \ 
Da  i 

1.  c  I 

2.  ¥  . 

3.  » 
Pol  ; 

Lu  I 
180  , 

4.  t  '■ 

Eliza  I 

174  . 

Eliza  I 
175 

Eno<  I 
Lo  . 

Esth  I 

18^ 


72  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


HOTCHKISS.  HOTCHKISS. 

Ezra  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Abr.,  m.  Melita 
Beecher,  d.  of  John  of  Cheshire,  Oct. 
31,  1796,  and  d.  Oct.  10,  1820. 

I.  Lowis,  b.  Dec.  19,  1797;  d.  Aug.  5,  1804. 
3.  Sukey,  b.  Dec.  19,  i799* 

3.  Tempe.  b.  Sept.  8,  1003. 

4.  Ansel,  b.  June  20,  1806. 

5.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  ao,  i8zo. 

6.  Lois,  b.  Apr.  8,  18 13. 

7.  A  dau,,  b.  Feb.  2;  d.  Feb.  9,  i8x6. 

Frederick  Hotchkiss,  Esq.,  s.  of  David, 
m.  Rhoda  Hopkins,  d.  of  John,  Mch. 
9»  1790. 

1.  Manilla,  b.  Mch.  11,  1791. 

2.  Chloe,  b.  Apr.  16,  1794;  d.  Apr.  22,  1812. 

3.  Julia,  b.  Feb.  7,  1796  [ra.  Jonah  Woodruff]. 

4.  David  Miles,  b.  Nov.  27,  1797. 

5.  Laura,  b.  Sept.  4,  1800  [d.  1813]. 

6.  Clarissa,  b.  Jan.  6,  x8o6  [m.  Ebsha  Hall] . 
Two  inf.,  d.  1806  and  i8o8.i 

Rhoda  d.  Mch.  12,  18 14  [and  Fred.  m. 

Tabitha,  wid.  of Barrett,  and  d.  of 

Phineas  Castle]. 

George  F.  Hotchkiss  m.  Caroline  E. 
Harrison  of  Bristol,  Nov.  12,  1849. 

Gideon  Hotchkiss  [b.  Dec.  5,  1716],  s.  of 
Stephen,  m.  Anne  Brocket,  d.  of  John 
—all  of  Wallingford— June  16,  1737. 

1.  Jesse,  b.  Oct.  9,  1738. 

2.  David,  b.  Apr.  5,  1740. 

3.  Abraham,  b.  and  d.  May  3,  1742. 

4.  Abraham,  b.  Mch.  25,  1743. 

5.  Gideon,  b.  Dec.  31,  1744  [m.  Mary  Scott  and  d. 

Jan.  6,  1819]. 

6.  Hulda,  b.  June  37,  1747;  m.  J.  Payne. 

7.  Anna,  b.  Oct.  22,  1749;  m.  R.  Williams. 

8.  AmoSj  b.  Nov.  24,  1751. 

9.  Submit,  b.  June  2,  1753  [m.  David  Payne] .' 

10.  Titus,  b.  June  26,  1755. 

11.  Eben,  b.  Dec.  13,  1757. 
[12.  Asahel,  b.  Feb.  15,  1760]. 

12.  Still-bom,  July  27,  1762. 

Anne  d.  Aug.  i,  1762  [a.  46],  and  Gid- 
eon m.  Mabel  Stiles  [d.  of  Isaac]  of 
Woodbury,  Feb.  22,  1763,  and  d.  Sept. 
3,  1807,  a.  91. » 

Mabel,  b.  May  33,  1764;  m.  C.  Judd. 
Phcbe,  b.  Aug.  29,  1765. 
Hannah,  b.  Oct.  14;  d.  Nov.  26,  1766. 
Stiles,  b.  Tan.  30,  1768. 

17.  Ohve,  b.  Nov.  31,  1769. 

18.  Millicent,  b.  May  6,  1771. 
[20.  Amzi,  b.  July  3,  1774J. 

(These  are  numbered  as  on  the  record). 

Gideon  M.  Hotchkiss: 

Inf.,  d.  Feb.  1,  i8ii.» 

Gideon  O.  Hotchkiss  m.  Nancy  Smith, 
Sept.  5,  1830. 

Harris  Hotchkiss  m.  Ann  J.  Martin  of 
Woodbridge,  Nov.  20,  1830. 

Henry  Hotchkiss  m.  Rosetta  Baldwin, 
May  23,  1835. 

Isaac  and  Rhoda  Hotchkiss:* 

Nelson  and  Sheldon,  bap.  Nov.  3,  1821. 
Milo,  bap.  July  7,  1822. 

Jesse  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Gid.,  m.  Charity 
Mallory,  d.  of  Peter  of  Strat,  Oct.  2, 


Hotchkiss.  Hotchkiss. 

1759,  and  d.  Sept.  29,  1776  [with  the 
army]. 

1.  Asael,  b.  Feb.  15,  1760. 

2.  Charrity,  b.  Men.  24,  1761. 

3.  Bulah,  b.  Mch.  13,  1762;  d.  Oct.  24,  1776. 

4.  Gabril.  b.  Aug.  13,  176^;  d.  Jan.  22,  1765. 

5.  Rebecka,  b.  Jan.  7,  1765. 

6.  Temperance,  b.  Dec.  3,  1767. 

7.  Apalina,  b.  Jan.  3,  17^8. 

8.  Cloe,  b.  Jan.  5,  1771. 

9.  Anna,  b.  May  19,  177^. 

10.  Huldah,  b.  Mch.  9,  1774. 

11.  Jesse,  b.  Aug.  3,  1776. 

Joel  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Wait,  m.  Mary 
Rogers,   d.   of  Deac.   Josiah,    Feb.   6, 

1785. 

1,  Asenath,  b.  Mch.  33,  1787. 

Joel  Hotchkiss.  s.  of  Abr.,  m.  Esther 
Beecher,  d.  of  Benjamin  of  Cheshire, 
June  16,  1803. 

1.  Calvin,  b.  July  19,  1804. 

3.  Horace,  b.  June  14,  1806;  d.  Mch.  14,  1807. 

Abraham,  bap.  June  2,  1809.* 

James  Gilbert,  bap.  Sept.  11,  1822. 

John  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Abr.,  m.  Susanna 
Williams,  d.  of  Dan.,  May  3,  1790  [and 
d.  1837]. 

1.  Levi,  b.  Jan.  18,  1791. 

2.  Ransom,  b.  Feb.  11,  1793. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  July  5,  1797. 

4.  Fanny,  b.  Nov.  29,  x8oi. 

5.  Bronson,  b.  May  25,  1805. 

Jonah  Hotchkiss,  Jr. :' 

Hannah  and  Sarah,  bap.  Mch.  3,  1799. 
Hiram,  bap.  Apr.  12,  1801. 

Julia  Hotchkiss  m.  G.  Bouton,  1823. 

Julius  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Woodward  of 
Prospect,  m.  Apr.  29,  1832,  Melissa 
Perkms  of  Oxford,  b.  Apr.  21,  1810. 

1.  Cornelia  Augusta,  b.  in  Oxford,  July  6.  1835. 

3.  Melissa  Amelia,  b.  Mch.  i,  1842. 

3.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Dec.  13,  1844. 

4.  Julia  Frances,  b.  Feb.  7,  1847, 

Julius  L.  Hotchkiss  of  Bethany  m.  So- 
phronia  M.  Hotchkiss,  June  2,  1846. 

Laura  Hotchkiss  m.  Miles  Todd,  1830. 

Laura  Hotchkiss  m.  G.  Lounsbury,  1844. 

Lauren  and  Nancy  Hotchkiss:' 

Lucy  Emeline,  Bela  Edwin,  and  John  Benham, 

bap.  May  27,  1821. 
Giles  Gilbert,  bap.  Apr.  13,  1823. 

Lewis  Hotchkiss  of  Woodbridge  m. 
Sarah  Ann  Porter  [d.  of  Dr.  Jesse], 
Dec.  II,  1831. 

Lorana   Hotchkiss    m.    Amos.   Osborn, 
Lyman  Hotchkiss: 

Matilda,  bap.  July  14,  1799.* 
Polly,  bap.  June  30,  18 11. 

Lyman  Hotchkiss  of  Prospect  m.  Sarah 
Ann  Scott,  Apr.  2,  1837. 

Martha  Hotchkiss  m.  S.  Nichols,  1775. 

Mary  Hotchkiss  m.  Sam.  Mix,  1781. 

Mary  Hotchkiss  m.  I.  Nichols,  1840. 


FAMILY  RECOR 


HOTCHKISS.  HOTCHKISS. 

M*|y  A.  Hotchkiss  m.  W.  Lounsburyj 
^*jy^J-  Hotchkiss  m.  D.  M.  Phillips, 

Medad  Hotchkiss  m.  Rebeckah  Spencer 
^eb.  7,  1787.'  '^ 

Oliver  Hotchkiss  and  Esther: 

Diman  (?)  and  Elizabeth,  bap.  Dec.  5,  1811; 

Patty    A.   Hotchkiss  m.   Ed.   Benham. 
1844. 

Rosette  Hotchkiss  m.  Luther  Adams 
1846.  ' 

Sally  Hotchkiss  m.  Sam.  Osborn,  1797. 

Sarah  E.  Hotchkiss  m.  H.  Payne,  1843. 

Silas  Hotchkiss  [b.  Nov.  22,  1719].  s.  of 
Stephen  of  Wallingford,  m.  Lois  Bron- 
son,  wid.  of  Benj.,  May  12,  1748. 
I'  Sr*:' **•>"• '9i  1748-9. 

a.  nester,  b  Jan.  2,  1750-1;  m.  Joseph  Payne. 

3.  Stephen,  b.  Aug.  34,  1753. 

4.  /  ™»n*nt.  b.  June  18,  1760  [d.  May,  1838]. 

5.  Lois,  b.  Mch.  ai;  d.  Aug.  23,  1763. 

Lois  d.  Feb.  7,  1776,  and  Silas  m.  Abi- 

?au .  who  d.  Aug.  31,  1794.   [He 

a.  Jan..  1783.]  ^    ^ 

Stephen  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Silas,  m.Tamar 
Richason,  d.  of  Nathl.,  Dec.  31,  1778. 
and  d.  Sept.  9.  1826.        .         -^  '     -^^  • 

1.  Joseph,  b  Feb.  13,  1781;  d.  Mch.  12,  1786. 

2.  Clarissa,  b.  July  h,  1784.  ' 

?'  rS.  J'  \  f'^Pi-  "'  '787;  m.  H.  Nichols. 
t  1  i^  •  u-  £*^-  '??  '790;  m.  Wra.  Baldwin. 
5.  Lois,  b  Nov.  28,  1795. 

,    pifr**'  T-  '^PV9^t'798;  d.  Sept.  8,  1800. 

and  Humphrey  Nichols.  ' 

Stephen  Hotchkiss  m.  Maria  Goodyear 

Inf.,  d.  May  18,  i8o5.» 

Truman  Hotchkiss  :* 

Leonard  Richards,  bap.  Sept.  28, 18 17. 

Wait  Hotchkiss  [and  Lydia  Webster  of 
Bolton]: 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  27, 1765. 

4.  Abncr,  b.  May  24,  1771. 

Lydia  d.  Apr.  26.  1776,  and  Wait  m. 
Deborah,  Relick  of  Isaac  Twitchell. 
Oct.  10,  1776. 

5-  J[iHfher,b  Dec.  19,  1778. 

6.  Miles,  b.  July  27,  1783. 

7.  Isaac,  b.  Oct.  16,  1787. 

William  Robert  Hotchkiss  m.  Rebecca 
Leavenworth,  Nov.  24,  1830.  She  d. 
Apr.  II,  1838. 

Woodward  Hotchkiss,  s.  of  Amos,  m. 
Polly  (Mary)  Castle,  d.  of  Capt.  Phineas. 
Apr.  2,  1797. 

'•  wn-*'  ^'v^^y  '°'  '798. 

2.  Wilham.  b.  Aug.,  1800. 

3.  Roday,  b.  Jan.  25,  1803. 

4.  Polly,  b.  July  3,  1805. 


HOTCH 

5.  Jul 

6.  AH 

7.  Sar 

Benon: 
19.  I 
Isaac 

John 

E.  D. : 

bury 

Aaron 

1773. 

z.  Ma; 

2.  Cal 

Anna  I 

Daniel 

m.  A 

1734. 

z.  Aar 

2.  Ann 

3.  Hul 

4.  Dan 

5.  Eliz 

(Thei 
not  c 
to  his 

Daniel  ] 
ton,  <3 

I.    Eli2i 

2.  Aarc 

Elizabe 

Clark 

Ephraix 
Mch. 

Heman 

rinda 
from  i 

1.  Caro 

2.  Hem 

3-  Jane 

4-  John 
5.  Char 

John  H< 

liff]: 

Samu 
m. 
tha 

5.  Han 

6.  Johi 

7.  Klizi 

8.  Mar 
Tir 
2    ] 

9.  Lydi 

10.  ZacL 

11.  Eph 

Abiga 
Hann£ 

1754. 

Samuel 

ben,  d 

I  and  2, 

,     3.  Ephrs 

4.  Abiga 

5.  Mary, 


74  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


How.  Hull. 

6.  Eunis,-b.  Nov.  24,  1756. 

7.  John,  b.  Oct,  22,  1762. 

8.  Abigail,  b.  Sept.  13,  1764. 

Samuel  How:^ 

Cloe,  b.  Jan.  29,  1779. 

Sarah  E.  Howe  m.  W.  Pickett,  1846. 

Zacchaus  How  m.  Esther  Thompson, 
Dec.  7,  1772. 

1.  John,  b.  Nov.  8,  1773. 

Amanda  Hoyt  m.  O.  Albro,  1829. 

Abigail  Hubbard  m.  Ephraim  How, 
1781.* 

Daniel  Hubbard  of  Middletown  m.  Han- 
nah Warner,  Nov.  20,  1842. 

David  Hubbard  m.  Rhoda  Guernsey, 
Jan.  10,  1782." 

X.  Betsey,  b.  Mch.  28,  1782. 

2.  Jared,  b,  Jan,  9,  1785. 

Josiah  and  Abigail  Hubbard: 

6,  Eunice,  b.  Oct,  29,  1760. 

7,  David,  b.  Aug.  20,  1762, 

8.  Amos,  b,  Aug.  28,  1764;  d,  Aug.  1773. 

9.  Hezekiah,  b,  Sept.  21,  1766. 

10.  Joseph,  b,  July  10,  1768, 

11.  Lydia,  b.  Feb.  10,  1770. 

12.  Jacob,  b.  Dec.  10,  1771;  d.  Aug.  7, 1773, 

13.  Anna,  b.  Aug.  a,  1773. 

14.  Rachel,  b,  Nov.  7,  1774. 

Nathan  Hubbard,  s.  of  John,  deed,  of 
Middletown,  m.  Lydia  Judd,  d.  of 
Nathl.  of  Wallingford,  Jan.  i,  1735-6. 

1.  John,  b.  Dec,  22,  1736, 

2.  Immer,  b  July  30,  1741;  d.  Jan.  13,  1744-5. 

3.  Eli,  b.  May  28,  1745. 

4.  Nathan,  b.  at  Wal.,  Feb,  29,  1747-8. 

5.  Lydia,  b  June  23,  1750, 

6.  Tudd  Immer,  b.  Aug.  19   1753. 

7.  Mary,  b.  July  2P,  1756. 

8.  Nathanl.,  b,  Nov,  17,  1758, 

Hart  E.  Hubbell  m.  Lucy  Davis — both  of 
Naugatuck — Nov.  22,  1848. 

Nehemiah  Hubbel  m.  Lucinda  Welton, 
Nov.  9.  1774.* 

Frederick  Hudson  m.  Margaret  Lally, 
Oct.  6,  1851.8 

John  Hulbert  m.  Margaret  Lannan,  June 

15.  1851. 
Abigail  Hull  m.  Joshua  Moss.  1764. 

Amos  G.  Hull  [s.  of  Dr.  Nimrodl,  m. 
Emily  M.  Porter  [d,  of  ThomasJ— all 
of  Salem — Nov,  24,  1836. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Hull  dyed  at  Wat'town, 
Jan.  16,  1767,  and  left  two  chil. — Benj. 
and  Esther,  who  m.  Noah  Warner. 
His  wid.  m.  Jotham  Curtis. 

Betsey  Hull  ra,  S.  Thompson,  1801. 

Clarissa  Hull  m.  B.  S.  Judd,  1839. 

David  Hull  of  New  Town  m.  Rebecca  A. 

Tuttle  [d.  of  Daniel],  Feb.  28,  1838. 

Eli  Hull  of  Derby  m.  Philene  Beebe,* 
Sept.  II,  1783.'' 


Hull.  Humaston. 

Elizabeth  V.  Hull  m.  D.  A.  Minor,  1830. 

Esther  Hull  m.  Horace  Porter,  1845. 

Ezra  Hull  m.  Annis  Johnson,  July  18, 
1771. 

1.  John,  b.  Feb.  21,  1772, 

2.  Jane,  b.  Feb.  8,  1774  [m,  David  Hoadley] . 

Garry  Hull,  b.  Tan.  lo,  1803,  s.  of  John, 
m.  Melissa  Baldwin,  d.  of  David,  Feb. 

15.  1825. 

I,  Ellen  L..  b.  Apr,  30,  1826;  m.  B.  S.  Bristol. 
2    Harriet  Kf,.  b.  May  7,  1828. 

3.  Stiles,  b.  Nov.  10,  1830;  d.  Mch.  aa,  1833. 

4.  David  B.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1833. 

5.  John  L.,  b,  Jan.  aa,  1838. 

Hannah  Hull  m.  Obad.  Scovill,  1752. 

Hannah  Hull,  wid.,  d.  Aug.  7,  1807.* 

Hannah  Hull  m.  Chas.  Nichols,  1821. 

Henry  A.  Hull  of  Litchfield  m.  Sarah  A. 
Sandland,  Sept.  23,  1838. 

James  Hull,  s.  of  John  of  New  Haven, 

m.  Susanna  Arnold,  d.  of  Nathl.,  Au£^. 
22,  1733. 

I,  James,  b.  July  25,  1734;  d.  Dec.  4,  1736. 

Susanna  d.  Dec.  9,  1736,  and  James  m. 
Jane  Johnson,  d.  of  John,  dec'd,  June 

8,  1738. 

Joel  Hull  and  his  wife  [Mehitable  Gunn, 
d.  of  Jobanlah  and  Hannah]: 

Orren,  b.  Feb.  lo,  1794. 
[Alma,  b.  and  d.  1796.] 
Alma,  b.  Aug.  29,  1797. 
Henry,  b,  Jan.  12,  1804. 
Daniel,  b.  May  aS,  1806. 

Mary  Hull  m.  Eben.  Bronson,  1716. 

Mary  Hull  m.  Ithiel  Fancher,  1774. 

Mercy  Hull  m.  Eben.  Porter,  1739. 

Nancy  Hull  m.  L.  S.  Lewis,  1835. 

[Dr.  Nimrod  Hull  m.  Amy  Lewis,  and  d. 
Jan.  26,  1824. 

1.  Elizabeth;  m.  Ransom  Culver. 

2.  Sarah  (Nancy  })•  m.  Lewis  Hine. 

3.  Horace  F.;  m.  Elizabeth  Twitchell. 

4.  Lawrence  Spencer;  m.  Lacetia  Porter. 

5.  Emma,  d.  young. 

^'  ^°^ard°"^'*'U?'^P*l  Minister;  educated   at 

7.  Amos  Gift,    j     ^ale.    d.  a.  30  yrs. 

Nimrod  m.  Amelia  Seely. 

8.  Mary  C;  m,  Lewis  Curtiss. 

9.  George  W,;  m. Nichols.] 

Priscilla  Hull  m.  Samuel  Scott,  1727. 

Prosper   Hull  of  Colebrook    m.   Betsey 
Atkins  of  Wolcott,  Aug.  28,  1825. 

Sarah  Hull  m.  Rev.  M.   Leavenworth, 

1750- 
Sarah  M.  Hull  m.  Garry  Bissell,  1831. 
Amos  Humaston  m,  Abigail  Allin,  Nov. 

5,  1771. 

1.  Enos,  b.  Mch.  ii,  1772. 

2.  Thankful,  b.  June  26,  1773;  d.  Feb.,  1774. 


FAMILY  RECORl 


Hu 


Hl? 


Caleb  Hummastoii  [b.  Feb,  20,  1715-16], 
s.  of  John,  m.  Susanna  Todd,  A.  of 
Sara,— both  oE  No.  H.— Nov.  14,  1738, 
and  d.  Mch.  6,  1776.  [His  wife  d. 
Sept.  24,  1806.] 
I.  i.Mt,  b.  D«. , 

a.  S«nih,  h,  Dec.  - 


-0^5; 


Jiznt  2 


D.  Sitphen 


E-};;:i 


51  j™   b  fa™ 

6.  Mthiiable,  b.' ,^_.  _  _ 

S.  Conlenl,  b.  Aug,  3,  1754;  d,  Feb.  j,  1773. 
.  Phtb=,  b.  Dec  5.  .756;  -n.  J««  TLroer. 
9.   AnniK.  b.  July  14,  i;s9;  m.  S.  Sulliff. 
■o.  Manh^  b.t^.  »,  1^;  m.  D.  Poller. 

Danuria  Humaston  m.  A.  Seymour,  1767, 
David  Humerston  [s.  of  John]  m.  Ruth 

Bassett,   d.   of  Joseph  — all  of  North 

Haven— Nov.  1,  1743. 


Joel  Hi 

Hadd. 


3  !,;";.;;> 

.i,  .7)6:ni.TiinDihyAiw 

t.  A.h4!,V7n 

M  8.  '."fe. 

Esther  Hunuiston  d.  Sept,  17,  1788,' 
HttDDah  HniniBtoo   m,    Ephraim   Allen. 

1754- 
[John  Humiston  and  Abigails 

M«7.  b.  Msy  M,  ,7351 ;  m,  A.  BlaliMlce ; 
Noah  Humaston  m.   Lucy  Barnes,  Nov, 
17,  1768, 

I,  Tempe,  b.  Aug.  )i,  1769, 

Roswel  Hnmistoa  of  Stratford  m.  Me- 

linda  Atwater,  Aug,  i,  1831. 
[Sunuel  G.  Humiston  rn.  Ruth  Holmes, 

d   of  Israel.  .] 

EitberS..  bip.  lun.  iS,  tSiT. 

Mary  [ubell^x,  bap.  May  19;  d.  Dee.  16,  iSii. 

Thankful  Humaston  m.  A.  Dutton.  1764. 
Timothy  Humaston: 

E«her,  b.  AtiK.  IS,  1/36. 

Ann  Hungerford  m.  Jas.  Tyler,  1763, 
[David  Hungerford  d.   1758.     Sarah,  his 
wid,.  m.  Thomas  Doolittk,  1761, 

Heirt:  r«vid.  Surah  Andrewi,  Umes  d,  before 

DkTid  Hungerford,  s.  of  David,  m.  Ro- 
sannah  Williams,  d,  of  Mr.  Williams  of 
Narrowganset,  June  5.  1760.  and  d. 
Jan,  29.  1777. 

1.    Ume^  b.  M-F  3,  1761. 

I.  Eliubelh,  b,  Aug.  s,  1761;    m.  Selh  Banbol- 

3.  MiTjr,  I  m.  Abiel  Bartbolomew,  t7Ss. 


S.  Grab  . 

A.  Ml  ; 
Clara  L 

of  Ply  I 
David  ) 

ner,  d 

i.  Mi.r 


Wixn    J 
St.,  I   ■ 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Hue 


J" 


Jeremiah  Hurley  m.  Margaret  Hourigan 
—both  of  Plymouth— Feb.  3,  1850. 
Abigail  Hyde  m.  H.  Munson,  1840. 
Eliza  Ann  Hyde  in.  Garry  Atwood,  :834. 
Vincent   Ibbeitsoo    m.    Eliza    Bossford. 

May  27.  iS4g. 
Alonzo  Isbell  m.  Fanny  B.  Smith,  Mch. 

9,  1842. 
Cynthia  H.  Isbell  m.  G.  L.  Smith,  1840. 
Hanford  label  from  Nau.  m,  Harriet  An- 
drews of  Prospect,  d.  of  Samuel.  Oct., 

1839. 

I.  Mtry  Elii.,  b.  in  Naa.,  Sf  pi.,  1840. 

I.  Elhcna,  b.  Apr,;  d,  Juiy,  184,, 
Harriet  A.  IsbcU  m.  A.  C.  Sperry,  1842. 
John   L.   Isbel   m.   Eliza  J.   Botsford  of 

Derby,  Aug.  27,  1837. 
Sarah  A.  UbcU  m.  G.  A.  Johnson,  1345. 
[Abram    Ives,    s.    of    Dr.   Ambrose,    m. 

Mary  Buckingham,  d.  of  John,  Feb.  25. 

1839.] 
Anne  Ives  m,  John  SutlifF,  1741. 
Elizabeth  Ives  m.  N.  Baldwin,  1775. 
Giles  Ives  from   North   Haven,  b,  Apr. 

25,    1774,    and    Abigail    Gilbert    from 

Haraden,  b.  Mch.  29,  1778,  m.  Oct.  9. 


3.  Ciroline,  b,  6ci.  4,  iSoi;  ro.  D,  T.  Bishu'p. 

4.  George  Mcrwin,  b.  May  i3,  1817. 
Lydia  Ives  m.  Timothy  Jones.  1779.* 
Lydia  Ives  m.  T.  Hammond,  Jr.,  1783.' 
Haria  Ives  m.  Luther  Hall,  1833. 
Olive  Ives  m.  Merrit  Lane,  1845. 


1.  John  Ed.,  b.  to  En...  Auk.  i,,  ,838. 
I.  Henry  LuMme,  b.Tlleh.  11,  1846. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Jeffrey  d.  Oct.   37,  1837,  a 

60.' 
Joseph  P.  Jeffrey  and  Mary  Ann  Lillias 
Millwood— botn  from  Birm.,  Eng.— m. 
Sept.  9.  1S33 

I,  C«h»riM  Msria,  b.  July  ,,  1819. 
1.  Eoin..  j™.  bTFeb.  .7.  .8,.,  ■" 

Rebeccah  Jenkins  m.  Enos  Ford,  177:. 
Abigail  Johnson  m.  David  Alcox,  1767. 
Abner  Johnson,  s,  of  Abner,  merchant  of 

Wal  ,   m.   Lvdia  Runnel,   d.    of   Eben. 

ezer  of  Chesliiro,  June  30,  1773. 


.n  Jul; 


1    Apr.  ; 


Annis  Johnson  m.  Ezra  Hnll,  1771. 
Betsey  Johnson  m.  David  Warner,  1S19, 
Charles  M.  Johnson  of  Woodbury   m. 

Ann  Eliza  Kinkham,  Apr,  3.  1S47. 
Cornelia  H.  Johnson  m.  Chas.  Benedict. 
'S4S. 


;:teW 


.  ijsS;  d.  Jonc,  n6z. 


Deborah  Johnson    m.  Jabei    HarrisoD, 

1772. 
Ebenezer  Johnson  s.  of  Ebenezer  of  Der- 
by, dec'd  [m,  Mrs.  Lucy  Barnes,  Mch. 

10.  1754]- 


Stepheo  and  Mary  Ives: 


Thankful  Ives  m.  Joseph  Foot,  1768. 
Augusta  Jackson  m.  H.  Freeman.  1S50. 

(col.) 
Bartholomew  Jacobs  m.  Abigail  Curliss, 

d.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  Apr.  22,  1751. 

3.  I>anid,'b.*Oci.  10,  '1756. ' 


h  Shiplei 

Lorinda  Janes  m.  C.  A.  Blackman,  1S3::. 

Edvrard  Jeffrey,  b.  July  8.  iSij,  and 
Emma  Moore,  b.  Dec.  18,  1816— both 
from  Binn.,  Eng.^ro.  Dvc.  27,  1835. 


Elizabeth  Johnson  m.  James  Prichard, 
1721.  ana  Stephen  Upson,  1750. 

Elizabeth  Johnson  m.  Hiram  Chtpmu, 
1842. 

Emily  Johnson  m.  G.  W.  Cook.  1837- 

Esther  Johnson  m.  Frederic  Treadffay, 
1836. 

Eunice  Johnson  m.  Abr.  Osbom,  i;fii. 

Eunice  Johnson  m,  Isaac  Towner,  iSia' 

Eunice  Johnson,  wid.,  d.  Apr.  5.  1639.  »■ 

Franklin    Johnson    of    Wallingford   m. 

Salome  Holt.  Oct.  ai,  1S33. 
Gideon  A,  Johnson  of  Oxford  m.  S«r«t 

A.  Isbell  of  Nau.,  Dec.  11,  1S45. 
Hannah  Johnson  m.  Joseph  Broivn,  t;50 


FAMILY  BECORR 


Johnson. 

Th.  Osbom,  1777. 

Sam.  Benham,  1799. 

m.  A.  Adams,  1820. 

Benj.  Grinnels,  1825. 

Harriet  Hoadley  [d. 
of  Nau. — Nov.   30, 


Johnson. 

Hannah  Johnson  m. 
Hannah  Johnson  m. 
Hannah  E.  Johnson 
Harriet  Johnson  m. 

Isaac  S.  Johnson  m. 

of  Chester] — both 

1834. 
James  Johnson  and  Abigail: 

X.  Abigail,  b.  June  lo,  1727. 
a.  Eunice,  b.  June  31,  1739. 
3.  Mehittable,  b.  May  37,  1731. 

James  B.  Johnson  m.  Mary  Law,  Dec. 
26,  1850. 

Jarvis  Johnson,  b.  Jan.  31,  1805,  s.  of 
Gideon,  and  Maria  Strong,  b.  Sept.  15, 
1 815,  d.  of  Noah— all  of  Southbury — 
m.  Aug.,  1832. 

1.  Mary  Jane,  b.  June  x6,  1834. 

2.  Emily  Maria,  b.  Dec.  9,  1836. 

3.  Martha  Elisabeth,  b.  Dec.  9,  1840;  d.  2846. 

4.  Franklin  Edward,  b.  Aug.  zo,  1845. 

Jesse  Johnson,  s.  of  Cornelius,  m.  wid. 
Hannah  Beach,  relict  of  John,  Aug.  23, 
1780. 

z.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  6,  1780. 
3.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  39,  1782. 

Joel  Johnson,  s.  of  Joseph  of  Derby,  m. 
Samira  Frisbie,  d.  of  David  of  Wolcott, 
Apr.  II,  1827. 

z.  David  Franklin,  b.  Feb.  xo,  1828. 

3.  Henry  Carlos,  b.  Nov.  8,  1830. 

3.  William  E.,  b.  July  25,  1843;  drowned  1845, 

[John  Johnson  d.  1739.  Had  wife,  Mercjr; 
chil.:  Jane  (w.  of  James  Hull)  and  Si- 
lence. 

Larmon  Johnson  of  Oxford  m.  Anna 
Mix,  d.  of  Philo,  Mch.  13,  1826. 

Laura  A.  Johnson  m.  Isaac  Hough,  1835. 

Lorana  Johnson  m.  Dennis  Trian,  1823. 

Lydia  A.  Johnston  m.  C.  B.  Lawrence, 
1847. 

Lyman  Johnson,  s.  of  Cornelius,  m. 
Mary  Hoadley,  d.  of  Nathaniel,  Mch.  6, 
1780. 

I.  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  9,  1780. 
3.  Truman,  o.  June  18,  1783. 
3,  Ana,  b.  Jan.  9,  1787. 

Mary  Johnson  m.  Samuel  Barnes,  1722. 
Mary  Johnson  m.  Jehiel  Castle,  1802.* 
Mary  Johnson  m.  D.  W.  Lee,  1823. 
Mary  Johnson  m.  Wright  Parks,  1834. 
Mille  Johnson  m.  J.  £.  Thompson,  1829. 
Robert  Johnson  and  Sarah: 

1.  Hannah,  b.  [1729];  d.  Apr.  27,  1733. 

2.  Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  18,  1731;  d.  Jan.,  1744-5. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  2a,  1733. 

4.  George,  b.  Jan.  8,  1734-5' 

5.  Robert,  b.  Feb.  9,  1736-7. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  7,  1739. 

7.  Ruth,  b.  Mch.  26,  1743. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  2,  1744. 


Johnson 

9.  RacI 
xo.  A  da 

Sabra  J< 

Sarah  Jc 

Silence 
Moses, 

1733. 

z.  Sarah, 
3.  John, 

3.  Lemui 

4.  Mary, 

5.  Jane,  I 

6.  Elihu, 

Theodosi 

Thomas 

28,  185J 

William 
sey  Kn 
Jan.  31, 

WUlis  Jc 
1843. 

WUson  J 

12,  183: 

Caroline 
Jane  Joni 

Joseph  J< 

garett ' 
m.  Sep 

z.  Eliza, 
3.  Charle 

3.  John, 

4.  Sarah, 

5.  Henry 

Maria  Jo 
Olive  Jox 

Philen 

Philena 

Thomas 
beth  C< 
Birm., 

J.  WiUia 

2.  Elizat 

Timothy 

1779.* 

1.  Philer 

3.  Belosi 

William 
Mary 

phreys 
Attleb 

z.  Sarah 
3.  Norm 

3.  Caroli 

4.  WiUia 

5.  John 

William 
May  I' 

Amanda 

Chaunce 

Allyn  S 


mSTORT  OF  WATERBXrar. 


J" 


Jllli 


,  1785.' 


Ebeneier,  late  of  Wat  .  now  residing 
ill  Goshen,  m.  Betty  Hill,  d,  of  Nathan 
of  Chfsbire.  Oct.  3.  1782- 


.  .735- 


[Dr.]  BenjanuD  Judd,  s.  of  John,  m.  Ab- 
igail Adams.  A.  of  (IiUet  of  Symsbury, 
Jan.  S,  1738-9,  who  d.  Nov.  7,  1755. 


10.  Esihcr. 

Electa  Judd  m.  J.  W.  Bigelow,  1825. 
Elnatban  Judd,  s.  of  Win.,  m.   Miriam 

Richards,  d.  of  Sam.,  dec'd,   Dec.    2S, 

i7Sa. 

1.  Richnrdi  Samuel,  b.  Ori.  t6.  17s;. 

\.  bholh».'b.  Feb.'Js.'i'^;  ra.  }at.  Cnlln. 

5.  Consider,  b.  Juoe  .,;  d.  June  1,.  xj^. 

6.  H,l],«m.b.  July,,  ,769. 

Esther  Judd  m.  Sam.  Peck,  i3o3. 
Harvej  Jndd  m.   Sarah  Castle,   Aug;.   S, 


1761, 


.  178^. 


6.  BeJiiiuorn.  r'jun"a,i7ss. 
Burrit  S.  Judd,  s.  of  Harvey  (and  Jemi- 
ma H1IH.-0X),  m.  Clarissa  Hull,  d.  of 
Omn,  Dec.  34,  1839. 


Chauncey  Judd,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Mabel 
Hotchkiss,  d.  of  CapL  Gideon,  Sept.  15, 
178s.   [He  d.  Feb.  24,  1823,  a.  58). 

Chauucey  Judd  m.  Esther  Todd,  Sept.  3, 
I  Sag. 

Clarinda  Judd: 


Harvey    Judd    [s.   o£    Stephen,    Jr.]    m. 

Sally  D.  BrowQ,  Dec.  31,  iSii. 
Harvey  Judd  m,  Jane  E.  Jones.  June  33, 

Henry  C.  Judd  [s.  of  Thomas]  m.  Har- 
riet Tompkins,  Nov,  3,  1S34. 

An  account  of  the  children  of  Hepzibata 
Judd,  the  dau.  of  Thomas  of  Simsbnry 
[and  Hepsibah  Williams.  Thomas  was 
gr.  son  of  Lieut.  Thomas]. 

Isaac  Judd,  s.  of  Joseph,  dec'd.  m.  Anna 
Williams,  d.  of  Daniel,  Jan.  23,  1751—2 
[andd.  June  9.  1S08]. 

1.  Roswcll.  b.  Nov.  6,  17 


j.<i 


n.  [Ed.P 


II)] 


Daniel  Judd  [s.  of  Thomas]  m.  Maria  E 

Jones.  Apr.  21,  1S51. 
Ebenezer  Judd,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,   m. 

Mary  Hawkins,  d.  of  Joseph,  dec'd,  of 

Derby,  Nov.  17,  1742- 

I.  Bnwslcr,  b.  Jul.  13,  1741-4. 

3.  Ebenenr.li.  UajriS,  i;47- 

4.  Kanh   b.  Jan,  a,  1748-9;  d.  May  7.  '7SS. 
J.  David,  b,  (>cl.  11,  t7si>. 

6.  Iknaiah.  b.  Srpi.  ij.  17)1, 

'■  H^l'ini.  lap.*  Apr!'"'  i7«..» 

Ebeaezer  Judd,  s.  of  Jos.,  dec'd,  m.  An- 
nah  Charles  of  New  Haven,  Feb.  7, 
17(35,  who  d.  Aug.  10,  1782,  and  her 
child  still-born. 


,  .js6. 


Isaac  Judd,  Jr,,  3,  of  Isaac,  vn.  Patience 
Hammond,  d.  of  Thomas,  July  21,  1775. 

John  Judd,  s.  of  Left  Thomas,  m.  Han- 
nah, d.  of  Serg.  Sam.  Hikcox,  Apr.  16, 
1696.    [He  d.  about  171S;  she.  1750]. 

1,  Hannah,  b.  Fcbrary  1,  1696  [bap.  in  WoodburT. 
Nov.9,,6<i,|,.ndd.Mch..,,,7i3. 
rjDhanna,  bap.  in  Wood.,  .May  >i.  1699). 
1.  John,  b.  in  Lhc  iS  day  ol  May,  i£|». 

3.  ^muall,  b.  in  Nov.  £,  1703. 

4.  Thonia^  b.  ia  Januan  to,  170;;  deled  In  UarcJi 

John  Judd,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  ra.  Marcy 
Brouason,  d.  of^Sam.,  dec'd,  of  Ken- 
sington, Jan  6,  1731-2,  who  d.  Nov.  13, 


FAMILY  RECOR 


JUDD.  JUDD. 

a.  Samuelf  b.  Dec.  26,  1734. 
3,  Noah,  b.  Oct.  13,  1737. 

John  Judd,  s.  of  Sam.,  m.  Elizabeth  Rich- 
ards, d.  of  Eben,  Apr.  lo,  1755. 

X.  Levi,  b.  Mch  16;  d.  July  29,  1756. 
a.  Levi,  b.  Oct.  22,  17S7. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  July  3;  d.  July  10,  1760. 

4.  John,  b.  June  27,  1761. 

5.  Chandler,  b.  Apr,  3,  1763. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Apr.  7,  1765. 

7.  Luanny,  b.  Mch.  19,  1769;  m.  B.  Tuttle, 

8.  Annah,  b.  Sept.  26,  1772;  m.  S.  Tuttle. 

9.  Esther,  b.  Feb.  xi,  1775. 

Joseph  Judd,  s.  of  Thomas  of  Hart. ,  dec'd, 
m.  Elizabeth  Royse  [b.  Aug.,  1709],  d. 
of  Robert  of  Wal.,  Nov.  10,  1726.  He 
d.  Feb.  16,  1750;  she.  May  14,  1770. 

X.  Isaac,  b.  Nov.  18,  1727  [in  West  Hartford]. 

2.  Phebe,  b.  May  10,  1729. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  7,  1732. 

4.  Lois,  b.  June  9,  1735;  d.  Mch.  4,  1750. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  Nov.  23,  1737. 

6.  Ruth,  b.  May  23,  X740;  ra.  Abr.  I.ewis. 

7.  Abigail,  b.  Jan.  23,  1742-3;  d.  Mch.  23,  X750. 

Julia  £.  Judd  m.  J.  P.  Merriman,  1840. 

Larmon  N.  Judd,  s.  of  Chauncey,  dec^d, 
m.  Olive  Bouton,  d.  of  John,  Oct.  29, 
1826. 

Laura  Judd  m.Luther  Gaylord,  1833. 

Laura  Judd  m.  Nelson  Hinman,  1837. 

Loveland  Judd,  b.  May  23,  1788,  s.  of 
Walter,  and  Rebecca  Brockett,  d.  of 
Zenas,  m.  Apr.  6,  1S12. 

X.  Harriet,  b.  Apr.  23,  1813. 

9.  Amanda,  b.  June  8;  d.  Oct.  x6,  18x5. 

3.  Franklin  Lauren,  b.  Aug.  8,  1816, 

4.  Abigail,  b.  Feb.  18.  X8T9;  d.  Oct.  8, 1838. 

5.  Amanda  sd,  b.  Men.  13,  X821. 

6.  Rebecca,  b.  Jan.  8,  1823. 

7.  l^va,  b.  Jan.  25,  1826. 

8.  Electa,  b.  June  7,  1829;  d.  Oct.  6,  X845. 

9.  Edson  L.,D.  Apr.  9,  X835. 

Lucian  Judd,  s.  of  Walter,  m.  Rachel 
Potter,  d.  of  Lemuel,  Oct.  23,  1820. 

Lucy  C.  Judd  m.  H.  E.  Mann,  1837. 

Lydia  Judd  m.  Nathan  Hubbard,  1735. 

Mabel  Judd  m.  Sam.  Kidney,  1S23. 

Michael  Judd  [s.  of  Noah]  ra.  Mary  Wel- 
ton  [d.  of  Peter],  Apr.  24,  1785.* 

X.  Rebecah,  b.  Mch.  28,  1786. 
2.  Michael  2d,  b.  Mch.  17,  1789. 

Minerva  Judd  m.  Lyman  Welton,  1822. 

Myron  £.  Judd  of  Winsted  m.  Jane  E. 
Chatfield,  Apr.  20,  1846. 

Nancy  Judd  m.  Marshall  Hoadley,  1821. 

Noah  Judd,  s.  of  Lieut.  John,  m.  Re- 
beckah  Prindle,  d.  of  Jon.,  July  10, 
1760.  [He  d.  Sept.  3,  1822;  she,  1838, 
a.  99]. 

X.  Jemima,  b,  Aug.  lo,  X76X  [m.  S.  Woodward]. 

2.  Harvey,  b.  May  5,  1763. 

3.  Michael,  b.  Feb.  19, 1765  (christened  at  St.  James 

Ch.,  Apr.  14,  1765.     The  first,  recorded). 

Rebeccah  F.  Judd  m.  J.  C.  Bailey,  1847, 


Judd. 

Reubei 

ben 
ton, 
Apr. 
a.  40. 

1.  EUe 

2.  Cha 

Rossel 

June 

1.  Estl 

2.  Lea> 

3.  Ann 

4.  Tam 

5.  Ch* 

6.  Rust 

7.  l^ia, 

8.  Laur 

9.  Asah 

Sally  Ji 
Sally  M 

Samuel 

beth  \ 

1 730- J 

1.  Han 

2.  Johi 

3.  Asa, 

4.  Estl 

Samuel 
Hop! 
tie  c 
Mch. 

X.  Me 
2.  Oli 

^, 

Ha 

Sar 


3- 
4- 
S- 
6, 


Samuc 

Bald 

1798 

X.  Eli 
2.  So 

1 

Clec 
Poll 
Apr 
she, 

Samu 

riet 
Jur 

1.  E 

2.  T 

Saral 

Stepl 
Cla 

X. 
2. 

Me 
m. 
W 

3- 

M; 
of 


mSTORT  OF  WATERS URT. 


Jm.D.  JUDD. 

Woomer,    d.    of    Doct.    Ebenezer    of 
Wood.,  Mch.  13,  1751. 

,.  D>nlel,  b.  J«.  y.  .75.-,;  d,  u  O-'b";  -ilh 
IheinaJl-poi.  Feb.  J.  t;76. 


JlDD.  Jmso,. 

Thomks  Judd,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m.  Ann 
Porter,  d.  of  Dan.,  dec'd.  May  11,  1732, 
(Hed.  i74o]and  Ann  m.  James  Nichols. 


Lydia  d.  June  2,  176.S,  and  Stephen  m 
his  fouitn  wife,  viz..  Else  Matthews 
Relick  of  Phiueas,  Nov.  10,  1768.  Hi 
d.  Oct.  12,  1777  [she,  Aug.  a,  1799]. 


He  d. 


ford,  Jan.  iS. 

iSso;  she,  Mch.  16,  184 

I.  ThoDiu.  b.  Oct.  18, 1776. 

3.  ElSlKiii,  b.  F«h?»!' jBj;  m.  J. 
d.,  Miry  Moiuoa.  m.  V.  Petti 
,.  Hepdbih,  b.  May  ij.  i;84. 

5.  j««,  b.  6«.  „,  1,3*. 

6.  NabbyCuniB,  b.  Apr.  to,  1791. 

7.  Sally  Ru»cl  b.  Nov.  I,  1793;  d. 


y-"  ^ 


Thomas  Judd,  s   of  Stepher 

Clark  from  Wallingford.  Oct.  34.  iSoa 
1.  Heory  Clark,  b.  Oti.  «,  .fe... 

J.  Lydia  Ann^  b.  June  a,  1S05.  ia  WaJ.,  m.  Onoa 

4.  Sally.  b.'Aug.'  1;.  iSd7,  in  N.  Haven. 

5.  Hepsa  EJii.,  b.  May  iS,  iSiu-.  n.  C.  Sanfod. 

6.  Samuel  Milci,  b.  May  I,  iSi  j. 

Timothyludd,  s.  of  Wm..  m.  Mary  Clark. 

d,  of  Tbomas,  Meh.  29,  1744.  She  d, 
Nov.  8,  1744,  and  Timothy  m.  Millicent 
Southriayd,  wid.  of  John.  Jr.,  Oct  9. 
1749. 


9.  Harvey,  b.  Aug.  ij,  .70*. 
IS.  Williun  RUB»I,  b.  May  g,  t8«. 

Left.  Thomas  Judd's  dau..  Sarah  [w.  of 
Step.  Hopkins,  Jr.,  of  Hart. J.  d.  May 
II.  1693.  a.  27.  His  wife  d.  May  22, 
1695,  a.  56-  Left.  Judd  d.  Jan.  10. 
1702-3,  a.  64. 

Deacon  Thomas  judd,  ye  soon  of  Will- 
iam of  farming  town  was  married  to 
Sarah  freeman,  ye  daughter  of  Stephen 
freeman  of  New  worck  in  east  larsy 
february  ye  9,  1687. 

May   1.  William,  b.  May  7.  i6Sc. 

t.  Manha,  b.  Sept.  11,  tb)t  [m.  T.  CcmlM). 

;      },  Kachell,  b.  Nov,  13,  i{94:  id.  Thomas  L'pson. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  13,  1697  |d.  Nov.  1.  17J6]. 

''"'"  6.  Ma™b."jim.V,"70';m'-Tm.''Hopiiini!'' 
Ijoj.    7.  Eliiabelb,  b.  fuly  13,  .704:  m.  J.  L'jHOn. 
1709.  S.  Ruth,  b.  May  9.  1707  Im.  lu.  Smiihl. 

Thomas  Jndd,  soon  of  left.  Thomas  was 
married  to  Sarah  Gaylard  [b,  in  Wind- 
sor. July  II,  1671I,  dau.  of  Joseph 
Senor,  ye  iitta  of  Aprill  i5SS;  married 
by  Mr.  Zac':  Walker.  [He  d.  in  West 
Hartford.  1724.] 


,:J" 


.69,-3   [-.  Jauie.  WiUiani.];    J,«ph 


4.  Ci 


Pa^enia,  b.  Aug.'"'.'?' 

Allyn  Soulhmayd,  b.  Tucwmv.  u>:i.  5.  it^. 


6.  Timothy,  b.  Friday,  Jan.  ji;  d.  May  A  17*3- 

Millicentd.  Mch.  26,  1763.  and  Timothy 

m.  Ann  Sedgwick  [wid.  of  Benj.]  Aug. 

S.  1764.     Timothy  m.   [his  fourth  wife, 

widow]  Mary  CIas.son,  July  4,  17S3.' 
Walter  Judd,  s.  of  Isaac,  ra.  Margaret 

Tirrell,  d.  of  Josiah,  May  30,  1782. 
William  Jndd,  s.  of  Deac,  Thoma.s,  and 

Mary  [Root,  d.  of  Stephen  of  Fann.. 

m.  Jan.  21,  1712-13.    She  d.  Dec  11. 

1751.    He  m.  wid.  Hope  Lee.  andd. 

Jan.  29,  1772]: 


S.  Ad'aS.  tb!iuKlVi7Ji'j.    '    ' 
J.  Ma>y,  b.  Vfov.  "f," '7"7'[m-  Thomu  Rkhird.]. 
9!  Sarab.l,^  No^»'";73V;^'b.  Richaidi, 
William  Judd,  s.  of  Capt.  Wm.,  ra.  Maiy 
Castle,  d.  o£  Isaac,  Nov.  2,  1752. 

1.  Demaa.  b.  May  !|6.  1753. 
a.  Balineryha  |Bal  marine  f).  b.  Sepl.  k,  17SS. 
3.  William,  b.  Apr.  1,  1758. 
l.  Mary  Rool,  b.  Dec,  91,  1750  [at.  D,  Ganuty]. 
r«a<:G«rnKy|. 


J,  Luce,  b.  July  a.  1764  [n.. 
't  6.  Sheldon, I1.  July  .8,  1767 


8,  Panhen*,  b.  Dm:.  3. 1771. 
William  R.  Judd,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  De< 
2,  1S21,  Anna  Browa,  d.  of  Curtis,  1 
Aug.  8,  1804. 


FAMILY  BECOR 


[Harlow  Judsoo, 

Sally  Prentiss, 
Sept.  8,  1825. 


Venn.  d.  of  Nathan  of  New 
ed  child  of  B.  Judsoiu  b.  Mch. 

b.   Dec.   iz.    1797,  a 
b.    Feb.    19,    1798, 


Hu'ttiB.  Judson  m.  Ashley  Scott,  1787. 
Rebeckah  Jndson  m.  Rev.  Abr.  Fowler, 

1795- 
Simeon  Judson:' 

Patly.  b.  al  Wood.,  Sepl.  i],  177S. 

Thomas  Juris  m,  Mary  Brown,  Mch.  12, 

1837. 
Joseph  Kaia  m.  Ann  W.  Bateman,  Sept 

3.  1838. 
William  Kaoah  m.  Bridget  Gold.  Aug. 

9.  1851- 
Peter  Kavenaugli  m.  Margaret  Cumford 

in  Ireland. 

I.  Allii  (Alice),  b.  Mch.,  1S33. 


J.  Mar,  Jane, 


,  '837. 
-.  1838. 


Martha  Keeler  m.  David  Scott,  1800. 
Anna  Kellogg  ra.  Jer.  GriUey.  1813. 
Edmund  Kellogg  of  Wolcott  m.   Betsey 

Pond,  Sept.  23,  1821. 
Martin  Kellogg:*  [^nd  Olive]; 


I.,  Vt 


.  ifM. 


.  1778- 


James  Kelly  m.  Alice  Egan,  Apr.  29, 

1851.' 
John   Kelly  m.   Julia    Butler  (?),  May  4, 

1851.' 
John  Kellj  m.  Aoastasia  Murphy,  Aug. 

18,  1B51." 
Patrick  Kelly  m.  Mary  Moore,  Apr.  29, 

1851.' 
Jonathan  Kelcy,  s.  of  Stephen  of  Weth. 


s.  Oa 
6.  Re 

[ax  A 

3.  Maj 

Samuel 

judd, 

Rach. 

1.  Davi 
Laura  I 
James  1 

I,  184 
Thomai 

ill' 

Timoth 

Sept. 
Daniell 

Have 


Herritt  \ 

a2  [If  : 
Charitj 

1788. 


..  Ch.    . 

Charlei 


Eliza 
Rebe 

Plair 


mSTORT  OF  WATKRBURT. 


K[N 


D.l  m.  Alathea  R.  Scovill  [d.  of  Will-  '■  J«i.h  b  Mt*.  5.  rm- 

iam  H,l,  Apr.  ag,  1851.  '■  "'^'  ''■  ■'''°"  '•  '"'■ 

John  Kingsbury  [b.  Dec.  30.  176.].  s.  of  ^"tJ-*"  ^"''  ^"^^^  [Hotchkiss]:' 

Nathl..  dec-d.   of  Norwich,  ra.  Marcia  ,.    EdwinSh..r™,.  i-p  ;»««,  ,8.,. 

Bronson.  d.  of  Stephen,  Nov.  6,  1794-  Merrit  L«ne  [s.  of  Levi]  ra.  Olive  Ives 

She  d.  Mch.  21,  i8i3-  ["■  °^  Talcoit  of  No.  Haven),  Jane  9. 

t.  Ch»rl«  D«inison,  b.  Nov.  7,  ,7,5,  '^45- 

1.  Julius JesM  Bronson,  b.  Oci.  iS,  1797.  Joseph  LftDg  from  Sandbointon,  N.  H,, 

5'^^s',^™''b'Nov°!l6'.«4^m  Wn,  Brown  ^"'^   E'i"  McLallan  from  Lancaster. 

John  S.  Kingsbury,  s.  of  John,  Esq.,  m.  "jj^f^r  b^D^  U.',8,7' 

Abby  H.  Haydeo.  d,  of  Daniel,  Jan.  ,:  cb.rWb.  r=b.6.  .Si^iiAog.a.  .a.6. 

25.  1827.  3.  Suan  M.,  b.  Api.  a,  t»is. 

r    l.™«  n    I,  V ,a„  4-  Eli"  J.,  b.  Sep.  n.  1817;  m.  I.  A.  Miitooa. 

i'  SytvU  E  ,'b  Stp?  7'  1814'  '*  *^*^""  "■■  •>■  ^'■T  3'.  '8*3- 

s.  J«m«  d',',  b.  Stpi".  7.  .gjiS;  d.  j»n.  19,  <3}t.  Robert  Lang  m.  Charlotte  E.  Sperry  fd. 

Abb's.\V«"*K"U'*,''"  of  Anson],  Feb.  9.  1851. 

l'.  JobD  s.  b.',  b.  July  37, 1345.  Abigkil  Landon  m.  Samne  Nichols,  ■  7S3. 

Ann  Elizft  Kinkham  m.  C.  M,  Johnson.  Abigail  Luigdon  m.  Andrew  Keale.  1S44. 

'^••7'  David  Landen,   s.  of  David  of  Goshen, 

Reuben  Kinney  of  N,  H,  d,  Aug.  i.  1S06,  m.  Abigail  Judd,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  Feb. 

a.  27.'  4,  ij&<). 

Sophia  Kinney  m.  Horace  Stevens,  1S36.  ■■  Fmny.  b.  juiy  i,  i;^,. 

WiUiam  H.  Kirk,  b.  in  Paisley,  Scot.  Martha  Langdon  m.  J.  P.  Benham.  1847. 

July  27.  iSiS,  and  Julia  M.  Frost,  d.  of  Ozios  Langdon  m.  Abigail  Hall,  Mav  13, 

S.  C.,  m.  Sept.   I,  1845-  1832. 

,.  William  Kerdinand,  b.  M.jr  ,9,  ,846.  g^^j,  j^  Langdon  m.  Jere.  Grilley.  1S44. 

Eliza  Kirtland  ra.  N.  B.  Piatt,  1840.  Suaanna    Laugton    m.    Eben.    Bronson, 

Betsey  Knowltoa  m.  Wm.  Johnson,  1S41.  ,-36. 

Sarah  Knowlton  m.  Jesse  Perkins,  and  WiUiam  Langdon  ra.  Mary  Thompson 

J.  Bronson.  in  England. 

Martin  Lacy  ni.  Margaret  White.  May  i-  There™,  b.  jnne  n,  iSij. 

,„    ,a^,       '                    f                                  '  J,  Elia.b.  Apr.,  .Sji;  m.  J.  Redfeni. 
Ijiry  Ann,  b.  Apr.  j,  iSjj. 
irah  Ann,  b.  Sept  93,  1838. 
'illiam  Henrv.  b.  May  ii,  1B40. 

.  1841.   (All  ibe 


13.  1820,  and  Mary  Ann  Kittridge  Tay- 
lor, b.  in  Groton,  Aug.  la,  1S21,  m. 
Mch.  24.  1S43. 


6.  Chula.  b.  Mch.  > 
J.  Elmore,  b.  Jan.  ., 

Thomas  Lannen  c 


,1845. 


Mary  Reiley,    May 


Michael  Lally  m.  Bridget  Horan,  A;>r.  8, 

1851.' 
PaUick  Lally  m.  Mary  Kelly.  Sept.  15, 

1851.* 
Jesse  Lambert  of  New  Haven  m.  Susan 

Judd,  Jan.  7.  ""     ' 

m,  L.  Higgins 


Rachel  Lattimore  m.  S.  Guernsey,  i 
Michael  Laughlin  of  Kings  Co..  Ire. 


r64. 


He  d.  and  Sus 


...  Jar. 


Althea  Lampson  ra.  James  Scovill,  178S. 
Edward  R.  Lampsoa  m.  Esther  Strong, 

June  30,  1851. 
Anson  E.  Lane  of  Wolcott  m.  Lydia  A. 

Edwin    S.    Lane    m.    Caroline    U\.rniT. 

Nov.  :;4.  L-3-,.     [lied.  i&4^]  and  Ciiro- 

Irnera,  Natb:in  Fc-nn,  1S44, 
Joel  Lane,   s    of    Daniel,   m.    Elizabeth 

Atkins,  d.  of  Jose,  h,  May  21.  1776- 


Mary  Down,  in  Ire.,  July,  1837. 
1.  Edward,  b.  Sepl.  9.  1838. 
1.  Kill,  b.  Sept.  q,  1844. 

J.  Ann,  b.  Mar  »,  'M^-    (All  boni  in  Amenea.) 
David  S.  Law   from  Windham,    Green 
Co..  N.   Y.  (or  Barnwell,  &    C).    m, 
Adelia  Porter,  d.  of  Dr.  Jesse,  July  9, 
1837. 
I.  Jesse  Leonadas,  b.  Oct.  6.  1840. 

Mary  Law  m.  J.  B.  Johnson,  1850. 
Charles  B.  Lawrence  m.  Lydia  A.  John 

George   Lawrence   ni.    Mary    Allen    of 

Nrtu.,  May  14,  iS4,S. 
William    C.    Lawrence   oi   Canaan    m 

Muria  T,  Odle  of  Litch.,  Apr,  i3.  iSj6. 
Lucinda  Leach  m.  George  Nichols.  1S46. 


FAMILY  RECOl 


Lkavenworth.  Leavenworth. 

Benjamin  F.  Leavenworth  [s.  of  Mark] 
m.  Jane  Bartholomew  [d.  of  Andrew] 
of  New  Haven,  Nov.  12,  1833. 

Hoardman  H.  Leavenworth,  b.  Jan.  16, 
X826,  s.  of  Russell  of  Woodbury,  and 
Antoinette  Merriam,  b.  in  1828,  d.  of 
Rufus  of  Prospect,  m.  Sept.  25,  1846. 

I.  Ellen  Antoinette,  b.  June  27,  1847, 

Hdward  B.  Leavenworth,  s.  of  Philo  of 
Roxbury,  m.  Candice  C.  Brown,  d.  of 
Abner  [Sept.  28,  1S40]. 

1.  Mary  Maria,  b.  July  26,  1846. 

Hlisha  Leavenworth   [s.   of    Dr.   Fred- 
enck]   m.    Cynthia  Fuller,    Sept.    17 
1845. 

Dr.  Frederick  Leavenworth,  s.  of  Jesse, 
Esq  of  Vermont,  m.  Fanny  Johnson, 
d.  of  Abner,  A.M.,  May  19,  1796. 

I.  Lucia,  b.Mch.  24,  1797;  m.  Asa  Train. 

3.  Lwa,  b.  Dec.  17,  1798;  m.  C.  D.  KinRsbury. 

3.  J  redenck  Augustus,  b.  June  13,  1801  [d.  1800] 

4.  Abner  Johnson,  b.  July  2,  1803  ^       ^^-'• 

6.  Ehsha,  b.  Mch.  15,  1814.] 

Hannah  Leavenworth  m.  David  Bald- 
wm,  1800. 

Jesse  Leavenworth  s.  of  Rev.  Mr.  Mark 
m.  Cathanne  Frisbie,  relict  of  Mr  Cul^ 
pepper,  late  of  Branford.  and  d.  o*f  Mr 
John  Conkling  of  South  Hampton  oii 
Long  Island.  July  i,  1761.  fehe  d. 
June  29,  1824,  a.  87.] 

1.  Melines  Conkling,  b.  May  4,  1762, 

2.  Ruth,  b.  Feb.  25,  1764. 


3.  Fredenck.  b.  Sept.  14,  1766. 
L4.  Catharine,  b.  1769. 

5.  Jesse,  b.  Aug.,  1771. 

6.  Mark,  b.  in  New  Haven,  Aug.  30,  1774.1 

Joseph  Leavenworth,  b.  Sept.  i6.  1773, 
s.  of  Samuel,  and  Tamar  Prichard  b 
Feb.  9,  1778,  d.  of  Benjamin,  m.  Jan* 
12,  1797.  »         J**  . 

\'  H^nnnh  \  ^°''-  '^i  '^98  [m.  Wm.  Lockwood]. 
a.  Hannah   b.  Sept    i6   1800;  m.  Lyman  Bradley 

5.  Rebecca,  b.  Feb.  9,  1811;  ni.  W.  R.  Hotchkils 
7.  i>arah  Ann,  b.  Aug.  9,  1817;  m.  J.  Wheeler. 

Joseph  S.  Leavenworth  m.  Minerva 
Newton,  Apr  29,  1824,  and  d.  Dec.  30. 
1841.  a.  39.    Mmerva  m.  J.  G.  Bronson. 

"•  ■'"cifild     '■'^*''  ^'  ^*^  ''7.  18^7;  m.  E.  B.  Fair- 
3.  Frederic  C,  b.  July  14,  1835. 

(*•  Baldwin  Genealogy  "  gives 

^Tu^v'J'.l^"^'   ^y  P^'!??'  '^30;    Frederick  Eli, 
July  21,  1833,  and  F.  C.  as  above.) 

Mr.  Mark  Leavenworth,  s.  of  Thomas 


Leav 

of  S 

Mr. 

I.J, 

Rui 

Sar 

Dei 

179: 
58tl: 

180J: 

a.  M 

3.  Jo 

4.  Sa 

5.  >v 

6.  Ni 

Mark 

naC 

I.  M: 

s.  All 

.1 

3.  Ml 


4.  Bet 

5.  H. 

7.  Ca: 

Anni 
san 

1844 

Noble 
May 
E.   J I 
wan 

Sally    : 

1 8 10. 

Sarah 

rous 

Willia  [ 

m.  I 

h  17 

z.  Sal   I 
a.  Wi    i 
o 

David    i 

John  ( 

Mary  ] 
Lucret  ! 
Charle 
Maria  . 
Mary  1  i 
Agnes  . 
t[Abne 

1741.   ! 
Azut 

1.  Asa    : 

Abrahi  1 


*  For  more  extended  notices  of  these  families  see  "  I  eavi-n 
+  The  record  says  "Jacob  and  Azubah,'";hicVfs'ma^nif:^^^^^ 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT. 


Judd,  d.  of  Joseph,  Nov.  9,  1767,  who 

,.  Bbodji,  b,  Jun^  6.  ,T>^  [A.  unm.  Mch.,  .8,i|. 

,.  An«l.b.July,E.  .77'. 

3.  Pl..^b..b.  July  ,,,.775. 

,.  Pnll*,b,  Aug.  30,1778. 

Ansel  Lewis,  s.  of  Abraham,  m.  Lylia 
Merrills,   d.   of   Caleb,   May   iS,    1.S02. 


i.  Phebc  b,  AuK.^. 

4.'  SiuDuel  b.  Sept.  t.  18.16.' 

;,  AnMl  SprnCET.  b.  (Xi.  «.  1^07. 

«.  Ruchcl,  b.  Scpi.  JO.  1B119;  m.  E.  A.  Smitb. 

7.  PoU*,  b.  Miv.5,  18"- 

t.  Culeli  Merrill,  b.  Ktb.  ij,  1813;  d.  Ocl..  1B18. 

Archibald  P.  Lewie  of  Antwerp,  N.  V., 

m.  Elizabeth  L.  Potter  [d.  of  Erastus]. 

Sept.  37,  iH46. 
Asahel  H.  Lewis  ra.  Harriet  N.  Horton. 

Nov.  3,  1S4'. 
Barnabas  Lewis,  s.  of  [Dr.]  Benjamin  of 

Wallingford,  m  Jerusha  Doolittle,  d.  of 

Ebenezer,  Mch,  10,  1752. 

9.  Bedom,  b.  Apr.  3n,  1754'- 

Jerusha  d.  May  24,  1754,  and  Barnabas 
m.  Deborah  llrooks,  d.  of  Thomas  of 
Wal.,  Dec.  15,  1756.  She  d.  Feb.  II, 
1759- 


).  Davie 


>.  Apr. : 


Bela  Lewis,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m.  Damaras 
Prindle.  d.  of  Jonathan— all  of  Wal- 
lingford — May  15,  1760.  He  d.  May 
15.  i7ti3;  and  May  15,  17(14,  Daniuras 
m.  Oliver  Terrill. 

[HU  hein  wert  Sarah,  Ab^ail,  who  chest   Dr. 

henj.  Ut.B  rw gtii^diJiii,  RuOl  and  N,^.m.]. 

[Caleb  Lewis,  s.  of  Caleb  of  Wal.,   m. 

Eunice  Welton,  d.  of  Stephen,  Jan.  10, 

1736.  J 

Caleb  Lues  [s.  of  Caleb]:' 

Abigail,   b»p,   June   ,,    .77,,  I -'™'P{' =„"i^,  ""5' 
^""■'"^  I  Abigail  L,;^.. 

[DaTid  Lewis  s.  of  John: 

"m.  Jan,'  1,  1800,  Amta  Wliilney'.  David,'  cLsl 


Tamer  Hale,  d,  1 
ven.  June  14,  1750. 

I,  l»bol,  b.  Srpt.  10.  I7i 
fc  Tamtr,  b.  D«-  rf.  .j; 
3.  Buiilla.  b,  Mch.  aS,  i 


Erastns  Lewis  and  Salome:' 

Edward.  Marj-,AdiJiM,Juli»n.ErMliHBogl 
Ge.irj;e  and   Ehra  Salome,  bap.  Oct.  5,  1817. 

[Ezra  Lewis  and  Anne  Hine.  b,  Nov. 
1769,  d.  of  Hezekiah,  m.  Nov.  II.  17' 


Henrietta  Lewis  m.  O.  M.  Stevens,  i?26. 

[Isaac  Booth  Lewis,  s.  of  Rev.  Thomas 
of  Deac.  Joseph,  ra.  Miliscent  Baldwin, 
d.  of  Jonathan,  May  aS.  1770. 

I.  Polly,  b.  Mai  93,  1771:  m.  Daniel  Clirk. 
».  Mibactnl.  b.  Oct.  a^,  1773;  m.  David  Tajlor, 

Isaac  Booth  d.  Apr.  jg,  1777],  and  Mil- 
iscent m.  Phineas  Porter. 
Ives  Lewis  m.  Almira  Hall,  Nov.  20, 

Jacob  Lewis  sti  Caleb  Lewis. 

John    Lewis,    s.    of    Joseph,    m.   Marv 

ilunii.  d.  of  Samuel  of  'Woodbury,  Dea 

4-  1734. 

I.  David    b    Apr,  ,,  .J36:  d.  Mch.  .j.  'lit- 

3.  sjirali,  h,  Apr.  i),  1743;  m.  Ebeneier  Hoodlcr. 

Mary  d.  Sept.  30,  1741),  and  John  m. 
Ame  Smith,  d.  of  Capt.  Samuel  of  New- 
Haven,  May  39,  1750.  [He  d.  Feb.  24. 
1799;  she,  Sept.  36,  1796,  a.  76.] 

4.  Anw.  b.  Mi)iu,  it;!  [m.  Silu  Consuat). 
;.  Samuel  Snilb,  b.  Scpl.  7,  17S3. 

6.  David,  b.  Apr.  11, 1756. 
John  Lenris,  s.  of  John,  m.  Sarah  Gor- 
den,  d.  of  James,  dec'd,  Nov.  17,  1763. 
Esq.  John  d.  Mch.  5,  iSij.' 


b.  Jan 


el  Chi  It 


3.  Leava,  b.  July  Ij,  .770:  m.  Dr.  Dan.  B«Her.  I 

4.  jDho,  b,  July  16,  1771  [m.  Eliubetb  Tbompiai. 
;.  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  iB,  177;;  a.  it.  Shenrocd. 

6.  Chauncey,  b.  Jan.  ,6,  1770;  m.  HaonaJl  TfmIL 

7.  Alanson,  b.  Dec.  B,  .78S;  i  1813,  unm,| 

Joseph  Levris  [s.  of  Joseph  of  Simsbory  .  | 

(who  ni.  Eliiabeth  Case.  Apr.  30, 1674).  j 

s.    of   John  and  Sarah  of   Sandwich. 
Eng.,  who  came  in  the  ship  Hercules, 
163s]  m,  Sarah  Andrus,  d.  of  Abraham, 
Sr.,  Apr.  7,  1703. 
I.  A  dau.,  b.  Aug.  ij;  d.  Sept.  7,  in*. 

3:  ^E^^A■'p''r'' " """ 


.  b.  Apr.  19,  ,708;  m.  Ohadiah  Waroe 

;.  Mary,  b.juae  10,  1711;  m.  Daniel  WiHiaiB 

1.  (Me.--1   ■fhomaa,  b.  Aug.  6,   .7,6  [m.  Jc 

Booth;  d.  ID  Meadbam,  K,  J.,  Aug.  "  ' 


iml. 


7.  Samoellb.  Julys,  ijiB. 

8.  Ahram,  b.  Feb.  1,  17J0  [d.  Dec,  1741. 
Joseph  Lewis  the  first  dyed  Nov.  »?- 
1749.  Sarah  ni.  Isaac  Bronson,  175a 
who  d.  1751,  and  she,  Mch.  6.  1773- 
(Her  death,  as  Sarah,  wife  of  Josroli 
Lewis,  is  recorded  with  this,  of  Josejwu} 


FAMILY  RECO. 


Lewis. 


Lewis. 


Joseph  Lewis,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Mary 
Slaughter,  d.  of  John  of  Simsbury, 
Nov.  12,  1727. 

X.  Elisha,  b.  Jan.  30,  1728-9. 

2.  Elemuel,  b.  Feb.  18,  1730-1. 

3.  Damaras,  b.  Aug.  22,  1734;  m.  Sam.  Scott. 

4.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  16,  1736. 
[5.  Abraham;  m.  Ruth  Judd. 

6.  Rodah,  bap.   Mch.  22,  1749;*  d.  May  a,  1767. 

Mary  d.  Apr.  4,  1738,  and  Joseph  m. 

Nov.,    1738,    Elizabeth  ,   who,    in 

1754,  was  wife  of  Roger  Terr  ill  of 
Woodbury.]  Joseph  Lewis  the  first 
d.  Oct.  22,  1749. 

Laura  Lewis  m.  Selden  Russell,  1821. 

Lawrence  Sterne  Lewis  m.  Nancy  L. 
Hull  fadopted  dau.  of  Selden  and  Sla 
tira  Woodruff],  Feb.  12,  1835. 

Lucian  F.  Lewis  of  Salem  m.  Susan 
Hitchcock  of  Southington,  Apr.  17, 
1837- 

[Mile  Lewis  m.  Susan  Beecher,  d.  of 
Daniel,  18 10. 

1.  Mary,  b.  1811;  m.  Abr.  T.  Beecher. 

2.  Thomas,  b. ;  m.  Eliza  Warner. 

3.  Samuel  J.,  b.  June  xi,  1817. 

4.  William  B.,  b.  Aug.  19.  18x9. 

5.  Caroline,  b.  Sept.  17,  1821;  m.  John  Merriraan. 

6.  (leorge,  b.  Sept.  x,  1823. 

7.  Jane  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  9,  1826.] 

Molly  Lewis  m.  Josiah  Terrill,  1791. 
Moses  Lewis  and  Betsey:' 

Charlotte  Ann,  bap.  Apr.  5,  1833. 

Rachel  Lewis  m.  £.  A.  Smith,  1835. 
Reuben  Lewis  d.  Mch.  29,  1836,  a  64. 
Samuel  Lewis  and  Reliance: 

6.  John,  b.  July  26,  1737. 

[Samuel  Lewis,  b.  in  Barnstable  in 
1700,  and  his  wife.  Reliance,  had  Su- 
sanna, Nehemiah,  Samuel,  Leonard, 
Solomon  and  Barnabas,  b.  in  Barn- 
stable, 1722  1734.] 

Samuel  Lewis,  s.  of  Deac.  Joseph,  m. 
Hannah  Rew,  d.  of  Hezekiah,  May  19, 

1743- 

1.  Abraham,  b.  Oct.  21,  X744;  d.  Dec.  6,  X749. 

2.  Amzi,  b.  Oct.  9,  1746. 

3.  Olive,  b.  Dec.  10,  1749. 

4.  Luce,  b.  Mch.  x8,  1753  [m.  Simeon  Porter]. 

5.  Mary,  b.  May  31,  X755;  d.  Sept.  26,  1759. 

6.  Prew,  b.  Jan.  16,  X759;  ra.  Nathan  Porter. 

Hannah  d.  July  i,  1759,  and  Deac. 
Samuel  m.  Eunice  Beebe,  d.  of  Eph- 
raim  of  Say  brook,  Nov.  7,  1763.  He  d. 
Apr.  II,  1788;  she.  May,  1809.* 

7.  Hester,  b.  May  3,  1765  [m.  Calvin  Spencerl. 

8.  Molle,  b.  Mch.  9, 1768  [m.  Culpepper  Hoadley.] 

9.  Samuel,  b.  June  4,  1770;  d.  Sept.  19,  1790  [while 

at  YaleJ . 

zo.  Asahel,  b.  Aug.  3,  X772  [m.  Sarah,  d.  of  Josiah 
Atkins  and  Sarah  Rogers] . 

XX.  Eunice,  b.  Dec.  12,  X775;  m.  Ebenezer  Fair- 
child,  and  Klias  Scott. 

Samuel  Lewis,  Jr.,  b.  June  i,  1748,*  m. 


Lewi 
Sat 

177 

X.  1 

2.  P 

3.  c 

Samt 

wii 

X.  T 

2.  Si 

3.  w 

Samu 

E.  ] 

E., 

[I.  C 

Sarat 

Saral] 

[Capt 
Hot 

X.  Ai 

2.    Al 

3.  Bi 

Am 
m.  1 
Mel 

[4.  A 

5.  J« 

6.  Jc 

Willi) 

I,  I 

I.  A 
a.  h 

Thon 

28, 

Harri 
Lydic 

Benja 

cen 
184 

Char 
Em 

184 

Anna 
Eben 

Josef 

Ly 

Josei 
Bel 

an( 

1.  i 

2.  F 

Susa 

Abig 

177 

Ann 

£dm 

No 

Sara 


I 


86  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


Lord.  Luddenton. 

[Daniel  Lord,  s.  of  Daniel  of  Lyme,  m. 
Hannah  Humiston,  d.  of  Caleb,  Dec. 
25,  1766.] 

Joseph  Lothrop,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Mary 
Hartshorn,  d.  of  Jonathan— all  of  Nor- 
wich—Apr. 17,  1735. 

1.  Jonathan  John  Scudder,  b.  May  25,  1736. 

2.  Barnabas,  b.  Apr.  19,  1738. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  June  9,  1740. 

4.  Zebediah,  b.  Dec.  32,  1742. 

5.  Mercy,  b.  May  5,  1745. 

Margaret  Lothrop  m.  Joseph  Seymour, 
1764. 

Betsey  Lounsbury  m.   M.    R.   Andrew, 

1833. 
George  Lounsbury  of  Bethany  m.  Laura 

Hotchkiss,  Nov.  28,  1844. 

Letson  Lounsbury  from  Bethany  m.  Su- 
san Lines  from  Oxford,  Apr.  15,  1830. 

I.  Mary,  b.  in  Humphreysville,  June  i,  1830. 
a.  Hannah  Maria,  b.  in  Bethany,  Aug.  13,  1833. 

3.  David  Andrew,  b.  in  Bethany,  Jan.  14,  1836. 

4.  Betsey  Jane,  b.  Oct.  z,  1840. 

Maria  Lounsbury  m.  N.  H.  Perkins, 
1839. 

Mary  Loundsbury  m.  J.  S.  Wilson,  1840. 

Mary  Lounsbury  m.  J.  W.  Sanford,  1849. 

Wales  B.  Lounsbury  m.  Mary  A.  Hotch- 
kiss, Mch.  22,  1846. 

Truman  Loveland  of  Watertown  m. 
Eliza  Hayden  [d.  of  David],  Sept.  7, 
1826. 

Mary  Lowere  m.  Samuel  Porter,  1830. 

Nathaniel  Lowree,  s.  of  Thomas,  m. 
Jerusha  Newell,  d.  of  James— all  of 
Farmington — July  3,  1760. 

z.  Chancey,  b.  Apr.  14,  1761. 

William  Davis  Luckn  (?)  of  Simsbury  m. 
Ann  Davis,  Jan.  28,  1844. 

Aaron  Luddinton,  s.  of  Moses,  dec*d,  m. 
Sarah  Ford,  relick  of  Cephas,  and  d.  of 
John  How,  Feb.  19,  1761. 

1.  Polly,  b.  Apr.  19,  1762. 
a.  Content,  b.  Apr.  9,  1769. 

Abraham  Ludington,  s.  of  William,  m. 
Catharine  El  well.  d.  of  Ebenezer,  July 
23,  1747,  and  d.  Oct.  20,  1758. 

I.  Ann,  b.  July  2,  1748. 

a.  Asa,  b.  Mch.  6,  1749-50. 

3.  Ruth,  b.  Feb.  2^,  1752. 

4.  Mehittable,  b.  Sept.  27,  1754;  d.  Oct.  17,  1756. 

5.  Mehittable,  b.  Nov,  33,  1657. 

Catharine  Luddenton  m.  Jon.  Preston, 
1761. 

David  Luddenton,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Lois 
Basset,  d.  of  Samuel,  dec'd,  of  New 
Haven,  Dec.  4,  1755. 

1.  Susannah,  b.  Jan.  22,  1757. 

2.  Lois,  b.  Nov.  II,  1759. 

3.  Jotham,  b.  July  11,  1763. 


Luddenton.  Mallerv. 

4.  Zera,  b.  Aug.  11,  1768. 

5.  Patience,  b.  Mch.  27,  1770. 

Elizabeth  Luddenton  m.  Wm.  Francher, 

1755. 
James  Ludington  and  Elinor: 

3.  Anna,  b.  Mch.  19,  X744. 

Joseph  Luddington,  s.  of  Matthew,  dec'd, 
m.  Mercy  Peck,  wid.  of  Jeremiah,  Jr., 
Mch.  3   1754. 

X.  Rachel,  b.  Feb.  8,  1759. 

Moses  Ludington  and  Sarah: 

5.  Mary  b.  Mav  27,  1744. 

6.  Jerusha,  b.  Oct.  4,  1746, 

7.  Sarah,  b.  June  27,  1748. 

8.  Moses,  b.  Aug.  4,  1750. 

9.  Lucy,  b.  Jan.  15,  1753. 

10.  Luman,  b.  Mch.  ao,  1757. 

11.  Eunice,  b.  Keb.  aa,  1759. 

Naomi  Ludington  m.  Josiah  Tuttle,  1740, 
and  Gideon  Allin,  1751, 

Rebecca  Ludington  m.  Eben.  Brown, 
1781. 

Ruth  Lutington  m.  Jon.  Cook,  1735. 

Sarah  Ludington: 

z.  Molle,  b.  Apr.  i6,  1766. 

Mary  £.  Lum  m.  Henry  Spencer,  1850. 

Michael  Lynch  m.  Mary  McGinnis  in 
New  Haven,  June,  1843. 

1.  Catharine,  b.  in  New  Haven,  May,  1844. 
a.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Mch.  a,  1846. 

Aaron  S.  Lyon  of  Reading  m.  Sarah  E. 
Austin,  Nov.  4,  1845. 

Mary  Lyon  m.  Samuel  Foot,  1750,  and 
Timotny  Judd,  1780. 

Charity  Mallery  m.  Jesse  Hotchkiss,  1759. 

Eunice  Mallory  m.  James  Brown,  17S3. 

Harriet  Mallory  m.  E.  Robinson,  1828. 

Hester  Mallery  m.  Joseph  Osbom,  1742. 

Ira  Mallery  of  Middlebury,  s.  of  David, 
m.  Susan  Morris,  d.  of  Shelden,  Nov. 
29,  1821. 

Irena  Mallery  m.  Jairus  Bronson,  1804. 

Jonah  Mallery  and  his  wife  [Hannah]: 

2.  Hannah,  b.  May  5,  1767. 

3.  Allen,  b,  Apr.  18,  1769  (Jonathan  A.?) 

4.  Abii^ail,  b.  Nov.  ao,  1771. 

5.  Jonah,  b.  Sept.  20,  1773. 

6.  Peter,  b.  Oct.  9,  1775. 

7.  Silva,  b.  Feb,  7,  1778. 
*  Lydia,  ) 

Levi,        y  Twins  /  b.  Aug.  20,  1781. 
Lucy,      ) 

Phebe  Mallery  m.  John  Thomas,  1750. 
Sarah  Mallary  m.  G.  C.  Scarritt,  1850. 
Thomas  Mallery: 

a.  David,  b.  Mch.  6,  1756. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  n,  1758. 

4.  Sarah,  b,  June  25,  176'). 

5.  Esther,  b.  Feb.  20,  17^2. 


•  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  recorder  used  an  exclamation  point  instead  of  numbers  in  this  entry. 


FAMILY  RECOl 


Mallery.  Martin. 

6.  Anne,  b.  Nov.  5,  1763. 

7.  Thomas,  b.  July  37,  1765. 

8.  Enos,  b.  May  24,  1768. 

Urane  Mallery  m.  Elemuel  Hoadley, 
1767. 

Douglass  F.  Maltby  of  North  Branford 
m.  Rebecca  T.  Bronson  [d.  of  Bennetl 
June  19,  1844.  She  d.  Aug.  8,  1845,  ana 
Douglass  m.  Mary  Ann  Somers  [d.  of 
James],  Feb.  26,  1851. 

Elizabeth  Maltby  m.  Bennet  Bronson, 
1820. 

Betsey  Manchester  m.  Daniel  Brown. 

Jerusha  Manchester  m.   Bela  Warner, 

1833. 

Naomi  Manchester  m.  R.  F.  Upson,  1842. 

Emery  Mann  m.  Lucinda  Atwater,  d.  of 
Bela,  Apr.  28,  1828. 

Hiram  E.  Mann  m.  Lucy  C.  [d.  of  Har- 
vey Judd  and  Jeraina  Hikcox],  May  18, 

1837. 

Elisha  D.  Mansfield  and  Caroline  B. 
Yale — both  of  South  Canaan — m.  Nov. 
28,  1850. 

George  Mansfield,  s.  of  Richard  of  Ox- 
ford, m.  Esther  Pardee,  d.  of  Rosvvell, 
Dec.  25,  1834. 

1.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Oct.  zi,  1838. 

2.  Hobart,  b.  May  23,  1841. 

Louisa  Mardenbrough  m.   E.  C.  Peck, 

1839. 
Edward  Marks  of  Wolcotville  m  Eliza 

Clark,  Oct.  lo,  1838. 

Zachariah  Marks  m.  Ame  Twichel,  d.  of 
Joseph,  Dec.  i,  1783.'* 

Sally  Markum  m.  Levi  Scott,  1804. 

Louisa  Marr  m.  Joshua  Swan,  1850. 

Alice  Marshall  m.  Wm.  Bassford,  1848. 

Lorinda  Marshall  m.  Nelson  Hall,  1828. 

Martin  Marshall  from  Eng..  and  Mary 
Fay  from  Ire.,  m.  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
Apr.,  1842. 

Alice,  b.  Dec.  14,  1842. 
Ann,  b.  June  27,  1844. 
Amelia,  b.  Nov.  23,  1846. 

Albert  H.  Martin,  b.  Oct.  14,  18 19,  s.  of 
Granville,  m.  Catharine  A.  Bronson, 
d.  of  Sherman,  Dec.  6,  1840. 

X.  Stella  Caroline,  b.  Sept.  29,  1841. 
2.  [Cornelia],  b.  May  14,  1845. 

Ann  Martin  m.  Harris  Hotchkiss,  1830. 

James  Martin,  b.  May.  1806,  and  Mary 
McDougal,  b.  Jan.,  1800,  m.  in  N.  H., 
Nov.  25,  1833. 

I.  Mary,  b.  1834. 

Juley  Martin  m.  F.  A.  Ellis,  1828. 
Julia  Martin  m.  Truman  Hopkins,  1824. 


Marti 

Patrii 

Mar 
Aug 

I.  Ai 
3.  Ca 

3.  Ja 

Philen 

Philip 
a  sq 

1.  Gr 

2.  Ar 

3.  La 

4.  Sil 

5.  Bri 

6.  Ha 

7.  Bet 

[Philif 

Jose 
eth: 
m.  ii 

Celia  J 

Anna  ] 

Benjai 

Jose 

1.  Gi( 

2.  Eu 

3.  Lu 

4.  Ab 

John  ] 

min 

I.  An 
3.  Sih 

3.  J<?' 

4.  Li( 

5.  Ro 

6.  Ra 

7.  At 

Josepl 

chil( 

I.  Nfi 

Josep] 

a.  7.1 

Phine 

Else 
1747 
m.  i 

1.  El 

2.  Tl 

3.  Ai 

4.  El 

Rebec 

1791 

Reub< 

ling 
off 

2.  Li 

3.  Si 

4.  Si 

Stept 
Ha 
linj 

1.  i 

2.  : 

3.  ' 


88  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT. 


Matthews. 


McCORMACK. 


4.  Stephen,  b.  Dec.  22,  1756;  d.  May  15,  1758. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  30,  1758. 

6.  Mildred,  b.  Aug.  2,  1760. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  x8,  1762;  d.  Mch.  x6,  1766. 

8.  Phinehas,  b.  Apr.  19,  1765. 

9.  Daniel,  b.  Jan.  7,  1767. 
10.  William,  b.  Dec.  35,  1768. 

XX.  Hannah,  b.  Dec.  13;  a.  Dec.  31,  1770. 
12.  Abiah,  b.  Dec.  xx,  X771;  m.  L.  Dayton? 

Thomas  Matthews'  children: 

Gideon,  his  son,  d.  May  29,  X740. 

Thomas  Matthews,  Esq.,  m.  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Scott,  Mch.  26,  1784'  [and  d.  Sept. 
6,  1798,  a.  98]. 

William  Matthews  m.  Charity  Kimber- 
ly.  May  11,  1788. 

Stephen,  b.  Jan.  x8,  X789.S 

Zeba  Matthews,  b.  in  Danbury,  Mch. 
16,  1785,  and  Johannah  Allyn,  b.  in 
Groton,  Aug.  19,  1787,  m.  Aug.  24, 
1806. 

X.  Thomas  B.,  b.  Nov.  x,  1807. 
a.  William  A.,  b.  Feb.  28,  X809;  d.  in  Wolcotville, 
Oct.  23,  x8«. 

3.  Lyman  B.,  b.  Nov.  5,  x8xo;  d.  in  Baltimore, 

Dec.  ao,  1834. 

4.  John  F.,  b.  Sept.  6,  18x2. 

5.  Abby  Ann,  b.  Sept.  xi,  X814. 

6.  Marv  Jane,  b.  Nov.  10,  x8i6;  m.  Dennis  Chat- 

field. 

7.  Rachel,  b.  Dec.  21,  x8i8;  d.  Mch.  6,  iBa^. 

8.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  xx,  X821;  m.  Silas  Tyrrell. 

9.  Hannah   Urena,  b.  July  29,   X823;  "».   Henry 

Churchill, 
xo.  Henry  A.,  b.  Nov.  24,  X825. 
XX.  George  W.,  b.  Sept.  xa,  1828;  d.  in  Plymouth, 

Mav  7,  1838. 
All  these  were  bom  in  Goshen. 

Zene  Matthews  m.  Reuben  Beebe. 

Amasa  Mattoon  m.  Elizabeth  Dayton, 
May  25,  1780.* 

X.  William,  b.  Dec.  23,  X780. 
a.  Curtiss,  b.  Mch.  9,  1782. 

3.  Betsey,  b.  June  18,  X783. 

4.  Bethel,  b.  Oct.  9,  1784. 

5.  David,  b.  May  29,  X787. 

Esther  Matoon  m.  John  Foot,  1764. 

Isaac  A.  Mattoon,  b.  in  New  Haven. 
Aug.  23,  1825,  m.  Eliza  Jane  Lang,  d. 
of  Joseph,  Dec.  24,  1846. 

Mrs.  Abigail  McAlpin,  d.  Dec.  6,  1845, 
a.  76.* 

Bernard  McAvoy  m.  Mary  Gaffney,  July 
10,  1851.* 

John  McAvoy  m.  Julia  Bergen,  June  19, 
i85i.« 

Terrence  McCaffrey  m.  Mrs.  Cornelius 
Donnelly,  May,  1841. 

Patrick  Mackan  (McCann)  of  Belvill, 
County  of  Westmaid,  Ireland,  m.  Lucy 
Low,  Jan.,  1840. 

X.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  29,  1842. 
2.  Eliza  Jane,  b.  Jan.  7,  X845. 

Michael  McCormack  m.  Mary  Finnegan, 
J  uly  31,  1849. 


McDermot.  Merriman. 

James  McDermot  of  Plymouth  m.  Mar- 
garet McGuire  of  Watertow^n,  Jan.  7, 

1848. 

William  McDermott  m.  Bridget  Reed, 
Nov.  I,  1845. 

X.  Ellen,  b.  Feb.  28,  X847. 

James  McDonald  m.  Julia  Karen,  1843. 

X.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Mch.  29,  X844. 

2.  Ellen,  b.  Sept.  29,  X845. 

3.  Martin,  b.  May  27,  X847. 

John  W.  [Mc] Donald  m.  Mary  Sheeran, 
Mch.  4,  1851. 

Patrick  McDonnald  m.  iVi^^  Loughman, 
Sept.  10,  1848. 

Sally  McDonald  m.  Harvey  Hill,  1809. 

Ann  McDougall  m.  James  Walker,  1843. 

James  McEwen  of  Oxford  m.  Sally 
Delia  Candee  of  Salem,  Apr.  3,  1831. 

Samuel  H.  McKee  m.  Celista  Prichard, 
d.  of  John,  June  12,  1828. 

William  McKey,  s.  of  William,  m.  Anne 
Baldwin,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Milford,  May 
3.  1797. 

X.  Harriet,  b.  Feb.  x.  X798. 

John  Marcloud  (McLaud?)  was  mar.  to 
Mary  Brown,  Dec.  21,  1780,  by  Rev. 
Mark  Leavenworth. 

Agnes  McLean  m.  Andrew  Walker. 

Dolly  McLellan  m.  Edward  B.  Cook, 
1831. 

Eliza  McLallan  m.  Joseph  Lang,  1819. 

Patrick  McMahon  m.  Bridget  McGinn, 
Aug.  9,  i85i.« 

Bernard  McManey  m.  Mary  McNally  in 
Hartford,  May,  1845. 

X.  John,  b.  Apr.  xo,  X846. 

Alexander  McNeal  m.  Sarah  M.  North- 
rop, Apr.  13, 1845. 

William  McNeil  from  Scotland  m.  Mary- 
ette  Neville  from  Ireland,  in  New 
York,  Feb.  7,  1840. 

X.  John  Alexander,  b.  Sept.  25,  1841 ;  d.  X844. 

2.  William  Timothy,  b.  Sept.  7,  X843. 

3.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  2,  X846. 

Merlin  Mead  of  South  Salem,  N.  Y.,  m. 
Polly  Clark,  d.  of  Eli,  Nov.  14,  1820. 

Dr.  John  D.  Meres  m.  Susan  Bateman — 
both  of  Naugatuck — Aug.  17,  1835. 

Laura  Mecan  m.  Samuel  Sperry,  1832. 

Rachel  Meky  m.  Isaac  Camp,  1770. 

Abigail  Merriam  m.  J.  H.  Sandland, 
1835.^ 

Antoinette  Merriam  m.  B.  H.  Leaven- 
worth, 1S46. 

Charles  J.  Merriam  m.  Lydia  A.  Curtiss 
of  Litchfield,  Mch.  30,  1846. 


FAMILY  RECOl 


Merriam.  Merrill. 

Christopher  Merriam  m.  Rebecah  Gam- 
sey,  Mch.  23,  1778. 

I.  Allen,  b.  July  i,  1779.1 
Rebecca,  b.  Apr.  8,  1787. 

Elizabeth  Merriam  m.  S.  H.  Welton, 
1844. 

[Esther  Merriam  m.  Dr.  Benj.  Hull,  Joth- 
am  Curtiss,  1770,  Nathaniel  Barnes, 
1798,  and  Elisha  Wilcox,  1699.  Shed, 
a  wid*  in  1829,  a.  75.] 

Isaac  Merriam,  s.  of  Joseph  of  Walling- 
ford,  m.  Sarah  Scovill,  d.  of  Edward, 
Feb.  21,  1760. 

I.  Joseph  ScovilM).  May  5,  1761. 
a    James,  b.  Aug.  35,  1763. 

3.  David,  b.  Aug.  30,  1766;  d.  Tan.  3,  1774. 

4.  Elijah,  b.  July  13,  1769;  d,  Jan.  8,  1774. 

5.  Isaac,  b.  Feb.  29,  1772. 

6.  David,  b.  Tune  8,  1774. 

7.  Elijah,  b.  Mch.  3,  1777. 

James  Merriam  m.  Olive  Guernsey,  May 
18,  I786.» 

John  Merriam  (Merriman  on  prob.  rec), 
m.  Hannah  Fenn  [d.  of  Thomas],  July 
12,  1764. 

I.  Asal,  b.  June  26;  d.  Oct.  13,  1765. 

Hannah, 

Rachel, ;  d.  Aug.  25,  1771. 

Joseph  S.  Merriam  m.  Susanna  Kimber- 
ly,  Feb.  6,  1783. 

Edward  Scovill,  b.  July  16,  1784. 
Sally,  b.  Oct.  4,  1785. 
Harvey,  b.  Sept.  14,  1785  (?). 
Anna,  b.  Aug.  17,  1788. 

Levi  Merriam,  b.  June  28,  1787.* 
Lucy  Merriam  m.  Caleb  Barnes,  Jr.,  1776. 
Lucy  Merriam  m.  Jos.  Pennell,  1846. 
Martha  B.  Merriam  m.  G.  J.  Frost,  1833. 
Rufus  Merriam's  wife  d.  Feb.  6,  1809.* 
Rufus  Merriam  and  Sarah:* 

Rufus,  Lucius,  Lucy,  Rebecca,  b.  July  24,  18x1; 
m.  Joseph  Moss,  1835,  and  Saran,  bap.  Aug., 

1821. 

Sarah  S.  Merriam  m.  Pitkin  Brouson, 
1839. 

Shelden  Merriam  of  Watertown  m.  Nan- 
cy Bronson,  d.  of  Philenor,  Dec.  2, 1821. 

Thomas  Merriam,  s.  of  William,  m.  Ann 
Moss,  d.  of  John— all  of  Wallingford — 
Jan.  22,  1756. 

1.  Joel,  b.  Feb.  xo,  1759. 

2.  Ruth,  b.  luly  19,  1762. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  Apr.  17,  1766. 

4.  Ame,  b.  June  6,  1768. 

5.  Reuben,  b.  Oct.  19,  1771.8 

6.  Asahel,  b.  Nov.  25,  1773. 

7.  Eliiabeth,  b.  Mch.  2,  1778,     • 

8.  Levi  Moses,  b.  May  9,  1782. 

Ann  d.  Jan.  15,  1782,  and  Thomas  m. 
Sarah  Parker,  July  10,  1783. 

See  also  Merriman. 

Caleb  Merrill,  s.  of  Nathl.,  m.  Susanna 


Merrj 

Toij 
[He 
i8i^ 

2. 

3- 

4. 

5. 
6. 

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9.  Q 

zo.  L] 

[Ebeiu 
of  C 
1819. 

Elijah 
Ann^ 
Woo 

2!  h1 

3.  Sa 

4.  At 

[5.  N 
6.  CI 
[7.  H 

8.  G< 

9.  Fr 
xo.  Jo 
IX.  El 

Elijah 
m.  C 

1784. 

I.    M€ 

2.  Ar 

3.  An  ; 
[Es 

Ephra 

sha   [ 

1753 

1.  Ell  : 

2.  Je;  I 

3.  Nc  I 

4.  Ep  I 

5.  Sa  I 

6.  Aa  < 

Garry  I 

2,  I^  ! 

Harri<  I 

Ichab<  I 

by., 
and  : 
1842 

I.  Pi   i 

2.    El     i 

3.  Sa   i 

Julia :  I 
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Mary  \ 

Nathi  : 
Joh 

a.  . 

Oct    : 


X.  S^ 


i    I 


10 


90  Ap 


HISTOBT  Ot    WATERS UBT. 


Mkrils. 


Merwin. 


2.  Ephraim,  b.  Oct.  9,  1733. 

3.  Caleb,  b.  Oct.  26,  1735. 

4.  David,  b.  Mch.  30,  1738. 

5.  Daniel,  b.  last  of  Feb.,  1741  a. 

6.  John,  b.  Aug.  14,  1744. 

Nathaniel  Merrils,  s.  of  Caleb,  m.  Onner 
(Honor)  Dowd,  d.  of  Jacob,  Oct.  4, 
1781. 

«.  Cloe  b.  Jan.  25,  1782;  ra.  Obadiah  Richards. 

2.  Caleb,  b.  Nov.  7,  1783. 

3.  Chester,  b.  Mch.  15,  1786. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  29 ;  d.  Dec.  i,  1788. 

5.  Scth,  b.  Dec.  25,  1789  [m.  Mabel  Sanfordl. 
[6.  Jared.     7.  Erastus.    8.  J.  Mark. 

Honor  d.  June,  1796,  and  Nathaniel  m. 
Mary  Pardee,  b.  Aug.  lo,  1795 

9.  Ebenezer  Pardee,  b.  Oct.  6,  1797. 
10.  John,  b.  Apr.  2a,  1800.J 

Mrs.  Merrill  d.  Apr.  i,  1842,  a.  87.* 

Amanda  Merriman  m.  Sam.  Chatfield, 
1838. 

Augustine  Merriman  m.  Wm.  Butler, 
1840. 

Caleb  Merriman  and  Margret: 

3.  Rebcckah,  b.  Nov.  7,  1750. 

4.  Jesse,  b.  Dec.  25,  1752. 

5.  Caleb,  b.  Apr.  4,  1754. 

Charles  Merriman  [s.  of  Amasa]  m. 
Anna  Punderson  [d.  of  David  and 
ThankfulJ,  May  16,  1784. 

1.  Betsey,  b.  Sept.  16,  1786. 

2.  William  Henry,  b.  Sept.  27,  1788.3 

Charles  Buckingham  Merriman,  b.  in 
Watertown,  Oct.  9,  1809,  s.  of  William 
H.,  and  Mary  Margaret  Field,  d.  of 
Dr.  Edward,  were  m.  June  30,  1841,  by 
Rev.  David  Root.  ' 

X.  Charlotte  Buckingham,  b.  Auj;.  21,  1843. 
.    2.  Sarah  Morton,  b.  Aug.  7,  1845. 

Joel  Merriman:* 

Joel  Sanford,  bap.  June  3,  1804. 
Caroline,  bap.  Oct.  6,  1805. 

John  Merriman  of  New  Haven  ra.  Caro- 
line Lewis  [d.  of  Milo],  Feb.  11,  1844. 

Joseph  P.  Merriman  m.  Julia  E.  Judd  [d. 
of  Hawkins],  Aug.  23,  1840. 

Lamont  Merriman  m.  Reuben  Benham, 

1775. 
Phebe  Merriman  m.  Asher  Castle,  1784.* 

Phebe  Merriman  m.  Asahel  Hotchkiss, 
1794. 

Rebeckah  Merriman  m.  Henry  Terrel, 
1828,  and  Henry  Chatfield,  1^36. 

Sarah  Merriman  m.  Simeon  Peck,  1781. 
Thankful    Merriman    m.    Phin.    Royce, 

1743. 
Jane  Merter(?)  m.  J.  C.  Hall,  1848. 

Eunice  Merwin  m.  Benj.  Hoadley,  1796. 
Joseph  Merwin:^ 

Alvira,  b.  Jan.  4,  1786. 
Willard,  b.  May  6,  1788. 


Milan.  Minor. 

Richard  Milan  m.  Julia  Delany,  July  14, 
1851.8 

Eunice  Miles  ra.  Stephen  Culver. 

Hannah  Miles  m.  Joseph  Beach,  1782. 

Mary  Miles  m.  Edwin  Sperry,  1831. 

MoUe  Miles  m.  Sam.  Hopkins,  1771. 

Stephen  Miles  and  Rebecca  [Umber- 
ville  ?] : 

1.  Abigail,  b.  May  5,  1755. 

2.  John,  b.  Mch.  i,  1757. 

3.  Timon,  b.  Apr.  22,  1759. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  22,  1761. 

5.  Isaac,  b.  July  11,  1763. 

Timon  Miles,  s.  of  Stefhen,  m.  Mercy 
Judd,  d.  of  Capt.  Sam.,  Apr.  5,  1785, 
and  d.  May  21,  1833. 

1.  Phila,  b.  Nov.  14,  1791  [m.  Anson  Stocking]. 

2.  Caroline,  b.  July  10,  1805;  m. ^Leonard  Warner. 

Zalmon  Millard  of  Cornwall  m.  Elizabeth 
Terrel,  d.  of  Josiah  of  Salem,  Nov.  6, 
1826. 

Constant  Miller  m.  Abigail  Ailing,  Dec. 
25.  1776. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  1777. 

2.  David,  b.  1779. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  1781. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  1783. 

5.  Samuel,  b.  1785. 

Mary  Miller  ra.  Dr.  Remus  Fowler,  1827. 

Smith  Miller  of  Amisvill  (?)  Onida  Co. ,  N. 
Y.,  m.  Lydia  Bracket,  Oct.  5,  1825. 

Elizabeth    Mills    m.    John    Fairclough, 

1817. 

Mary  Millward  m.  J.  P.  Jeffrey,  1838. 

Orlando  W.  Minard,  b.  in  Colchester, 
Nov.  12,  1816,  s.  of  Alexander,  m.  Har- 
riet Stetson,  d.  of  Stephen  of  Preston, 
May  3,  1837. 

1.  Orlando,  b.  June  15,  1838;  d.  Oct.,  1839. 

2.  Charles,  b.  Feb.  15,  1840. 

Harriet  d.  Jan.  21,  1842,  a.  25;  and  Or- 
lando m.  Caroline  E.  Mix,  d.  of  Ran- 
som, Aug.  20,  1843. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  May  15,  1844. 

4.  Ellen,  b.  Nov.  14,  1846. 

David  A.  Minor  m.  Elizabeth  V.  Hull, 
July  25,  1830. 

Harriet  Minor  m.  G.  W.  Welton,  1837. 

Henry  Minor  of  Wolcott  m.  Sarah  Jane 
Clark,  June  21,  1837. 

Solomon  B.  Minor,  b.  at  Woodbury,  Jan. 
20,  1785,  s.  of  Solomon  and  Mary,  was 
mar.  to  Cynthia  A.  Carrington,  b.  at 
Plymouth,  Sept.  2,  1817,  d.  of  Solomon 
and  Cynthia,  in  Wat.,  by  Rev.  H,  B. 
Elliot,  Feb.  18,  1849. 

1.  Solomon  Carrington,  b.  June  4,  i8jo. 

2.  AnKtline  Mary,  b.  Dec.  23,  185 1;  d.  Apr.,  1855. 

3.  Julia  Antoinette,  b.  June  i,  1854. 


FAMILY  RECOM 


Minor.  Mix. 

4.  Emily  Terry,  b.  June  ig,  1857. 

5.  Mary  Root,  b.  Feb.  11,  1859.* 

Hdward  Mitchell  m.  Ellen  Reenan — both 
of  Plymouth — Aufr.  22,  1849. 

George  W.  Mitchell  m.  Sarah  Jane  Web- 
ster of  Harwinton,  Jan.  3,  1849. 

John  Mitchel  of  New  Haven,  s.  of  Pat- 
rick from  Ireland,  m.  Abigail  Frost,  d. 
of  Rev.  Jesse,  Apr.  7,  1833. 

T.  Lucy  Adeline,  b.  Feb.  14,  1834. 

2.  Marm  Antoinette,  b.  Sept.  17,  1836. 

3.  George  William,  b.  Feb.  x8,  1842. 

John  S.  Mitchell,  Jr.  of  New  York,  m. 
Mary  L.  Beiflklict,  d.  of  Aaron,  Jan.  3, 

1838. 

I.  Charles  Benedict,  b.  Sept.  16,  1840. 

Nancy  Mitchell  m.  \V.  Fuller,  1844. 
Thomas  Mitchell,  b.  Feb.  8,  1779.^ 

Eldad  Mix,  s.  of  Josiah  of  Wallingford. 
m.  Lidea  Beach,  d.  of  Joseph,  June  25, 
1756. 

1.  Titus,  b.  Feb.  14,  1757,  and  killed  in  the  Battle 

of  Harlem,  Sept.  18,  1776. 

2.  Amos,  b.  Feb.  2,  1759. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  17,  1761. 
Levi,  b.  Sept.  15,  1763. 
Sibel.  b.  Apr.  13,  1767;  m.  Gershom  Olds. 
Urij  b.  July  23,  1769. 
Philo,  b.  Oct.  28,  1773. 
Lydia,  b.  Apr.  13,  1777. 

9.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  2,  1782. 

John  Mix  [s.  of  Philo],  and  Anna  Lines 
of  Oxford,  b.  Feb.  21, 1804,  m.  at  Hum- 
phreysville,  Apr.  15, 1834,  by  Rev.  Sam- 
uel R.  Hikcox. 

X.  David,  b.  Feb.  16,  1835;  bap.  by  Rev.  S.  Wash- 
burn. 

2.  Philo,  b.  Mch.  ao,  1838;  bap.  by  Rev.  Fitch 
Read. 

Levi  Mix,  s.  of  Eldad,  m.  Eunice  An- 
drews, d  of  Asael  of  Cheshire,  Sept.  7, 

1789. 

Philo  Mix,  s.  of  Eldad,  m.  Anna  Hall, 
d.  of  Prindle  of  Wallingford,  Nov.  30, 
1797. 

■ 

1.  Seth,  b.  May  14,  1799. 

2.  John,  b.  Nov.  24,  1800. 

3.  David,  b.  Aufif.  z8,  1802. 

4.  Amos,  b.  Mch.  15,  1804. 

5.  Anna,  b.  May  7,  z8o6;  m.  Larmon  Johnson. 

6.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  zo,  1809. 

7.  Delight,  b.  Sept.  28,  1810;  m.  Sam.  Rose. 

Ransom  Mix,  b.  Mch.  28,  1792,  s.  of  Uri 
of  North  Haven,  m.  Sept.  15,  1819, 
Aurelia  Bronson,  b.  June  13,  1799,  d.  of 
Philenor. 

1.  Caroline  Eliz.,  b.  Apr.  22,  1821;  m.  O.  .Minard. 

2.  Emma  Almira,  b.  Feb.  10,  1828. 

3.  Harriet  A.,  b.  1833;  d.  a.  10  months. 

Samuel  Mix,  s.  of  Eldad,  m.  Mary  Hotch- 
kiss,  d.  of  Henry  of  Cheshire,  Dec,  13, 

1781.  . 


Mix. 

I.  Al 

3^  T? 

4.  CI 

5.  Mi 

6.  SftI 

7.  Ea 

Franci 

1849. 

Hanni 

Betsey 

Emma 

Andre 
New 

I.  Jot 

Henry 
18,  li 

James 

1850. 

Williai 

both 

I.  Cat 
a.  Mai 

Jennet 

1837. 

Asahel 
Beet 

I.  Asc 

a.  Ira 

3.  Syl 

4.  Ma 

5.  Mil 

6.  Eli 

Isaac 

1786. 

1.  Asi 

2.  Da 

3-  Sal 
4.  Fai 

Mary 

Natha 

m.  ^ 

Roset 

Sophii 

Eug^ec 
Sept 

Amos 

kins 

1.  El 

2.  Mj 

(M 

i 


El 
El 
El 


3 
4 
5 

Mar 
Am' 
Isaa 


*  This  is  the  only  family  of  children  recorded  from  1847 


93  AP 


BISTORT  OF  WATERS UB7. 


MoRRiss.  Moss. 

John  N.  Morriss,  s.  of  Sheldon,  m.  Polly 
Chatfield,  d.  of  Daniel,  Feb.  i6,  1825. 

I.  Leonard  A.,  b.  Feb.  16,  i8a6. 
3.  William  H.,  b.  Feb.  32,  1828. 

3.  George  M.,  b.  Oct.  7,  1833. 

4.  Catharine  E.,  b.  Nov.  i,  1837. 

Julius  Morris,  b.  May  i8,  1796,  s.  of 
David,  m.  Hannah  Scovill,  d.  of  Oba- 
diah,  Apr.  15,  18 18. 

I.  Fanny  Jennets  b.  Oct.  23,  i8ao;  d.  1835. 

a.   Tulia  Ann,  b.  Sept.  14,  1823. 

3.  William  Augiistus,  b.  Apr.  5,  1825. 

Leonard  A.  Morris  m.  Priscilla  H.  Sand- 
land,  May  9,  1847. 

[Major  Morris  of  Woodbridge  m.  Eliza- 
beth, d.  of  John  and  Sarah  (Sanford) 
Hine  of  Milford.     He  d.  Sept.  5,  1811.] 

Miles  Morri^  [b.  Apr.  27,  1785,  twin  to 
Newton],  s.  of  Major,  m.  Caty  Scott, 
d.  of  Ashley,  Escj.,  in  1815.  She  d. 
July,  1837,  and  Miles  m.  Mary,  wid.  of 
Toseph  Riggs,  and  d.  of  Arah  Cady  of 
Middlebury,  Aug..  1845. 

I.  Miles,  b.  Oct.  30,  1846. 

Miles  Morris  of  Canaan  m.  Jane  E.  For- 
rest, Jan.  27,  1847. 

[Newton  Morris,  b.  Apr.  27,  1785,  m. 
Apr.  27,  1809,  Molly  Hotchkiss,  b.  Feb. 
I,  1789,  d.  of  Thelus.] 

Merit  Noyes,  Henry  Newton  (b.  x8io),  Isaac 
Amos  (b.  lUzi),  and  Sarah  Ann  (b.  18x3),  bap. 
May  26,  1817.1 

Edwin,  bap.  May  10,  x8i8. 

Eunice  Atwacer,  bap.  July  39,  iSsi. 

Harriet,  bap.  July  so,  1833. 

Jane  Elizabeth,  bap.  May  x,  1831. 

Samuel  W.  Morris,  b.  Jan.  29,  1808,  and 
Eunice  Upson,  b.  Oct.  17,  1810,  d.  of 
Obed,  m.  Oct.  12,  1831. 

X.  Marietta,  b.  Jan.  35,  1833. 
3.  Cornelia,  b.  Feb.  17,  1838. 
3.  Herbert,  b,  Nov.  37,  1845. 

Sheldon  Morris:^ 

Polly  Ann,  bap.  July  8,  1828. 
Susan;  m.  Ira  Mallery,  1821. 

Theodore  Morris  m.  Charlotte  Yale,  Feb. 
27,  1848. 

William  A.  Morris  m.  Mary  Ann  Car- 
bury,  May  30,  1848. 

Richard  Morrow  m.  Lucy  Jane  Smith, 
June  3,  1839. 

Betsey  Moses  m.  Mills  B.  Ford,  1840. 

Deborah  Moses  m.  Joseph  Weed,  1740. 

Salina  Moses  m.  F.  A.  Bailey,  1835. 

Sarah  Moses  m.  Silas  Johnson,  1733. 

Ann  Moshier  m.  John  Bagshaw,  1838. 

Ann  Moss  m.  Thomas  Merriam,  1756. 

Ann  Moss  m.  Enos  A.  Pierpont,  1837. 

Charles  E.  Moss  from  Litchfield  m. 
Marcia  Castle  from  Harwinton,  Dec. 
35,  1842, 


Moss.  MUNSON. 

1.  Charles  Eugene,  b.  Nov.  X7,  X843. 

2.  Marcia  Eugene,  b.  July  23,  1845. 

Emeline  Moss  m.  F.  H.  Pratt,  1832. 

Harmon  C.  Moss  m.  Roxanna  Morse  of 
Litchfield,  Oct.  18,  1840. 

Joseph  Moss  and  Esther: 

I.  Esther,       ) 

and         vb.  June  xg,  1768. 

3.  Elixabeth, ) 

3.  Jared,  b.  Jan.  xo,  X771. 

Joseph  Moss,  b.  Aug.  25,  1807,  s.  of 
Moses  of  Cheshire,  m.  Rebecca  Mer- 
riam, d.  of  Rufus  of  Prospect,  June  4, 
1835.  ^ 

X.  Levi  Joseph,  b,  Aug.  2x,  x%§S\  d.  1839. 
3.  Rufus  Franklin,  b.  Jan.  17,  1838;  d.  1839. 

3.  Levi,  b.  June  22,  1840. 

4.  Franklin,  b.  June  11,  1843. 

Joshua  Moss  m.  Abigail  Hull  of  Wal- 
lingford,  Feb.  8,  1764. 

X.  Abigail  Russell,  b.  Dec.  30,  1764. 

Lent  Moss  and  Charlotte:^ 

Lydia,   Lent,   Luther,   Levi,   Harry,  and  Amy 
Ann,  bap.  June  24,  X821. 

Martha  Moss  m.  Eben.  Foot,  1752. 

Ruth  Moss  m.  Eben.  El  well,  1741. 

Thankful  Moss  m.  Abel  Doolittlc.  1744. 

William  Moss  of  Litchfield  m.  Mariette 
Walden  of  Norwich,  Oct.  3,  1847. 

Thomas  Mullig:an  m.  in  Ireland  Martha 
Mulligan,  b.  in  May,  1823. 

X.  Semira,  b.  Jan.  7,  X847. 

John  Mullings  from  England  ra.  Eliza- 
beth Brooks  from  Bethany,  Mch.  30, 
1844. 

X.  Georgiana  Elixabeth,  b.  Apr.  10,  1845. 
2.  [Mary  CllaJ,  b.  Apr.  8,  X847. 

John  Mulvahill  m.  Annaugh  Mackan 
(Anna  McCan?)  in  Ire.,  Dec,  1841. 

1.  John,  b.  in  Ireland,  Dec.  12,  1842. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  12,  1844. 

3.  Elinor,  b.  Sept.  6,  1846. 

Timothy  Mulvany  m.  Bridget  Kelly,  Feb. 
10,  1851. 

Daniel  T.  Munger  m.  Eliza  A.  Russell 
of  Brandford,  Mch.  17,  1839. 

X.  Caroline  ETIiza,  b.  May  11,  1843. 

2.  Adelaide  Ulissa,  b.  Aug.  26,  1847. 

3.  Mary  Frances,  b.  Dec.  x6,  1849. 

Mary  Munn  m.  John  Lewis,  1734. 

Abner  Munson  m.  Azubah  Bronson,  d.  of 
Josiah,  Sept.  24,  1764. 

1.  Caleb,  b.  Jan.  27,  1765. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  24,  1767. 

3.  Ashbel,  b.  Tunc  6,  1770. 

4.  Aaron,  b.  fune  2,  1772. 

5.  Zeba,  b.  Nov.  16,  1774. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  May  25,  1777. 

7.  Hermon,  b.  Oct.  13,  1781. 

8.  Lambert  on,  b.  Men.  12,  1784. 

9.  Abner,  b.  Mch.  8,  1788. 

Ashbel  Munson,  s.  of  Abner,  m.  Candis 


FAMILY  RECOa 


MUNSON.  MONSON. 

Spencer,  d.  of  Thomas  of  Winchester, 
Mch.  15,  1798. 

I.  Horatio  Lucius,  b.  Mch.  x6,  1799. 

Benjamin  Munson  m.  Roxanna  Burges, 
June  6,  1775. 

1.  Ezra^  b.  Mch.  31,  1776. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  30,  1777. 

3.  Milicent,  b.  Tune  x,  1780. 

4.  Loues,  b.  July  3,  1781. 

5.  Justus,  b.  Apr.  15,  1784. 

6.  Laura,  b.  Feb.  34, 1786. 

7.  Chary,  b.  Sept.  14,  1787. 

8.  Harvey,  b.  Sept.  20,  1789;  d.  Oct.  21,  1790. 

9.  Harvey,  b.  Oct.  30,  1791;  d.  Sept.  14,  1793. 

Caleb  Munson,  s.  of  Caleb  of  WaJling- 
ford,  dec'd,  m.  Lucy  Roberts,  d.  of 
Gideon,  dec'd,  May  10,  1781  [and  d. 
1826,  a,  80]. 

X.  Caleb,  b.  May  38,  1782. 

2.  Cornelius,  b.  Sept.  12,  1783. 

3.  Jose,  b.  Feb.  16,  1786. 

4.  John^  b.  Nov.  30,  1787. 

5.  Hams,  b.  May  X7,  1791. 

6.  Polly,  b.  Sept.  26,  1794. 

7.  Lccte,  b.  May  5,  1797. 

Calvin  Munson,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Sally 
Hungerford,  Nov.  27,  1794. 

1.  Randal,  b.  Nov.  19,  X795. 

2.  Kilmar,  b.  June  25,  1799. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  28,  x8ox. 

4.  Diedamia,  b.  Apr.  30,  1804. 

Cornelius  Munson  from  Oxford  m.  Polly 
Welton,  d.  of  Jabez,  Sept.  12,  1844,  and 
d.  Apr.  16,  1846,  a.  25. 

X.  Cornelius  Welton,  b.  Sept.  14,  1846. 

Dennis  H.  Monson  of  Bethany  m.  Abby 
A.  Thomas,  June  14,  1846. 

Elisha  Munson,  s.  of  William,  m.  Mabel 
Homeston,  d.  of  Joy,  Sept.  3,  1783  [and 
d.  Nov.  22,  1835,  a.  79]. 


X.  Aaron, Jb.  Oct.  24,  X783. 
~  aura 
viU. 


■Xt 


2.  Laura  Elenore,  b.  June  6,  1786;  ro.  Daniel  Sco- 


3.  Hannah  Mariah,  b.  June  3,  1789. 

4.  Cloe,  b.  Apr.  9,  X793. 

Emily  Munson  m.  O.  H.  Bronson,  1840. 

E.  M.  Munson  of  New  Haven  d.  Oct.  5, 
1841,  a.  28.* 

George  N.  Munson  m.  Betsey  C.  Per- 
kins,  Apr.  14,  1847. 

Henry  Munson,  b.  May  21,  18 17,  s.  of 
Daniel,  and  Abigail  N.  Hyde,  b.  Jan. 
9,  1 81 7,  d.  of  Obad.  of  Huntington,  m. 
Apr.  20,  1840. 

1.  Emily  A^  b.  Aug.  17,  X840. 

2.  William  Henry,  b.  Dec.  14,  1842. 

3.  Eliza  Ann,  b.  Aug.  22,  1844. 

4.  I  pair  of  twins. 

Henry  C.  Munson  of  Wallingford  m. 
Ellen  M.  Atkins,  Oct,  15,  1844. 

Hermon  Monson  [s.  of  Caleb,  dec'd]  m. 
Ann  Bronson,  d.  of  Capt.  Joseph,  July 
21,  1769. 

X.  Molle,  b.  Apr.  22,  1770;  m.  J.  Clark,  Jr. 
Anna,  bap.  A(ch.  x6,  X783.S 


MUNSO 

Jesse 

Hill, 

1.  Ettj 

2.  Ly^ 

Mary  ] 

Mary] 

cease 

Sitl 

Samuei 
Ann 
O.,  P 

1.  Min 

2.  Elb 

3.  Hen 

4.  Har 

Stepha 

I.  Dan 

Willian 
Grigfl 
-Fel 
a.  74.* 

1.  Isaw 

2.  Elisl 

3.  Pete 

4.  Hem 

Willian 

Seba 

Zina  R 

[d.  of 

John  N 

kenn^ 

1.  Tohi 

2.  Mar 

3.  Ricl  i 

Thoma  i 
Dec.   ! 

Alonzo  : 

of  wi 

Amos    I 

m.  c: 
21,  i: 

1.  Po 

2.    M( 

3.  Gi! 

4.  Er 

5.  Hi  I 

6.  Mi 

7.  H< 

8.  Mj 

9.  Cli 
lo.  Hi 

Andrei 

6,  la  I 

Cheste 

28,  i;  i 

Julia  ^  I 

Leonai  I 

.  1821. 

Nancy 

Ambro  i 
Sara 


04  ^p 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 


NeTTLETON.  *         Nl?\VTON. 

Chandler  J.  Nettleton  m.  Emily  S.  Reed 
of  Torringford,  Mch.  22,  1840. 

Eli  Nettleton  and  Mary:* 

Zealous  Hotchkiss,  bap.  Feb.  3,  1822. 
Mary  Ano,  bap.  June  29,  1823. 

Elijah  Nettleton  and  Mary:* 

Naomi,  bap.  Sept.  34,  1797. 
Elijah  Edward,  bap.  Oct.  23,  1803. 

Elijah  d.  May  17,  1839,  a.  77.* 
Garry  Nettleton:* 

Ann  and  Wilford  Hopkins,  bap.  July  6,  1828. 

John  Nettleton,  s.  of  John  of  Milford,  m. 
Susanah  Richards,  d.  of  Lieut.  Thom- 
as, Apr.  2,  1750,  and  d.  Nov.  12,  1787, 
a.  60. 


1.  John,  b.  Jmi.  18,  1751;  d.  Sept.  17,  1808. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  ^ly  24,  1753  [m.  Sara, 
s.  of  Thomas,  and  d.  1840] . 


Leavenworth, 


3.  Suiianah,  b.  Jan.  37,  1756. 

4.  Freelove,  b.  Dec.  19,  1757 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  27,  X760. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  30,  1764. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  u,  1766. 

John  Nettleton,  Jr.  m.  Hannah  Hickox 
[d.  of  Capt.  Samuel],  June  12,  1777, 
[She  d.  Aug.  8,  1784]. 

X.  Samuel  Hickox,  b.  Mch.  24,  1780. 

Hannah — by  second  wife— b.  Mch.  6,  1788. 

Julia  Nettleton  m.  Chester  Hitchcock, 
1835. 

Mary  Nettleton  m.  Eli  Baldwin. 

Samuel  Nettleton  m.  Harriet  M.  Sher- 
man— both  of  Derby — Oct.  30,  1842. 

Michael  Neville  m.  Ann  Delany — both 
from  Ireland — in  New  York,  Apr.  16, 
1836. 

X.  Timothy,  b.  June  X5,  1837. 

2.  Margarett,  b.  May  24,  1841. 

3.  Michael,  b.  Jan.  24,  1843. 

4.  John.  b.  Jan.  12,  1845. 

5.  Mattnf  w,  b.  Dec.  12,  1846. 

Emeline  Newell  m.  John  M.  Stocking, 
1834. 

George  H.  Newel  of  Southington  m. 
Harriet  C.  Downs,  Nov.  12,  1844. 

Jerusha  Newell  m.  Nathl.  Lowree,  1760. 

Bettee  Newton  m.  Samuel  Frost,  1755. 

Caroline  Newton  m.  J.  E.  Bradley,  1824. 

Charles  N.  Newton,  b.  May  9,  181 1,  s.  of 
Nathan,  and  Caroline  Root,  b.  Mch.  11, 
1815,  d.  of  Chauncey,  m.  Dec.  25,  183C. 

I.  Sarah  C;)tharine,  b.  June  4,  1838;  d.  1844. 

Elizabeth  Newton  m.  Elias  Clark,  iSoi. 

Isaac  E.  Newton,  b.  Sept.  14,  1808,  s.  of 
Nathan,  m.  Polly  Warner,  d.  of  Oba- 
diah,  Oct.,  1830. 

1.  Mary  E.,  b.  July  6,  1832.  ' 

2.  Julia  Melinda,  b.  Sept.,  1840. 

3.  Nathan  Herbert,  b.  Sept.  2J,  1843. 

4.  Lewis  Byron,  b.  June,  1845. 

Julia  Newton  m.  J.  G.  Bronson,  1830. 


Newton.  Nichols. 

Keziah  Newton  m.  Joseph  Wads  worth, 
1 841. 

Lucy  Newton  m.  Sheldon  Collins,  1845. 

Miles  Newton  and  Hannah:' 

Miles,  John  Fowler,  and  Harriet — the  children — 
and  Comfort,  one  of  the  household  of  Miles 
Newton,  bap.  June  28,  j8oi. 

Miles  Newton,  b.  in  Oct.,  1783,  s.  of 
Miles,  m.  Prudence  Scott,  d.  of  Simeon, 
Sept.  5,  1B05. 

1.  Nathan  Fowler,  b.  July  30,  1806. 

2.  lister  Miles,  b.  Aug.  8,  1809. 

3.  Lucius  Solindar,  b.  Au/?.  12, 1812;  d.  Apr.  4, 1816. 

4.  Lucius  Myron,  b.  lune  17,  1817;  d.  June  8,  1825. 

5.  Lusett  Maria,  b.  Nov.  27,  1819;  d.  Aug.  17,  1825. 

6.  Jerome,  b.  June  9,  1822. 

7.  Edward  Linsley,  b.  Jan.  24,  1826:  d.  Mch.,  1831. 

Minerva  Newton  m.  J.  S.  Leavenworth, 
1824,  and  J.  G.  Bronson,  1845. 

William  Newton  was  m.  to  Mary  Gaines 
Leavenworth  [d.  of  Joseph],  by  Mr. 
Barlow,  1832.* 

Michael  Knee  (Ney)  m.  Sarah  Killduff, 
Sept.  3,  1849. 

Albert  Nichols  m.  Lavinia  Kimball  of 
Woodbridge,  Sept.  11,  1833. 

Benjamin  Nichols,  s.  of  Joseph,  dec'd,  m. 
Elizabeth  Prichard,  d.  of  James,  dec*d, 
Aug.  28,  1751. 

1.  Mary,  b.  May  16,  1752;  m.  Araasa  Wclton. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  3,  1754. 

Elizabeth  d.  Oct.  4,  1754,  and  Benjamin 
m.  Rachel  Tompkins,  d.  of  Edmund, 
Aug.  II,  1760,  and  d.  Dec,  1822. 

3.  Diene,  b.  May  3,  1761;  d.  Jan.  x^^  1824. 

4.  Milly,  b.  Sept.  23,  1767:  m.  Obadiah  Scovill. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  July  31,  1770. 

Betsey  Ann  Nichols  m.  Edwnn  Smith, 
1847. 

Charles  Nichols  m.  Hannah  Hull.  Aug. 
9,  1821. 

Clarry  Nichols  m.  Lewis  Smith,  1829. 

Clement  Nichols,  s.  of  Elijah,  m.  Molly 
Scovill,  d.  of  Daniel,  Feb.  i,  18 16. 

Edward  Nichols,  s.  of  James,  b.  Aug. 
19,   1808:  m.  Aug.   II,  1833,  Alma  E 
Grilley,  d.  of  Jeremiah. 

1.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Jan  13,  1834. 

2.  William  H.,  b.  Dec.  8.  1836;  d. 

3.  Charlotte  Ann,  b.  Nov.  i,  1838. 

4.  Mary  E.,  b.  Feb.  13,  1841. 

5.  William  H.,  b.  Jan.  8,  1844. 

6.  James  E.,  b.  June  ii,  1845. 

Edward  Nichols  m.  Emily  A.  Blakesley 
June  30,  1 8 50. 

Elijah  Nichols  [and  Hannah  Skeels]:* 

Reuben,  bap.  1772. 
Hiram,  bap.  Aug.  29,  1773. 

Gecrge  Nichols,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Susan- 
na Hikcox,  d.  of  Deac.  Thomas,  Dec. 
15,  1 741.  He  d.  Oct.  23,  1788;  she, 
Jan.  28,  1790. 


FAMILY  RECOBi 


Nichols. 


Nichols. 


I.  Ame,  b.  Aug;  a,  1752  (174a);  m.  Jas.  Scovill. 
3.  William,  b.  Fcd.  8,  1744  [m.  Sarah  Richards,  and 
d.  in  Nova  Scotia] . 

3.  Lemuel,  b.  Apr.  13,  1746. 

4.  Prue,  b.  Nov.  8,  1748;  d.  Aug.  21,  1753. 

5.  John,  b.  Apr.  12,  1751  [grad.  at  Yale*  d.  i8tj]. 

6.  I>aniel,  b.  Apr.  20,  1754.    [Went  to  the  British. 

7.  Susanna  (Prue);  m.  L)r.  Dan.  Southmayd. 

8.  Mary.] 

George  Nichols,  s.  of  Philo,  m.  Lucinda 
Leach,  d.  of  Alvah  of  Woodbury,  Sept. 
6,  1846. 

I.  Charlotte  Elizabeth,  b.  May  25,  1847. 

Hannah  Nichols  m.  David  Clark,  1772. 

Humphrey  Nichols,  s.  of  Simeon,  m. 
Esther  Hotchkiss,  d.  of  Stephen,  Feb. 
16,  1807. 

1.  Harriet,  b.  Feb.  3,  x8io;  ra   G.  A.  Hall. 

2.  Emeline,  b.  May  30,  i8ti;  ra.  David  Terrill. 

3.  Stephen  H-,  b.  Apr.  25,  iSiq. 

4.  Isaac,  b.  Sept.  29,  1814  [m.  Lydia  Frisbiel. 

5.  William,  b.  Jan.  27,  1817  \m.  M,  Atwaterj. 

6.  Ann,  b.  Feb.  8,  18 19;  d.  May  12,  1835. 

7.  Nancy,  b.  June  15,  182 1  [m.  Marvin  Hills]. 

8.  Eli,  b.  Sept.  15,  1822  [m.  Jane  Mann]. 

9.  Joseph  N.,  b.  Dec.  17,  1824  [™-  Lucena  Clark] . 
10.  Esther,  b.  Jan.  4,  xSay;  m.  Fred.  Holmes. 

II.  David  H.,  b.  Oct.  14,  1828  [m.  H.  Williams]. 

Esther  d.  Oct.  29,  1837,  and  Humphrey 
m.  Phebe  I.,  wid.  of  Joseph  E.  Chat- 
field,  and  d.  of  Stephen  Hotchkiss, 
May  23.  1838. 

X3.  Franklin,  b.  Aug.  8,  1842  [d.  Sept.,  2848]. 

Isaac  Nichols,  Jr.,  m.  Mary  Hotchkiss  of 
Prospect,  Oct.  19,  1840. 

James  Nichols,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Anna 
[wid  of  Thomas  Judd,  s.  of  John],  d. 
of  Doct.  Daniel  Porter,  dec'd,  June  12, 
1740. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  a,  1741. 

2.  James,  b.  Dec,  1748. 

James  Nichols,  s.  of  Richard,  m.  Mary 
Selkrig,  d.  of  Nath'l,  Oct.  22,  1796. 
[He  a.  Dec.  18,  1846:  she,  Feb.  26, 
1847.] 

I.  IViphena,  b.  Aug.  10, 1797. 

John  Nichols  of  Middlebury  m.  Content 
Cande  of  Salem,  Apr.  9,  1827. 

Joseph  Nichols  [s.  of  Isaac,  Jr.,  of  Strat- 
ford] and  Elizabeth  [Wood] : 

1.  James,  b.  on  Lon^  Island,  June  27,  1712. 

2.  George,  b.  on  Long  Island,  July  14,  1714. 
[3.  Elizabeth*  m.  Ebenezer  Waiclee,  1740. 

4.  Richard,  b.  1720   [chose  his  uncle,  Richard  of 

Stratford,  guardian]. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  1724. 

6.  Marah.     These  four  probably  b.  in  Derby.] 

8.  Isaac,  b.  May  4,  1729  [wcrnt  to  the  British,  and 

d.  in  N.  Y.,  1776]. 

9.  Benjamin,  b.  May  14,  1731. 

[All  are  mentioned  in  Probate  records.] 

Joseph  Nichols  dyed  Mch.  10,  1733 
("  in  the  47  year  of  his  age,"  says  his 
grave-stone,  which,  if  correct,  would 
make  the  year  of  his  birth  1686,  in- 
stead of  1680  as  recorded  in  Strat- 
ford). 


NiCHOl 

Joseph 

Broil 
6,  17'^ 

1.  Syfl 

2.  EuD 

TanM 
Ann« 
ton, 

1773- 

3.  L€« 

Joseph 

Mary 

NaM 
Isaw 

Joseph 

Farre! 

1.  Milei 

2.  Matig 

net 

3.  Milet 

4.  Marc 

5.  Merri 

6.  Marii 

7.  Mile, 

8.  Miles 

9.  Mary 

ton 

Josepl 
Joseph 

I,  l82c 

Lemuel 

Ursu 
Fann 

Mahala 

Merrit 

bethi 
tol,  A 

1.  Cath 

2.  Hem 

Miles  } 

Limb 

i«39- 

1.  Fran 

2.  Han 

Minerv) 

PhUoN 
Parke 
Oct., 

1.  Edw 

2.  Gcoi 

Richar( 

beth 
1744. 
21,  18 

I.  Me 

a.  Eli 

3.  Hu 

4.  Ta 

5.  Jos 

6.  Li( 

7.  R'u 

8.  Eli 

9.  Isa 
xo.  Sai 


96  AP 


EI8T0BT  OF  WATERS URT. 


Nichols.  Norton. 

XI.  Samme,  b.  Apr.  8,  1761. 
12.  James,  b.  Aug.  6,  1764. 

Robert  C.  Nichols  of  Woodbury  m. 
Phebe  Ann  Wilkinson  of  Goshen,  Mch. 
16,  1845. 

Samme  Nichols,  s.  of  Richard,  m.  Abi- 
gail Landon  of  Litchfield,  1783. 

T.  Erastus,  b.  Apr.  14,  1784. 

2.  Charley,  b.  Aug.  xa,  1786. 

3.  Polly,  b.  Oct.  24,  X78B. 

4.  Alinira,  b.  Oct.  14,  1790. 

5.  Nabbe,  b.  Feb.  ai,  1793, 

6.  Tulcy,  b.  July  x,  1795. 

7.  Erastus,  b.  June  8,  1798. 

8.  Rboda,  b.  fune  30.  x8oo. 

9.  Richard  Olmsted,  b.  Aug.  8,  1802. 

10.  Tesse  Landon,  b,  Oct.  23,  X804. 

11.  Harriet,  b.  Aug.  i,  1808. 

12.  Harriet,  b.  Apr.  2,  18 10. 

[Samuel  liichols  formerly  of  Wat.  d.  in 
Cheshire,  July  8,  1856,  a.  95]. 

Samuel  Nichols  of  Wolcott  m.  Charlotte 
M.  Wells  of  Cleveland,  Jan.  5,  1851. 

Simeon  Nichols  [s.  of  Joseph,  2d],  m. 
Martha  Hotchkiss  [of  New  Haven], 
June  15,  1775. 

I.  Joseph,  b.  Apr.  21,  1776. 
a.   famar,  b.  Dec.  25,  1778;  m.  James  Chatfield. 
3.  Humphrey,  b.  Nov.  23,  1781. 
[4.  Abigail,  b.  Mch.  2,  1784. 

5.  Chloe,  b.  July  30,  1786. 

6.  Amy,  b.  Nov.  25,  1788. 

7.  William,  b.  Au|(.,  1791. 

8.  Chaunccy,  b.  Feb.,  1794. 

9.  Simeon,  b.  1796]. 
xo.  Philo,  b.  June,  1798. 

Stephen  H.  Nichols  m.  Clarissa  Atwater., 
at  Naugatuck,  Mch.  28,  1836.  [She  d. 
Dec.  29,  1 841,  a.  26],  and  Stephen  (of 
Middlebury)  m.  Emily  Payne  of  Pros- 
pect, Apr.  10,  1842. 

William  Nichols: 

George,  bap.  Apr.  3,  1768.* 

Arthur  Nicholson  d.  Jan.  29. 183^,  a.  39.* 
John  Noble: 

4.  Isaac,  b.  July  39,  1807. 

Thomas  Nolan  m.  Catharine  Maloy,  July 

7.  1851-* 
Hannah  Norris  m.  Ashbel  Porter,  1762. 

Augusta  Northrop  m.  Marshall  Parks, 
1846. 

Frederick  J.  Northrop  of  Watertown  m. 
Elizabeth  M.  Beach,  Sept.  20,  1846. 

George  Northrop  m.  Lowly  Castle  [d.  of 
Samuel],  Oct.  14,  1840. 

Mercy  Northrup  m.  Jeremiah  Peck,  1739, 
and  Joseph  Luddington,  1754. 

Rhoda  Northrop  m.  David  M.  Prichard, 

1848. 
Sarah  Northrop  m.  Alex.  McNeal,  1845. 
Abraham  Norton  m.  Mehitable  Doolittle, 

May  14,  1766. 

I.  Abraham,  b.  Nov.  i,  1767;  d.  Apr.  10,  1768. 


Norton.  Orton. 

Cyrus  Norton  d.  Dec.  7,  i8o4.» 

David  Norton  [s.  of  Joseph] — Submit 
[Benton],  his  wife,  d.  Nov.  17,  1766,  in 
ner  38th  year;  and  David  m.  Susanna 
Bishop  of  Bolton,  Apr.  i,  1767. 

David  Norton  and  Polly  Norton — both 
from  Killing  worth — m.  in  K. 

X.  Celia,  b.  Oct.  12,  1836. 
a.  Herman,  b.  Jan.  xx,  1839. 

Janette  Norton  m.  Lyman  Smith,  ^824. 

Leonora  Norton  m.  Harley  Downs,  1826. 

Levi  Norton  of  Southington  m.  Sarah 
Bj'ington,  Oct.  24,  1842. 

Lucina  Norton  m.  J.  T.  Vanduzer,  1846. 

Ludenton  S.  Norton  of  Plymouth  m. 
Luania  Bradley,  Jan.  13,  1833.' 

Ruth  Norton  m.  Edward  Scovill,  1770. 

Susanna  Norton  m.  Rev.  Urial  Gridley. 

1785. 
Zebul   Norton,  s.  of  David,  m.  Rhoda 

Norton,  d.  of  Beriah  of  Guilford,  June 

12,  1782. 

I.  Friend  Congress,  b.  Sept.  xa,  X783. 
9.  Augustus,  b.  June  29,  X785. 
3.  Osmyn,  b.  Aug,  5,  1787. 

Ziba  Norton,  s.  of  David,  m.  Ruth  Hop- 
kins, d.  of  Capt.  Isaac,  Nov.  26,  1778. 
He  d.  Feb.  22,  1781,  a.  23,  and  Ruth  m. 
Thomas  Wei  ton,  1792. 

X.  Philomena,  b.  Aug.  i,  1779  [m.  Jared  Welton]. 

Moses  Noyes  m.  Mary  Prince,  Apr.  2, 
1778.2 

I.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  23,  1779. 
a.  A  dau.,  b.  Feb.  13,  178X. 
3.  Scldeo,  b.  Apr.  36,  1784. 

John  O'Brien  m.  Mary  Power — both  of 
Wolcottville — Nov.  27,  1849. 

Lucius  Odle  (Odell),  s.  of  Stephen  of 
South  Farms,  m.  Fidelia  D.  Upson,  d. 
of  Freeman  of  Southington,  Oct.  r,  1837. 

X.  Emma  Jane,  b.  Mch.  97,  1840. 

Gershom  Olds  m.  Sibel  Mix,  d.  of  Eldad, 
Dec.  15,  1783. 

I.  David,  b.  Jan,  37,  1786. 

3.  Eldad,  b.  Feb.  29,  1788. 

3.  Joel,  b.  June  13,  1790;  d.  Mch.  6,  1794. 

4.  Allen  Swain,  b  Apr.  30,  1793. 

5.  Orrel  Hannah,  b.  June  x6,  1797. 

Maria  Olds  m.  Manly  Grilley,  1821. 

Montgomery  Olmstead  m.  Esther  Mix  of 
New  Haven,  Sept.  14,  1823. 

John  O'Ncil  m.  Mary  Horan,  July  6, 
1849. 

Patrick  O'Neill  m.  Catharine  Gorman. 
May  23,  1848. 

Abigail  Orton    m.    Bronson    Hotchkiss, 

1825. 

Caroline  Orton  m.  W.  S.  Piatt,  1844. 


FAMILY  RECOBl 


Orton,  Osborn. 

Hliada  Orton:' 

iohn,  b.  Aug.  6,  1784. 
rurina,  b.  Nov.  8,  1786. 

Phebe  Orton  m.  Daniel  Hikcox,  1775.* 

William  H.  Orton,  b.  in  Litchfield,  Mch. 
23,  iSoi,  m.  Louisa  Bouehton,  d.  of 
Jonas,  Apr.  12,  1826,  and  a.  in  Seneca 
Co.,  O.,  Nov.  20,  1 841. 

X.  Mary  Jane,  b.  Apr.  19,  1837;  m.  W.  Tompkins. 

Abraham  Osborn,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Eunice 
Johnson,  d.  of  Peter  of  Derby,  Oct.  21, 
1762. 

X.  Abraham,  b.  Aug.  25,  1763. 

2.  Andrew,  b.  June  25,  1765  [m.  Sarah,  d.  Samuel 

Chatfield]. 

3.  Ezra,  b.  Aug.  23,  1767. 

4.  Peter,  b.  May  18,  1769. 

5.  Tohn,  b.  Apr.  28,  1771. 

6.  Moses,  b.  Feb.  x6,  1774. 

7.  Eunice,  b  Dec,  3,  1777;  m.  John  White. 

8.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  8,  1780. 

Amos  Osborn  and  Joanna  [Weed,  d.  of 
John  of  Derby]: 

2.  Amos, 

3.  Lucy,  b.  July  6,  1746. 

4.  Amos,  b.  Sept.  13,  1750. 

5.  Elijah,  b.  Sept.  15,  1752. 

6.  Reuben,  b.  Apr.  8,  1755. 

Amos,  s.  of  Joseph  of  N.  H.,  dec'd,  m. 
Elizabeth  Benham,  d.  of  Joshua  Hotch- 
kiss  of  Wallingford,  Mch.  25,  1758,  and 
d.  Nov.  I,  1790.* 

7.  Joshua,  b.  Feb.  18,  1759. 

8.  Thaddeus,  b.  Jan.  28,  1761. 

9.  Asahel,  b.  Apr.,  1763. 
10.  Ame,  b.  Jan.  3,  1765. 

XI.  Samuell,  b.  Feb.  4,  X768. 

Amos  Osborn,  Jr.,  s.  of  Lieut.  Amos.  m. 
Lorana  Hotcnkiss,  d.  of  Isaac  of  New 
Haven,  May  14,  1776. 

1.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  14,  1777. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Jan.  12,  1781. 

Asahel  Osborn,  s.  of  Amos,  m.  Molla 
Hoadley,  d.  of  Elemuel,  Feb.  i,  1787. 

1.  Molla,  b.  Dec.  13,  1787. 
a.  Hershall,  b.  July  zo,  1791. 

Ashbel  Osborn,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Ruth 
Richardson,  d.  of  Nathaniel,  June  9, 

1785. 

1.  Catcy,  b.  Sept.  26,  1785. 

2.  Fanny,  b.  Apr.  9,  1787. 

3.  Joseph  Richardson,  b.  June  28,  1790. 

4.  Garret,  b.  May  22,  1792. 

5.  Statira,  b.  May  25,  1794. 

6.  Ruth,  b.  Aug.  8,  1796. 

7.  Ashbil,  b.  July  8,  z8oo. 

Charlotte  Osborn  m.  Harr^r  Bronson, 
1839  (who  m.  for  second  wife,  in  1849, 
Charlotte  Thompson). 

Daniel  Osborn  [s.  of  Joseph  of  New 
Haven] : 

I.  Abraham.  2.  Daniel.  3.  Ebenezer.  4.  Obe- 
dience, s.  Mary;  m.  Elijah  Wooster.  6. 
David.  7.  Martha;  m.  Jonah  Loomis.  8. 
Kachcl;  m.  Samuel  Fenn.] 

9.  Abigail,  d.  in  Oxford,  1768,  a.  16.* 


OSBORH 

Child 

».  (to.) 
a.  (IX J 

•   3-  (Ja.) 

4-  (13-) 

5-  (X4.) 

Thett 
m.  wi 
Feb.  I 

15.  Ashl 
x6.  Rutl 
17.  Phil* 

Daniel  C 

Picket! 

1.  Abnei 

2.  Danie 

Daniel  G 

bethG 

1.  Danie 

2.  Garry. 

3.  Elizab 

4.  Mary, 

5.  Lotty, 

6.  Lemai 

David  Oi 

Griffen 
May  26 

1.  Barsh< 

2.  David 

3.  Lymai 

Ebeneze: 
12,  176'  I 

Eli  Osbo 

d.  of  E 

1.  Merit,  ' 

2.  Zina, 

3.  Alma,  I 

Elijah  O 

4.  Eliph.  I 

Enos  Osl 

Addan  ! 

I.  Garre 

Esther  C  ! 

[Ezra  O:  I 

1.  Pbarc  , 

2.  Lever  I 

3.  Larm<  ' 

4.  Elizal  : 

183: 

Jared  0 

lory,  J 

John  Os  I 

Griffin 
14,  178 

1.  John    I 

2.  Abne    '. 

3.  Ruth 

Joseph  <  I 

ven.  I  . 
of  Ne^ 

I.  Hest    . 
hai    . 


II 


08  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT, 


OSBORN. 

2.  Jared,  b.  Sept.  24,  1745. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  7,  1747. 
Samuel,  bap.  May  27,  1750.8 
Samuel,  bap.  Dec.  3,  1752. 
Naboih,  bap.  July  27,  1755. 

Esther,  w.  of  Capt.  Joseph,  d.  Mch.  21, 
1769,  a.  50.*  Capt.  Joseph  m.  Mrs. 
Abigail  Lyman,  Oct.  26,  1769.  Capt. 
Joseph  m.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tomlinson, 
Feb.  13,  1793. 

Joseph  Osborn,  3d,  m.  Sarah  Smith, 
Mch.  10,  1783.* 

Lavinia  Osborn  m.  John  Fairclough, 
1843. 

Lemuel  Smith  Osborn,  s.  of  Sarah,  b. 
Jan.  26,  1779. 

We  certify  that  Lemuel  Osborn  Smith's 
name  was  entered  upon  the  records  of 
the  town  of  Waterbury  by  mistake 
Lemuel  Smith  Osborn.  Whereas  it 
was  to  have  been  entered  Lemuel 
Osborn  Smith,  by  which  last  name  he 
intends,  as  he  has  a  good  right  to  do, 
to  write  his  name  in  future. 
March  8,  1817. 

Richard  Pitts, 
Sarah  Pitts, 
Lemuel  O.  Smith. 

Lot  Osborn  m.  Thankful  Doolittle,  d.  of 
Abel,  dec'd,  Jan  24,  1765. 

Mary  Osborn  m.  James  Bellamy,  1740. 

Mercy  Osborn  m.  Daniel  Tyler,  1778. 

Moses  Osborn  of  Salem  m.  Comfort 
Cande  of  Oxford,  Apr.  25.  1796.* 

Obedience  Osborn  d.    Feb.  15,  18 13,  a. 

72.^ 

Samuel  Osborn,  s.  of  Amos,  m.  Sally 
Hotchkiss,  d.  of  Benjamin  of  Woocf- 
bridge,  Jan.  25,  1797.  She  d.  Oct., 
i8i7.'» 

Thomas  Osborn  [s.  of  Joseph  of  New 
Haven]  d.  1S07,  a.  91. 

5,  Thomas,  b.  Aug.  i,  1757. 

Thomas  Osborn,  s.  of  Deac.  Thomas,  m. 
Hannah  Johnson,  d.  of  Israel  of  Derby, 
May  7,  1777. 

1.  Enos,  b.  Aug.  2,  1777. 

2.  Comfort,  b.  Slay  2,  1780;  m.  Andrew  Adams. 

3.  Anson,  b.  Nov.  25,  1787. 

4.  Thoma.s  Lctsuin,  b.  Sept.  2,  1790. 

5.  Hilly,  b.  Dec,  8,  1793. 

Adelia  E.  Oviatt  m.  S.  M.  Cate,  1839. 

Sarah  Page  m.  John  Cole,  1754. 

Sarah  Page  m.  Simeon  Peck,  17S8. 

Aurelia  Painter  m.  Norman  Terry,  1842. 

Austin  Painter,  s.  of  John  of  Plymouth, 
m.  Betsey  Maria  Rigby,  d.  of  John, 
Nov.  7,  1830. 


Painter.      P-\intkr. 


Parker. 


I.  Thomas  Frederic,  b.  Nov.  i8,  1832, 
a.  .Mary  Jane,  b.  May  iq,  1837. 
3.  Kmma  Jane,  b.  June  26,  1842. 


George  Painter  of  Watertown  m.  Mary 
Perkins,  June  26,  1845. 

John  Painter  and  Deborah: 

7.  (?)  I-ot,  b.  Feb.  9,  1755;  d.  Feb.  at,  1757. 

5.  Plunice,  b.  at  Middletown,  Mch.  16,  1751-2;  m. 

Nathan  Woodward. 

6.  Flizabeth,  b.  Sept.  7,  1757. 

7.  Thomas  Welcher,  b.  Sept.  25,  1760. 

8.  John,  b.  Dec.  z5,  1763. 

John  Painter  m.  Sally  Watrous,  Aug.  13. 
1786.* 

1.  Betsey,  b.  Sept.  19,  1787. 

2.  Rocsey,  b.  Feb.  11,  1789. 

Philo  Painter  of  Watertown  m.  Nancy 
Pardee,  July  8,  1844. 

Sarah  Painter  m.  Benjamin  Williams. 
1762. 

Susanna  Painter  m.  Abel  Ford,  1771. 

Thomas  W.  Painter  m.  Lucina  Dunbar, 
Mch.  28,  1787.* 

1.  Chester,  b.  Monday,  Nov.  19,  1787. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Tuesday,  Oct.  22,  1789. 

George  Palmer  from  New  Haven  m. 
Hannah  O.  Ailing  of  Salem,  Dec.  10, 
1826. 

Samuel  Palmer  and  Jerusha  [d.  of  Abr. 
Foot]: 

1.  Molly,  b.  Dec.  xo,  1774;  d.  Sept.  8,  1777. 

2.  Ahram  Fool,  b.  Auk.  8,  1777. 

3.  Ozias,  b.  July  4,  1780. 

4.  Fanny,  b.  June  3,  1783. 

Silas  W.  Palmer  of  Centerville,  N.  Y. 
m.  Mary  Ann  Porter  [d.  of  Timothy], 
Aug.  22,  1841.  (His  name  has  been 
changed  to  Arvtne.) 

Bolara  Pardy  m.  Henry  Smith,  1822. 
Elizabeth  Pardy  m.  Jonas  Hungerford, 

1773. 
Esther    Pardee    m.   George    Mansfield, 

1834. 

Henry  S.  Pardee  m.  Almira  Beach  of 
Litchfield,  July  3,  1837,  who  d.  Apr.  7, 
1 841,  a.  20. 

Jane  Pardee  m.  Alonzo  Thompson,  1845. 

Millecent  Pardee  m.  Theodore  Baldwin, 

1828. 

Nancy  Pardee  m.  Philo  Painter,  1844. 

Royal  B.  Pardee  of  Harwinton  m.  Eliza 
J.  Stevens,  Mch.  24.  1851. 

Aaron  Parker  [s.  of  Elisha  of  Walling- 
fordj  and  Sarah  [Martin]: 

8.  Lyman,  b.  Feb.  20,  1776. 

Abigail  Parker  m.  Abel  Austin,  1795. 

Charlotte  Parker  m.  Philo  Nichols,  18 19 

Eliab  Parker  m.  Martha  Andrews,  Feb. 
7.  1759- 


FAMILY  RECORa 


Parker.  Patterson. 

1.  Andrews,  b.  Nov.  8,  1759. 
a.  Eliab,  b.  June  20,  1761. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  June  28,  1763. 

4.  Martha  Williams,  b.  Dec.  20,  1765. 

5.  Amariah  (sun),  b.  May  xi,  1768. 

Eri  Parker  and  Joanna:' 

John,  b.  Aug.  12,  1788. 

Hannah  Parker  m.  Stephen  Matthews, 

1750. 
Isaac  Parker  and  Anna: 

Anna,  b.  Dec.  26,  1781. 
Timothy,  b.  Dec.  6,  1783. 

John  Parker,  s.  of  Elisha,  dec'd,  of  Mans- 
field, m.  Lydia  Castle,  d.  of  Isaac, 
Aug.  13,  1752. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Tan.  11,  1753;  m.  Matthew  Terril.? 

2.  Irene,  b.  r'eb.  23,  1755;  m.  Scth  Warner. 

3.  Elisha.  b.  July  22,  1757. 

4.  John,  b.  Aug.  29,  1759. 

5.  Asel.  b.  Apr.  5,  1762. 

6.  Eri,  D.  Sept.  15,  1764. 

7.  Salmon,  b.  Dec  11,  1767. 

8.  Lydia,  b.  Mch.  16,  1769. 

9.  Lusenday  (Lucinda),  b.  Apr.  8,  1771. 

Jonathan  Parker  m.  Elizabeth  Adkins, 
Oct.  23,  1766. 

Lent  Parker  m.  Sarah  Dunbar,  Nov.  9, 
1774.' 

1.  Solomon,  b.  Tune  25,  1775. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  11,  1777. 

3.  Edward  Dunbar,  b.  Dec.  27,  1783. 

4.  William,  b.  Nov.  23,  1788. 

Lois  Parker  m.  Samuel  Smith,  1770. 

Reuben  Parker,  s.  of  John  [of  Walling- 
fordj,  m.  Hannah  Cfhapman,  Dec.  10, 
1764. 

Rowena  Parker  m.  J.  S.  Hall,  1817. 

Samuel  Parker  d.  Dec.  14,  1785,  a.  78.* 

Sarah  Parker  m.  Thomas  Merriam,  1783. 

Sarah  Parker  d.  May  iS,  1838,  a.  83.' 

Marshall  Parks  of  Amboy,  N.  Y.  m. 
Augusta  Northrop  of  Watertown,  Nov. 
26,  1846. 

Wright  Parks  from  Amboy,  N.  Y.,  m 
Mary  Johnson  from  Watertown,  Nov. 
I,  1834. 

1.  William  Wright,  b.  Apr.  i6,  1841. 

2.  Frederick  Johnson,  b.  Mch.  17,  1845. 

Hannah  Parrott  m.  Isaac  Scott,  1834. 

Harvey  A.  Parsons  of  Bristol  m.  Han- 
nah Scott,  June  15.  1828. 

Lewis  Parsons  of  Plymouth  m.  Lydia 
Streetef,  Mch.  26,  1851. 

Charles  Partrick  of  Stamford  m.  Mrs. 
Samantha  Hall,  Dec.  30,  1832. 

Harvey  Patchen  of  Derby  m.  Rachel 
Brown  of  Southbury,  Nov.  9,  182S. 

Thomas  H.  Patten  of  Boston,  Mass.,  m. 
Melissa  Frost,  Mch.  6,  1845. 

Henry  Patterson  of  Fairfield  m.  Milinna 
Potter,  d.  of  Aaron,  Sept.  9,  1831. 


Paitej 

John  I 

Emn 
1849. 

Betsey 

Ciariss 

David  ] 

mit  K 

15.  17 

Dav^ 

Edwarc 

d.   of 

19.  18; 

Emily  F 

Esther  1 

Harmon 
both  ( 

Wylli 
and 
180 
moi 

Willii 

Suke] 
Roc 

Huldi 
tha 

Lois 
Pri. 

Samu 

Harmon 

Prospe 
Dyer] 
1843. 

Joseph 

dah  I 
Apr.  S 

I.  Har 

Hulda 
m.  Es 

a.  Jose 

3.  Pete 

H 

Esthei 
Abiga 

4.  KstI 

5.  Susi 

6.  Hul 

Abiga 
Tosepl 
nam, 
1S05; 

7.  Si  la 

8.  Olc. 

9.  Her 
10.  Edv 

Joseph ] 

Beech 
of  Ch< 

iulia 
lari 
Jose 
Slop 
Edw 
Geoi 
Edw 


I. 
2. 

3- 

4- 

5- 
6. 

7- 


mSTORT  OF  WATERBT7RT. 


Payne.  Pbck. 

S.  Hwrnqn,  b.  F«b.  ai.  iSto. 

9.  Ruth  Ehubeth.  b.  June  13,  iBia. 

Ruth  d.  Aug.  3,  iSai,  and]  Joseph  m. 

Rebecca  Barnes,  Nov.  23,  1833. 
Heliss*  Pajae  m.  Wm.  Eaves,  Jr.,  1835. 
Nelson  Payne  of  Bainbridge,  N.  Y..  m. 

Sarah  C.  Adams.  May  6,  1833. 
Olcutt  Payae  and  SalV  [d.  of  Benjamin 

Beecher  of  Cheshire]: 

Loii  Amelia  and  Alfoid,  bap.  J.o.  jo,  1811. 
AUEU9IU>  Merit,  bap.  Dec.  i3,  1813. 

Philemon  Payne  and  Roxy;* 

Siephen  Tohn»n,  b.p.  Jure  ...  ,E». 

Rebecca  Payne  m.  Asa  Hopkins,  1784, 
Sftmantha  Payne  m,  Zerah  Ford,  1801. 
Thomas  Payne:* 

Heulilah.    Raie,  Solomon,  and   Raphel,  bap. 

June  6,  .Tgg. 
TfiomM  Jfiferaon,  bap.  May  1.  Itel. 
Eliiabeih.  bap.  May  13,  ttk■^. 
Thomas   J.   Payne,   s,   of   Thomas,   ro. 
Nancy  Frost,  d.  of  Enoch,  dec'd,  June 


3,  CbarJo,  b.  Apr.  10.  183a. 

4.  Alonco,  b.  Apr  ;,  1634. 

;.  Maria  eiinbclh,  V  Oct.  B,  iBjq. 
6.  ,  b.  Mch.  30,  .a,7. 

William  H.  Payne,  s.  of  Hermon,  ra. 
May  31.  'flag.  Rebecca  F.  Hall.  b.  Aug. 
aa,  1808,  d.  of  Heman  of  Wolcott. 


■  'J*"- 


t,  b.  Jun. 


Deborah  Peck  m.  Reuel  Upson,  1766. 

Eleozer  C.  Peck  m.  Louisa  Marden- 
brough — both  of  Derby — Mch.  4.  1839. 

Elizabeth  Peck  m.  Ambrose  Dutton, 
1754- 

Fanny  Peck  m.  Edward  Root,  1843. 

Francis  Peck,  b.  Sept,  3,  1807.  s.  of  Ben- 
jamin  of  Haniden,  m.  Mch,,  1835,  Mary 
Andrus,  b.  Sept.  8,  1816,  d.  of  Jona- 
than of  Simsbury. 

1.  Elkn,  b.  In  Wallingford,  Auk.  >6,  '8,6. 
I.  AuguiU,  b.  In  WailiDgtord.  Aug.  14,  iS,o. 
3.  Ann  ElJza.  b,  in  Hamaen,  Mlf  13,  1841. 


Gideon  Peck  and  Esther: 

bV?™ 

epl.  .7,  '7S3. 

h.  M, 

I.  i^n 

i:i:i 

Henry  H.  Peck  of  Bertiti  [s.  of  Deac. 
Samuel  of  Kensington]  m.  Harriet  M. 
Cook  ^d.  of  Zenas],  Aug.  14,  1839. 


Horace  B.  Peck  n 
Sept.  ag,  1851. 

Huldah  Peck  m.  Anson  Sperry.  iSii. 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Peck,  Sear.: 
The  Revd  Mr.  Jeremiah  Peck,  paster 
of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Waterbtirr 
dyed  7th  June  in  ye  year  1699. 

Jeremiah  Peck,  son  to  (he  above  nanied 
peck  m,  Rachel  Richards,  d.  of  Oba 
diah  and  Hannah,  June  14.  1704.  [Her 
was  app.  deacon  in  Northbury.  17M 
retired,  1746;  received  to  the  Church  :^ 
Oxford,  Apr.  27,  1747,  and  d.  in  Derbv 
175*]. 

I.  lohMM  b.  Am.  .1,  .70s  [m.  Joseph  Galpi:.: 
3!  RaiClb.  kt.y\a'\'T^  [m.  EbencKT  Rico]- 

t.  Mary,  b.  Od.'lI'lTls'fd.'anni'!  1751?™"' 

6.  Phebe,  b.  Jan.  >6,  1716-17  [m.  Dr.  Jua»  We-<f  . 

7.  Rutb;b.  Peb.  le,  171^-19; m.R».KlarkLunTi- 


Jeremiah  Peck,  s.  of  (theabove)  Jeremiali, 
m.  June  14,  1739-40,  Mercy  Northrnp 
[b.  Sept.  7,  171S],  d.  of  Samuel  of  Mil 
ford.  [Nov.  2,  1750,  his  will  was  disal- 
lowed, as  it  gave  his  wife  almost  nolh- 
•ng]- 


■7f«J.    _ 


l.  RacheLh.Jiin.  4. 
^.  Lemuel,  b.  Nev.  t 


1754- 


She  m.  Joseph  Luddingtor 

Jeremiah  Peck  (*)[b.Jan.  12,  1720-1:3.  of 

{eremiah,(»)  b.  1687  (and  Hannah,  d.  of 
)r.  John  Fisk);s  of  Joseph. ('J  bap.  1653 
(and  Mary.  d.  of  Nicholas  Canip);  s.  01 

Joseph.C)  the  settler  of  Milford  (and 
Alice,  wid.  of  John  Burwell);  m.  Oct 
26,  1743,  Frances  Piatt,  d.  of  Josiah. 
Jr.,  of  Milford,  and  d.  Mch.  17,  17&.. 
Feb.  13,  1717.  and  d.  Oct 


1794, 


'\jty,'tia^u..  Aug.  , 


FAMILY  REOC 


Peck.  Peck 

other  bom  the  first  day  of  January,  1769,  and 
the  mother  died  the  same  day.  The  last  of  the 
twins  died  Jan.  15, 1769;  the  first  died  Aug.  21, 

1773- 

Jeremiah  m.  Lois  Bunnell  of  Oxford, 
Aug.  17,  1769  [and  d.  Aug.  lo,  1835. 
She  was  b.  Oct.  18,  1740,  and  d.  Feb. 
24,  1813]. 

4.  Lois  Ann.  b.  Aug.  14,  1772. 

5.  Content,  b.  May  29,  1774;  m.  Benoni  Barnes. 

Jeremiah  Peck  [b.  Oct.  17,  1793,  in  Beth- 
any; s.  of  Samuel,  b.  1753;  s.  of  Tim- 
othy, b.  171 1 ;  s.  of  Samuel,  b.  1677;  s. 
of  Joseph,  bap.  1647;  s.  of  Henry  of 
New  Haven],  was  mar.  to  Julia  Rob- 
erts [d.  of  Amasa],  Jan.  16,  1822,  by 
Samuel  Potter,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Woodbridge  and  Salem. 

Joshua  Peck,  youngest  son  of  Rey.  Mr. 
Peck,  dyed  Feb.  14,  1735-6. 

Laura  Peck  m.  George  N.  Prichard, 
1843. 

Mary  Peck  m.  John  Foot,  1769, 

Mary  M.  Peck  m.  Lucius  Roberts,  1846. 

Otis  T.  Peck  from  Rehoboth,  Mass.  m. 
Laura  Kilborn  from  New  Hartford, 
June,  1830. 

I.  Fidelia,  b.  in  Barkharasted,  Jan.  i8,  1831. 
a.  Wellington,  b.  in  Winsied,  Mch.  18,  1832. 

3.  Holliston,  b.  in  New  Hart.,  Sept.  26,  1833. 

4.  Louisa,  b.  in  Winsted,  Aug.  8,  1835. 

5.  Carlton,  b.  in  New  Hart.,  Dec.  27,  1837. 

6.  Huntington,  | 

and  >b.  in  N.  H.,  Nov.  27,  1839. 

7.  Livingston,     S 

8.  Thomas  Jefferson,  b  Apr.  27,  1843. 

9.  Emogene,  b.  June  27,  1846. 
10.  Mary  Jane,  b. 

Samuel  Peck's  wife,  Elizabeth,  d.  Sept. 
27,  1774,  a.  68. 

Samuel  Peck  of  Woodbridge  m.  Esther 
Judd,  Jan.  3,  i8o2.« 

Samuel  Peck,  Esq.  of  Cheshire  m.  Har- 
riet Brocket,  d.  of  Giles,  Nov.  13,  1822. 

Frederick  Brocket,  bap.  Mch.  14,  1824.* 

Sarah  Peck  m.  Titus  Barnes,  1759. 

Simeon  Peck,  s.  of  Jeremiah  (4),  m.  Sa- 
rah Merriman,  Nov.  i,  1781.' 

1.  *  Isaac,  b.  Nov.,  1782. 

2.  Abigail,  b.  Tan.  24,  1784. 

3.  Benjamin  Merriman,  b.  Dec.  27,  1785  [m.  Salina 

At  wood] . 

Sarah  d.  Dec.  21,  1787,  and  Simeon  m. 
Sarah  Page,  Apr.  23,  1788. 

Susanna  Peck  m.  Stephen  Hopkins,  1718. 

Sylvia  Peck  m.  Andrew  Hills,  1841. 

Thankful  Peck  m.  Abner  Blakeslee,  1755. 

Treat  Peck  of  Milford  m.  Marcia  S. 
Hickox  [d.  of  Leonard],  Nov.  10,  1846. 


Peci 

Wai 

m. 

[ai 


i 


I. 

2. 

3. 
4. 
5. 

6. 

7- 
8.  i 

9-  ! 

10.  . 

11.  1 

Willi 

Lu( 
Ha 

X.  G 

2.  M 

3E 

4.  c 

5.  SI 

6.  N 

7.  J' 

Jame 

Nai 

Willi 

anc 
froi 

I. 
2. 

3- 
4- 

i:  ' 

7- 

8.  \ 

9.  ; 
10. 
II. 

Dani 

c 

Pete 

28,  I 

Jose]  I 

No  ' 

M€ 

wa  I 

I.  I  i 

Alan  I 

af 

Ame  : 
Anni  ; 

KtcI  I 

dn  ' 

18^ 

Burr 

an   , 
Dc 

I.  ]   I 
2.  (   I 


*  He  was  father  of  Jeremiah,  b.  Oct.  4,  1805,  who  was  fa 


102  ^p 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 


Perkins.  Peters. 

3.  Frances  Augusta,  b.  Sept.  6,  1834. 

4.  Thomas  Herbert,  b.  Sept.  12,  1841. 

5.  Julia  Antomctte,  b.  June  16,  1846. 

Charles  Perkins,  s.  of  Benoni  of  Beth- 
any, m.  Angelina  Blakeslee,  d.  of  Pier- 
pont  of  North  Haven,  Dec.  i,  1839. 

I.  Edward,  b.  July  12,  1845. 

Edward  Perkins  and  Betsey  [d.  of  Roger 
Peck]  from  Bethany,  1806:^ 

Edward,  bap.  Sept.  jo,  i8oa  [m.  DcliKht  Smith 
of  Prospect,  and  lives  in  Weymouth,  Ohio] . 

Elias  Perkins:' 

Aaron  Anson,  bap.  Apr.  11,  1821. 
Emcline  Sally,  bap.  Sept.  26,  1822. 
Lucy,  m.  H.  W.  lomlinson,  1845, 

Elizabeth    Perkins    m.    Ephia  Warner, 

1774- 
Jesse  Perkins  m.  Sarah  A.   Knowlton, 

Dec.  25,  1842. 

Jesse  D.  Perkins,  b.  Nov.  17,  1812,  s.  of 
Jesse  of  Bethany,  m.  Martha  Andrews, 
d.  of  Chauncey  of  Bristol,  Sept.  13, 
1844. 

I.  Jessie  Charlotte,  b.  Mch.  24,  1846. 

Martha  Perkins  m.  David  Baldwin,  1778. 

Mary  A.  Perkins  m.  William  Green, 
1843. 

Mary  Perkins  m.  Geo.  Painter,  1845. 

Melissa  Perkins  m.  Julius  Hotchkiss, 
1832. 

Nancy  Perkins  m.  Geo.  Farrell,  1837. 

Noah  H.  Perkins  from  Bethany  m.  Mana 
Lounsbury,  d.  of  Jesse,  June  26,  1839, 
and  d.  Mch.  lo,  1845. 

1.  James  Wilson,  b.  Aug.  3,  1841;  d.  Apr.,  1843. 

2.  Mary  Maria,  b.  June  13,  1843. 

Reuben  E.  Perkins  m.  Sarah  D.  Brown, 
Mch.  27,  1851. 

Rosanna  Perkins  m.  Henry  Grilley,  1797. 
Sarah  Perkins  m.  Jacob  Sperry,  1773. 
William  Perkins  and  Ruth: 

3.  Elias,  b.  Aug.  4,  1780. 

William  J.  Perkins,  s.  of  Samuel,  ra. 
Nancy  Bronson,  d.  of  Joseph,  June  9, 

1808. 

I.  Lodema,  b.  May  ix,  1810. 

William  Perkins,  s.  of  Benoni  of  Beth- 
any, m.  Mary  Monson,  Aug.  11,  1833. 

I.  Elizabeth,  b.  Dec.  6,  1834. 

Julius  Perry  and  Patty  Miranda  Carter 
—both  of  Cornwall— m.  Nov.  13,  1836. 

I.  Sarah  Maria,  b.  Mch.  20,  1844. 

Seth  Perry  d.  Oct.  7,  1845,  a.  38.* 

Oilman  W.  Persha  (?)  of  Groton,  Mass., 
m.  Lucinda  Talmadge  of  Oxford,  Sept. 
26,  1849. 

Lemuel  Peters,  a  negro,  m.  Margaret 
Peter,  Sept.  5,  1782. 


Peters.  Pierpont. 

1.  Annis,  b.  Mch.  11,  1783. 

2.  liynda,  b.  Oct.  19,  1786. 

Rev.  Amos  Pettingill  and  Hannah: 

Samuel  Martin,  b.  Mch.  8,  1823. 
Hannah  Elizabeth,  b.  June  2,  1826. 

John  Phelan  m.  Bridget  Moran,  Feb.  28, 
1851. 

Martin  Phelan  m.  Mary  Ann  McMahon, 
Sept.  15,  1851. 

Aurelia  Phelps  m.  Alvy  Hoadley,  1821. 

Catharine  J.   Phelps  m.   Garry  Arnst, 

1826. 
Harriet    Phelps    m.   Christopher  Gray, 

1842. 

David  M.  Phillips  of  Bridgeport  m.  Mary 
Jane  Hotchkiss,  Oct.  9,  1850. 

Jane  M.  Phillips  m.  J.  M.  Seeley,  1846. 

Mary  Pickets  m.  Daniel  Osborn,  1764. 

William  Pickett  from  Litchfield  m.  Sarah 
Howe,  d.  of  Heman  from  Canaan,  Mch. 

8,  1846. 

Stanley,  b.  May  17,  1846. 

Betsey  Pierce  m.  Calvin  Hoadley,  1828. 

Erastus  Wheeler  Fierce,  b.  in  Wood- 
bury, Sept.  21,  1825,  m.  Sept.  28,  1845. 
Flora  Maria  Clark,  d.  of  Asahel. 

I.  Erastus  Eujjene,  b.  Jan.  25,  1846. 

Austin  Pierpont,  s.  of  Ezra,  m.  Sally 
Bcecher,  d.  of  Enos,  Feb.  20,  1S12. 

1.  Enos  Austin,  b.  Mch.  24,  1813;  d.  Jan.  9,  1814. 

2.  Enos  Augustus,  b.  Jan.  8,  1815. 

3.  Ezra  Alonzo,  b.  Dec.  z,  1817. 

4.  Sarah  Minerva,  b.  Mch.  a,  1820;   d.  Sept.  24, 

1840. 

5.  Nancy  Jennet,  b.  Mch.  24, 1822;  d.  Dec.  28, 1825. 

6.  Charles  Joscpn,  b.  Mch.  11,  1825. 

7.  Emily  Jennett,  b.  June  15,  1830;  m.  A.  J.  Beers. 

8.  William  Seabury,  b.  June  23,  1833. 

9.  Ellen  Maria,  b.  June  10,  1840. 

Sally  d.  Dec.  20,  1846,  and  Austin  m. 
[Mrs.]  Emily  Sperry  of  Bethany.  May 

19,  1847.     He  was  killed  by  lightning, 
June  25,  1848. 

Charles  J.  Pierpont,  s.  of  Austin,  m. 
Mary  Anna  Warner,  d.  of  Jared,  Apr. 

20,  1846. 

I.  Jared  (C.  J.),  b.  Feb.  9,  1847. 

Enos  A.  Pierpont,  s.  of  Austin,  ra.  Ann 
Moss,  d.  of  Moses  of  Cheshire,  Oct., 

1837. 

1.  David  Watson,  b.  Jan.  3,  1838. 

2.  Sarah  Ann  Jennet,  b.  Apr.  8,  1842. 

3.  Eunice  Abiah,  b.  July  22,  1845. 

Ezra  Pierpont  and  Mar^^  [d.  of  Isaac 
Blakeslee— both  from  North  Haven]. 
She  d.  Sept.  28,  1827;  he,  Jan.  7,  1842, 
a.  84.* 

I.  Cloe,  b.  Aujs'.  15,  1783. 
a.  Luiher,  b.  Feb,  8,  1785. 

3.  Seabury.  b.  Mch.  13,  1787. 

4.  Austin,  o.  May  19,  1791. 

5.  Lucy,  b.  July  26,  1793  [d.  unm.]. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP103 


PlERPONT.  PlATT. 

Luther  Pierpont,  s.  of  Ezra,  m.  Delia 
Maria  Waugh,  d.  of  Thadeus  of  Litch- 
field, June  6,  1814. 

1.  William  Henry,  b.  Apr.  23,  1815. 

2.  James  Edward,  b.  Feb.  18,  1817. 

3.  Chloe  Maria,  b.  Mch.  13,  1819. 

4.  Emily  Cordelia,  b.  Feb.  3,  1821;  d.  1828. 

5.  Henry  Stiles,  b.  Mch.  8,  1827. 

6.  Emily  Jane,  b.  Jan.  25,  1832. 

Rufus  Pierpont  of  New  Haven  m.  Har- 
riet Richards  [d.  of  Luther  Abijah  of 
Vermont],  Sept.  14,  1847.* 

Seabury  Pierpont,  s.  of  Ezra,  m.  Clorana 
Hall,  d.  of  Jared  of  Cheshire,  dec'd, 
Dec.  16,  1 8 13,  and  d.  Mch.  i,  1829. 

1.  Harriet  Loisa.  b.  Sept.  25,  1814. 

2.  Mary  Selina,  d.  May  15,  18x7;  ""•  Jos.  Welton. 

3.  Lucy  Sabrina,  b.  Mch.  i,  1820;  m.  (),  Shcpard- 

son. 

4.  Harriet  Maria,  b.  June  19,  1827;  m.  A.  Bradley, 

Jr. 

Benjamin  Pitcher  m.  Jerusha  Welton, 
Oct.  29,  1777.* 

1.  Lois,  b.  Oct.  14,  1778. 

2.  Truman,  b.  June  19,  1780. 

3.  Leveret,  b.  Mch.  23,  1782. 

4.  Rusha  Hill,  b.  Oct.  15,  1785. 

Minerva  E.  Pitkin  m.  Seymour  Doolittle, 
1846. 

Richard  Pitts  m.  Sarah  Osbom,  d.  of 
Daniel,  Dec.  2,  1784. 

1.  Betsy,  b.  July  17,  1785. 

2.  Nancy,  b.  Sept.  17,  1790. 

3.  Sally,  b.  Oct.  24,  1792. 

Abbyrilla  Piatt  m.  H.  A.  Porter,  1831. 
Alfred  Piatt,  s.    of   Nathan,    m.    Irena 

Blackman,  d.  of  Niram  of  Brookfield, 

June  8,  1814(1816?). 

X.  Niram  B.,  b.  Sept.  i,  1818. 

2.  Charles  S.,  b,  July  30,  1820. 

3.  William  Smith,  b.  Jan.  27,  1822. 

4.  Clark  Murray,  b.  Jan.  i,  1824. 

5.  Alfred  LcRrand,  b.  June  i,  1825. 

6.  Seabury  Blackman,  b.  Oct.  5,  1828. 

Almon  Piatt,  s.  of  Nathan,  m.  Alvira  R. 
Ailing,  Mch.  5,  181 7  [who  d.  Mch.  12, 

1837]. 

1.  Albert,  b.  Dec.  2.1,  1819. 

2.  Martha  S.,  b.  Men.  6,  1822. 

3.  Mary  J.,  b.  June  25,  1824  [m.  Junius  Brown]. 

4.  Sarah  Elizal)eth,  b.  Aug.  24,  1827. 

5.  Ely,  b,  Mch.  4,  1830. 

Benjamin  Platt^  [s.  of  Isaac  of  Milford, 
and  Nancy  Bristol,  d.  of  Nathan,  m. 
1802]: 

Mary  Ann,  Benjamin,  Nancy,  Henry  Peck,  and 

Adelia,  bap.  Dec.  29,  1816. 
Jane  Eliza,  bap.  May  12,  1822. 

Daniel  Platt^  [s.  of  Isaac  of  Milford,  and 
Betsey  Higby,  d.  of  Samuel,  m.  1804]: 

Charles  Harvey,  Hannah,  Daniel.  Martha  Ann, 
Elizabeth,  Abigail  Gunn,  and  Isaac  Riley, 
bap.  Oct.  28,  .1821. 

Willis,  bap.  Apr.  6,  1823. 

Divine  Piatt  [s.  of  Enoch]  m.  Emily 
Bronson,  Oct.  25,  1830. 


Platt.  Plumb. 

Elisha  Platt'  [s.  of  Isaac  of  Milford]  and 
Marcia: 

George,  and   Robert  Hotchkiss,   bap.   Dec.   2, 

1821. 
Julia  Ann,  bap.  May  18,  1823. 

Ely  Platt  [s.  of  Almon]  m.  Frances  E. 
Harrison,  Sept.  S,  1851. 

Enoch  Platt,  Jr.,  s.  of  Enoch  [who  was 
b.  Nov.,  1769],  m.  Sally  Bronson,  d.  of 
Joseph,  3d,  of  Prospect,  Sept.  24,  1826. 

1.  Sophia,  b.  July  11,  1827;  d.  Sept.  30,  1845. 

.  2.  Sylvester,  b.  Aujj.  20,  1829. 

3.  Sephrona,  b.  July  25,  1831. 

4.  Susan  Maria,  b.  Feb.  3,  1834;  d.  Apr.,  1836. 

5.  Deloss,  b.  Feb.  26,  18^6. 

6.  Susan  F.,  b.  Mav  9,  1838;  d.  Feb.  20,  1840. 

7.  Kldrid)(e  B.,  b.  Nov.  23,  1842. 

8.  Adelah  Emogene,  b.  June  4,  1846. 

George  C.  Platt  of  Prospect  m.  Frances 
A.  Smith,  May  13,  1S40. 

Gideon  Platt,  s.  of  Gideon,  m.  Hannah 
Clark,  d.  of  Joseph— all  of  Milford — 
Mch.  17,  1783. 

1.  Gideon,  b.  Dec.  19,  1784. 

2.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  5,  1786;  d.  Nov.  25,  1792. 

3.  Merrit,  b.  Sept.  12,  1790. 

Deacon  Gideon  of  Middlebury  m.  Mrs. 
Hannah  Newton,  Nov.  22,  1825. 

Gideon  Platt,  Jr.,  s.  of  Gideon  (above), 
m.  Lydia  Sperr\',  d.  of  Capt.  Jacob, 
Nov.  8,  1807. 

Joseph  Platt'  [s.  of  Capt.  Joseph  of  Mil- 
ford, m.  Martha  Miles,  d.  of  David, 
ivSoi]: 

David    Miles,    Elizabeth   Martha,   Joseph,   and 

Charlotte,  bap.  Apr.  3,  1808. 
Nathan,  bap.  Oct.  22,  1&09. 
Catharine,  bap.  Apr.  5,  1812. 
Nancy  Spencer,  bap.  Nov.  28,  1819. 

Leonard  Platt,  s.  of  Nathan,  m.  Clarissa 
Hosmer  from  Middleton,  N.  H.,  Mch., 
1826. 

1.  Clarissa  Relief,  b.  in  Mid.,  Nov.  9;  d.  Dec,  1828. 

2.  Henry   Bellows,   b.  in  Dansville,  Vt.,   Apr.   13, 

1830. 

3.  Ann  Maria,  b.  Dec.  18,  1833. 

4.  Richard  Josiah,  b,  Nov.  15,  1842. 

5.  George  Leonard,  b.  June  14,  1846. 

Nancy  Platt  m.  Israel  W.  Ru.s.sell,  1818. 

Nathan  Platt  [b.  Mch.  i,  1761,  eldest  s. 
of  Josiah  of  Newtown]  m.  Charlotte 
Dickerman  of  Woodbridge,  July  27, 
1829. 

Niram  B.  Platt,  s.  of  Alfred,  m.  Eliza 
Kirtland,  d.  of  Wheeler  of  Woodbury, 
Sept.  17,  1840. 

1.  Frances  Eugenia^  b.  Mch.  28,  1842, 

2.  Margarett  Phebe,  b.  Sept.  5,  1843. 

3.  Charles  Kirtland,  b.  Oct.  i,  1846. 

Sybel  Platt  m.  Mansfield  Thomas,  1823. 

William  S.  Platt  [s.  of  Alfred]  m.  Caro 
line  Orton  [d.  of  William],  Oct.  i,  1844. 

Elizabeth  Plumb  m.  Samuel  Hikcox, 
1690. 


104  Ap 


BISTORT  OF  WATEBBURT. 


PoMEROY.  Porter. 

Jerusha  Pomeroy  m.  Dr.  W.  W.  Rod- 
man, 1844. 

Bartholomew  Pond,  s.  of  Philip  of  Bran- 
ford,  m.  Luse  Curtis,  d.  of  Daniel, 
Sept.  9,  1755. 

1.  Beriah,  b.  Aug:,  xo,  1757. 

2.  Ire,  b.  Nov.  27,  1759. 

3.  Content,  b.  Nov.  23,  1761. 

4.  Zera,  b.  Nov.  24,  1763. 

5.  Sala,  b.  Mch.  20,  1766. 

6.  Rebeckah,  b.  June  5,  1768. 

7.  Lucy,  b.  May  xo,  1770. 

8.  Jesse,  b.  July  17,  X772. 

9.  Samuel,  b.  Jan  24,  1775. 

Betsy  Pond  m.  Edmund  Kellogg,  1821. 

Luke  Pond  m.  Augusta  Briscoe,  Sept.  5, 

1838. 

Maria  Pond  m.  David  Beecher,  1S25. 
[Phineas  Pond  d.  1750,  leaving, 

Phineas,  Jonathan,  Abig^ail  and  Martha]. 

Timothy  Pond,  s.  of  Philip  of  Branford, 
m.  Mary  Munson,  d.  of  Abel  of  Wal- 
lingford,  June  19,  1751. 

X.  Bartholomew,  b.  June  7,  1754. 

2.  Barnabas,  b.  Oct.  29,  1755. 

3.  Thankful!,  b.  Feb.  16,  1757  [m.  Bronson  Foot, 

May  7,  1782]. 

4.  Timothy,  b.  Aujf.  3,  1758. 

5.  Sary,  b.  Feb.  21,  1760. 

6.  Mary,  b.  June  8,  X761. 

7.  Munson,  b.  Dec.  17,  1762. 

Mary  d.  Jan.  16,  1763,  and  Timothy  m. 
Sarah  Bartholomew,  Aug.  30,  1764. 

8.  Terusha,  b.  June  24,  1765. 

9.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  29,  1767. 
xo.  Adc,  b.  Apr.  7,  1770. 
XI.  Isaac,  b.  Apr.  2,  1772. 

12.  Lowly,  b.  Oct.  20,  1774. 

13.  Dill,  b.  Sept.  I,  1778. 

X4.  Munson,  b.  Nov.  26,  1780.8 

Maria  Pope  m.  C.  C.  Adams,  18 18. 

Abigail  Porter  m.  Peter  Welton,  1739. 

Abigail  Porter  m.  E.  W.  Hoadley,  1823. 

Agnes  Porter  m.  Robert  Swan,  1842. 

Amanda  A.  Porter  m.  Wm.  Baily,  1835. 

Ansel  Porter,  s.  of  Col.  Phineas.  dec'd, 
m.  Lucy  Peck,  d.  of  Ward,  Apr.  13, 
1807. 

X.  Phineas,  b.  Jan.  18,  1808  [d.  1808J. 
2.  Ansel  Charles,  b.  Nov.  16,  181 1. 

Ansel  d.  Oct.  9, 18 13,  and  Lucy  m.  John 
Clark. 

Arbi  Porter  [s.  of  Joseph  of  Ezra,  m. 
Atlanta  Scott]. 

Julia  A.  B.,  bap.  Oct.  6,  1822. 

Asa  Porter,  s.  of  Ebenezer  (of  Daniel) 
m.  Deborah  Tuller,  Oct.  22,  1765. 

1.  Asa,  b.  June  6,  1767. 

2.  Climena,  b.  Jan.  8,  1770;  m.  Sam.  Frost. 

Ashbel  Poiter,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas,  m. 
Hannah  Morris,  d.  of  John  of  Staten 
Island  (Branford  ^rrtj^^),  Nov.  24, 1762. 

1.  Sibbel,  b.  Aug.  21,  X764. 

2.  Ashbel,  b.  Nov.  16,  X766, 


Porter.  Porter. 

3.  Lynas,  b.  Jan.  x6«  1769. 

4.  Hepzibeth,  b.  Jan.  8,  1771. 

Benjamin  Porter's  wid.  Sarah  m.  Ed- 
mund Scott,  1689. 

Bildad  Porter:* 

Liva,  bap.  July  26,  x8ox. 

Charlotte  Porter  m.  Aaron  Benedict, 
1808. 

Daniel  Porter  (2)  [b.  Feb.  2.  1652.  s.  of 
Dr.  Daniel  (i),  m.  Deborah  Holcomb]. 
He  d.  Jan.  18,  1726;  she,  May  4,  1765 
[a.  93]. 

Apr.    x.  Daniell.  b.  Mch.  5,  X699  (d.  a.  76). 
14,     a.  James,  d.  Aprill  20,  X700  (d.  a.  86). 
1703.   3.  Thomas,  b.  Aprill  i,  1702  (d.  a.  05). 

4.  deborah,  b.  Mch.  6,  X70J-4;   m.  James  Bald- 

win [and  d.  in  Wat.,  Jan.,  i8ox,  a.  97]. 

5.  ebenezer,  b.  Dec.  24,  1708  (d.  a.  95). 

6.  Ann,  b.  Apr.  28,  1712;  m.  Thomas  Judd  and 

James  Nichols  [was  living  in  1801J. 

Daniel  Porter  (3),  s.  of  Doct.  Daniel,  dec'd, 
m.  Hanna  Hopkins,  d.  of  John,  June 
13.  1728. 

X.  Preserved,  b.  Nov.  23,  1729. 

2.  [Dr.]  Daniel  (4),  b  Mch.  8, 1731  [d.  of  small-pox 

at  Crown  Point,  1759,  unm.J. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  June  16,  1733;  ra.  Obadiah  Scovill. 

4.  [Dr.]  Timothy,  b.  June  19,  1735., 

5.  Susanna,  b.  July  7,  X737;  m.  Daniel  Killum,  and 

John  Cosset. 

6.  Anna,  b.  Dec.  6,  1738;  m.  David  Bronson. 

Hanna  d.  Dec.  31,  1739  [and  Daniel  m. 
Joanna ,  and  d.  Nov.  14,  1772. 

7.  Elizabeth;  m.  Ard  Warner,  X764, 

8.  Jemima;  m.  Timothy  Scovill,  X762]. 

[Daniel  Porter,  s.  of  Dr.  Timothy  of  Dan- 
iel, m.  Ana  Ingham,  grand  dau.  of  Is- 
rael Clark  of  Southington,  June  9, 1789. 

1.  Horace,  b.  Sept.  30,  X790. 

2.  Timothy,  b.  Jan.  30,  1792. 

3.  Elias,  b.  May  14,  1795. 

4.  Alma  Anna,  b.  Apr.  12,  1800;  m.  Wm.  Orton. 

5.  Dr.  Daniel,  b.  May  20,  1805. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  July  11,  1807;  d.  1812]. 

Daniel  m.  Mrs.  Leve  J.  Johnson,  Feb. 
I,  1834. 

David  Porter,  s.  of  James,  m.  Esther 
Hopkins,  d.  of  Deac.  Timothy,  Dec.  7, 
1775.  [He  d.  Apr.  4,  1826;  she,  Sept 
27,  1831,  a.  78]. 

X.  Silas,  b,  Oct.  21,  1776. 

2.  William,  b.  Mch.  18,  1782. 

3.  David,  b.  June  22,  1783. 

Denman  C.  Porter  [s.  of  Jessel  m.  Han- 
nah C.  Porter  [d.  of  HoraceJ,  Dec.  11, 
1831. 

Ebenezer  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  m. 
Marcy  Hull,  d.  of  John  of  New  Haven, 
Nov.  14,  1739.     [He  d.  Apr.  5,  1804,  a. 

9/]- 

X.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  9,  1741;  m.  Abel  Beecher. 

2.  Asa,  b.  Aug.  7,  1743. 

3.  A  son,  b.  in  1745  and  lived  dne  hour. 

4.  Marcy,  b.  June  14,  1749;  d.  Dec.  2,  1772. 

Ebenezer  Porter,  s.  of  Capt.  Samuel,  was 


FAMILY  EWOI 


IPoRTER.  Porter. 

mar.  to  Sarah  Beebe,  d.  of  Ephraim, 
"by  Samuel  Lewis,  Jus.  of  Peace,  Aug. 
31,  1774— and  d.  Aug.  22,  1810.* 

z.  Daniel,  b.  Aug.  36,  1775. 
3.  Asa,  b.  Jan.  26,  1778. 

3.  Samuel  Ebenezcr,  b.  July  ao,  1783;  d.  Aug.  x8xo.B 

4.  Ezra,  b.  May  27,  1785. 

5.  Oliver,  b.  Apr.  6;  d.  May  13,  1787. 

6.  Aaron,  b.  and  d.  Feb.  23,  1790. 

Rev.  Edward  Porter,  s.  of  Deac  Noah, 
m.  Dolly  Gleason,  d.  of  Isaac — all  of 
Farmington— Nov.  26,  1789  [and  d. 
1828]. 

z.  Maria  Belinda,  b.  Mch.  4,  1795. 
a.  Edward  Lewis,  b.  Feb.  10,  1797. 

3.  Isaac  Gleason,  b.  June  29,  i8oiS. 

4.  William  Robert,  b.  July  26,  1808. 

[Edward  Jones  Porter,  b.  July  23,  1807, 
s.  of  Samuel,  b.  1784,  s.  of  Levi  Good- 
win and  Catharine  (Jones),  m.  1829,  in 
Plymouth,  Eliza  S.  Ball,  d.  of  Timothy. 

I.  Helen  Finette,  b.  in  Bristol,  June  23,  1831. 
a.  Franklin  Edward,  b.  June  13,  1833. 
3.  Harriet  Eliza,  b.  July  29,  1838.] 

Hlias  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Jan.  22, 
1 81 7,  Alma  Tyler,  b.  Dec.  17, 1792,  d.  of 
Lyman  of  Prospect. 

I.  James,  b.  Mch.  26,  x8i8. 

Esther  Porter  m.  Edmund  Austin,  1820. 

Hzekiel  Porter  [s.  of  Ezra]  m.  Eliza- 
beth Horton,  Oct.  25,  1786.'' 

Francis  Porter  [s.  of  Ezral  m.  Rosanna 
Warner,  d.  of  Stephen,  June  25,  1777.'' 

Harriet  A.  Porter  m.  Daniel  Sackett, 
1826. 

Henry  A.  Porter  m.  Abbyrilla  Piatt, 
Aug.  7,  1 83 1. 

Horace  Porter,  Jr.,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Han- 
nah Frisbie,  d.  of  Eben.,  May  20.  181 1. 

1.  Horace  Clark,  b.  Mch.  9,  18x2;  d.  Aug.,  1831. 

2.  Hannah  Charlotte,  b.  Sept.  x,  X813;  m.  D.  C. 

Porter. 

3.  Hamlet  Chauncey,  b.  July  xx,  x8x5;  d.  Aug., 

1834. 

4.  Hobart  Charles,  b.   Feb.  2,    x8x9  [m.  Jerusha 

Bronson,  d.  of  Benjamin]. 

5.  Henry  Clinton,  b.  Apr.  20,  X835  [m.  Eliza  Betts] . 

Hannah  d.  Apr.  ii,  1844,  and  Horace 
m.  Esther  Merriam  Wetmore  Hull,  d. 
of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth,  Nov.  23, 
1845. 

Isaac  Porter,  s.  of  Dr.  Preserved,  m. 
Amarilla  Hikcox,  d.  of  Joel,  Nov.  13, 
1799. 

1.  Sarah  Gould,  b.  Apr.  26,  x8oo. 

2.  Preserve  Hikcox,  b.  Sept.  9,  X803. 

[Dr.]  Tames  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec*d, 
m.  Dorcas  Hopkins,  d.  of  John,  dec'd, 
Aug.  22,  1733.  She  d.  June  26,  1750; 
he,  Mch.  20,  1785. 

I.  Hulda^  b.  Dec.  8,  X733;  m.  Joseph  Fairchild  and 
David  Taylor. 

3.  James,  b.  Nov.  19,  X737. 
3.  David,  b.  May  xx,  X746. 


i.  c 


Porte 

James 
cy  B 

I:  a 

3.  A 

4.  Jt 
Lucj 
Marj 

5.  Ml 

6.  R< 

7.  M« 

t 

8.  Ch 

9.  Jo» 
xo.  Sai 

James 
Beecl 
June 

X.  Emi 

[Dr.] 
m. 
Wash 

X.  Den: 

2.  Sail} 

3.  Add 
[4.  Prea 

John  P 

Phelx 
1770. 

Joseph 

Jan.  i 
of  Fl( 
mout] 

X.  Celi 

2.  Elin 

3.  Lan  I 

Joseph  I 

Joshua  I 

m.  E  i 
Hart 

I.  [Est 
a.  [He  I 

3.  [A; 

Joshi 

__^^__  ' 

Lemue 
d.   of 
chun 
Aug.  ! 
Apr. 

Eli2     I 

x{ 
Luc   I 
Em    I 
San 

Marah 

Mark  I  i 

1771. 
Mary] 
Nathai 


12 


106  Ap 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBURT, 


Porter.  Porter. 

Lewis,  Apr.  12,  1776. *»  [She  d.  July, 
1806;  he,  July,  1 814. 

1.  Clarissa,  b.  1777;  m.  Daniel  Bccchcr. 

2.  Lucretia,  b.  1779;  m.  Reuben  Warner. 

3.  Henry  H.,  b.  1780;  m.  Sally  Lewis. 

4.  Fanny,  b.  1788;  m.  Abr.  Fowler,  U.  S.  A.] 

[Philander  Porter,  s.  of  Levi  Goodwin, 
m.  Orra  Bronson,  d.  of  Deac.  Daniel. 

Esther,  b.  June  26.  1812. 
Daniel  Augustus,  b.  Feb.,  1814. 
Maria,  b.  Sept.,  i8z6. 
Charles,  b.  1823.     Mary,  b.  1825.] 

Phinehas  Porter,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas,  m. 
Esther  Clark,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd,  July 
12,  1770.* 

1.  Esther,  b.  Mch.,  1772;  m.  Levi  Beardsley. 

Esther  d.  Mch.  i8,  1772,  and  Major 
Phineas  m.  Milliscent  Lewis,  wid.  of 
Isaac  Booth  and  d.  of  Jonathan  Bald- 
win], Dec.  23,  1778.  He  d.  Mch.  9, 
1804. 

2.  Orrisina,  b.  Nov.  i,  1779;  d.  July  8,  1781. 

3.  Sally,  b.  Feb.  20,  1782. 

4.  Ansel,  b.  Aug.  2,  1784. 

5.  Orlando,  b.  May  ^,  1787  [in.  Olive,  d.  of  Samuel 

Frost],  and  d.  Jan.  i,  1836. 

6.  Betsey,  b.  Apr.  14,  1790;  ni.  Zenas  Cook. 

Polly  Porter  m.  Lewis  Williams,  1801.* 

[Dr.]  Preserved  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  m. 
Sarah  Gould,  d.  of  Job  of  New  Milford, 
Apr.  8,  1764. 

I.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  lo,  i766-  m._Jos._  Bronson. 

a.  I^vinia, 

3.  Isaac, 

A.    Isaac 

5.  Jesscj  b.  Oct.  31I  1777.'    (All  bap.  at  St.  James.) 

Sarah  d.  Nov.  25,  1779,  and  Preserved 
m.    Lydia  (wid.   of  Thomas)  Welton, 
Dec.  9,  1781.     He  d.  Oct.  23,  1803;  she, 
Oct.,  1 82 1,  a.  92. 
[Dr.]  Richard  Porter  [b.  Mch.  24,  1658, 

s.  of  Dr.  Daniel]  m.  Ruth ,  who 

d.  Jan.  9,  1709-10. 


Porter. 


Porter. 


nah,  b.  Nov.  lo,  1766-  m.  Jos.  Bronson. 
nia,  b.  July  21,  1767  [m.  l5r.  Jos.  Porter], 
:,  b.  July  3,  1770;  d.  June  25,  1772. 
c,  b.  Mch.  97,  1774. 


[I. 
2. 

3- 
4. 

5- 
6. 

7. 


Daniel, of  Simsbury,  1721-26.] 

Joshua,  b.  Aug.  7,  1688;  d.  Nov.  19,  1709. 


lary,  b.  Jan.  14,  i6go-i  [m. Northrop]. 

Ruth,  b.  Oct.,  1692  [m. Cossett]. 

Samuel,  b.  Mch.  30,  1695. 
Hezekiah*  b.  Jan.  29,  1096-7;  d,  Aug.,  1702. 
John,  b.  lune  11,  1700  [went  to  live  with  Deac. 
Clark,  Nov.  30,  1730]. 
8.  Timothy  b.  Dec.  21,  1701. 
Q.  Hezekiah,  b.  July  27,  1704  [was  of  Woodbury, 

~  -I 

[Joshua.  Richard,  and  Lydia  who  m.  Dan.  Par- 
dec  of  New  Haven,  are  ment.  in  his  will  of 
1740,  also  wife  Sarah.] 

Samuel  Porter  (i),  s.  of  Richard,  m. 
Mary  Bronson,  d.  of  John,  May  9, 1722. 
[He  d.  1727],  and  Mar>'  m.  John 
Barnes. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  24,  1723. 

2.  Lusc  (Lucy),  b.  Oct.  12,  1725. 

Samuel  Porter  (2),  s.  of  Samuel,  dec'd, 
m.  Marv  Upson,  d.  of  Stephen,  Dec.  9, 
1747.     She  d.  Mch.  23,  1780;  he,  Jan.  8, 

1793. 


z.  Ebenezer.  b.  Jan.  24,  1749-50. 

a.  Jemima,  b.  Nov.  13,  1752;  m.  Reuben  Bronson. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  7,  1755. 

Samuel  Porter,  Jr.  (3),  s.  of  Capt.  Samuel, 
m.  Sibbel  Munson,  d.  of  Obadiah,  Jan. 

28,  1778. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  14,  1778. 

2.  Eunice,  b.  Mch.  23;  d.  May  i,  1780. 

3.  Stephen,  b.  Sept.  22,  1781  [grad.  at  Dartmouth, 

1808;  preached  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.]. 

4.  Obadiah,  b.  July  24,  1783. 

5.  Azubah,  b.  July  6,  1785. 

6.  Marshall,  b.  June  4,  1788. 

7.  Samuel  Munson,  b.  May  16,  1790. 

8.  Sheldon,  b.  Mch.  31,  1792. 

Sybbel  d.  Feb.  5,  1794,  and  Samuel  m. 
Lucy  Bronson,  d.  of  Deac.  Andrew, 
Nov.  22,  1795. 

9.  Lorrain  Bronson,  b.  Sept.  8,  1799. 
10.  Leonard,  b.  July  23,  1802. 

Samuel  Porter  was  m.  to  Mary  Lowere, 
Sept.  13,  1830,  by  William  A.  Curtiss, 
Presbyter  of  the  Prot.  Epis.  Ch.  in  the 
United  States. 

Samuel  Porter  from  Milford  m.  Minerva 
Beach,  d.  of  James  of  Litchfield,  Jan. 
16,  1842. 

1.  Wales,  b.  May  30,  1844. 

2.  Frances  Laduska,  b.  Jan.  26,  1847. 

Silas  Porter,  s.  of  David,  m.  Polly 
Strong,  d.  of  Benjamin  of  Southbury, 
Dec.  21,  1802. 

X.  Edwin,  b.  Feb.  25,  1804. 
2.  Esther,  b.  June  8,  1806. 

Simeon  Porter,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas,  m. 
Lucy  Lewis,  d.  of  Deac.  Samuel,  June 
28,  1770. 

I.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  28,  1771. 

Thomas  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  m. 
Mary  Welton,  d.  of  Stephen,  dec*d. 
D^c.  7,   1727  [and  d.  Jan.  28,  1797,  a. 

95]. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  24,  1728;  m.  Enoch  Scott. 

2.  Ashbel,  b.  Feb.  2,  1729-30. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  5,  1731-2;  m.  Joel  Sanford. 

4.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  19,  1734  [d.  unm.]. 

5.  Thomas,  b.  May  9,  1736. 

6.  Phineas,  b.  Dec.  i,  1739. 

7.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  9,  1742;  m.  Timothy  Clark. 

8.  Symeon,  b.  June  18,  1744. 

9.  Sybel,  b.  Aug.  28,  1747  |d.  young]. 

xo.  Dorcas,  b.  Aug.  2,  1751  [m.  Erastus  Bradley]. 

Thomas  Porter,  s.  of  Capt.  Thomas,  m. 
Mehitable  Hine,  d.  of  Daniel  of  New 
Milford,  Dec.  12,  1758.  He  d.  Jan.  31, 
iSi7»  [she,  June  i,  1837,  a.  98]. 

1.  Sibil,  b.  Nov.  10,  1759. 

2.  Rebecca,  b.  June  5,  1761;  m.  Jared  Byington. 

3.  Truman,  b.  Sept.  8,  1763. 

[4.  Ethel,  b.  1765;  d    Mch.  2,  1797. 

5.  Polly;  m.  Marshall  Lewis. 

6.  Stephen;  m. Manvill.J 

[Thomas  Porter,  s.  of  Truman,  m.  Sally 
Warner,  d.  of  Stephen,  July  12,  18 15. 

1.  Emily  M.,  b.  Aug.  12,  1816;  m.  A.  G.  Hull. 

2.  Esther,  b.  1819;  d.  1820,  a.  3  m. 

3.  Esther  M.,  b.  Apr.  22,  1822;  d.  1841. 


FAMILY  RECORDS, 


AP107 


Porter.  Post. 

4.  Tames  £.,  b.  June  22,  1824. 

5.  Martha  H.,  b.  Ian.  7,  1828;  d.  1831. 

6.  George  E.,  b.  Sept.  14,  1830. 

7.  Thomas  E., ) 

and         >b.  Nov.  17,  183a.] 

8.  Truman  E., ) 

Timothy  Porter  [carpenterl,  s.  of 
Richard,  m.  Mary  Balawin,  d.  of  Jona- 
than, Dec.  18,  1735. 

I.  Sybel,  b.  Mch.  23,  1737. 

a.  Joho,  b.  Feb.  22,  1738-0. 

3.  Lois,  b.  Feb.  6,  1742-3  [m.  Bartholomew  Bolt] . 

4.  Marv,  b.  May  28,  1745  [m.  Eli  Scott]. 

5.  Mark,  b.  Mch.  27,  1748. 

6.  Ruth,  b.  old  stile.  May  17, 1750;  m. Gamaliel  Fenn. 

7.  Timothy,  ) 

and       vb.  June  8,  1753. 

8.  Lucy,         )  [ra.  Aug.  Peck.] 

Timothy  m.  his  second  wife,  Hannah 
Winters,  Aug.  27, 1767.  [He  was  Deac. 
Timothy  in  1770.] 

IDr.  Timothy  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  m. 
Margaret  Skinner,  d.  of  Gideon  of  Bol- 
ton. She  was  b.  1739,  and  d.  18 13. 
He  d.  Jan.  24,  1792. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  23,  1768. 

2.  Sylvia  C,  b.  Feb.  24,  1771. 

3.  Dr.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  3,  1772;  m.  Levinia  Porter, 

d.  of  Preserved,  and  d.  May  6,  1841. 

4.  Olive,  b.  July  26,  1775;  m.  Moses  Hall. 

5.  Anna,  b.  Apr.  5,  1777;  m.  R.  F.  Welton. 

6.  Chauncey,  b.  Apr.  24,  1779. 

7.  Timothy  Hopkins,  b.  Nov.  28,  1785.] 

Timothy  Porter,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Claris- 
sa Frisbie,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  May  17, 
1812. 

I.  Joseph,  b.  June  5,  1812. 

a.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  21,  1815;  m.  S.  E.  Palmer. 

3.  Jane  E.,  b.  Feb.  3,  1818;  m.  J.  C.  Welton. 

Clarissa  d.  Nov.  18,  1821.  and  Timothy 
m.  Dec.  30.  1824,  Polly  Ann  Todd,  b. 
May  12,  1800,  d.  of  Hezekiah  of 
Cheshire. 

4.  Timothy  Hopkins,  b.  Feb.  16,  i8a6. 

5.  Nathan  T.,  b.  Dec.  10,  1828, 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  9,  183 1. 

7.  David  G.,  b.  Mch.  8,  1833. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  May  17,  1835. 

Truman  Porter,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Sarah 
Thompson,  d.  of  Jonathan  of  New 
Haven,  Jan.  i,  1784.  [He  d.  Sept.  27, 
1838;  she,  Oct.  26,  1837,  in  Coventry, 
N.  Y.]. 

1.  Margaret,  b.  Nov.  23,  1784  [m.  Parson  Bcccher]. 

2.  Minerva,  b.  Oct.  24,  1788  [m.  Truman  Adams] . 

3.  Julius,  b.  Aug.  26,  1790;  d.  1831. 

4.  Thomas,  b.  Jan.  7,  1703. 

5.  Alma,  b.  Feb.  9,  1795  [m.  Simeon  Miles]. 

6.  Sally,  b.  Sept.  25,  1801. 

7.  Myretta.  b.  June  24,  1803*  m.  Edwin  Birge. 

8.  Hector,  d.  Aug.  11,  1805  [m.  Isabella  Upson]. 

9.  William,  b.  Oct.  20,  1807;  d.  Mch.  30,  18^09. 

Qabriel  Post  from  Bellville,  N.  J.,  m. 
Elizabeth  Allen,  d.  of  Isaac,  Apr.  11, 
1830. 

1.  John  H.,  b.  Mch.  22,  1832. 

2.  William  R.,  b.  Mch.  22,  1834. 

George  W.  Tucker,  an  adopted  child,  b.  Feb.  24, 
1841. 


Post.  Potter. 

Welthy  E.  Post  m.  John  Dudley,  1839. 
Abigail  Potter  m.  Sidney  Hall,  1830. 
Ann  Potter  m.  Hubbard  Smith,  1835. 
Chastina  Potter  m.  Hiel  Bristol,  1825. 

Daniel  Potter  [b.  in  New  Haven,  June  9, 
1 718,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Martha  Ives  of 
North  Haven,  Mch.  11,  1741].  She'd, 
July  13,  1770,  a.  34;  he,  Oct.  19,  1773. 

1.  Elam,  b.  Feb.  i,  1741-2.   (Yale  Col.) 

2.  Ambros,  b.  Apr.  28,  1743  [d.  Apr.,  1822]. 

3.  Eliakim,  b.  Jan.  6,  1744-5. 

4.  Isaiah,  b.  July  23.  1746  (Vale,  1767).  ^  [He  was 

grandfather  of  Longfellow's  first  wife.] 

5.  Lyman,  b.  Mch.  14,  1747-8.    (Yale  Col.) 

6.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  20,  1749;  d.  Aug.  31,  17S0. 

7.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  9,  1751;  ra.  Aaron  Dunbar. 

8.  Mabel,  b.  Nov.  5,  1752;  m.  Eliasaph  Doolittle. 

9.  Martha,  b.  Mch.  16,  1754;  m.  Jason  Fenn. 
10  and  II.  Sons-  d.  young. 

12.  Daniel,  b.  Feb.  15,  1758.    (Yale,  1780.) 
[13.  Lake,  b.  Aug.  13,  1759;  m.  Lois  Royce.] 

Daniel  Potter,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Martha 
Humiston,  d.  of  Caleb,  Jan.  25,  1781.* 

z.  Horace,  b.  Dec.  10,  1781.4 
2.  Anselm,  b.  Nov.  20,  1786. 

D.  Gano  Potter  [s.  of  Rev.  Samuel]  m. 
Mary  E.  Ward  [d.  of  Richard],  Feb. 
17,  I 841. 

Eliakim  Potter  m.  Feb.  18,  1777,  wid. 
Temperance  Blakeslee,  b.  Oct.  21, 1756.* 

1.  Esther,  b.  Apr.  29,  1779. 

2.  Phebe,  b.  June  22,  1781. 

3.  Esther,  b.*N«v.  11,  1783. 

4.  Eliakim,  b.  July  14,  1785. 

Erastus  P.  Potter,  b.  Dec.  28,  1805,  s.  of 
Lemuel,  m.  Oct.  3,  1826,  Elizabeth 
Roberts,  b.  Sept,  7,  1801,  d.  of  Amasa. 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  17,  1827;  m.  A.  P.  Lewis. 

2.  Franklin  Drake,  s.  of  Wm.  M.,  an  adopted  child, 

Jb.  Sept.  I,  1840. 

Franklin  Potter  [s.  of  Rev.  Samuel]  m. 
Lucy  Chase  of  New  Preston,  Men.  2, 
1850. 

Franklin  S.  Potter  [s,  of  Ruel]  m.  Jane 
M.  Gerard  of  Birmingham,  May  30, 
1850. 

Jacob  Potter,  s.  of  Samuel,  dec'd,  m. 
Abigail  Blakeslee,  d.  of  Capt.  Thomas, 
July  2,  1762. 

1.  Demas,  b.  Jan.  29,  1763. 

2.  Zenas,  b.  Mch.  5,  1765. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  Mch.  14,  1767. 

4.  Mabel,  b.  Apr.  3,  1769. 

5.  Dolly,  b.  Mch.  21,  1772. 

6.  Arza,  b.  Apr.  9,  1774. 
Chester,  b.  Oct.  23,  1787.* 

[Dr.  John  Potter  m.  Lydia  Harrison — 
both  of  Farmingbury,  Sept.  3,  1783.] 

Joseph  Potter  [b.  in  East  Haven,  Oct, 
6,  1691,  eldest  s.  of  John,  3d,  and  Eliza- 
beth (Holt),  m.  Thankful  Bradley]. 

6.  Desire,  b.  Dec.  28,  1748. 

7.  Enos,  b.  May  31,  1751. 

8.  Desire,  b.  Oct.  i,  1755. 


BISTORT  OF  WATBRBUR7. 


Milinna    Potter    m.     Htjnrj-    Palterwin, 

Nancy  Potter  m.  Samuel  ChipmaQ.  iSnj. 

Oliver  N.  Potter  [s.  of  Samuel]  m, 
Louisa  Potter  [d.  of  Tbomas]  of  Chen- 
ango Co.,  N,  v.,  Apr.  i6,  1S46. 

Rachel  Potter  m.  Lucian  Judd,  iSjo. 

Ruel  Potter  [s.  of  Lemuel]  m.  Clarissa 
A.  Korbos,  Jan.  7,  1B25. 

Samuel  Potter  [b.  170S,  s.  of  Jobn.  jd, 
m.  173B.  Dorotny  Moulthrop,  d.  of  Na- 
than, and]  d.  Nov.  23,  1756. 

Eunin,  d.  Nor.  n.  i7;6. 
Lucy.  A.  Nov.  ,,  ,756. 


Jonathan  C.  Pratt  of  Westbrook  r 

becca  Baldwin,  July  2,  1843, 
Caleb  Preston: 


(Sunuc 


,:,""■ 


r.  Unice,  b.  Srpi.  6,  17^5. 
».  Lu«,b.  Nov.  1,.  i7'*. 
3.  Mmry.  b.  Junt  15.  i;'a. 

jliamtiil.b.  Jiilyi-''77i- 
£  BelU,b.ru]y,;,  .77*. 

■  I.  DuoieLb.  Feb.''i3"?79. 
Polly,  b.>n.  JO,. jg..i 
Alhcr,  b.  Sepl.  in,  17^4^  d.  i7Sq. 

[Rev.  Samnel  Potter,  b.  Sept.  23,  1779,  s. 
of  Lemuel  and  Rachel  (Perkins)  of 
Bethany,  m.  May  9.  1791),  Leva  Judd, 
d.  of  RoswcU. 

I.  Samuel  Dario),  b.  Dec.  15,  1799;  d.  June.  1803. 
9.  Leve  Marin,  b.  July  15,  iSai;  in.  M.  Baldoio. 


X  RoT^'b'juBi  jst^'i'^s;  m.  M 

5.  Samurl,  b.  Api.  55,  1607. 

6.  Ztniu,  b.  Aug.  S,  iSoy. 

7.  Tbumai  Perkioi,  b.  Nov.  11,  iSi 

;:&y;'ni.v"4,... 


EBi"; 


'i"*.c 


1>.D«.  s. 


t&-x, 


b.rf™.^ji"J 


6.  Amaia,  b.  Apr.  3: 

?.  Sarah,  b,  May  ,,  .755. 

8.   ioii»Ih«n,  b.  <JcI.  I,  175a. 

Sarah  d.  Mch.  17.  1761,   and   Jucalhao 
m.  Catharine  Luddenton,  July  iS.  17^1- 

10.  Mr4c?.  b.  M<tv  19,  176-1. 
,..  Abraham,  b,  Sep..  ,.,765. 

WitlUm  PrcBton  of  Pittsburgh,  Penn  . 
m.  Caroline  M.  Scovill,  Oct.  31,  ib4j. 

Harriet  H.  Price  m.  Samael  Tavl'jr. 
'S33. 

Abraham  Prichard,  s,  of  Roger,  dec'd. 
m.  Abigail  Smith,  d.  of  Thomas  01  Der- 
by, dec'd.  Mch.  13,  1766. 

I.  Rtpben,b.Scpi.ii,i7«t«iim>Pean;. 

3.  AblEul.  b.  Jan.  li.  I7«a  [m.  in  Harwist<4i,  m^ 

„«jci.«Ldi..^^__^ 

■^diT^ii-r-a. 


4.  J^",  S"'>' 


b.  Oc-t. ; 


■77SJ. 


[Abraham,  b.  May  25,  1785;  m.  Sylvia  Clark,! 
Amofl  Prichard,  s.  of  Roeer.  dec'd.  was 
ni.  to  Lydia  Blakeslee,  May  36,  i7b3.  by 
Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth,  v.  m. 
r.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  i»,  17^9;  ni.  Eleazcr  H^L 


),  Roser,  b.  May  17,  177B;  d.  Ai>e.  11,  1779. 

,.  Sabra.  b.  Ian.  S,  .780  (m.  I»ac  AflenJ. 

i.  Roger.  b.Wch.  7,  1761. 

5.  Ona.  b.  Ocl.  •«,  1783  [m.  Dyrr  Holchfcjj^  |a» 

la.  1B04,  and  had  Charlci.  Kinry,  Muy,  Ab» 

and  Santa]. 


Zenas  Potter  m.  Betty  Blakeslee,  Nov. 

15.  1759.' 
Zenas   Potter   [s.   of   Rev.   Samuel]   m. 

Mary  Hotchkiss,  Oct,  27.  '832. 
John   Powers   m.    Huldah    Hall,   d.    of 

Zebulon  Scutt,   Sept.  27,   17^5.     He  d. 

Oct.,  1S22,  and  she,   Aug.  28.  1E33,  a. 

81.' 
Francis  H.  Pratt,  1>.  May  11.  1S05,  s.  of 

Roswell,   m.   Sept.    10,    1832,    Emeline 

Moss,  b,  Aug.  28.  1811,  d.  of  Amos  of 

Litchfield. 


dec'd,  Oct.  23,  1782. 


b,  Oci.  ■ 


FAMILY  RECOh 


Prichard.  Prichard. 

Benjamin  m.  Hannah  Marks,  July  4, 
1733,  and  d.  June,  1760. 

Desire,  b.  Tuly  7,  1734;  d.  unm. 
Esther,  b.  Nov.,  1735;  m.  Johnson  Anderson. 
Elnathan,  b.  June  12,  1737— all  in  Milford]. 
Jonathan,  b.  Oct.  19,  Z739. 

[Benjamin  Prichard,  s.  of  Benjamin 
(above)  m.  Martha  Lambert,  d.  of  Jesse, 
Aug.  25,  1753.  He  d.  Mch.  30,  1782; 
she,  1804. 

Martha,  bap.  July,  1754;  d.  1812,  unm. 
Benjamin,  bap.  July,  1756;  m.  Hannah  Tuttle, 

d.  of  Jabez,  and  d.  of  small-pox  in  Wat.,  1801. 
Jesse,  b.  1759;  ™*  Eunice  Oviatt,  d,  of  Samuel, 

and  d.  1837.  ^  Mary. 
All  lived  in  Milford  except  Benjamin.] 

Bennett  Pritchard  m.  Amy  Wilmot,  June 
6,  1825;  and  Laura  Russell,  Mch.  21, 
1830. 

I>avid  Prichard  [s.  of  James,  m.  Ruth 
Smith,  d.  of  Joseph,  Dec.  20,  1757]. 

1.  Archibel,  b.  June  25,  1756. 

2.  Ruth,  b.  Oct.  x6,  1760  [m.  1797,  Justus  P.Spen- 

cer of  Benton,  N.  Y.;  had  two  dau's,  Almira 
and  Ruth,  and  d.  x8i6]. 

3.  Mariana,  b.  May  5,  1763  [ra. Abbe]. 

4.  Philoe.  b.  Aug.  5,  1765. 

5.  Silva,  D.  Feb.  17,  1768  [m.  Francis  French]. 

6.  MoUe,  b.  Tune  aa,  1770;  d.  Jan.  24,  1779. 

7.  Molle,  b.  Feb.  28,  1773  ["*•  Jacob  Hall,  1795]. 

8.  David,  b.  Oct.  24,  1775. 

9.  Djimon,  b.  Nov.  5,  1777. 

10.  Sally,  b.  June  28,  1780  [m.  Ira  Hotchkiss]. 

David  Prichard,  Jr.,  s.  of  David,  m.  An- 
na Hitchcock,  d.  of  Benjamin,  Nov.  9, 
1797. 

1.  Minerva,  b.  June  22,  1798  [m.  Francis  Bancroft 

of  East  Wmdsor]. 

2.  William,  b.  Mch.  20,  1800   fm.  Eliza  Hall,  d.  of 

Amos  of  Cheshire,  June  x6,  1825J. 

3.  Julius  Smith,  b.  Feb.  14,  1809  [m.  Maria,  d.  of 

J.  Gtx>dwin  Tyrrell]. 

4.  Elizur  Edwin,  b.  Sept.  19,  1804. 

5.  [Mary]^  Anna,  b.  Sept.  9,  1806;  d.  Nov.  24,  1822. 

6.  Sally  Hotchkiss,  b.  Auj<.  29, 1808;  d.  Feb.  4, 1827. 

7.  [Dr.j  David,  b.  Oct.  24,  1810  [m.  Wealthy  Hill 

Wilcox  of  Madison,  Dec.  31,  1833]. 

8.  Samuel  Holland,  b.  May  27,  1813 

9.  Charlotte  Lucy,  b.  June  27,  1816. 

David  M.  Prichard  m.  Rhoda  S.  North- 
rop of  Watertown,  Aug.  6.  1S4S. 

Dennis  Prichard  m.  Julia  Abigail  Downs, 
Jan.  20,  1 83 1. 

Elias  Pritchard  and  Hannah  [Payne,  d. 
of  David  and  Submit]. 

1.  Lumon,  b.  Feb.  j6.  1805. 

2.  Aaron,  b.  Jan.  5;  a.  Mch.  27,  1807. 

3.  Minerva,  b.  Oct.  2,  i8<>8. 

4.  Emeline,  b.  Dec.  29,  1810;  m.  Wm.  Fulford  and 

Bennett  Scott. 

5.  Rebecca,  b.  July  2,  1814;  m.  Norman  Ailing. 

6.  Clarissa,  b.  fuly  27,  18 16;  ra.  M.  W.  Welton. 

7.  Koxana,  b.  Jan.  15,  1818. 

8.  A  twin  with  Roxana;  d.  6  hours  old. 

9.  George  Nelson,  b.  Aug.  17,  1819. 

10.  David  Miles,  b.  Mch.  2,  1825. 

XX.  William  Harry,  b.  June  21,  1826. 

Elizur  E.  Prichard,  s.  of  David  [Jr.]  ra. 
Betsey  J.  Cooper  [d.  of  Asa  of  Caleb] 
from  Derby,  Mch.  11,  1827. 


Prich 

X.  El 
a.  Sa 

3.  [A 

4.  C« 

5.  Fli 

Emily 

Georg 

beth 
Hav 
1820 

1.  c 
a.  G 

3? 

4.  Pi 

5.  J< 

6.  Ii 

\.  H 

9.  El 

xo.  R< 

t 

Georg^i 

Han: 

X.  Die 
a.  Jau 

3.  Clo 

4.  Ezi 

Georg( 

Frar 

Georg 

Laui 
Nov" 

X.  Eli 

Gilber 

A., 

1845 

I.  Mt 

Isaac 

Lois 
[He 
1824 

1.  Ja; 

2.  Li( 

[3.> 

4.  Exi 

5.  Th 

{ 

6.  Isj 

7.  Lo 

Isaac 
Bale 

2.  > 

3.  E 

5-  i 

6.  C 

9.  A 
10.  C 

Isaial 

Ups 

Jamei 

(s. 
Rel 
Roj 
fielc 


IIOAP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 


Prichard.  Pritchard. 

at  which  date  he  m.  wid.  Elizabeth 
Slough,  d.  of  James  Prudden,  and  d. 
in  New  Haven,  Jan.  26,  1670-71);  and 
Elizabeth  Johnson,  b.  Aug.  28,  1701,  d. 
of  George  and  Hannah  (Dorman)  of 
Stratford,  were  m.  Dec.  25,  1721. 

X.  James,  b.  Jan.  31,  1722-3. 
a.  George,  b.  Oct.  <,  1724. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Men.  12,  1726-7;  m.  Benj.  Nichols. 

4.  Isaac,  b.  Sept.  ao,  1729 — all  b.  in  MilfordJ. 

5.  John,  b.  July  25,  1734;  d.  Aug.  6,  1749. 

6.  David,  b.  Apr.  7,  1737. 

7.  Anna  (Hannah),  b.  Apr.  4,  1740;  m.  John  Strick- 

land and  Nathl.  Sutliff. 

Mr.  James  Prichard  d.  Sept.  3,  1749, 
and  Elizabeth  m.  Capt.  Stephen  Up- 
son. 
James  Prichard,  s.  of  James,  m.  Abigail 
Hickcox,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  Aug.  7,  1740. 

X.  Jabez,  b.  Feb.  i8,  1740-x   [m.  Eunice  Botsford, 

K64,  and  was  Lieut.  Jabez  of  Rev.  War.    Set 
erby  His.,  pp.  638  and  647]. 
s.  Jerehiah,  b.  Apr.  13,  1743. 

3.  £lisha,  b.  Oct.  i,  1745;  d.  Aug.  xx,  1749. 

4.  James  the  less,  b.  Apr.,  1748;  d.  Aug.  16,  1749. 

5.  James,  b.  June  4,  1750  [m.  Rachel  "Warren  of 

Derby,  177^]. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  May  14,  1752. 

[7.  Lydia,  b.  in  Derby,  Aug.  11,  1757:  m.  J.  Lum. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  in  Derby,  Nov.  xs,  1759.J 

[James  Prichard,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Sarah 
Cook,  d.  of  Charles  (and  Sibyl  Mun- 
son)  of  Moses,  Jan.  22, 1789,  and  d.  Apr. 
16,  1813. 

ieremiah,  b,  Feb.  17,  X79X. 
lonson,  d.  young. 
Alma,  b.  Mch.  X5,  1796;  d.  unra. 
Louisa,  b.  Sept.  2,  1798;  d.  unm. 
Isaac  James  (ace.  to  bap.  rec.),  b.  Nov.  ix,  1802; 

d.  Aug.  4,  1827,  unm. 
Sibyl  Monson,  b.  Aug.  25,  1800;  m.  Ezra  Ham- 
ilton of  Hartford,  Feb.  10,  1824. 
Maria  Ann,  b.  June  24,  1805;  m.  Solomon  Parker 
of  Westville. 
Sarah  Cook,  b.  May  22,  x8xi;  m.  Albert  Downs.] 

John  Pritchard,  s.  of  Abraham,  m.  Anna 
Hotchkiss,  d.  of  Eben  of  Prospect, 
Mch.  25,  1806. 

1.  Eben,  b.  Nov.  6,  1806. 

a.  Beza  Smith,  b.  Apr.  22,  x8o8. 

3.  Celestia,  b.  June  5,  1810;  m.  S.  H.  McKey. 

4.  Buel,  b.  Jan.  26,  1812. 

5.  Luther,  b.  Sept.  X4,  1813. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  ^,  1815. 

7.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Feb.  17,  18 18;  m.  David  Wheeler 

and  Jesse  Brown. 

8.  Phebe,  b.  Mch.  4,  X822;  m.  Dan.  Curtiss. 

Joseph  Prichard,  s.  of  Joseph  of  Milford, 
m.  Rebecah  Smith,  d.  of  James,  Aug. 

2,  1761.  He  d.  at  Saybrook,  Oct.  23, 
1775.  a.  34. 

X.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  5,  1763. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  19,  1765. 

3.  Thomas  Gains,  b.  Oct.  3,  X768. 

4.  William,  b.  Jan.  4,  1771. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  14,  1774. 

Leonard  Pritchard,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Feb. 
1825,  Elizabeth  Pritchard,  b.  Oct.  26, 
1805,  d.  of  Asher. 

1.  Eliza,  b.  Oct.  6,  1827;  m.  W.  A.  Welton. 

9«  Sarah,  b.  June  i,  1829. 


Pritchard.  Pritchard. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Ian  23,  1835. 

4.  FranceSf  b.  Dec.  29,  1838. 

5.  Julia,  b.  Dec.  2,  1844. 

Luzina  Prichard  m.  Garry  Atkins,  1837. 

Mary  Prichard,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Milford, 
m.   Benj.   Richards,    1736,   and  'Amos 
Hikcox,  1740. 

Mary  Prichard,  wid.  of  Joseph  of  Mil- 
ford,  m.  James  Welton,  1763. 

Philo  Prichard,  s.  of  David,  m.  [Sabra] 
Johnson,  Dec.  17,  1783. 

I.  Sukey,  b.  Tuly  26,  X784. 

[Nathaniel,  b.  Aug.  25,  1787.] 

Rebeckah  Prichard  m.  Sam.  Root,  1803. 

Roger  Prichard  [s.  of  Benjamin  of  Rog- 
er m.  in  Milford,  Mch.  8, 171 5- 16,  Han- 
nah Northrop,  d.  of  William. 

1.  Roger,  b.  Dec.  25,  X716. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  2,  X718;  d.  1738. 

3.  Mary,  bap.  Mch.  4,  X722. 

4.  Ann,  b.  Feb.  14,  1724. 

5.  Ephraim,  b.  1726;  d. 

Hannah  d.  Nov.  28,  1726,  and  Roger 
m.  Sarah .     He  d.  May  i8,  1760. 

7.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  x6,  X73X;  m. Warner. 

8.  Abigail,  b.  Mch.  15,  z733-4> 

9.  Sibella,  b.  Jan.  9,  1736;  d.  X737. 

xo.  Abraham  b.  Oct.  12,  1737 — all  b.  in  Milford]. 

Chil.  of  Roger  and  Sarah  b.  in  Water- 
bury: 

5  ^11).  Amos,  b.  Aug.  27,  X739. 

6  (12).  Elihue,  b.  Oct.  27,  1741. 

[His  heirs  were  Roger,  Sarah,  w.  of  Jo- 
seph Fenn,  Jr.,  Ann,  w.  of  Stephen 
Bradley,  Phebe  Warner,  Amos  add 
Abraham.] 

Roger  Prichard,  Jr.,  s.  of  Roger,  m. 
Ann  Buggbe  of  Derby,  Feb.  16,  1742-3. 
[He  d.  Sept.  19,  1792. J 

X.  Philene,  b.  May  18,  1744;  m.  Elijah  Richards. 

2.  Sybyl,  b.  Oct.  25,  1745;  d.  Sept.  23.  1749. 

3.  Elihue,  b.  Sept.  19,  1747;  d.  Sept.  19,  1749. 

4.  Elihue,  b.  July  19,  1749:  d.  Aug.,  1751. 

5.  Ann,  b.  Apr.  24,  1752;  m.  Josiah  Warner. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Nov.  29,  1754. 

7.  Eliphalet,  b.  Dec.  2,  1756. 

8.  Elihue,  b.  May  23,  1759. 

Roger  Prichard,  s.  of  Amos,  d.  July  25 ^ 
1843,  a.  61. •  Chloe  [Nichols],  his  wife, 
d.  Aug.  17,  1839,  a.  53."    [Children: 

Gilbert.     Dennis.    Amy,  m.  Chas.  Seely.] 

Samuel  H.  Pritchard,  s.  of  David,  rjr.l 
m.  Jennet  C.  Hall,  d.  of  Lemuel  of 
Cheshire,  Oct.  31,  1837. 

X.  Henry  Hall,  b.  Apr.  x,  1838. 

a.  Frederick  Elizur,  b.  Nov.  13,  1844. 

Sarah  Prichard  m.  Ethan  Andrews, 
1780. 

Sarah  Pritchard  m.  Isaac  Baldwin,  1831. 

Spencer  Pritchard,  b.  Feb.  19,  1807,  s. 
of  Isaiah,  m.  Nov.  13,  1829,  Mary  E. 
Wilmott.  b.  Sept.  4.  1809,  d,  of  Daniel 
of  Prospect. 


FAMILY  REOO 

Raymond.  Redi 

I.  Eliia  Rebecca,  b.  Feb.  ii,  18.11.  lailM 

Tajnar    Prichard    m.    Joseph    Leaven-  Chat 

worth,  1797,  ni- 

Mary  Prince  m.  Moses  Noyes,  177S.*  . 

Damaras  Prindle  m.  Beta  Lewis,  1760,  g]  5 

and  Oliver  Terrell,  1764.  3-  \ 
Eleazer  Prindle,  s.  ofTonathan.  m.  Pi 
Scovill.    d.   of  William,    Oct. 


Emil; 


175a.  [Shed.  1789.]  '     Pram 


iry.  b.  Dec,  6.  1763;' m.  Lerl  Bi 


n.  '774- 

a.  Din»h  Lu«,  b.  jtme  «.  .7,8. 
i.  Bilk.  b.  Sept.  ij,  i78o.> 

Sarah  Punderson  m.  Zach.  Thompson, 

1771. 
Tentj  Punderson  m.  Thos.   Dutton,  3d, 

178a. 
Jeremiab  Quintan  ni.   Margaret  Regan, 

Sept.  4,  1851. 
Susan  M.  Ray  m.  Richard  Steele,  1S31. 
William  Rarmood  and  Mary:' 


.84. 
John 

Elizabeth  Prindle  m.  Sam.  Root,  1740.  Salj 

Jonathan  Prindle,  s.  of  Eleazer  of  Mil-  1.  '* 

ford,  dec'd,  m.  Rachel  Hikcojt,  d.  of  '■  g 

Wm.,  dec'd,  May  4,  173a.     [He  d.  1783;  ^    u 

she,  1798.]  s.  T 

1.  Eleazer,  b.  Mch.  20,  1733,  Patru 

».  JonMhii.  b.  July  «,  \%:  d.  Feb.  .7,  m*'!-  ,^ 

}.  Rachel,  b.  Mch.  iq,  1738-  n.  Hei.  Brown.  H. 

4.  Rebel<ah,  b.  Feb.  7. 1740;  m.  Noab  Judd.  Hantt 

5.  Hannah,  b.  Dec.  ii.  iiii;  m.  DaviiTAtnold.  "ann- 

6.  Jomthim,  b.  June  31,  iiA.  Tohn  ] 

7.  i>..Ld.b.  Julie.  ,75.  fi.HopeW..n«r..]  ^"^^ 
Jonathan  Prindle,  s.  of  Lieut.  Jonathan,  u 

m.   Margaret  Hall,  Oct.  13,   1768  [d.  .!  j, 

before  1782].  Nanc 

1.  Ele.b.  r«n.-i,.77o.  _ 

>.  Micbael.  t>.  Dec.  16. 1771.  Fran< 

Nathan  Prindle,  s.  of  Ebenezer  of  New-  '^S' 

town,  m.  Mary  Richason,  d.  of  John.  Jane 
dft'fl,  M.iy  .}.  1728,  and  d.  July  8,  1746. 

;:  ru;';i::.',i;,  '.'K^r-.t^^t "■  '"'■'^  ■  fo! 

3.  n.-i.,,,  !...>...  .4.  .7«;  .n..  Cor.  Crave.. 


Nathan  Prindle  and  Hannah:   children 
b.  in  Wat. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  i,  1769. 

Phebe  Prindle  m.  Moses  Ford,  1755. 
Rnth  Prindle  m.  Asa  Bronson,  178J. 
Anna    Punderson  in.  Chas.   Me 

1784.' 


Arch 


112  AP 


BISTORT  OF  WATBRBURT. 


Rick.  Richards. 

Anna  Maria  Cook,  d.  of  Samuel,  Dec. 
6,  1832. 

See  also  Royce. 

Rev.  Samuel  Rich  and  Angeline:* 

Abigail,  bap.  Oct.  17,  18x9. 
Eroeline,  bap.  Apr.  27,  1823. 

Abijah  Richards,  s.  of  Thomas,  dec'd.  m. 
Huldah  Hopkins,  d.  of  Capt.  Timothy, 
dec'd,  Dec.   15,   1749,   and  d.   Oct.  4, 

1773. 

z.  Streat,  b.  Dec.  12,  1750. 

2.  Giles,  b.  Feb.  17,  1754  [in.  Sarah  Adams,  d.  of 

Rev.  Thomas  of  Koxbury,  Mass.]. 

3.  Axhsah,  b.  Jan.  22,  Z756  [m.  Luther  Hyde]. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  May  9,  1758;  d.  June  30,  1760. 

5.  Mark,  b.  July  15,  1760  [m.  Ann  Kugj^les  Dow]. 

6.  Huldah,  b.  Sept.  x6,  1762  [m.  Abel  Sherman]. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  May  5,  1765;  d.  Sept.  17,  1760. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  May  8,  1767;  ro.  Dr.  Isaac  Baldwin. 

Benjamin  Richards,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m. 
Mary  Prichard,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Milford, 
in  Wat.,  July  29,  1736.  He  d.  Nov.  22, 
1736,  and  Mary  m.  Amos  Hikcox. 

1.  Benjamin,  b.  May  23,  1737. 

Benjamin  Richards,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m. 
Sarah  Judd,  d.  of  Capt.  Wilham,  Mch. 
16,  1758.     She  d.  Apr.  27,  1777. 

z.  Lewther,  b.  Jan.  2;  d.  Aug.  z6,  Z759. 

2.  Mercy,  b.  Jan.  25,  X761. 

3.  Lewther,  b.  Feb.  23,  Z764. 

4.  William,  b.  Nov.  13,  1766, 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  Z2,  Z772. 

6.  Silence,  b.  June  9,  X775. 

Ebenezer  Richards,  s.  of  John,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Saymore,  d.  of  Ebenezer  of  Ken- 
sington, Feb.  20,  1734-5.  He  d.  Oct. 
20.  1758  [she,  Dec.  18,  1800,  a.  87]. 

z.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  25,  Z734;  m.  John  Judd. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Apr.  Z4,  Z736;  d.  Aug.  28,  1758. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  Sept.  21,  1738;  d.  Oct.  27,  Z74Z. 

4.  Gideon,  b.  Oct.  10,  Z740;  d.  Oct.  22,  Z741. 

5.  Gideon,  b.  Nov.  2x,  Z742;  d.  Feb.  2Z,  Z77Z. 

6.  Noah,  b.  Sept.  Z4,  Z745  [of  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y. 

«79oJ. 

7.  Timothy,  b.  Dec.  27,  J747. 

8.  Asa,  h.  Apr.  21,  Z750;  d.  reb.  20,  Z758. 

9.  Obadiah,  b.  May  18,  Z752. 

10.  Abrahain,  b.  Aug.  5,  Z754  fm.  Sarah  Skilton, 
and  d.  in  Rhode  Island.  She  d.  in  Vaies  Co. 
in  Z7Q3,  having  been  for  several  years  asso- 
ciatea  with  Jemima  Wilkinson.] 

Elijah  Richards,  s.  of  Lieut.  Obadiah, 
m.  Philene  Prichard,  d.  of  lioger,  Apr. 

28,  1774. 

z.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  zi,  1775;  d.  Jan.  Z5,  1779. 

2.  Ame,  b.  Sept.  z,  Z776;  d.  June  6,  1798. 

3.  Obadiah,  b.  Nov.  iz,  1778. 

4.  Sarah  Ann,  b.  Feb.  Z2,  Z781. 

5.  Elijah  Davis,  b.  Apr.  5,  1784. 

6.  Roger  Hawkms,  b.  Apr.  14,  Z786. 

Harriet  Richards  m.  Rufus  Pierpont, 
1847. 

John  Richards,  soon  of  Obadiah,  m. 
Mary  Welton,  d.  of  John.  Sr.,  Aug.  17, 
1692.     She  d.  July  21,  1733  [he,  in  1735]- 

z.  A  soon,  b.  May  aboiight  29,  and  dyed  sometime 

in  June,  i^j2. 
2.  John,  b.  July  29,  i5p4;  d.  Nov.  29,  17Z9. 


Richards. 


Richards. 


3.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  aa,  1696-7  [bap.  in  Woodbury, 

iune  97.  Z607]  and  m.  Samuel  Scott, 
omas,  b.  Oct.  17,  Z699  [in  Newark,  at  the 
house  of  Deac.  Thomas  Richards,  who  was  his 
grandfather's  brother]. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  June  26,  Z702;  m.  Wm.  Scovill. 

6.  Obadiah,  b.  Apr.  20,  Z705. 

7.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  3Z,  Z708. 

8.  Lois,  b.  Nov.  z6,  Z7Z0;  d.  Dec.  23,  X7X8. 

9.  Ebenezer,  b.  May  Z2,  Z7Z3. 
zo.  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  Z5,  Z7Z7. 

Luther  Richards,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m. 
Anna  Saxton,  Nov.  28,  1785.* 

z.  Orris,  b.  Feb.  7,  X787. 

Mary  A.  Richards  m.  H.  V.  Welton, 
1834. 

Mary  J.  Richards  m.  A.  B.  French,  1851. 

Obadiah  Richards  [s.  of  Thomas  of  Hart- 
ford, m.  Hannah  Barnes. 

z.  John,  b.  Z667. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Jan.,  Z669;  m.  George  Scott. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.,  1671;  m.  John  Scovill. 

4.  Esther,  b.  Tune,  Z673;  m.  Dr.  Eph.  Warner. 

5.  Elizabeth,  D.  July,  Z675;  m.  John  Richasonand 

Nathl.  Arnold. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.,  Z677;  m.  David  Scott. 

7.  Obadiah,  b.  Oct.  z,  Z679;  d.  at  Lyme  before 

Z720. 

8.  Rachel,  bap.  May  6,  Z683;  m.  Jeremiah  Peck. 

9.  Thomas,  b.  Aug.  9,  Z685. 

zo.  Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  5,  169Z]  d.  June  2,  17x4. 

Obadiah  d.  Nov.  11,  1702  [leaving 
widow  Hannah,  whose  estate  was  pro- 
bated, June  4,  1725.] 

Obadiah  Richards,  s.  of  John,  m.  Han- 
nah Hikcox,  d.  of  Benjamin  of  Wood- 
bury, Mch.  22,  1732. 

z.  Mary,  b.  luly  26,  1733;  m.  Benjamin  Scott. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  30,  Z736. 

3.  A  dau.,  b.  and  d.  June  Z5,  Z739. 

Hannah  d.  June  27,  1739,  and  Obadiah 
m.  Hannah  [Davis],  wid.  of  John 
Hawkins  of  Derby,  Nov.  8,  1739. 

z.  Lois.  b.  Aug.  7,  Z740;  m.  Simeon  Hopkins. 

2.  Saran,  b.  Sept.  3,  1742;  d.  Sept.  Z9,  Z749. 

3.  Marcy,  b.  Mch.  29,  Z744;  d.  Aug.  30,  Z749. 

4.  Obadiah,  b.  Mch.  27,  Z746;  d,  Aug.  24,  Z749. 

5.  Elijah,  b.  Apr.  9,  Z748. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  May  9,  z75o^  d.  July  Z2,  Z75Z. 

Hannah  d.  Nov.  17,  175 1.  and  Obadiah 
m.  Sarah  Ashley  of  Hartford,  July  23, 
1752.     He  d.  July  19,  1775. 

Obadiah  Richards,  s.  of  Elijah,  m.  Chloe 
Merrills,  d.  of  Nathl.,  Aug.  i,  1798. 

Samuel  Richards,  s.  of  John,  m.  Miriam 
Hawkins,  d.  of  Jose  h  of  Derby,  dec'd, 
Apr.  18,  1734.  He  d.  Apr.  18,  1735, 
and  Miriam  m.  Thomas  Hikcox. 

z.  Miriam,  b.  Apr.  X2,  Z735;  m.  Elnathan  Judd. 

Streat  Richards,  s.  of  Abijah,  dec*d,  m. 
Eunice  Culver,  d.  of  Stephen,  Dec.  28, 

1775. 

X.  Polly,  b.  June  20,  Z778;  d.  Mch.,  1780. 
9.  Miles  Hopkins,  b.  June  z,  Z780. 
Sally;  m.  Daniel  Steele,  Jr.,  Z8Z3. 

Thomas  Richards's  wife,  Marah  Porter 


FAMILY  BWOB 


I 


l^ICHARDS.  RiCHASON. 

of  the  East  Jazise  in  new  wark,  d.  July 
17,  1 714.  [Wife  of  Deac.  Thomas,  bro- 
tlierof  Obadiah?] 

"Plioinas  Richards,  s.  of  Obadiah,  Sr.,  m. 
Hannah  Upson,  d.  of  Stephen,  Sr., 
r>ec.  24,  1 714.  [He  d.  1726]  and  Han- 
nah m.  John  Bronson,  1727. 

z.  Uniss.  b.  May  7,  17x6;  m.  Isaac  Bronson,  3d. 

2.  Abijan,  b.  Jan.  24,  17x7-18. 

3.  Lois,  b.  Nov.  X,  X719;  m.  Benjamin  Bronson  and 

Silas  Hotchkiss. 

4.  Joseph,  b.  Apr.  6,  1722. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  July  16,  1724. 

'Fhomas  Richards,  Jr.,  s.  of  John,  m. 
fwid.]  Susanna  Rennolds,  d.  of  John 
Turner  of  Hartford,  Nov.  19,  1723. 
[Lieut.  Thomas  d.  July,  1760.] 

X.  John,  b.  July  26;  d.  July  28.  1724. 

John,  b.  June  23,  1726  [settlea  in  Guilford] . 
Thomas  b.  Sept.  18,  1727. 

Susanna,  b.  July  3,  1729;   m.  John  Nettlcton. 

her  father's  will,  his  slave, 


2. 
3- 
4- 


I 


5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 


[She  rec'd,  by 

Jack.] 
ESenczer,  b.  Mch.  16,  X73X  [d.  i8ox]. 
Ix)is,  b.  Mch.  4;  d.  Au|f.  95.  1734. 
Lois,  b.  May  31.  1735;  m.  Th.  Hikcox,  3d. 
Benjamin,  b.  Aujf,  '3,  1737. 
Sarah,  b.  Aug.  28,  1739. 


Charles  Richardson  m.  Emelinc  Hall  of 
Wolcott,  Aug.  19,  1827. 

£benezer  Richason  of  Thomas  marid 
Margit  Warner,  d.  of  Thomas,  Apr.  21, 

1715. 

1.  Febc,  b.  Apr.  22;  d.  Jan.  9,  1716-X7. 

2.  Febe,  b.  Dec.  15,  17x7;  d.  Mch.  23,  1733. 

3.  Thoma.s.  b.  Dec.  7,  1720. 

4.  Toseph,  b.  Sept.  24,  1725. 

5.  Nathaniel,  b.  Apr.  8,  1729. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  I)cc.  23,  173X. 

Margaret  d.  June  27,  1749,  and  Eben- 
ezer  m.  Hannah  Bronson,  wid.  [of 
John],  Oct.  18,  1749.  She  d.  June  29; 
ne,  June  30,  1772. 

Israel  Richason,  s.  of  Thomas  and  Ma- 
ry, m.  Hannah  Woodruff,  d.  of  John 
and  Mary  of  Farmington,  Dec.  5, 1697. 
He  d.  Dec.  18,  1712;  she,  Apr.  12,  1713. 

X.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  6,  1699;  d.  Jan.  13,  1712-13. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  2,  1705  [m.  John  Scott  of  Sun- 

derland, Mass.]. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  June  11,  X708. 

4.  issraell,  b.  Aug.  28,  1711  [lived  with  Deac.  Clark 

in  X712;  was  of  Sunderland,  1735. 
Ruth,  bap.  at  Woodbury,  July  4,  X703.] 

James  H.  Richardson  of  Middlebury  m. 
Jane  S.  Atwood,  Sept.  9,  1846. 

John  Richason,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Ruth 
Wheeler,  d.  of  John  of  Woodbury, 
Apr.  22,  1 701. 

I.  Ruth,  b.  Feb.  xo,  1701  [m.  Moses  Doolittle]. 

John    m.   his    second  wife,   Elizabeth 
Richards,  d.  of  Obadiah.  Jan.  13, 1702-3. 

d.  Sept.  II,  X703. 
Sept.  4,  1703. 

d.  Sept.  12,  170^. 


A  soon, 
and 
A  dau 


RiCHAi 

3.  EU 

4.  Ma 

5.  Sar 

6.  Jol) 

Yea 
dyed 
son  { 
name 
Nath 
dyed 

Nathai 
Pheb 
Apr. 

X.   JOM 

2.  Tan 

3.  Rutl 

4.  Phel 

an 

5.  Ebei 

6.  Han 

7.  Natl 

8.  Han 

Sarah  I 

Thomai 

childr 

6.  •R4 

an< 

7.  Rut 

8.  Joh 

9.  Nat 
10.  EIk 

Thom 
1712. 
ton,  V 

X.  Mar; 

2.  Sara 

W 
Hi 

3.  Johi 

4.  l*ho 

Thoma 

Abigj 

1.  Sara 
a.  Iren 

3.  Clo< 

4.  Isra 

5.  Abii 

6.  Anr 

Abig 
m.  E 
and 
1776. 

7.  Th< 

8.  Ma 

9.  Eui 

Thorns 

m.   I 
cott, 

X.  Ira 

2.  Jul 

3.  Gai 

4.  Go 

Jane  1 
1822 

Betsei 

1830 


♦  Probably  the  first  white  child  born  in  Wat. 


114  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 


RiGBY.  Roberts. 

Josiah  D.  Rigby  m.  Hannah  Moody  of 
Burlington,  May  23, 1824. 

William  Rigby  d.  i83i.« 

Abner  Riggs  of  Oxford  m.  Phebe  Row- 
land, Aug.  22,  1 780.* 

Hannah  Riggs  m.  Calvin  Spencer,  Jr., 
1829. 

Joseph  Riggs  m.  Mary  Cady  [d.  of  Arah] 
of  Oxford,  Jan.  30,  1831. 

William  B.  Riggs  m.  Eliza  Bassett,  Feb. 

14,  1830. 

Bernard  Rigney  m.  Catharine  Doolan, 
Mch.  5,  1848. 

John  Riley  m.  Alice^Riley  in  Ireland. 

X.  Michael,  b.  in  Ire.,  Aug.  i,  1845. 

John  Reilly  m.  Rose  Sheriden,  Jan.  7, 
1850. 

Patrick  Riley  m.  Catharine  Delany,  in 
New  Haven,  July,  1840. 

z.  Jane,  b.  June  a,  1841. 

a.  Ann,  b.  Dec.  28,  1842;  d.  Dec.  X4,  1844. 

3.  Frances,  b.  July  16,  1845. 

Alonzo  M.  Robe  of  Canistota,  N.  Y.,  m. 
Harriet  Limbumer  [d.  of  John],  Jan. 

15,  1851. 

Abial  Roberts,  Jr.,  and  Martha: 

4.  Martha,  b.  July  30,  1757;  m.  Enos  Root. 

5.  Hester,  b.  July  27,  1759;  m.  Uri  Scott. 

6.  Mary,  d.  Dec.  31,  1761;  ra.  Scle  Scovill. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  12,  1764. 

8.  Josepn,  b.  Nov.  21,  1766. 

9.  Elizabeth,  b.  June  4,  1769. 
Moses;  d.  June  16,  1777. 

Martha  d.  June  14,  1769,  and  Abial  (s. 
of  Abial  of  Derby)  m.  Susanna  Bissel, 
consort  of  Ephraira,  Feb.  n,  1771. 

2a  Ruth,  b.  Apr.  22,  177a. 
XX.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  9,  1779. 

[Abial  Roberts  m.  Temperance  Beebe, 
Apr.  15,  1773.] 

Abigail  Roberts  m.  Willis  Thomas,  1830. 

Amos  Roberts: 

George  Foot,  Garry  Hotchkiss,  Sally  Maria, 
Mary  Ann,  and  Lucy  Elizabeth,  l>ap.  Sept.  26, 
1822. 

Elias  Robert: 

4.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  27, 1755. 

Elizabeth  Robberts  m.   Eben.  Saxton, 

1758. 
Elizabeth  Roberts  m.  E.  C.  Potter,  1826. 

Ephraim  Robbards  m.  Phebe  Clark,  Dec. 
28,  1770. 

X.  Daniel,  b.  Dec.  7,  1771. 

Ephraim  Robards  of  Meriden  m.  Susan 
Ellis.  Dec.  6,  1821. 

Falla  Roberts  m.  Charles  Bronson,  1836. 

George  H.  Roberts,  b.  Mch.  14,  1808,  s.  of 
Amos,  m.  Jan.  3,  1835,  Emily  Pritch- 
ard,  b.  July  i8,'i7i3,  d.  of  Isaiah. 


Roberts. 


Robinson. 


1.  George  Homer,  b.  Apr.  12,  1836. 

2.  Catharine,  b.  Nov.  15,  1841. 

3.  Lucy  Ann,  b.  Dec.  15,  1843. 

4.  Harry,  b.  Mch.  2,  1847. 

[Gideon  Roberts  d.   1759,  leaving  wid. 

Mary;  Gideon,  and  Lucy,  m. Mun- 

son.J 

Hepsibah  Robbard  m.  Seth  Bartholomew, 

1755- 
Jane  E.  Roberts  m.  H.  M.  Smith,  1845. 

Joel  Roberts  [s.  of  Abial]  m.  Abigail 
Foot  [of  Newtown],  July  10, 1766.  She 
d.  Jan.  15,  1807. 

X.  Abial,  b.  Feb.  19,  1768. 

a.  Amasa,  b.  Aug.  4,  1769. 

3.  Joel,  b.  Dec.  2a,  1771. 

4.  §arah,  b.  Jan.  27,  1774;  m.  Isaac  AUyn. 

5.  Lois,  b.  Feb.  4,  1776. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Apr.  4,  1781  [m.  Benj.  Hine]. 

7.  Amos,  b.  Sept.  17,  1782. 

8.  Terusha,  b.  Oct.  24,  1784. 

9.  Hepsibah,  b.  June  26,  1786. 

xo.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  X3,  1788;  d.  June  6,  1807. 

Jonathan  Robards  and  Marcy: 

Chil.  b.  in  Middletown  and  Waterbury : 

z.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  x8,  1752. 

2.  Benjamin,  b.  Jan.  13,  1754. 

3.  Amc,  b.  May  12,  X755. 

4.  A  son,  b.  in  Wat.,  Nov.  4,  1756. 

5.  Elihu,  b.  Tune  22,  1758. 

6.  Deborah,  b.  Mch.  24,  1760. 

7.  Seth,  b.  Mch.  27,  X763. 

Mary  d.  May  18,  1765;  Jonathan  m. 
Catem  Doolittle,  d.  of  Thomas,  July 
II,  1765,  [and  d.  1788.] 

Julia  Roberts  m.  Jer.  Peck,  1822. 

Lucius  Roberts  m.  Mary  M.  Peck  from 
Bethany,  Jan.  11,  1846. 

Lucy  Roberts: 

Zerah,  b.  Aug.  23,  1778. 

Lucy  Roberts  m.  Caleb  Munson,  1781. 
Lucy  G.  Roberts  m.  J.  D.  Durand,  1849. 
Maria  Roberts  m.  Tim.  Church,  1836. 
Mary  Roberts  m.  Samuel  Sperry,  1761. 
Mary  Robbards  m.  Benj.  Terrill,  1763. 
Nathaniel  Roberts    of   Middletown   m. 

Huldah  Payne,  July  14,  1824. 
Premela  Roberts  m.  Sol.  Alcox,  1784. 
Sarah  Roberts: 

Alvira,  b.  June  29,  X796;  bap.  June  28,  1801. 

Ann  Robinson  m.  J.  T.  Rollason,  1829. 

Edward  Robinson,  b.  Tune  6,  1807,  and 
Maria  Baxter,  b.  July  13,  1806— both 
from  Birmingham— m.  in  Eng.,  Mays, 

1827. 

I.  Maria  Elira,  b.  in  Eng.,  May  2,  1828;  d.  1835. 
a.  Samuel,  b.  in  Eng.,  June  6,  i8to;  d.  1833. 

3.  Martha,  b.  and  d.  in  London,  July,  1832. 

4.  Edward,  b.  in  London,  Sent,  o,  1833. 

5.  William  Napoleon,  b.  in  Middletown,  Nov.  28, 

18^5;  d.  1837. 

6.  Horace  Baxter,  b.  in  Middletown,  bept.  21, 1837. 

7.  Ann  Maria,  b.  Mch.  21,  1840. 

8.  Rosetta,  b.  Apr.  16,  1843. 

9.  George  Lampson,  b.  Jan.  16,  184$. 


FAMILY  RECOE 


Robinson.  Root, 

Everett  Robinson  of  Wrentham,  Mass., 
m.  Harriet  Mallory  of  Middlebury,  Jan. 
lo,  1828. 

Dr.  William  W.  Rodman  and  Jemsha 
Pomeroy — both  from  Stonington — m. 
Nov.  26,  1844. 

X.  Charles  Shepard,  b.  Aug.  24,  1845. 

Abijah  H.  Rogers  of  Branford  m  Har- 
riet Chidsey  of  East  Haven,  May  17, 

1825. 

Hezekiah  Rogers  m.  Martha  Scott,  Jan. 
29.  1763. 

1.  Martha,  b.  May  9,  1764. 

2.  John,  b.  Sept.  4,  1765. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  Mch.  11,  1767. 

4.  Freelove,  b.  Mch.  5,  1769. 

Josiah  Roggers:  chil.  b.  in  Wat. 

X.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  22,  1756;  m.  Josiah  Atkins  and 
Amos  Culver. 

2.  Marv,  b.  Oct.  24,  1758;  m.  Joel  Hotchkiss. 

3.  Adan,  b.  Sept.  5,  1762. 

4.  Josiab,  b.  Apr.  2,  1765. 

5.  Enoch,  b.  Sept.  28,  1769. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  26,  177X. 

7.  Jacob,  b.  July  3,  1774. 

8.  Lydia,  b.  Nov.  19,  1777. 

Sarah  d.  Sept.  17,  1779,  and  Deac.  Jo- 
siah m.  wid.  Mary  Smith  of  New  Ha- 
ven, Apr.  12,  1780. 

9.  Samuel,  b.  Apr.  xx,  X781. 
xo.  Ruth,  b.  Jan.  i,  1783. 

Martha  Rogers  m.  Aaron  How,.  1773. 

John  Roiinson  m.  Martha  Heath,  Sept. 
13.  1829. 

James  T.  Roliason  m.  Ann  Robinson, 
Oct.  28,  1829. 

Patrick   Roody  m.  Mary  Quigley,  May 

25,  1851.® 
Caroline  Root  m.  C.  N.  Newton,  1836. 

Chauncey  Root  m.  Polly  Dutton,  Jan.  i, 
1823. 

Edward  Root  of  Watertown  m.  Fanny 
Peck  of  Woodbury,  Aug.  27,  1843. 

Enos  Root,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Martha 
Robberts,  d.  of  Abial,  Feb.  4,  1778. 

X.  Moses,  b.  Nov.  xi,  1778. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  18,  1781. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  23,  1783. 

4.  Levy,  b.  May  19,  1785. 

5.  Chancv,  b.  Sept.  22,  1787. 

6.  Elias,  b.  Aug.  14,  1789. 

7.  Enos  Pnndle,  b.  Nov.  30,  1792. 

8.  Benjamin,  b.  Aug.  2,  1795. 

9.  Martha  Delia,  b.  May  20,  1797. 

George  Root,  b.  in  New  York,  Nov.  7, 
1797,  m.  Elizabeth  S.  Payne,  d.  of  Har- 
mon, July  29,  1824. 

X.  Reuben  H.,  b.  June  6,  X828. 
2.  George  W.,  b.  Dec.  xo,  1832. 

Elizabeth  d.  Sept.  3,  1833,  and  George 
m.  Temperance  Bronson,  d.  of  Sam., 
Oct  28,  1835. 


Root. 

5.  He 
JosepI 

Russ 


2.  St 


3.  Lj 

4.  Lt 

6.  Hi 

7.  Ri 

8.  Po 

9.  Sa: 
10.  Wi 

Mary  I 
Mary  I 
Mary  i 

Matthe 
Josep 
ter,  a 
1829. 

X.  Eli» 
9.  Jan< 

3.  Jose 

4.  Ko» 

5.  Man 

6.  Ran* 

7.  Mati 

Rebecc 

Samuel 

leb,  { 
Prind 
May  : 
she,  \ 

X.  Still  1 

2.  Mai  ; 

3.  San-  1 

4.  Enc 

5.  JoM  : 

6.  EI12  k 

7.  Sail  ' 

8.  £li2  i 

Samue 

1778. 

1.  We  I 

Samue 

Pricl  ; 
1803. 

X.  Ma  : 

2.  Pht  : 

3.  Ha  I 

4.  Sai  . 

5.  Eli  I 

6.  Sal  ' 

7.  Be  ; 

8.  Ms   I 

Wiliia  : 
Clar  i 
II,  1 

Augus  I 
Dec.  ; 

Belal  : 

Jun<  : 

Samu( 


116  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBURT. 


Rose.  Royce. 

Dec.  8,  1812,  m.  Delight  Mix,  d.  of 
Philo,  May  7,  1837. 

X.  Franklin  Munson,  b.  Nov.  26,  1843. 

John  Rouse  and  Allace: 

2.  Elijah,  b.  Mch.  15,  1742-3. 

3.  AUis,  b.  July  6,  1745. 

Mary  Row  (?)  m.  Samuel  Camp,  1769. 
Jane  Rowley  m.  Nelson  Barker,  1845. 
Polly  Rowley  m.  Isaac  Hine,  1836. 

William  Rowley,  s.  of  Jabez  of  Kent,  m. 
Sarah  Gordien,  wid.  o^  James,  Feb.  i, 
1753. 

1.  Chaunsey,  b.  Apr.  5,  1756  [d.  Jan.,  1779].* 

2.  Eli  Smith,  b.  Apr.  25,  1764. 

3.  William,  b.  June  26,  1766. 

William  Rowley  Jr.,  s.  of  Wm.,  m.  Ca- 
tharine Benham,  d.  of  Shadrack,  July 
8,  1789,  (or)  July  9,  1788. 

2.  r** first"  erased)  Lois  Minerva,  b.  Nov.  27,  1790. 
5.  William  Henry,  b.  Dec.  31,  1798. 

Elizabeth  Royse  m.  Joseph  Judd,  1726. 

Lois  Royce  m.  Luke  Potter,  1786- 

Martha  Royse  m.  Edmund  Scott,  1730. 

Phineas  Royce:  Sarah,  his  wife,  d.  Apr. 
30,  1742,  a.  22.  He  m.  Thankful  Mer- 
riman,  d.  of  Nathl.  of  Wallingford, 
Nov.  15,  1743. 

z.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  8,  1745. 

2.  Keziah,  b.  July  5,  1747. 

3.  Mehitable,  d.  May  29,  1749;  ™'  Tim.  Tultle. 

Thankfull  d.  Oct.  9,  1749,  and  Phineas 
m.  Elizabeth  Lord,  wid.  of  Daniel  of 
Lyme,  July  2,  1751. 

4.  Phineas,  b.  Apr.  3,  1752. 

5.  Nehemiah,  b.  Sept.  i,  1753. 

6.  Thankful,  b.  Feb.  11,  1755;  m.  Noah  Tuttle. 

7.  Samuel,  b.  Apr.  20,  1757. 

8.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  5,  1759. 

Elizabeth  d.  Feb.  15.  1759  [a.  41],  and 
Phineas  m.  Anna  Hopkins,  wid.  of 
Thomas  Bronson,  Esq.,  Aur.  22,  1761. 

IHe  d.  May  11,   1787,  a.  '71;  and  she, 
an.  2,  1804,  a.  So.] 

9.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  19,  176a. 

Phineas  Royce,  Jr.,  m.  Lydia  Butler, 
June  25,  1772. 

I.  David;  b.  July  x8,  1773. 

Samuel  Royce  [s.  of  Ezekiel  of  Wal.]: 

3.  Ebenezcr;  d.  Apr.  24,  1764  [a.  4  yrs.J. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  17,  1763. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  Feb.  10,  1765, 

Samuel  Royce  m.  Abigail  Hawley,  June 

10.  1780.3 

Polly,  b.  Nov.  II,  1780. 
Phinehas,  b.  Jan.  9,  1783. 

Thankfull  Royce  m.  Stephen  Curtiss. 

Willard  A.  Royce  of  Bristol  m.  Mary  M. 
Hurd,  Apr.  8,  1849. 


Russell.  Ryan. 

Aaron  Russell  from  Boston  m.  Esther 
Spencer,  d.  of  Deac.  Calvin,  Dec.  7, 
1826. 

Celesta  Russell  m.  Jesse  Hitchcock,  1828. 

Charles  A.  Russell,  b.  Mch.  16,  1803,  s. 
of  Enoch  of  Prospect,  m.  Lockey 
Beebe,  d.  of  Amzi,  Jan.  i,  1825. 

X.  Henry  A.,  b.  in  Prospect,  Aug.  14,  1826. 

2.  Charles  M.,  b.  in  Prospect,  Feb.  x6,  1828. 

3.  Caroline,  b.  Feb.  xi,  1830. 

4.  Steam,  b.  Feb.  25,  183a. 

Edward  Russell,  b.  Feb.  20,  1799,  s.  of 
Stephen  D.,  m.  Fanny  Chatfield,  d.  of 
Jos.,  Nov.  24,  1823. 

X.  Emma,  b.  Feb.  25,  1826;  d.  Oct.  16,  1828. 
2.  Harry  L.,  b.  Mch.  6,  1828. 

Eliza  A.  Russell  m.  D.  T.  Munger,  1839. 

Emma  E.  Russell  m.  R.  B.  Sanford, 
1847. 

George  A.  Russell  of  Hamilton,  N.  Y., 
m.  Lydia  A.  Elderkin,  Feb.  27,  1843. 

Harriet  Russel  m.  Isaac  Baxter,  1821. 

Israel  W.  Russell,  s.  of  Stephen  D.,  m. 
Nancy  Piatt,  d.   of    Enocn,   Jan.   26, 

1818. 

X.  Israel  LeGrand,  b.  Dec.  7,  181 8. 

2.  Woodward  Jerome,  b.  Sept.  15,  i8ao. 

Laura  Russell  m.  Bennet  Prichard,  1830. 

Lauren  L.  Russell,  s.  of  Enoch,  m.  Mary 
.    Fairclough,  d.  of  Joseph  [and  wid.  of 
Daniel  Boyce],  Men.  17,  1842. 

X.  Her    first,    by    Daniel    Boyce,    named    Daniel 
James,  b.  July  15,  1840. 

2.  Laura  Eli-iiabeth.  b.  Tan.  7,  1844. 

3.  Emily  Rebecca,  d.  Nov.  2,  1845. 

Lewis  Russell,  s.  of  Enoch,  m.  Harriet 
Hitchcock,  d.  of  Daniel,  Nov.  i,  1824. 

Lydia  M.  Russell  m.  J.  W.  Lines,  1825. 

Mary  Russell  m.  Joseph  Root,  1777. 

Nancy  E.  Russell  ra.  Jared  Carter,  1840. 

Ransom    R.   Russell    m.   Loly  Terrell. 

Nov.  27,  1820. 
Sarah  Russell  m.  Stephen  Judd,  1776. 
Selden  Russell  m.  Laura  Lewis,  Dec,  6, 

1821. 
William  Russel  of  Glasgow,  Scotland, 

m.   Ursula  Wood,   d.   of  Rev.   Luke, 

Aug.  22,  1821. 

William  Nelson  Russell,  s.  of  Enoch,  m. 
Minerva  Hall,  d.  of  Daniel,  Apr.  10, 
1836. 

I.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Oct.  lo,  1838. 
a.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  3,  1842. 

3.  Emerilla,  b.  Aug.  o,  1844- 

4.  Adeline,  b.  Nov.  6,  1846. 

Edward  Ryan  m.  Maria  O'Brien,  May  5, 
1849. 


♦  Abraham  Truck  made  his  coffin;  Nathaniel  Selkrig  and  Moses  Frost  dug  his  grave. 


FAMILY  BECOR 


Ryan.  Sanford. 

John  Ryan  ra.  Mary  Smith— both  of  Ter- 
ry ville^  Aug.  I,  1849. 

Daniel  Sackett  of  Milford  m.  Harriet  A. 
Porter,  d.  of  Widow  Sally,  Feb.  23, 
1826. 

Mile  Sackett,  b.  Apr.  14,  1806,  s.  of  Eli 
of  North  Haven,  m.  Rhoda  Ann  Hun- 
gerford,  d.  of  David,  June  10,  1832. 

X.  Rhoda  Ann,  b.  Sept.  xa,  1833;  d.  Apr.  26,  1835. 

Rhoda  d.  Oct.  14,  1833,  and  Milo  m. 
Lydia  Hungerford,  d.  of  David,  Oct. 
23.  1834. 

a.  Eunetia  Ann,  b.  June  x,  1835. 

3.  George  David,  b.  Apr.  38,  1838;  d.  May,  1840. 

4.  Ellen  Eugene,  b.  Dec.  30,  1845;  d.  July  xx,  1847. 

AUin  Sage  and  Abigail: 

X.  AUin,  b.  June  9,  X751. 

3.  Selah,  b.  Dec.  18,  1753. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  Aug.  4,  X754. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  June  30,  X756. 

5.  Caroline,  b.  Tune  15,  1758. 

6.  Molly,  b.  FcD.  34,  X760. 

7.  Matte,  b.  Apr.  a8,  1763. 

John  Salt  of  England  m.  Mary  Ann 
Hennessy  of  New  York,  July  6,  1845. 

Edward  Sandland  and  Mary  Francis — 
both  from  Birmingham — m.  in  England. 

X.  William,  b.  in  Eng.,  Jan.  34,  1834. 

a.  Priscilla,  b.  Sept.  ai,  X826;  m.  L.  A.  Morris. 

3.  Frances,  b.  July  17,  1839;  m.  Willard  Tompkins. 

4.  Edward,  b.  Apr.  3,  X831. 

5.  James,  b.  Feb.  36,  1833. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Jan.  36,  1835. 

7.  Emma,  b.  Oct.  a6,  1837. 

Henry  Sandland  of  Birm.,  Eng.,  m.  Mary 
L.  Atwood  of  Watertown,  Apr.  3,  1828. 

John  H.  Sandland,  s.  of  John,  m.  Abi- 
gail Merriam,  d.  of  Edward  S.  of 
Watertown,  Mch.  8,  1835. 

X.  Julia  Maria,  b.  Jan.  19,  1836;  d.  Aug.  14,  1839. 
3.  Elizabeth  Mollis,  b.  June  15,  X839. 
3.  Frederick  Augustus,  b.  Aug.  30,  1841. 

Sarah  A.  Sandland  m.  H.  A.  Hull,  1838. 

Thomas  Sandland  m.  Jennet  Saxton, 
Dec.  25,  1832. 

William  Sandland  m.  Sarah  Hodson, 
Oct.  18,  1846. 

Abel  Curtiss  Sanford,  b.  May  10,  1809,  s. 
of  Truman,  m.  Hepsa  Elizabeth  Judd, 
d.  of  Thomas,  Nov.  8,  1829. 

Emily  Jane,  b.  Dec.  xa,  183 x. 
Betsey  Ann,  b.  Nov.  13,  1834. 
Eveline  Eliza,  b.  Aug.  4,  X841. 

Amanda  Sanford  m.  Apollos  Benedict, 
1820. 

Asenath  Sanford  m.  Calvin  Hotchkiss, 

1825. 

Cornelia  Sanford  m.  G.  W.  Beach,  1847. 

Daniel  Sanford,  s.  of  Ezekiel,  m.  Thank- 
ful Toles,  d.  of  Daniel  of  New  Haven, 
Jan.  31,  1753. 

I.  Ireniah,  b.  Nov.  7,  1753;  m.  Sam.  Fenn,  Jr. 
a.  Thankful,  b.  Nov.  6,  X75S;  d.  May,  1759. 


Sanfoi 

3.  E» 

4.  IXM 

5.  Ph. 

6.  Eli 

7.  EU 

Dorcai 

[Ezeki 
Benj 
1728- 

Dai 
J 

Ezekic 

1765. 

I.  Sen 
3.  Del 

3.  Dai 

4.  Sab 

5.  Lio< 

Ezekie 

Foot, 

Ezra  S 

Bark' 

X.  Des 
9.  Mai 
3.  Josi 

Gideon 
Jared< 

Am 
Am 
Jos 

Jesse 

1780. 

Sus 
Sar 

Joel  Si 

m.  ^ 
24,  r 

X.  Lai 

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3.  Sue 

4.  Eri 

5.  Syl  i 

6.  An  , 

Joel  S.  I 

An 

John  £  i 

John  ' 
Lou:  i 

Libeui 

Mt  i 
La  I 
Ju 

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Mary  I 
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9.  Ai    , 

Reuel 

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ingi 

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3.  "^   I 

Rufui 

Mc" 


118  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBT, 


Sanford.  Scar  RETT. 

Sally  Sanford  m.  Joel  Finch,  1828. 
Sarah    Sanford    m.    Oliver    Stoughton, 

1787.* 
Sena  Sanford  m.  Allen  Umberfield,  18 12. 

Sylvia  Sanford: 

I.  Solomon  Barker,  b.  Jan.  9,  1784. 

Zachariah  Sanford  and  Sarah: 
[He  d.  Jan.  11,  1774,  a.  62]. 

1.  Philemon,  b.  Feb.  3,  1739-40. 
a.  Stephen,  b.  Feb.  2a,  1740-41. 

3.  Enos,  b.  Mch.  3,  1743-4;  d.  Oct.  17,  1749. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  36,  1744;  d.  Oct.  15,  1749. 

5.  Zacheous,  b.  Nov.  24,  1746;  d.  Oct.  16,  1749. 

6.  Enos,  b.  Sept.  7,  X749. 

7.  Zacheus,  b.  Oct.  31,  1751. 

8.  Elias,  b.  July  7,  1753. 

9.  Sarah,  b.  June  8,  1755. 

Nathan  Saunders  m.  Esther  Dunk,  Sept. 
10,  1777.' 

z.  Martin  Dunk,  b.  Aug.  29,  1778. 

2.  Esther,  b.  Aug.  25,  1780. 

3.  Amanda,  b.  June  30,  1783. 

4.  Harvey,  b.  Apr.  4,  1786. 

Ulissa  Savage  m.  Lyman  C.  Camp,  1843. 

William  H.  Savage  m.  Adah  A.  Camp 
— both  of  Middletovvn — June  6,  1838. 

Anna  Saxton  m.  Luther  Richards,  1785.^ 
Ebenezer  Saxton  and  Eunice: 

6.  Jerusba,  b.  Mch.  7,  1751. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  May  13,  1754. 

8.  Liddea,  b.  Mch.  7,  1756;  m.  O.  Bartholomew. 

Eimice  d.  June  2,  1758,  and  Ebenezer 
was  mar.  to  Elizabeth  Robberts  by 
Thomas  Matthews,  Justice  of  Peace, 
Sept.  5,  1758. 

1.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  25,  1759. 

2.  John,  b.  Mch.  7,  1761. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  8,  1764. 

4.  Mamre,  b.  Mch.  14,  1766. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  23,  1767;  d.  Mch.  26,  1772. 

6.  Dan,  b.  Nov.  4,  1769. 

7.  Sibbel,  b.  Aug.  3,  1771. 

Henry  Saxton  of  New  York  m.  Roxa 
Adams,  d.  of  William,  June  14,  1823. 
She  d.  Dec.  29,  1829. 

Mary  E.,  b.  Apr.  18,  1824. 
Two  chil..  b.  and  d.  in  Ohio. 
Jane  A.,  d.  Mch.  i,  X828. 
Charles,  b.  Dec.  12,  x8a8  (1829  ?). 

Jehiel  Saxton  and  Rhoda: 

z.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  15,  1768. 
a.  Lucy,  b.  Oct.  9,  1770. 

[Jehiel  was  post- rider.  He  also  had 
land  interests  in  East  Haddam,  1778.] 

Jennet  Saxton  m.  Thomas  Sandland, 
1832. 

George  C.  Scarrett  of  Branford,  m.  Sa- 
rah S.  Mallory  of  Middlebury,  Aug.  5, 
1850. 

janette  L.  Scarrett  m.  H.  C.  Hall,  1850. 


Scott.  Scott. 

Abel  Scott,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m,  Lois  Clark, 
d.  of  Caleb,  Jan.  8.  1750-51. 

Abel  Scott,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m.  Ame 
Perkins  of  New  Haven,  Jan.  30,  1776. 

I.  Ame,  b.  June  6,  1777. 

Abner  Scott,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Alitheah 
Bradley,  d.  of  John  of  New  Haven, 
dec'd,  Feb.  5,  1783.  Hed.  Mch.  13,  1812. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Aug.  39,  1785. 

2.  Clary,  b.  Feb.  14,  1788. 

3.  Eldad,  b.  Apr.  35,  1791. 

4.  Deborah,  b.  Nov.  i,  1793. 

5.  Alathea,  b.  Apr.  2,  1796. 

6.  Wealthy,  b.  Oct.  7,  1798. 

7.  Phebe,  d.  Apr.  6,  1801;  d.  Oct.  4,  1805. 

8.  Phebe  Elmina,  b.  Aug.  15,  1805. 

9.  Marcus  Bradley,  b.  June  z8,  1807. 

Abner  Scott  of  Watertown  m.  Nancy 
Adams,  Sept.  23,  1821. 

Amos  Scott,  s.  of  John,  dec*d,  m.  Dor- 
cas Lewis  (•*  Warner"  erased,)  d.  of 
Ebenezer  Warner,  Apr.  4,  1759. 

1.  Eunice,  b.  Feb.  23,  1760;  m.  John  Fenn. 

2.  Diane,  b.  Mch.  14,  1762;  d.  Mch.  la,  1763. 

Dorcas  d.  May  14,  1763;  and  Amos  m. 
Lois  Scott,  relict  of  Ezekiel,  Sept.  12, 
1763. 

3.  Amos,  b.  May  3,  1764. 

4.  John,  b.  Apr.  4,  1766. 

5.  Edmund,  b.  June  7,  1768. 

6.  Lois,  b.  Dec.  31,  1770. 

7.  Dorcas,  b.  Nov.  5,  1773;  d.  July  xi,  1774. 

8.  Levi,  b.  July  3,  1775. 

Asa  Scott  m.  Chloe  Smith,  d.  of  John, 
Nov.  II,  1789. 

I.  Harvey,  b.  Aug.  16,  1790. 


2.  Betsey,  b.  July  16,  1792. 

3.  Ruth,  b.  ^lay  27,  1794. 

4.  A  son,  still-bom,  ^5ov.  23,  1796. 


5.  Elias, 
and      J-b.  Nov.  4,  1799. 

6.  Lewis, 

7.  Thomas  Jefferson,  b.  Aug.  29,  1802. 

Asahel  A.  Scott  m.  Mary  F.  Baldwin  of 
Orange,  Oct.  6,  1851. 

Ashley  Scott,  s.  of  Sam.,  m.  Martha 
Judson,  d.  of  Benj.  of  Stratford,  Apr. 
25,  1787. 

1.  Betsey,  b.  Dec.  29,  1787  [m.  James  Street]. 

2.  Catey,  b.  Jan.  15,  1793;  m.  Miles  Morris. 

3.  Lewis,  b.  Dec.  14,  1796;  d.  July  21,  1827. 

4.  Edmund,  b.  Apr.  13,  1799. 

5.  Emma,  b.  June  28,  1801;  d.  Oct.  8,  1815. 

Barnabas  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah,  m.  Re- 
becca Warner,  d.  of  Doct.  Ephraim, 
Nov.  15,  1764.* 

1.  Sabra,  b.  Jan.  14,  1766. 

2.  Orpha,  b.  Nov.  10,  1767  [m.  Perley  Gates  and  d. 

a.  97J. 

3.  Mar.i^aret,  b.  Dec.  5,  1769;  d.  Sept.  32,  1773. 

4.  MarKaret,  b.  Nov.  5,  1772   [m.  Elijah  Botsford, 

and  lived  more  than  95  years]. 

Bcde  Scott  m.  William  Wilcox,  1780. 

Benjamin  Scott,  s.  of  William,  m.  Mary 
Richards,  d.  of  Obad.,  Jan.  13,  1757. 


Society 


•  Rebecca  Scott,  widow  with  daughters,  Orpha  and  Margaret,  was  in  1790,  "  a 
icty  m  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.     She  was  a  woman  of  rare  energy  and  virtue  of  character." 


member  of  the  Friends* 


FAMILY  BBCOBl 


Scott.  Scott. 

I.  Hannah,  b.  May  la,  1758. 
a.  Mercy,  b.  Jan.  ai,  1762. 

3.  Cloe,  b.  Feb.  x8,  1767;  m.  Elijah  Merrill. 

Mary  d.   Sept.  15,  1770;  and  Benjamin 
m.  Mary  Whealer,  Jan.  27,  1771. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  25,  1773. 

Bennett  Scott,  s.  of  Joel,  m.  Sept.  3, 
1829,  Esther  Maria  Curtis,  b.  Jan.  19, 
1 8 12,  d.  of  Orrin  of  Wolcot. 

1.  William,  b.  June  ai,  1830. 

2.  Franklin,  b.  in  Wolcott,  Aug.  6,  1832. 

3.  John,  b.  luly  11,  1834. 

4.  Charles,  L.  Oct.  15,  1840. 

Bennett  L.  Scott  m.  Elizabeth  J.  Hurd, 
Nov.  17,  1850. 

Bezaleel  Scott,  s.  of  Deac.  Thadda,  m. 
Sally,  d.  of  wid.  Clark,  Apr.  11,  1827. 

Charles  Scott  [s.  of  Daniel]  m.  Thcodo- 
cia  Holt,  Oct.  7,  1838. 

[Dr.]  Daniel  Scott,  s.  of  Jonathan,  dec'd, 
m.  Hannah  Way,  d.  of  David  of  Litch- 
field, May  30,  1750  (?)  and  d.  Apr.  27, 
1762. 

1.  Esther,  b.  May  23,  1750. 

2.  Jonathan,  b.  Sept.  29,  1751. 

3.  John,  b,  Apr.  30,  1753. 

4.  Martha,  b.  Tan.  19,  1755;  d.  Aug.  31,  1759. 

5.  Elcazer,  b.  May  24,  1756. 

6.  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  ai,  1757;  d.  Sept.  15,  1759. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  16,  1759. 

8.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  i,  1760. 

[Deborah.     Martha,  a.  5  wks.  ace.  to  Probate]. 

David  Scott,  s.  of  Edmun,  m.  Sarah  Rich- 
ards, d.  of  Obadiah,  dec'd,  June  10, 
1698.     [He  d.  1727;  she,  Aujf.  27,  1747.] 

1.  Hannah,  b.  Mch.  ai,  1698-9  [bap.  in  Woodbury, 

Sept.  24,  1 699 J. 

2.  Hester,  b.  Aug.,  1700;  ra.  John  Warner. 

3.  David,  b.  May  10,  1701. 

4.  Ruth,  b.  Sept.  29,  1704;  m.  Jon.  Kelsey. 

5.  Martha,  i 

and       Vb.  sometime  in  Jan.,  z 706-7; 

6.  Mary,     \  d.  Apr..  1707. 

7.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  7,  1709;  m.  Samuel  Judd. 

8.  Stephen,  b.  Mch.  12,  1711. 

9.  Obadiah,  b.  Dec.  4,  1734  (1714.) 

David  Scott,  s.  of  David,  dec'd,  m.  Han- 
nah  Hikcox,  d.  of  William,   Jan.    25, 

1732-3. 

1.  Zadock,  b.  Oct.  15,  1733  [d.  Apr.,  1746]. 

2.  Nathan,  b.  Aug.  23,  1735  [d.  Mch  4,  1748]. 

3.  David,  b.  June  22,  1738  [d.  Apr.  5,  1749]. 


a.  of  Thomas  of 


4.  Submit, _b.  Dec.  22,  1746   [m.  Asa  Leavenworth, 

Wood.,  Tune  6,  1768] . 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  8,  1749;  m.  Wait  Smitn. 


David  Scott,  s.  of  Ebenezer,  m.  Martha 
Keeler,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Woodbury, 
Apr.  14,  1800.  He  d.  Dec.  5,  1827,  a. 
62;  she,  Aug.  27,  182S. 

X.  Rhoda,  b.  Dec.  x,  x8oo. 

Ebenezer  Scott,  s.  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  m. 
Mary  Weed,  d.  of  John,  Jan.  26,  1757. 
She  d.  Dec,  1801. 

I.  Anne,  b.  Oct.  16,  1757. 
a.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  3,  1750. 

3.  Ebenezer,  b.  Dec.  2;  a.  Dec.  16,  1761. 

4.  Nehemiah,  b.  Dec.  la,  1763;  d.  Sept.  17,  1779. 


ScOTT. 

5.  D« 

6.  Aa< 

7.  Eb. 

8.  Pol 

9.  Isii 

10.  Sib 

11.  Me 

Eber  S 

1769. 

x.  Aarc 
a.  Abig 
3.  Abij 

Sarah 

Edmun 
wid.  c 

June, 
an.  I 

X.  A  sot 
a.  Sarab 

3.  Sami; 

4.  Eliza 

Oci 

5.  Hanr 

Tol 

6.  Edmi 

7.  John, 

8.  Jonat 

Edmund 

Marth 
1730. 
m.  Eb 

1.  Jemi; 

2.  Comi 

Edmund 
Royce 
Mch. 

1.  Mar) 

2.  Rob< 

3.  Noal  , 

4.  Eber 

5.  Mart  I 

6.  AbiR 

7.  Com  : 

8.  Noal  , 

9.  Lydi  I 

Edmun( 

Scott, 
[He  f 
Hami  I 

Edwar( 
line 
1830. 

I.  Mei 
a.  Mai 
3.  Orri 

Edwar 

line '  I 

Eldad    ; 
Dec.    I 

Eleaze 

SuUi 

Eleaze 

1780. 

I.  Sal     , 
a.  Isa 
3.  Ma 


130  Ap 


HISTOET  OF  WATBRBURT. 


Scott.  Scott. 

Eliphas  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah,  m.  Han- 
nah Scott,  d.  of  Gershom,  Feb.  4,  1757. 

z.  Nancy,  b.  Dec.  4,  1759. 

9.  Jesse,  b.  Sept.  6,  1762. 

3.  Irene,  b.  Nov.  16,  1767. 

4.  Jared,  b.  Mch.  2a,  1771;  d.  Feb.  13,  1773. 

Hannah  d.  May  18,  1774,  and  Eliphas 
m.  Mary  Porter,  Feb.  22,  1776. 

5.  Tared,  b.  Dec.  4,  1776. 

6.  Lois,  D.  Oct.  II,  X776  (1778). 
Mary,  b.  Mch.  17,  1781.* 
David,  b.  Nov.  5,  1782. 
Hannah,  b.  Aug.  27,  1784. 

Enoch  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah,  dec'd,  m. 
Sarah  Porter,  d.  of  Lieut.  Thomas, 
May  4,  1750. 

X.  Hannah,  b.  May  xg,  1751;  m.  Reuben  Beebe. 

2.  Eunice,  D.  Oct.  15,  175a;  d.  May  14,  1758. 

3.  Enoch,  b.  Nov.  6,  1754. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  2,  1757  [m.  Philologus  Webster] . 

5.  Uri,  b.  Aug.  22,  X759. 

6.  Prew,  b.  Apr.  6,  1761  [ra.  Linus  Lounsbury]. 

7.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  2a,  1763. 

8.  Mille,  b.  Mch.  21,  1766  [m.  Daniel  Scovill]. 

9.  Mark,  b.  Oct.  8,  1768. 

Enoch  Scott  m.  Appelina  Calkins,  Feb. 
16,  1776.''    She  d.  1830.* 

Eric  Scott,  s.  of  Joel,  m.  May  i,  1831, 
Jennet  Welton,  b.  Mch.  27,  18 10,  d.  of 
fezekiel  of  Watertown. 

I.  Hannah  Jennet,  b.  Dec.  4,  1834. 
a.  Marshall  Eric,  b.  Apr.  29,  1843 — ^^  i"  Water- 
town. 

Ezebeson  Scott  (Zebulon  ?):* 

Justus,  bap.  at  St.  James,  June  9,  1765. 

Ezekiel  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah,  dec'd,  m. 
Lois  Fenn,  d.  of  John,  Apr.  13,  1758. 
He  d.  Jan.  20,  1759,  and  Lois  m.  Amos 
Scott. 

I.  Ezekiel,  b.  Jan.  3,  1759. 

Ezekiel  Scott,  s.  of  Amos,  m.  Olive 
Fenn,  d.  of  John  of  Watertown,  Nov. 
22.  1781. 

I.  Ezekiel,  b.  July  26,  1783. 
a.  Dorcas,  b.  June  26,  1785. 
3.  Lucy,  b.  Oct.  30,  X789. 

Frances  J.  Scott  m.  Get)rge  Prichard, 

1838. 

George  Scot,  s.  of  Edmun  of  Farming- 
ton,  m.  Mary  Richards,  d.  of  Obadiah, 
sometime  in  August,  1691.  He  d.  Sept. 
26,  1724;  she,  Apr.  24,  1754. 

I.  Obadiah.  b.  Apr.  5,  1692, 

a.  George,  b.  Mch.  20,  1694;  d.  May  9,  1725. 

3.  William,  b.  Mch.  3,  1696. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  4,  1698;  m.  Gamaliel  Tcrrill. 

5.  Zebulon,  b.  June  10,  1700;  d.  May,  1701. 

6.  Samuel,  b.  Apr.  26,  1702. 

7.  Edmun,  b.  Sept.  24,  1704. 

8.  Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  30,  1707;  d.  Dec,  1725. 

9.  Ephraim,  b.  June  16,  1710;  d.  Feb.  37,  1744-5. 

George  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah,  dec'd,  m. 
Abigail  Warner,  d.  of  Samuel  of 
Daniel,  Oct.  24,  1751. 

1.  Elijah,  b.  Aug.  i8,  1752. 

2.  Reuben,  b.  May  2,  1755. 

3.  Enos,  b.  Dec.  9,  X757. 


Scott. 


Scott. 


\.  Amzi,  b.  July  xi,  X750. 
>.  Ethiel,  b.  luly  24,  X762. 
>.  Ephraim,  o.  5fov.  ao,  1766. 


Gershom  Scott,  s.  of  Jonathan,  m.  Mary 
Fen  ton,  d.  of  Jonathan  of  Fairfield,. 
Nov.  17,  1728  [and  d.  June  24,  1780]. 

T.  Wait,  b.  Aug.  17,  1729. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  9,  X731;  m.  Elip.  Scott. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.,  1735;  m.  Sam.  Fenn. 

4.  Mary,  b.  May,  X739;  m.  Amos  Hotchkiss. 

5.  Gershom,  \       _     d.  Jan.  39, 1778. 


and        >b.  June  9,  1744. 
6.  Ann,  )  m.  Alex.  Douglass. 

Gideon  Scott,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Phebe. 
wid.  of  Abraham  Barnes  and  d.  of 
Caleb  Clark,  Apr.  15,  1755. 

I.  Lois,  b.  Oct.  X7,  1756;  m.  Roswell  Judd? 
a.  Caleb,  b.  July  xx,  1758. 

Phebe  d.  Apr.  25,  1760,  and  Gideon  m. 
Hannah,  wid.  of  James  Brown,  Oct.  4^ 
1762.    She  d.  Sept.  12,  1766. 

3.  Mary,  b.  June  25,  1763. 

4.  Elathea,  b.  Mch.  x8,  X765. 

Hannah  Scott  m.  H.  A.  Parsons,  1828. 
Heman  Scott  and  Susan:* 

David    Adams,    Mary  Elizabeth,  and  Martha 
Abigail,  bap.  Apr.  ax,  1834. 

Isaac  Scott,  s.  of  Sam.,  m.  AnnaFrisbie, 
d.  of  Eben.  of  Sharon,  Oct.  31,  1753. 

X.  David,  b.  Jan.  35,  X755;  drownded  May  lo,  1773. 
a.  Moses,  b.  Feb.  x6,  1756;  d.  Dec.  ax,  X773. 

3.  Thadde,  b.  Apr.  as,  1757. 

4.  Levy,  b.  Sept.  27,  X758;  d.  Jan,  15,  X77S. 

5.  Menbah,  b.  Aug.  xo,  1760;  d.  Sept.  23,  1782. 

6.  Abner,  b.  May  xo,  176a. 

7.  Wealthy,  b.  July  aa,  1764. 

8.  Abraham,  b.  Aug.  2,  X766. 

Anna  d.  Dec.  3,  1766,  and  Isaac  m. 
Sarah  Smith  of  Oxford,  Mch.  4,  1767. 

9.  Elizabeth  Ahn,  b.  Nov.  28,  1767;  d.  Sept.,  X769. 

Sarah  d.  Feb.  12,  1783,  and  Isaac  m. 
Lois,  Relict  of  Dan.  Abbot,  Feb.  15, 
1785,  and  d.  May  31,  1797. 

xo.  Easther,  b.  Dec.  26,  1785. 

Isaac  Scott,  s.  of  Thaddeus,  m.  Luna 
Beach,  d,  of  Simeon  of  Litchfield,  May 
23,  1824. 

X.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Apr.  X9,  x8a5. 

a.  William  Ira,  b.  June  X4,  x8a8;  d.  Dec,  1829. 

Luna  d.  Mch.  i,  1833,  and  Isaac  m. 
Hannah,  d.  of  Squire  Parrott  of  Fair- 
field, June,  1834. 

3.  John,  b.  Sept.  a7,  1837. 

4.  Harriet,  b.  Dec.  X9,  1839. 

Jesse  Scott,  s.  of  Simeon,  m.  Susan 
Downs,  d.  of  David,  Aug.  7,  181 1. 

I.  Ira,  b.  Mch.  X5,  1812. 
a.  Ursula,  b.  May  x6,  1814. 
3.  Spencer,  b.  July  9,  x8x7. 

Joel  Scott,  s.  of  Simeon,  m.  Hannah 
Bronson,  d.  of  Lieut.  Michael,  Feb.  15^ 
1796. 

x.  Selina,  b.  Apr.  6,  X798. 

a.  Lucy  Anna,  b.  Aug.  27,  x8oo- m.  D.  Boyden. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  Sept.  x,  xSoa;  m.  Shennan  BronBon. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP121 


Scott. 


Scott. 


4.  Eric,  b.  Sept.  a,  1804. 

5.  Bennet.  b.  Aug.  23,  1806. 

6.  Edward,  b.  Sept.  2a,  z8oS. 

7.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  17,  18 10. 

8.  Eunice  Amy,  b.  July  6, 1813;  m.  W.  Grilly. 

9.  Mary  Eliz.,  b.  Dec.  27,  1817;  m.  G.  S.  Stevens. 

Joel  W.  Scott  m.  Mary  E.  Clark,  May 

19.  1851. 
John  Scott,  s.  of  Edmund,  m.  in  Wat. , 

Eunice    Grifl&n,    d.    of   Thomas  [and 

Elizabeth]  of  Simsbury,  Oct.  29,  1730, 

and  d.  Mch.  14,  1756. 

I.  Amos,  b.  Feb.  19,  X73z-a. 

a.  John,  b.  Jan.  30,  1733-4;  d.  Mch.  5,  1766. 

3.  Edmund,  b.  Jan.  9,  1735-6. 

4.  Abraham,  b.  Mch.  x8,  1739;  killed  with  thun- 


der, Apr.  7,  1750. 

5,  Eunice,  b.  Jan.  4,  X740-X:  a.  Aug.  X2,  1755 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.  25,  X743  [m. Moses] . 


X740-X:  d.  Aug.  X2,  X759. 


7.  Jonathan,  b.  Oct.  5,  1745;  d.  Apr.  29,  1749. 

8.  Ruben,  b.  Aug.  15,  1747. 

9.  Abraham,  b.  May  iz,  1750;  d.  Mch.  X9,  1753. 
10.  Abel,  b.  Nov.  19,  X7S5. 

Jonathan  Scot,  s.  of  Edmun  of  Farming- 
ton,  m.  Hanna  Hawks,  d.  of  John  of 
Deerfield,  sometime  in  November  in 
the  year  1694.  He  dyed  May  15,  1745; 
and  she,  Apr.  7,  1744. 

The  first  child,  b.  and  d.  sometime  in  Aug.,  X695. 
a.  Jonathan,  b.  Sept.  29,  X696. 

3.  John^  b.  J  une  5,  1699  [did  not  return  from  cap- 

tivity] . 

4.  Martha,  b.  July  9,  X70X;  m.  Jos.  Hurlburt. 

5.  Gershom,  b.  Sept.  6,  1703. 

6.  Eleazer,  b.  Dec.  31,  1705. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  20,  X707. 

[Hannah  and  her  two  sons,  Jonathan 
and  John,  were  baptised  in  Woodbury, 
Nov.  12,  1699.] 

Jonathan  Scott,  s.  of  Jonathan  (above), 
m.  Mary  Hulburt  of  Woodbury,  July 
14,  1725. 

1.  John,  b.  May  6,  X726. 

Mary  d.  Jan.,  1727,  and  Jonathan  m. 
Rebecca  Frost,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Bran- 
ford,  July  29,  1729. 

2.  Abel,  b.  Aug.  3,  1730. 

3.  Thankfull,  b.  Slay  19,  X73a. 

4.  Phebe,  b.  May  a4,  X734. 

5.  Rebeckah,  b.  Oct.  3,  X736. 

6.  Rachel,  b.  Nov.  3,  1739. 

7.  Eben,  b.  July,  X747. 

Jonathan  Scott,  Jr.,  s.  of  Edmun  (and 
Sarah),  m.  Abigail  Sperry,  d.  of  Moses 
of  New  Haven,  Sept.  6,  1736,  and  d. 
July  2,  1741. 

1.  Abigail,  b.  Sept.  15,  1737;  d.  Apr.  29,  X741. 

^Jonathan  Scott,  s.  of  Jonathan,  Jr., 
dec'd,  m.  Mary  Doolittle,  d.  of  Abel, 
Feb.  23,  1764. 

Levi  Scott,  s.  of  Thade,  m.  Sally  Mark- 
um,  d.  of  Jeremiah  of  Plymouth,  Sept. 
5,  1804.     She  d.  Nov.  11,  1808. 

Rhyley,  b.  July  3,  x8o6. 
Markum,  b.  Apr.  23,  z8o8. 


Scott.  Scott. 

Linus  W.  Scott,  s.  of  Simeon,  m.  Miner- 
va Nichols,  d.  of  James,  Feb.  8,  181 8. 

X.  Esther  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  13,  1819. 

2.  Tames  Sherman,  b.  Aug.  29,  1820. 

3.  Mara  Maria,  b.  Mch.  2,  182a. 

Lydia  Scott  m.  Isaac  Castle,  1740. 

Marshall  Scott  d.  Oct.  5,  1842,  a.  23.« 

Martha  Scott  m.  Hez.  Rogers,  1763. 

Nathan  Scott,  s.  of  Wait,  m.  Anna  An- 
drews, d.  of  Ebenezer  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  Mch.  17,  1777.  She  d.  Aug. 
21,  1795. 

X.  Joel,  b.  Jan.  26,  X785. 

2.  Sally,  b.  May  29,  1787. 

3.  Ransly,  b.  July  19,  1789. 

Obadiah  Scott,  s.  of  George,  Sr.,  m.  Han- 
nah Buck,  d.  of  Ezekiel,  Sr.,  of 
Wethersfield,  Oct.  10,  1716.  He  d. 
1735;  and  she  died  suddenly,  June  12, 
1749. 

1.  Still-born,  June  20,  X717. 

2.  Zebulon,  b.  June  16,  X718. 

3.  Mary,  b.  May  20,  1720;  d.  Sept.,  X722. 

4.  Enoch,  b.  Oct.,  1722. 

5.  Comfort- b.  Jan,  31,  1723-4;  m.  Jos.  Upson. 

6.  George,  b.  Nov.  xo,  1725. 

7.  Obadian.  b.  Jan.  6,  X726-7. 

8.  Ezekiel,  d.  Apr.  20,  1730. 

Obadiah  Scott,  s.  of  David,  dec'd,  m. 
Mary  Andrus,  d.  of  John,  May  30, 
1733  [and  d.  Sept.  29,  1784]. 

X.  and  2.  Still-born,  Dec.  xo,  1733. 

3.  Eliphas,  b.  Jan.  31,  X734-5. 

4.  Obadiah,  b.  Apr.  12,  1737. 

5.  Jesse,  b.  May  jo.  1739;  d.  June  30,  1744. 

6.  Barnabas,  b.  Mch.  7,  X741. 

7.  Mary,  b.  May  19,  1743;  m.  James  Fancher. 

7.  Abigail,  b.  July  3,  1746. 

8.  Margaret,  b.  July  30,  1748. 

8.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  X4,  1750. 

9.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  15,  1753. 
10.  Ruth,  b.  Nov.  7,  1756. 

(There  is  error  in  numbering   these  children, 
and  probably  in  naming  the  second  Mary.) 

Obadiah  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah  (of  George), 
dec'd,  m.  Comfort  Scott,  d.  of  Edmund, 
dec'd,  Apr.  8,  1751.  She  d.  Apr.  i, 
1798  [he,  Sept.,  1 8 10]. 

X.  Annis,  b.  Apr.  2,  1753. 

2.  Marcy,  b.  July  2,  1755. 

3.  Lydia,  b.  Nov.  28,  1757. 

4.  Martha,  b.  Jan.  29,  1761. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  23,  1763;  d.  Oct.  30,  X765. 

6.  Patience,  b.  June  21,  1766. 

7.  Edmund  Andrews,  b.  Oct.  17,  1771. 

Obadiah  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah  of  David, 
dec'd,  m.  Hannah  How,  d.  of  John, 
Mch.  10,  1755. 

X.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  28,  1755. 

2.  Olive,  b.  Sept.  23,  1757. 

3.  Lewce  (Lucy),  b.  July  26,  1760. 

4.  Jesse,  b.  May  2,  1763. 

5.  David,  b.  June  22,  1765. 

6.  Rosamond,  b.  Nov.  6,  1768. 

Patience  Scott  m.  Wm.  Lewis,  1765. 


*  Probably  son  of  Jonathan  and  Rebecca,  bom  after  Rachel. 
13* 


RI8T0RT  OF  WATEBBUR7. 


Scott.  Scott. 

Robbord  Scott,  s.  of  Edmund,  m.  Eliz- 
abeth Terrill,  d.  o(  Gamaliel.  D«c.  39, 


Samuel  Scott,  s.  of  Edmund,  m.  Mary 
Richards,  d.  of  John.  Jan.  13.  1724-3- 
Hed.  Apr.  30,  1768;  and  she,  Sept.  5, 


Stephen  Scott,  a 


of   David,   A^- 


Long   Island,   Apr.     ■). 
[and  d.  1744]. 

..  S«™h,  h.  ttb.  14,  1T35-S  [d.  Sep..  .1.  i7*il 
1.  Slephtn,  b.  Sepi.  14,  ijj*. 
J.  Wool«y,  b.  Apr.  ij,  174.  W-  -T^l- 
Stephen  Scott,  s.  of  Stephen,  dec'd. 
Freelove  Hikcox,  d.  of  Amos,  r»ov. 


-a:- 


6.  Mary,  b,  Sept.  7,  173}. 

7.  Sanli,  b.  Apr.  4.  'Jii;  °>.  Edmi 

1'homu  Himmund. 
B.  Samud,  b.  f>b.  14.  IfjjB. 


U.l 


Samuel  Scott  [Jr.,  on  land  rec.],  s  of 
George,  m.  Priscilla  Hull.  d.  of  John  of 
Derby.  Sept.  36,  1737. 
1.  Sybil,  b.  July  6.  t^^p■,  A.  Mch.  >i,  rj^S. 
9.   Qiubcth,  h,  Feb,  17,  1731;  d.  Sept.,  1B14. 

i:  |""i'"'h.  jji-r.'!  .'jjafd.  Stp..  8.  .807- 

Priscilla  d.  Sept.  23.  17SS,  and  Samuel 
m.  Lois,  wid.  of  David  Stricklin,  May 
4,  1756.  Lois  d.  Nov.  ay,  1761,  and 
Samuel  m.  Eunice  Ashley,  d.  of  Jona- 
than (Ehenezer?)  r)f  Hartford,  Mch.  17. 
1763,  She  d.  Jan,  12,  1774;  he  d.  Sept. 
15.  1790. 
6,  A.hl.,,  b.  Junt  .7.  .764- 

Samnel  Scott,  s,  of  Samuel  (of  Edmund) 
m.   Dameras   Lewis,  d.  of  Jos.,  dec'd, 

I,  Thankful,  b.  M;iy  4.  i/fj;  d.  Ocl.  J,  1765. 


%  Haney,  b.  tidn.  isi  1771;  d.  Sep!.  15,  1773 
Sarah  Scott  m.  Samuel  Fcnn,  1763. 


Sarah   A,   Scott  m.   Lvman   Hotchkiw. 

1837. 
Sarah  M.  Scott  m.  Amos  H.  Hotchkiss 

[1S37]. 
Simeon  Scott,   s.  of  Zebulon.   m.    Lucy 

Hikcox,  d.  of  Capt,  Abr.,  Mch.  9,  1775 


J.  Juel,  b.  .May  ij,  1777- 

3.  Prue.  b,  Oct.  4,  i779;  d.  Sept.  la 

J.'l)«nttl,b.'Mch,  7,178.. 
S.  Maik,  b.  Sepl.  30,  1783. 
7.  Tiliu,  b,  Sept.  7,  17BS. 
S.  I™,  b.  June  ■=,  tjS,. 
5.  Wiidf  nee,  b.  Mch.  s,  17B9;  m.  M 


3,  .Slephen    b.  Apt.  13,  176}. 

Thadde  Scott,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Oranc^ 
Hammond,  d.  of  Thomas  of  'Wairf' 
town.  May  23.  1781.  She  d.  Mciu  =1. 
1836  [be,  Sept.  35,  1S33]. 

I.  Levi,  b.  Oct.  17, 1781. 

J.  MojM  Fri^bic,  b.  Ftb.  iB;  d.  Mch.  ,1,  ir?=- 

3-^JKob,b.Feh.».^^S6.^ 

t.  Philo,  b.'  Ocl."6j'.'^o  \m.  HuriM  TutUt  d_   -- 

Ephraim   «nd  meot  Id  Olfotd.  N.  Y.,  rtn  - 
6.  MaUl,  b.  July  S,  1793;  d.  Oct.  i*.  t«uj. 

S.  Ttuddcui,  b.  Ocl,  ly;  d.  Oct.  a^  17^7. 
9.  Truman,  b.  Nov.  4,  179B;  d.  Oct.  i^  ■«..}_ 

Timothy  Scott,  s.  of   William,  m.  Sarai 

Sutliif,  d.  of  Joseph,  Nov.  9.  1757. 

I.   Bede.  b.  Nov.  s.  175a. 
I.  Uuce,  b.  Feb.  18,  1764. 

Titua   Scott,   a.   of   Simeiin,    m.    "Rhoi^ 
Hull,  d.  of  Nathi..  dec'd.  Dec..  i*<x^. 
1.  Junius  De  Lm.  b,  Apr.  6,  i8oa. 
J.  Al.ta  Mylo,  b,  Apr.  ,0,  .8,,;  d.  June.  .Siz. 

3.  WUliam  tdMn,  b.  July  i.,  18.3. 

Uri  Scott,  s.  of  Enoch,  m.  Esther  Roh- 
bards.  d.  of  Abial.  Dec.  z6.   1780. 


b   July« 


I..  Sepc.  3 


,  i7e3.„ 


>?8s. 


Judd,  d.  of  Thomas,  dec'd,  of  i 

Nov.  30,  1737.     She  d.  Jan.  35,  1771. 

I.  Benjamin,  h.  Sept.  fi,  lyit. 


I7&2- 

Tbeir  fiiU,  b.  in  Wat.,  Abigail   Milla,    b.  Jn«  i. 

,,  Aaael,  b,  Sepl,  13.  1768;  d. June  36,  I7iij. 
3.  Sarah,  b.  May  4,  177°;  d.  Feb.  6,  .771. 
Zebulon  Scott,  s.  of  Obadiah.  dec'd.  ni. 
Elizabeth  Warner,  d.  of  Samuel.  Apr. 
iS,  1748.    [He  d.  May  31;  she,  Jtineji. 
179S-] 

I.  SincnD,  b.  Mch.  i,  i74B-g. 
,.   Hnldah    b.   Nov    7.   17S3   [m.  Halt?  ud) 


FAMILY  REOOBl 


.'t 


\t- 


SCOVILI..  '    SCOVILL. 

A.sa.  Scovill,  s.  of  Lieut.  John,  m.  Lois 
'Warner,  d.  of  Serg.  Obadiah,  Dec.  lo, 
1755. 

X.  Sela,  b.  June  20,  1757. 

a.   Amasa,  b.  Dec.  22,  1758  [m.  Esther  Merrill,  d. 
of  Caleb]. 

3.  Selden,  b.  July  6,  1761. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  i,  1766. 
^Obadiah,  b.  before  1770.] 

Daniel  Scovill,  s.  of  Timothy,  m.  Laura 
Mu.nson,  d.  of  Elisha,  Dec.  25,  1816. 
He  d.  Oct.  3,  1833,  a.  58.  (Did  he  mar- 
ry Miliscent  Scott  before  1799?) 

X.  Melisse  M.,  b.  Oct.  22,  181 7;  m.  Wm.  Sixer. 

a.  Luzerne,  b.  Sept.  3,  1819. 

3.  Lucius  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  2,  182X. 

4.  George  Nelson,  b.  Oct.  9,  1827. 

Daniel  Scovill  [s.  of  Rev.  James];  his 
wife  Hannah  of  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  d  in 
Wat.,  Aug.  19,  1839,  a.  53.' 

Darius  Scovill  fs.  of  Lieut.  William]  m. 
July  4,  1 77 1,  Lydia  Granniss,  b.  Dec. 
16,  1750.' 

I.  Sclah,  b.  July  4,  1776. 
a.   Asenath,  b.  tan.  26,  1779. 
7,.   Isaac,  b.  Men.  4,  1781. 


SCOVILI 


z.  Jai 
2.  Wi 


4. 

5. 


Seabury,  b.  Jan.  26,  1784. 
Stephen,  b.  June  26,  1786. 


EdT^ard  Scovill,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m. 
Martha  Baldwin,  d  of  Jonathan,  Jan. 
31,  1739.  [He  d.  Sept.  5,  1779;  she, 
Nov.  29,  1798.] 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  25,  1740-t;  m.  Isaac  Merriam. 

2.  Edward,  b.  Feb.  5,  X744-S. 

Edward  ScoVill,  s.  of  Capt.  Edward,  m. 
Ruth  Norton,  Nov.  26,  1770  [and  d. 
Mch.  21,  1778,  leaving 

Martha,  Rath,  and  Sarah] . 

Edward  Scovill,  s.  of  James,  Esq.,  m. 
Harriet  Clark,  d.  of  Eli,  Aug.  21,  1823. 

z.  Stella  Maria,  b.  June  11,  1824;  m.  L.  S.  Davies. 

2.  Tames  Clark,  b.  Sept.  4,  1826. 

3.  Thomas  Lamsoa«  b.  Apr.  26,  1830. 

4.  Julia  Lyman,  b.  Jan.  16,  1835. 

Elizabeth  C.  Scovill  m.   I.   E.   Ailing, 

1848. 

Emeritt  A.  Scovill  m.  L.  S.  Dougal  (?), 

1831. 

Emily  A.  Scovill  m.  George  Forgue,  1841. 

[Ezekiel  Scovill,  s.  of  Stephen  of  East 
Haddam,  m.  Mindwell  Barber  of  Wind- 
sor, Oct.  23,  1740.  He  d.  Aug.  5,  1791, 
a.  79;  she,  Sept.  i,  1800,  a.  85. 

Mindwell,  b.  Sept.  26,  174a. 

Kcziah.  b.  Feb.  28,  1746. 

Sarah,  b.  July  6,  1754. 

Mary,  b.  May  i,  1757;  m.  David  Foot. 

Hannah,  b.  Oct.  7,  1761;  m.  Elijah  Steele.] 

[Rev.]  James  Scovill,  s.  of  Lieut.  Will- 
iam, m.  Ame  Nichols,  d.  of  Capt. 
George,  Nov.  7,  1762.  [He  d.  Dec.  19, 
1808,  at  Kingston.  N.  B.,  in  the  50th 
year  of  his  mmistry;  she  d.  June,  1835.] 


I 


lam 
^iU 
ch 

3.  Han 

4.  Rev. 
ch 

5.  Sami 
ch 

6.  Dani 

.  SaraJ 
Edwi 
Ml 
Q.  Hem 
Cu 
cei: 
rie( 

James  £ 

thea  ] 
bury, 

1825;  5 

1.  Jam 

2.  Bets 

Se 

3.  Sara 

co« 

4.  Will 

5.  Edw 

6.  Amc 

7.  Care 

8.  AUt 

mi 

9.  Mar 
10.  Stell 

James  I 

[wid. 
Aferrii 

Jane  C. 

John  Sc  I 

and  s  I 
hanna ; 
febra= 
[he,  J 

1.  John 

2.  Obac  i 

Fe   . 

3.  Saral  , 

W(  ) 

4.  Willi  I 

5.  Hani  I 

s    ( 

6.  Edw 

[Lieut.] 
Tabit 

1723-4 
[Tabi  I 

X.  Oba(   ( 

2.  Mar; 

3.  Johi 

4.  Asa,    I 

5.  Han    i 

6.  Johi 

7.  Sstep    I 

8.  Tim 

9.  Ann    s 

John  S  I 

Barn<  ; 


I  Trun 
2.  Reu 
Foh 
>h 

5.  Ant 

6.  Claj 


3:   lol 
4.  Jol 


U' 


124  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBT. 


SCOVILL.  SCOVILL. 

John  m.    Elizabeth  Baldwin,  June  4, 
1778  [and  d.  Sept.  15,  1807]. 

Marcus  Scovill  m.  Ann  Todd  of  Litch- 
field, Jan.  8,  1828. 

Molly  Scovil  m.  Clement  Nichols,  18 16. 

Nancy  Scovill  m.  Ed.  Chatfield,  1823. 

[Noah  Scovill  ni.  Abigail  Gunn,  d.  of 
Enos,  1783.  He  d.  Aug.  30,  1829,  a.  56; 
she,  Oct.  1839. 

X.  Barzilla,  b.  Feb.  4,  1784. 

2.  Aaron,  b.  Oct.  10,  1785;  d.  1826. 

3.  Enos,  b.  Apr.  2,  1788;  d.  1799. 

4.  Maria,  b.  July  8;  d,  July  a6,  1790. 

5.  Bill  Harry,  b.  May  9,  1794. 

6.  Elias,  b.  Jujie  23,  1798;  d.  1801. 

7.  Hannah  T."  b.  Nov.  12,  i8oi. 

8.  Harriet,  b.  May  5,  1804.] 

Obadiah  Scovill,  s.  of  John,  m.  Hannah 
Hull,  d.  of  Josiah  of  Norvvalk,  July  14, 
1752. 

r.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  q,  1752;  ra.  Sam.  Hikcox,  3d. 

2.  David,  b.  Jan.  26,  1755. 

Hannah  d.  Aug.  22,  1756,  and  Obadiah 
m.  Hannah  Porter,  d.  of  Daniel,  Tune 
II,  i7rx).  She  d.  June  25, 1766,  and  he, 
Mch.  19,  1768. 

3.  Anne,  b.  Feb.  4,  1761;  d.  Apr.  9,  178 1. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  June  5,  1762;  d.  Feb.  23,  1766. 

Obadiah  Scovil,  s.  of  Asa,  m.  Mille  Nich- 
ols, d.  of  Benj.,  Mch.  30,  1790. 

I.  Asa,  b.  Dec.  6,  1790. 
[2.  Miranda,  b.  Dec.  14,  1792. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  3,  1704. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  15,  1796;  m.  Julius  Morris. 

5.  Benjamin  Nichols,  b.  June  11,  1799. 

6.  Emma,  ] 

and     Vb.  Mch.  5,  1802. 

7.  Alma,    ) 

8.  Marcus,  b.  Jan.  16,  1804. 

9.  Milley,  b.  July  27,  iS<>/i. 

Mille  d.  Aug.  7,  1806,  and  Obadiah  m. 
Mrs.  Philomela  Glazier. 

10.  Malvina,  b.  Nov.  22,  1807. 

11.  Burritt,  b.  Apr.  3,  x8io. 
xa.  Philomela,  b.  Oct.  11,  1811. 

13.  Smith,  b.  Jan.  22,  1814. 

14.  Samuel,  b.  July  5,  1817. 

15.  Jcjhn,  b.  Sept.  25,  1820.J 

Samuel  Scovill,  s.  of  William,  m.  Ruth 
Bronson,  d.  of  Benjamin,  late  of  Wat., 
Dec.  19,  1756. 

1.  .Annah,  b.  May  13,  1759. 

2.  Ruth,  b.  Aug.  12,  1761. 

Ruth  d.  Aug.  iS,  1 761,  and  Samuel  m. 
Vodice  Hartshorn,  d.  of  Eliphalet,  May 

3.  I7f'4- 

3.  Uri,  b.  July  28,  1765, 

Sarah  Scovill  m.  Joel  B.  Foot,  1826. 
Sarah  E.  Scovill  m.  Henr>'  Banks,  1S51. 

Sele  Scovill,  s.  of  Asa,  m.  Mary  Roberts, 
d.  of  Abial,  dec'd,  Apr.  29,  1784. 

1.  David,  1>.  Sept.  6,  1787. 

2.  Mark,  b.  July  24,  ijS.;. 

3.  Ebcnczer  Robard,  b.  Nov.  25,  1791. 


Scovil.  Scovill. 

Seldon  Scovil,   s.  of  Asa,  m.  Mehitable 
Blakeslee.  d.  of  Reuben,  Nov.  30,  1784. 

1.  Susanna,  b.  July  15,  1785. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  9,  1788. 

3.  Seldon,  b.  July  18,  1791. 

4.  Ix)uisa  Anne,  b.  Dec.  9,  1792. 

5.  Reuben  B.,  b.  June  it,  1795. 

6.  Leveret,  b.  Men.  31,  1799. 

Stephen  Scovill:' 

Silva,  bap.  Oct.  12,  1773. 

Susanna  Scovill  m.  Thoma.s  Barnes, 
1721. 

Timothy  Scovill,  s.  of  Lieut.  John,  dec'd. 
m.  Jemima  Porter,  d.  of  Dr.  Dan  , 
Apr.  7,  1762,  and  d.  June  22,  1824. 
[She  d.  Aug.  22,  1812,  a.  67.] 

I.  Timothy,  b.  Nov.  28,  1762. 
a.  Noah,  b.  Jan.  27,  1765. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  Dec.  12,  1766;  d.  Apr.  8,  1767. 

4.  lemima,  b.  Jan.  3,  1768;    d.  Mch.  31,  1783. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  Dec. '23,  1770;  m.  Obed  Gibbs. 

6.  Sylva,  b.  Aug.  28,  1773. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Nov.  6,  1775. 

8.  David  Killum,  b.  Jan.  4,  1780  [d.  May  25,  181 1.] 

Uri  Scovill,  s.  of  Sam.,  m.  Miliscent 
Southmayd,  d.  of  Sam.,  Oct.,  1784.* 

1.  Vodice,  b.  Au^^.  15,  1785. 

2.  Chester,  b.  and  d.  1787. 

3.  Southmayd,  b.  May,  1789. 

William  Scovill,  s.  of  John,  dec'd,  m. 
Hannah  Richards,  d.  of  John,  Apr.  17, 
1729. 

1.  Anna,  b.  Mch.  35,  1731;  m.  Eleazer  Prindle. 

2.  James,  b.  Jan.  27,  1732-3. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  4,  1735. 

4.  .Abijah,  b.  Dec.  27,  1738. 

Hannah  d.  Apr.  i,  1741,  and  William 
m.  Elizabeth  Brown,  d.  of  James,  June 
16,  1742.  [She  d.  May  6,  1752,  and 
William  m.  Desire  Sanford,  wid.  of 
Caleb  Cooper  of  New  Haven  (s.  of 
John).  He  d.  Mch.  5,  1755,  and]  Desire 
m.  Deac.  Jonathan  Gamsey, 

5.  William,  b.  Feb.  9,  1744-5. 

6.  [Darius],  b.  May  15,  1746. 

William  Scovill  (s.  of  William  above)  m. 
Sarah  Brown,  Dec.  24,  1767  [and  d. 
Aug.  13,  1827]. 

1.  Bethel,  b.  June  6,  1769;  d.  June  6,  1775. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  July  31,  1771;  d.  Jan.  14,  1774. 

3.  William,  b.  Sept.  29,  1775. 

William  Henry  Scovill,  s.  of  James, 
Esq.,  m.  Eunice  Ruth  Davies  [d.  of 
Hon.  Thomas  J.]  of  Ogdensburgh,  N. 
Y.,  July  2,  1S27. 

1.  Alathea  Ruth,  b.  Mch.  21,  1828;  m.  F.  J.  Kings- 

bury. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  May  30,  1831;  m.  W.  E.  Curtis. 

3.  Thomas  John,  b.  June  9,  1833;  d.  May,  1839. 

4.  Sarah  Hannah,  b.  July  13,  1835;  d.  Nov.,  1839. 

Eunice  d.  Nov.  25,  1S39.  a.  32,  and 
William  m.  Rebeccah  H.  Smith,  d.  of 
Nathan  of  New  Haven.  Mch.  23,  1841. 

5.  William  Henry,  b.  Jan.  7,  1842. 

6.  lames  Mitchell  Liimson,  b.  June  t8, 1843;  d.  Feb. 
'  ^  3,  184^. 

7.  Nathan  Smith,  b.  Apr.  3,  1847. 


FAMILY  REOC 


ScoviLL.  Seymer. 

^Villiam  Scovill  of  Middletown  m.  Nancy 
Cook  [dau.  of  Joseph],  Nov.  20,  1828. 

Ann  Sedgwick  m.  Timothy  Judd,  1764. 

Ann  Seely  [d.  of  William]  m.  Asa  Par- 
rel, 1 84 1. 

Charles  Seeley,  s.  of  William,  m.  Amy 
Prichard,  d.  of  Roger,  Dec.  25,  1843. 

1.  Chloe  Jane,  b.  Nov.  i^,  1844. 

2.  George  Simeon,  b.  Feb.  a,  1846. 

James  M.  Seeley  m.  Jane  M.  Phillips  of 
Canton,  June  7,  1846. 

Mary  A.  Seeley  m.  W.  W.  Webster,  1851. 

Sally  Seley  m.  William  Bunnel,  1826. 

Almera  Selkrigg  (or  Selkirk)  m.  S.  U. 
Cowel,  1814. 

John  Selkrigg,  s.  of  William,  dec'd,  m. 
Irene  Hopkins,  d.  of  Isaac,  Nov.  29, 
1764.     Irene  m.  Nathl.  Sutliff,  1791. 


1.  Silva,  b.  Sept.  30,  1765. 
"ch.  5,  1767. 

•b.  Oct.  17,  1768. 


,:f' 


3.  Osee, 

and 

4.  Jesse,   . 

5.  Irene,  b.  Tune  6,  1771. 

6.  John,  b.  Jan.  30,  1775. 

7.  Orpha,  b.  Feb.  21,  1777. 

8.  Mark,  b.  June  5,  1780. 

Nathaniel  Selkrigg  [s.  of  William  ?]  and 
Marv; 

1.  Jeremiah,  b.  May  25,  1756. 
a.  Folly  Gillec,  b.  Apr.  13,  1758. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  Jan.  7,  1762. 

4.  Hannah,  D.  Apr.  12,  1764, 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  17,  1766. 

6.  Jonathan  Gillet,  b.  Dec.  17,  1768. 

Mary  d.  Apr.  30,  1769,  and  Nathaniel 
m.  Anis  Scovill,  d.  of  Lieut.  John,  May 
25,  1770.  [He  d.  in  1797;  she,  Mch.  4, 
1804.] 

7.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  i,  1771 ;  ra.  James  Nichols. 

8.  Triphene,  | 

and         Vb.  Aug.  2,  1773; 

9.  Lucene,      )  d.  Oct.  22,  1773. 

ID.  Lucene,  b.  Dec.  5,  1776  [m.  Daniel  Weltonf  and 

d.  July  12,  i8?6J. 
II.  Freelovc,  b.  Feb.  20,  1779. 

Ruth  A.  Selkrig  m.  Asahel  Clark,  18 12. 
William  Silkrigg  and  Judith: 

1.  John,  b.  in  Middletown,  June  14,  1734. 

2.  Nathaniel,  b.  in  Mid.,  Apr.  3,  1736. 

3.  Allyn,  b.  Sept.  11,  d.  Nov.  3,  1738. 

4.  Merrian,  b.  Jan,  8,  1739-40;  m.  !?at.  Foot. 

5.  Millecent.  b.  Dec.  6,  1742;  m.  Asa  Judd. 

6.  Else,  b.  Nov.  11,  1744;  m.  Moses  Frost. 

7.  William,  b.  Feb.  15,  1746-7;  d.  Jan.  9,  1749-50. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  12,  1750-1;  m.  Lsaac  Foot. 

9.  William,  b.  Apr.  24,  1753. 

Nathan  Seward,  s.  of  Amos,  was  mar.  to 
Martha  Gridley  by  Alexander  Gillet, 
clerk,  June  3,  1779. 

I.  Asahel,  b.  Aug.  19,  1781. 

Ruth  Seward  m.  Reuben  Frisbie,  1779. 

Abel  Seymer,  s.  of  Lieut.  Stephen,  m. 
Damaras  Humaston,  Nov.  19,  1767. 


Seyi 

z. 

2. 

3- 
4. 
5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 

9. 
10. 

II. 

Alex 
Soi 

Amoi 

178 

1.  A 

2.  A 

Boad 

Danic 
Mel 

I.  Jc 

3.    M 

3.  SI 
A 

Eliza 

173- 
Gideo 

Prii 
176 


I.  i 

r 

2. 

■3     ^ 
3.  . 

4. 
5. 
6. 


5.  ^1 


7.  ] 

8.  I  • 

9.  5; 

10.    i   ! 

Josep  : 

grit 
tia,  i 

1.  A  I 

2.  K 

3.  \  I 

4.  E 

Josia 

De. 

h 

S  i 

J   ' 
V    ; 

Lydii 

Rich/  : 

(wl  ) 

Hil  : 

174  . 

X. 


2. 


sh< 


126  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBUET, 


Saymore. 

3.  Stainuel,  b.  June  5,  1748. 

4.  Luce,  b.  Apr.  6,  1751. 


Shepardson. 


5.  J^nna,  b.  May  19,  1753  [d.  Oct.,  1756I. 

.,  1756J, 

,  ^       .  ^ ,  _,^,:  m.  Alb 

8.  Josiah,  b.  Oct.  n,  1759. 


6.  Huldah,  b.  Oct.  4,  1755  [d.  Sept.,  171 

7.  Joanna,  b.^ept.  i,  1757;  m.  Allyn  jud'd 


9.  Huldah,  b.  Dec.  23,  1761. 
xo.  Ann,  b.  Feb  ,  last  day,  1764. 

11.  Vodice.  b.  Mch.,  1766. 

12.  Miles,  b.  July,  1769. 

Robert  S.  Seymour,  b.  Sept.  23,  1802,  s. 
of  Richard  of  Watertown,  m.  Nov.  30, 
1828,  Abigail  Bronson,  b.  Sept.  14,  1803, 
d.  of  Philenor. 

X.  Henry  Augustus,  b.  Sept.  99,  1829. 
^'  irfei  "     *     - 


6.  Franklin,  b.  Sept.  26,  1844. 

7.  Ellen  Louise,  b.  Apr.  15,  1847. 

Samuel  Seymour  m.  Mehi table  Dayton, 
May  18,  1780.' 

Samuel,  b.  Mch.  25,  X781;  d.  June  22,  1785. 
Isaac,  b.  July  7,  1784. 
"  '■  r,  b.  M 


Sally,  b.  May  24,  1786. 
Samuel,  b.  May  24,  1788. 


Stephen  Saymore,  s.  of  Bbenezer,  dec'd, 
ra.  Mehitable,  d.  of  Capt.  Sam.  Hikcox, 
Mch.  18,  1 740- 1. 

1.  Gideon,  b.  Sept.  24,  1741. 

2.  Thankful,  b.  Nov.  6,  1743;  m.Thoraas  Hickcox, 

3.  Abel,  b.  July  9,  1745. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  30,  1748. 

5.  David,  b.  May  5,  1750. 

6.  Amos,  b.  July  9,  1752;  d.  Dec.  11,  1759. 

7.  Lydia.  b.  June  17,  X754;  d.  Oct.  2,  1772. 

8.  Zadock,  b.  Apr.  30,  1757. 

9.  Mehitable,  ) 

and        Vb.  July  21,  1759. 
ID.  Stephen,      ) 

11.  Ame,  b.  June  7,  1761. 

12.  Amos,  b.  Sept.  5,  1766. 

Mehitable  d.  May  9,  1767,  and  Stephen 
m.  Oct.  12,  1767,  Mary,  wid.  of  Eben. 
Elwell. 

Enoch  E.  Shaw  m.  Ann  Donnelly,  Apr. 

15.  1851. 
Dennis  Shea  of  Hartford  m.  Catharine 

Galvin,  May  14,  1849. 

Robert  Sheehan  m.  Alice  Black,  July  4, 
1851.8 

David  Shelton  and  Elizabeth: 

1.  Abigail,  b.  July  20,  i772> 

2.  Samuel  Masters,  b.  Oct.  28,  1774. 

3.  Ransom,  b.  Aug.  31,  1776. 

4.  Cloe,  b.  July  9,  1778. 

Abigail    Sbepard    m.    Daniel    Hay  den, 
1 801. 

Ruth  Sheppard  m.  Elihu  Spencer.  1793. 

Samuel  Shepherd:' 

Anna,  bap.  Jan.  18,  1801. 

John  Shepardson  m.  Emily  Albro— both 
of  Attleborough,  Mass. — Oct.  12,  1848. 


Shepardson.  Smith. 

Otis  Shepardson  of  New  Haven  m.  Lucy 
S.  Pierpont,  Oct.  20,  1846. 

Farrell  Sheridan  m.  Winifred  Wiscon, 
Jan.  7,  1848.* 

Eliza  Sherman  m.  L.  F.  Hikcox,  1837. 
Elizabeth  Sherman  m.  Alsop  Baldwin, 

1773. 
Elizabeth  L.  Sherman  m.  L.  E.  Hikcox, 

1835. 

Harriet  M.  Sherman  m.  Sam.  Nettleton, 
1842. 

Maria  Sherman  m.  Rev.  Ira  Hart,  1798. 

Stephen  Sherwood  of  Salem  m.  Mary 
Hitchcock  of  Bethany,  July  13,  1834. 

Joseph  Shipley  m.  Sarah,  wid.  of  Will- 
iam Stanley,  Mch.  11,  1839. 

I.  Alfred,  b.  Jan.  i,  1840. 
3.  Ralph,  b.  May  4,  1845. 

Sarah  Shipley  m.  W.  H.  Jones,  1846. 

John  Simpson  m.  Sarah  M.  Blackman— 

both  of  Plymouth — Jan.  5,  185 1. 

John  Singleton  of  Philadelphia  m.  Electa 
Frer}'^  of  Southampton,  Mass.,  Nov.  25, 
1850. 

Timothy  Sizer,  s.  of  Abel  of  Middletown, 
m.  the  widow  Rebecca  Savage,  Sept. 
10,  1795. 

Their  first  two  chil.  d.  soon  after  birth. 

3.  Olive,  b.  Dec.  27,  1798. 

4.  Rebecca,  b.  Jan.  12,  1801. 

William  Sizer  m.  Melissa  Scovill,  Jan. 
13.  1768. 

Dorcas  Skinner  m.  Samuel  Southmayd, 
1768. 

John  Skinner  m.  Emeline  Frisbie,  d.  of 
Ebenezer.      She  d.  in  Ohio,  Oct.   27, 

1833.; 

X.  Emily,  b.  June  7,  1831. 

Maltha  A.  Skinner  m.  Rev.  H.  B.  Elliot, 

1843. 

tjohn  Slater  m.  Martha  Barnes,  d.  of 
Samuel,  Apr.  19,  1750. 

tJohn  Slaterree  (Slaughtree  on  First 
Church  records)  m.  Mary  Barnes,  d.  of 
Samuel,  Nov.  11,  1755  [and  d.  1789]. 

X.  Svnthia,  b.  June  x8,  1759  [d.  Oct.  17,  1830]. 

2.  Niartha,  b.  Nov.  4,  1761  [m.  Tx:vi  Bron<ionJ. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  27,  1765  [d.  Mch.  30,  181 1]. 

Mary  Slaughter  m.  Joseph  Lewis,  1727. 

Concurrance  Smedley  m.  Samuel  Guern- 
sey, 1766. 

Abigail  Smith  m.  Abr.  Prichard,  1766. 


♦  First  marriage  recorded  by  M.  O'Neill. 

+  These  names  appear  side  by  side  <ni  the  rale  books,  down  to  1781 — John  Slater  appearing  in  1749;  John 
Slateree,  in  1753.    One  is  rated  from  £26  to  ^58;  the  other  from  jQ^  to  .1^30. 


Na 
I.  c 


FAMILY  REGi 

Smith.                                               Smith.  Smf 

Amanda  Smith  m.  Wm.  Beardsley,  1833.  >• 

Ame  Smith  m.  John  Lewis,  1750.  3'. 

Andrew  Smith  and  Rachel:*  ♦• 

Harris,  bap.  Jan.  i6,  1820.  5* 

Lucretia,  bap.  Nov.  a,  1821.  j] 

Ira  Tutlle,  bap.  Aug.  13,  1824.  g! 

Anna  Smith  m.  Bennet  Bronson.  1801.  9- 1 

Anson  H.  Smith  m.  Esther  Atkins— both  P*^ 

of  Wolcott— May  12,  1827.  Faai 

Asahel  Smith,   s.  of  Anson,  dec'd,  m.  Frai 

Elizabeth  Thomas,  Nov.  12,  1829.  Qad 

Augustus  Smith  of  Plymouth  [s.  of  James  i, 

of  Northfield]  m.  Catharine  L.  Cook  i.  1 

[d.  of  Zenas],  Dec.  6,  1837.  Geof 

Austin  Smith  d.  Feb.  8,  1797,  a.  83.  Mar-  Jai 

garet,  his  wife.  d.  Mch.  26,  1803.*  Ham 

Austin  Smith  [Jr.]  m.  Sarah  Hikcox,  d.  Harr 
of  Gideon,  Mch.  20,  1765. 

1.  Ame,  b.  Oct.  12,  1765.  Hettf 

2.  Levi,  b.  June  xo,  1770;  d.  Feb.  5,  1781.  Pai 

3.  Sally,  b.  Sept.  12,  1779. 

4.  Harvy,  b.  Dec.  23,  1783.  Iienr 

Bathsheba    Smith    m.   Alsop    Baldwin,  ^^^ 

1778.  Jai 

Betsey  Smith  m.  Joseph  Nichols,  1824. 

Catharine  S.  Smith  m  A.  C.  Hart,  1841. 

Cloe  Smith  m.  Asa  Scott,  1789.  ul 

David  Smith  and  Ruth>  „  . . 

1.  Aaron,  b.  Apr.  19,  1771. 

2.  David,  b.  Dec.  2,  1776.  20, 

3.  Junius,  b.  Oct.  2,  1780.  Sc'  1 

4.  Lucius,  b.  Apr.  9,  1784.  . 

David  Seely  Smith,  s.  of  John,  m.  Jane  ™  j 

M.  Fuller,  d.  of  Nelson  of  Middlebury,  ^j^  . 

Apr.  25,  1846.  j^^  I 

I.  A  child,  b.  Apr.  7,  1847.  ^ 

Edward  A.  Smith  m.  Rachel  Lewis,  Nov.  2!  i  : 

19,  1835.  3.  j  I 

Edwin  Smith  of  New  Haven  m.  Betsey  w 

Ann  Nichols,  Feb.  22,  1847.  tjj   \ 

Elinor  Smith  m.  Eph.  Warner,  1739. 

Eliza  Ann  Smith  d.  Aug.  16,  1836,  a.  61.*  ^  ^J  ' 

Eliza  R.  Smith  m.  E.  O.  Adams,  185 1.  ja 

Elizabeth    Smith    m.   Joshua    Guilford,  i 
1824. 

Elmoye  Eben.  Smith,  s.  of  Leveret  of  4 

Prospect,  m.  Marietta  Woodruff,  d.  of  5 
Stephen  of  Southington,  Apr.  4,  1841. 

1.  Emma  Jane,  b.  June  20,  1842.  8.  ! 

2.  George  Lcvcrett,  b.  Jan.  18,  1844.  _ 

3.  Samuel  Stephen,  b.  Feb.  15,  1846.  Jam' 

Ephraim  Smith  d.  Oct.  15,  1806,  a.  75.'  St 

Widow  of  Ephraim  d.   Sept.   i,  1808,  ^< 
a.  76. 

Esther  Smith  m.  Isaac  Byington. 

Ezekiel  Smith,  s.  of  Ezekiel  of  Wood-  J*^ 
bridge,   dec'd,   m.    Mary  Frost,  d.   of 
David,  Sept.  11,  1806,  and  d.  Dec.  9, 

1825. 


I 

2.  .  I 
3. :  i 

) 

6.  :  1 


I. 

2.     I 


I. 
2.     1 


V 


128  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBUB7, 


Smith.  Smith. 

James  Smith  m.  Sarah  Blakeslee,  Jan. 
29,  1789.* 

John  Smith  of  Derby  m.  Abigail  Gunn, 
Mch.  15,  1759.* 

John  Smith,  s.  of  James,  m.  Ruhamah 
Thompson,  d.  of  Caleb  of  Harwinton, 
Nov.  17,  1768. 

1.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  4,  1769. 

2,  John,  b.  Apr.  4,  1771. 

John  Smith,  s,  of  Ezekiel  of  Woodbridge, 
dec'd,  m.  Esther  Frost,  d.  of  Rev. 
Jesse,  Feb.  22,  1808. 

1.  Clarissa,  b.  Dec.  93,  1808;  m.  Luther  Todd. 

2.  Sylvester,  b.  June  13,  181 1. 

3.  Lydia  Ann,  b.  Feb.  i,  1813;  m.  M.  Kimball. 

4.  Polly  Amanda,  b.  July  ri,  1816  [m.  Ed.Welton]. 

5.  David  Scely,  b.  Apr.  7,  1819. 

6.  Charles  Junius,  b.  June  xi,  1821;  d.  1833. 

7.  Irena,  b.  Aug.  10,  1823;  m.  W.  B.  Barnes. 

8.  James  Frost,  b.  Mch.  22,  1827. 

John  A.  Smith  of  Vernon  m.  Melisse  E. 
Tuttle,  Mch.  20,  1842. 

J.  Edward  Smyth  m.  Lucy  A.  Clark  [d. 
of  John],  Jan.  i,  1849. 

John  W.  Smith  of  Conway,  Mass.,  m. 
Sarah  M.  Hickok  [d.  of  Alanson  R.], 
Apr.  23,  1849. 

Joseph  Smith  [m.  Oct.  ii,  1722,  Martha 
Beeman,  b.  July  16,  1695,  d.  of  George 
of  Derby]. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  21,  1728. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  Dec.  23,  1730. 

5.  Ame,  b.  Mch.  29,  1734. 

6.  Ruth,  b.  Sept.  13,  1740  [m.  David  Prichard]. 

Joseph  Smith  m.  Hannah  Mallory,  Aug. 
21,  1753.* 

Landon  Smith  m.  Martha  Osborn,  d.  of 
Daniel,  July  19,  1777.' 

Lawrence  O.  S.  Smith  of  Naugatuck  m. 
Eunice  E.  Sperry  of  Huraphreysville, 
Sept.  2,  1845. 

Lemuel  O.  Smith,  see  L.  S.  Osborn. 

Lewis  Smith  m.  Clarry  Nichols,  Feb.  22, 
1829. 

Lois  Smith  m.  Daniel  Abbot,  1763. 

Lucy  J.  Smith  m.  Richard  Morrow,  1S39. 

Lyman  Smith  m.  Rebeckah  Wooster, 
Dec.  17,  1S21. 

Lyman  Smith  of  Woodbury  m.  Jenett 
Norton,  July  23,  1824. 

Lyman  P.  Smith  m.  Marilla  Sanford  [d. 
of  Lebeus],  Nov.  20,  183S. 

Margaret  Smyth  m.  John  Daye,  1850. 
Marshall  Smith  and  Lucina: 

I.  Phila  Charlotte,  b.  Sept.  3,  18 10;  m.  G.  S.  Wel- 
ton. 

Martin  B.  Smith  m.  Polly  C.  Frost,  June 
3,  1846. 

Mary  Smith  m.  G.  W.  Denny,  1847. 


Smith.  Somers. 

Mary  C.  Smith  m.  Milo  Hine,  1849. 

Nancy  Smith  m.  Gideon  O.  Hotchkiss, 
1830. 

Orson  Smith,  s.  of  Lemuel,  m.  Lydia 
Ann  Judd,  d.  of  Thomas,  Aug.  28. 
1826. 

Philena  Smith  m.  Gideon  Hickcox,  1770. 

Ralph  Smith  of  Washington  m.  Maria 
Ward  of  Nau.,  Nov.  23,  1842. 

Rebeccah  H.  Smith  m.  W.  H.  Scovill, 
1 841. 

Richard  L.  Smith  of  Milford  m.  Lydia 
Ann  Boughton.  Oct.  9.  1839. 

Rosetta  Smith' m.  James  Hodson,  1846. 

Samuel  Smith,  s.  of  James,  m.  Agnes 
Leveston,  d.  of  James  of  Wallingiord, 
Aug.  2,  1769. 

1.  Samuel  Leveston,  b.  Apr.  27,  1770. 

Agnes  d.  May  7,  1770,  and  Samuel  m. 
Lois  Parker,  Nov.  15,  1770. 

2.  Lois,  b.  Dec.  27,  1771. 

3.  James  Woolsey,  b.  Nov.  9,  1773. 

Sarah  Smith  m.  Nathan  Beard,  1728. 
Sarah  Smith  m.  Isaac  Terrell,  1762. 
Sarah  Smith  m.  Isaac  Scott,  1767. 
Sarah  Smith  m.  Stephen  Warner,  Jr., 

1792. 
Sheldon  Smith  m.  Mille  Downs — both  of 

Wolcott — May  30,  1825. 

Shelton  Smith  of  Plymouth  m.  Charlotte 
Benham.'Jan.  i,  1837. 

Solomon  M.  Smith  of  New  York  m. 
Maria  Clark,  d.  of  Eli,  May  13,  1820. 

Sybbel  Smith    m.   Archibald   Prichard, 

1782. 

Thankful  Smith  m.  Edward  Allen,  1842. 

Wait  Smith  m.  Sarah  Scott,  d.  of  David, 
Jan.  5.  1775.  [He  d.  Sept.  15,  1805; 
she,  Dec,  1828. J 

1.  Garrit,  b.  Feb.  3,  1776  [d.  Nov.  9,  1830]. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  22,  1778. 

William  S.  Smith  of  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
m.  Sophia  Bronson,  Aug.  9,  1837. 

Sarah  Softly  m.  John  Eggleston,  1851. 

David  Somers  formerly  from  Milford  m. 
Almira  Frisbie,  d.  of  David  of  Wolcott, 
Oct.  17,  1S30. 

1.  Dwight  L.,  b.  May  28,  1832. 

2.  Aug^usta  A.,  b.  in  M'bury,  Apr.  15,  1834. 

3.  Joseph  Hill,  b.  in  Wol.,  June  24,  1836. 

4.  Amelia  R  ,  b.  in  Wol.,  Sept.  2,  1840. 

5.  Christine  £.,  b.  in  Mil.,  June  5,  1844. 

6.  Frederic,  b.  Apr.  15,  1847. 

David  Somers  of  Woodbury  m.  Sarah 
Maria  Upson  [d.  of  Daniel],  July  16, 

1836. 


Willii 

m. 


Jemin 

174: 


FAMILY  BECOi 

SOMERS.                                                  SOUTHMAYD.  SoUTi 

James  P,  Somers  from  Milford  m.  Re-  P» 

becca  Harrison,  d.  of  Michael,  dec'd,  jj 

of  Wolcott,  Dec.  14,  1826.  iJ 

I.  Catharine,  b.  Oct.  29,  1827;  m.  Stephen  Har-  H 

rison.  J; 

3.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Aug.  30,  1829;  m.  Douglass  Malt-  ^ 

by.  .  5; 

3.  Pulaski,  b.  June  29,  1831.  *•' 

4.  Elliott,  b.  Jan.  23,  1833.                                             ^  SamU 

Jerusha  Summers  m.  Amzi  Beebe,  1802.'' '  Dor 

Daniel  Southmayd,  s.  of  [Rev.l  John,  m.  Auj 

Hannah  Brown,  d.  of  Samuel,  Mch.  24,  x.  M 

t748  9.  I  ^ 

1.  Anna,  b.  Aug.  8,  1749  [m.  after  1784,  Esq.  Good-  4.  Dt 

rich  of  Chatham,  and  d.  childless,  1809] .  5.  Al 

2.  John,  b.  Aug.  8,  1751.  6.  W 

3.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  23,  1753. 

Mr.  Daniel  Southmayd  d.  Jan.  12, 1754, 

about  II  o'clock  at  night  [and  HannaJi  ind^ 

m.  in  1756,  Joseph  Spencer  of  Haddam,  j^g^ 

Major-General  in  Rev.  War].  j^^ 

Dr.  Daniel  Southmayd,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  j^  j^ 

Prue  Nichols,  d.  of  Capt.  George,  Oct.  2!  Al 

31,  1773.     [He  probably  lived  in  Had-  3-  ^ 

dam.]  ^  *•  ^^ 

Susat 

Mr.  John  Southmayd  [s.  of  William  (jf  ^^^2^ 

Middletown,  m.  Susanna  Ward,  d.  of 

William,  1700.] 

His  first  child  was  Esther,  and  born  ye  :  12th  of 

Septembe  in  ye  yeir  1701.  Mary 

His  ad,  a  daughter  Susannah,  b.  Jenuary  5  —  TAnc* 

1703-4  (m.  Thomas  Bronson).  t""®* 

Ye  3d,  a  daughter  annah,  b.  Oct  »  27  —  1706  —  Hic 

(ra.  Joseph  Bronson).  j^  j 

The  4th,  A  son,  John,  b.  Tan.  ai,  1710.  . ' 

The  5th,  A  son,  Daniell,  b.  Apnll  19,  ■=  1717.  Ans 

The  above  named  Susanna  d.  Aug.  13,  ^-  ^ 

1741.  X  1 

The  above  named  John  d.    Feb.   28,  5.  , 

1742-3.  ^• 

The  above  named  Anna  Southmayd  d.  g]  j 

Aug.  II,  1749.  in  the  43d  year  of  her  9!  : 

age.  '®-  j 

Susannah  Southmavd,  wife  of  Mr.  John  ,  "" 

Southmayd,   died  i'eb.    8th,    between  Anse 

ten  and  Eleven  of  the  clock  at  night,  Ap 

Anno  Dom.  1751  2.  [Dea( 

The  above  named  Daniell,  son  of  John,  d.  ( 

deyed  about  11  o'clock  at  night  Jan.  12,  i.  i 

1754.  (All  these,  recorded  by  Mr.  »•  I 
Southmayd.  The  next  year  another's  J-  J 
pen  records)  5]  i 
Mr.    John   Southmayd   died  Nov.    14,  6.  I 

1755,  in  the  Eighty eth  year  of  his  age.  J*  [ 

John  Southmayd,  s.  of  [Rev.]  John,  m.  Cal^ 

Millecent  Gaylord,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Mid-  jai 

die  town,  Apr.  25,  1739,  and  d.  Feb.  28,  ranc 
1742-3,  about  twelve  of  the  clock,  in 

the  33d  year  of  his  age.    His  widow  m.  ' 

Timothy  Judd,  1749.  E"hi 

1.  William,  b.  June  27,  1740.  R 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  10,  1742.  >^  O 

[John  Southmayd,  s.  of  Daniel,  removed  Hen] 

to  Comptou,  New  Hampshire.  H. 

14  • 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Sfkncer.  Sperrv. 

Henry  Spencer  m,  Mary  E.  Lum— both 
of  Osford— Sept.  19.  1850. 


Selden );  s.  of  Samuel  (andHannan 

Blacbford  or  Blachfield);  sixth  child  of 
Serg.  Jared  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  1634; 
m.  Temperance  Goodspeed  of  East 
Haddam  about  1750.  and  d.  17^7. 


Children  b.  in  Waterbury: 


S.ni«I,  A.  I.n.  .<;  .7&. 
A«bel   d  Jan,  u,  ,760.        ^ 

Isaac  Spencer  m.  >[rs.  Ama  Tyler — both 

of  Cheshire— Oct.  15,  iSa6. 
Lawreoce  [SterneJ  Spencer,  s.  of  Elihu. 

m.  Maria,  Beectier,  d,  of  Daniel,  Apr. 

II.  .S27. 
Leonard  Spencer  m.  Sarah  L.  Hoadley, 

d.  of  Chester,  Mch.  7,  1821. 
Samuel  Spencer:* 

Sarab  Spencer  m,  James  Smith,  1736. 
Wlllard  Spencer  (s.  of  Ansel]  m.  Marcia 
Burton,  June  27,  iSso, 

1,  SuMn,  b,  Sept.  11.  1831. 

».  Kredtriek  Albert,  b,  Nov.  j,  .833. 

3.  ^ouph  Burlon,  b,  Mch.  31,  1836. 

5!  Mary  Eliiabcl'h.  b.  Oct.  i3.  1E47. 

Abel  Sperry  m.  Miliscent  Warner,  d.  of 
Stephen.  Feb.  :o,  1773- 

AbUcail  Sperry  m.  Jonathan  Scott,  1736. 

Alfred  C.  Sperry  of  Bethanv  m.  Harriet 
A.  Isbell.  Sept.  6.  1841. 

Allen  Sperry  and  Abigail  from   North- 
field:' 

Polly,  bnp.  Ma 


>.  Jul; 


,  ito,. 


SpERRV.  St-ERRT. 

Corydon  S.  Sperry  [s.  of  Hezekiafa  (and 
Luanna  Stillraan);  s.  of  Timothj 
Sperry  and  Hannah  Pardee]  m.  Catha- 
rine E.  Leavenworth  [d.  of  Mark], 
June  10.  1S35. 

Earl  Sperry  m.  Anna  Baldwin  of  Wood- 
bridge,  irfay  23,  1823. 

Edwin  Sperry,  s.  of  Marcus,  m.  Hart 
Miles,  d.   of  Samuel  formerly  of  Mil. 
ford.  May  1.  1831. 
I.  Cliirlolir  E.,  E.  in  New  Hsven,  Jonc  m,  i!;;; 


i.  Samuc 


b.  Dk.  ij. 

:».  b.  Oct. 


J.  Henry  Tht 
Elijah  Sperry's  record  of  the  birth  of  his 
Mildren  by  his  wife.  Anne; 
I.  Anne,  b,  in  Woodbridgc,  Jan.  B.  '777. 

Elijah's  record,  by  his  wife  Mary: 

3.  Mary,  b.  A*ug."iJ  iVsi. 
*.   Kn«.  b,  Aug   25,  .7S3. 

5.  Rachel,  b.  ^av.  ■,,:,%-,. 

EmiJy  Sperry  m.  Austin  Pierpont.  im;. 
Eunice  Sperry  m.  L.  O.  Smith,  1S45. 
Jacob   Sperry,   s.    of   Jacob,    dec'd.   m. 

Sarah  Perkins,  d.  of  David— all  of  New 

Haven— Sept.  i,  1773. 

1.  Huldnh.  b.  May  3.  t?7Si  "<-  Nuab  Bconwo. 
1.  Marcus,  b.  Id  P.u.,  Mch.  n,) 

J.Sarah,    b,    i  K.H..  Mch,  i;.  1  m.  Dan.  CouL 

4.  Lydifl.  b.  Oct.  ,j.  ijSi;  m.  Gideon  Plait,  Jr. 

6.  Charr^.  b   Sept,  11'.  1791  [m,  ClarL  Spefrrl. 

Jesse  Sperry,  s.  of  Samuel  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Hannah  Upson,  d.  of  CapL 
Stephen.  May  8,  1759.  [He  d.  Apr.  ij, 
1823,  a.  90;  she.  Feb.  8,  1S18,  a.  ii-] 

X  Su^na.EI'cfel'  3.'i76,;ra,A.naMCoweI. 
«.  Lcava,  b.  June  jo,  r76S  [m.  Sam.  Jabnm]. 


Jesse  Sperry  and  Hannah:* 


jiBon  Sperry,  s.  of  Jacob,  m,  Lois  Up- 
son, d.  of  John  of  Southington,  Apr, 
23.  iHio. 


..  Emily,  b.  Aue.  6,  sin:  m.  Re5tore  Carter, 
I.  Charfa  Anson,  b,  July  .4,  .8.9. 

6.  Charloiii  Eliia,  b,  Apr.  4.  iBij;  m.  Robert  Lai 

7.  Sarah  lane.  bTVcb,  >;.  .8^5  |m.  A.  Fisher] . 
I.  Mary  Cornelia,  h,  Mch.  »,  <9.S;  d.  .833. 

9.  Ana  Ophelia,  b.  Mch.  ;,  1830. 

Betsey  Sperry  m,  E.  N.  Buckinghai 
1834. 


Luther  Sperry,  s.  of  Benjamin  from 
Cheshire,  m.  Mary  Verona  Holt.  d.  of 
Philemon. 


rman  Sperry:* 

Phebe  Nono     ' 


.  bap.  Feb.  16,  iSoi. 
Anna.  bap.  Oct.  5,  i8a«. 
[Lyman's  wife  d.  Oct.  10,  1807.  »■  W]: 
wile  Lydia  from  Bethany,  1S09. 

Lyman,  bap.  May  »,  e8io. 
Lydia,hap.  Oct.  .3,18.1. 


FAMILY  RECORDS. 


AP181 


Sperry. 


Standly. 


Betsey,  bap.  Feb.  4,  1813. 
Levinus,  bap.  Sept.  18,  1814. 
Ira  Peck,  bap.  Mch.  18,  1818. 


Marcus  Sperry,  s.  of  Capt.  Jacob,  m. 
Rebecca  Carrington,  d.  of  Sam.  of 
Woodbridge,  Mch.  25,  1807,  and  d. 
Aug.  31,  1811. 

X.  Edwin,  b.  Mch.  8,  1808. 
2.  Hosnier,  b.  Feb.  7,  1810. 

Martha  Sperry  m.  Willis  Downs,  1845. 

Marvin  Sperry  of  Woodbridge  m.  Lavin- 
ia  Gay  lord  of  Hamden,  Feb.  24,  1832. 

Ruth  Sperry,  wid.,  d.  Mch.  15,  1803,  a. 

Samuel  Sperry,  s.  of  Samuel  of  New 
Haven,  m.  Mary  Robard,  d.  of  Abial, 
Apr.  30,  1761. 

1.  Abi,  b.  Feb.  xo,  176a. 

2.  Mary,  b.  July  20,  1764. 

Samuel  Sperry,  b.  May  6,  1807,  s.  of 
Jesse,  m.  Apr.  28,  1832,  Laura  Mecam, 
b.  Nov.  20,  i8og,  d.  of  James  of  Wash- 
ington. 

1.  Cornelia,  b.  June  15,  1833. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  28.  1835. 

3.  Augusta,  b.  Oct.  20,  1838. 

4.  Franklin,  b.  Apr.  2,  1844. 

David  A.  Sprague  from  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
b.  Dec,  1S03,  ra.  Oct.  26,  1828,  Ann 
Downs,  b.  Mch.  5,  1802,  d.  of  David. 

X.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Dec.  28,  1830. 

2.  David  Elias,  b.  Feb.  8,  1833. 

3.  Aurelia  Maria,  b.  Oct.  3,  1835. 

Edwin  Stanley  m.  Margaret  Corcoran, 
July  12,  1835,  and  d.  Jan.  31,   1838,  a. 

The  record  of  Samuel  Standly.  Samuel 
Standly,  s.  of  Left.  John  of  Farming- 
ton  was  mar.  to  Elizabeth,  d.  of  Abra- 
ham Bronson  of  Lime,  July  15,  1702. 

Their  first  child,  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  22,  1703. 
Their  second  child,  A  Braham,  b.  Apr.  18,  1705. 
Their  third  child,  John,  b.  Jan.  4,  1707. 
Their  fourth  child,  Esther,  o.  Nov.  9,  1709. 
The  fifth  was  twins,  Ebenezer  and  Annah,  Mch. 

8,  1713- 

The  seventh,  a  dafter,  Elizabeth,  b.  at  Farming- 
ton  [Mch.  13],  1715. 

The  eighth,  Asa,  b.  at  Farmington,  Aug.  10, 
17x7. 

The  fifth,  Ebenezer,  dyed  Mch.  ax,  X713. 

[Samuel  Standly,  Jr.,  m.  Ame  Bronson, 
Sept.  22,  1727,  and,  in  1766,  Widow 
Prudence  Pomeroy.     He  d.  1793.] 

[Thomas  Standly,  s.  of  Capt.  John  of 
Farmington  m.  Anne  Peck,  d.  of  Rev. 
Jeremiah,  1690.  He  d.  April,  1713; 
she.  May,  1718.] 

Timothy  Standly  [s.  of  Lieut.  John]  was 
borne  June  the  6,  1689. 

Timothy  Standly,  s.  of  Capt.  John  of 
Farmington,  d.   Nov.  12,   1728.     Mary 


Standly.  Steele. 

[Strong  of  Windsor],  his  wife,  d.  Sept, 
30,  1722. 

William  Stanley,  b.  Feb.  17,  1808.  m. 
Sarah  James  in  Birmingham,  England 
[in  1823]. 

X.  Ann,  b.  Sept.,  x8a6;  m.  F.  A.  Warner. 
3.  Wilham,  b.  Mch.,  1839. 
3.  James,  b.  Jan.  2,  183a. 

William  d.  [in  Bloomfield.  N.  J.,  1836] 
and  Sarah  m.  Joseph  Shipley. 

William  Stanley's  wife,  Maria,  d.  Aug. 
7,  1834,  a.  24.* 

William  Stanley  m.  Phebe  Forrest,  June 
9.  1850. 

Bernard  Stapleton  m.  Bridget  Cunning- 
ham, Aug.  3,  1851.* 

Mrs.  Olive  Starks,  bap.  Aug.  i6,  1778.* 

Eliza  Stebbins  m.  Lauren  Austin,  1837. 

Lewis  Stebbins,  s.  of  Medad  of  Long- 
meadow,  Mass.,  m.  Laura  Bouton,  d. 
of  John,  18 16. 

X.  Mary  Minerva,  b.  Feb.  xo,  1817. 

2.  Georj^e  Washington,  b.  Aug.  xx,  xSxq. 

3.  Eliza  Olive,  b.  Nov.  x,  x8ai. 

4.  Sarah  Maria,  b.  June  ao,  X823. 

Ann  P.  Steele  m.  L.  B.  Follett.  1836. 

Austin  Steele,  s.  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca, 
ra.  Polly  Beecher,  b.  Aug.  2,  1793,  d.  of 
Jonathan  and  Anna  of  Brookfield,  in 
Wat.,  Aug.  [31],  1 8 10. 

X.  Henry  Baldwin,  b.  Tan.  sa,  1812. 

2.  Caroline  R.,   b.  Men.  13,  1820;  ra.  G.  W.  Bene- 

dict. 

3.  Frederic  Austin,  b.  Aug.  29;  d.  Oct.  4,  1828. 

4.  Edward,  b.  July  17,  1835;  d.  Mch.  29,  X839. 

Daniel  Steele  [b.  in  Derby,  July,  1768,  s. 
of  Capt.  Bradford]  m.  Keoecca  Clark, 
1790  (Derby  History  says  **  1789"). 

1.  Austin,  b.  Sept.  17,  X790. 

2.  Daniel,  b.  Nov.  ix,  1792. 

3.  Ashbel,  b.  Jan.  31,  X796. 

Rebecca  d.  [Mch.  8,  1796],  and  Daniel 
m.  Margaret  Welton,  d.  of  Richard, 
Sept.  20,  1797.  [He  d.  June  24,  1835, 
a.  67.] 

4.  Random,  b.  Sept.  2,  1798. 

5.  Rebecca,  b.  Aujf.  15,  1800;  m.  N.  A.  Bidweii. 

6.  Richard,  b.  July  6,  1802. 

7.  Clark  M.,  b.  Sept.  2x,  1805;  d.  May,  x8xx. 

8.  Sherman,  b.  Jan.  5,  1808. 

9.  Betsey  C,  b.  July  13,  18 10;  m.  Lewis  Beecher. 
xo.  Davis  C,  b.  Sept.  8,  1813. 

XX.  George  H.,  b.  Mch.  X5, 1820;  d.  at  Libcrtyvillc, 
111.,  Sept.,  1847. 

Daniel  Steele,  Jr.,  s.  of  Daniel,  Esq.,  m. 
S^ly  Richards,  d.  of  Col.  Street  of 
Wolcott,  Nov.  13,  1 8 13. 

X.  William  A.,  b.  Aug.  X3,  1814. 

Mary  Steele  m.  W.  H.  Jones,  1825. 
Mary  Ann  Steele  m.  S.  A.  Castle,  1S46. 
Ransom  Steele  m.  Betsey  Beecher,  Oct. 
4,  1821. 


BISTORT  OF  WATERBUR7. 


Steele.  ^"^"^^  ' 

Richard  Steele  [s.  of  Daniel!  ™-  S"san 

Maria  Ray,  Apr.  3.  1831. 
Sherman  Steele  ni.  Catharine  M.  Clark 

[d.  of  John],  June  19.  1850. 
William  S.  Steele  m,  Catoline  Jones  ol 

Cheshire,  Nov.  8,  1837. 
Harriet  Stetson  m.  O.  W.  Minard   1837. 
Abigail  Stevens  m.  Eben.  1-iikcox,  i7«9. 
Alfred  Ste-fens  m.  JuHa  Paya---.  Nov.  17. 

Alfred  Stevens  m.  Eliza  Gaylord.  d.  of 
Alien  of  Hamden. 

EUm  Jane  b.  Fib.  16, 18^;  m.  R.  H.  PanJt=. 

Alfred  d..'aad  Eliza  m.  Joseph  Lines. 

Bennet  Stevens  m.  Minerva  Grilli;y.  Sept. 

14.  '834. 
Eiisha  Stevens  d.  Mch.  S.  i3i3. 
Elisha  M.  Steve-s  m.  Amy  C-  Hoadley. 

Aug,  19.  1824.     [^lie  ^-  'S30.1 
EliMbeth  Steven-  m.  Jm.ts  Weed   1734- 
Elvira    Stevea.    m.  W.    D.   Beardsky. 
Esther  Stephens  m.  P-   Freeman.   .825. 

(Col.) 
Fanny  Stevens  m.  Wm.  BaK^nian.  1.31- 

Oct.  15.  1845- 
Hai^h  "s^phins  *m.'' Abr.    Andrews, 

Hershell  Stevens  o£  New  Haven  m.  Cla- 
rissa Bouton.  May  J4.  1831. 

1836. 

johD  Stevens: 

Abij.h.  EmiJT.  1^^  J=™«'  ^"l"-  ■>""'     '  _    ■ 

Sept.  3".  '""'' 


of  New  Fairfield.  Oct.  9.  ''54- 


A^sorStock^E  m.  Flora  Coe  [d  01  AU.- 
iah]of  TorriuKton,  May  15.   '   -:=- 

Anson  G.  Stocking,  b^  «ch^3-^AL^  ^ 
of  Anson  of  TomnRton  m  ^^."^ 
Frost,  d.  of  Stephen  C.  Noii-  10.  i-.-* 

lohn  M.  Stocking,  b  May  ^-  ""•  %_f 

Anson  of  Torrington.  m.  Sept.  3.  >  >»■ 
ESe  Newell  from  Southingtoa.  b. 
Oct.  3,  1804- 

Hamsl  Ne«ll.  b.  M»y  13.  iSjS. 

V™^nMn«,b.D«.«,  .838. 


.   Fanny 


Linus   Stevens  of   Cheshire 

Smith.  Dec.  s,  i8ai. 
Olive  Stevens  m.  Seth  Castle,  iSoo. 

o   Maria  Stevens  m,  S.  W.  Upson   1B20, 
L."si.««n,.R.v.J.b=>Cto4w>ck. 

„Lb°dSUk.m.  C.P..  Gid.  Ho.c1.ki», 

1763. 


ton— Mch,  20,  1S34- 

ElizB  Ann  b  in  Tomngio".  Jane  «.  "O??- 
,:  Chi.rLmle.'b.  Nov.  17,  ■839. 

Almira  A.  Stoddard  m.  H.  Demiag.  .551- 
Damaris  Stoddard  m.  Jas.  Smith.  .76* 
Leverett  Stoddard  of  Litchfield  m.  Cath. 

arine  IJishop.  Sept  6,  154<J- 
Maria  Stoddard  m.  W.  W.  Allen.  -M*- 
PhUo    Stoddard     from    .Middlcbnry     m. 

Nancy  Hickos.d.of  Timothy.  Nov-  14. 

1857- 

,.  David  Sherman,  b.  J«.  >».  .8^ 

■■  &trib,'V™o™n.'b.^il.  M.ddl=b=ry.  Jan.  .,  H^ 

Sampson  Stoddard  and  Susanna. 

Pn.de..«,  b.  July  .■.  >77S. 

Sn^nna  d.  Apr.  .n.  >779.  and  S«np- 
sonm  Amy  Goodmg  (Goodwin  ().«'>'■ 

a3,  1780. 

Cond«ii.  b.  rf»y  B.  .783- 

[Truman]  Stoddard: 

Clara,  b.  5=pi.  Ti,  iSm. 

wmu»  H°"sttitoa  »_  ^Sjf "  "■ 

Crf.'.ll  of  Avon,  sept.  IJ.  'S*'" 
Dothe.  Sto»=  ~.   Voung   Love   C.On. 

/Jmtl'siorrs  of  P"'?,  t'lSf"'"' 
„11  of  N.og.tnck,  FA  «.  .ilS- 


d1.S  saw  i™a  raj«i»=tb  Atwl^ 

fStchMl>-l"W.»rbory: 

SwanL  b.  SepL  u.  ■7.9- 


FAMILY  REVORl 


Stow.  Sutliff. 

Daniel  Stow  d.  Mch.  22,  1750. 

[Heirs:  Daniel,  d.  Sept.  16,  1758,  Ebenezer, 
Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Luce,  and  Mary. J 

Josiah  stow,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Esther 
Judd,  d.  of  Samuel,  Apr.  24,  1760. 

1.  Esther,  b.  Jan.  aa;  d.  Feb.  6,  1761. 

2.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  18,  176a. 

3.  David,  b.  Apr.  6,  1764. 

Samuel  Stow  m.  Elizabeth  Benedict, 
Nov.  14,  1780.' 

1.  ,\bel,  b.  Nov.  aa,  1781. 

2.  Philemon,  b.  Sept.  5,  1783. 

Thomas  Stow  of  Middletown  m.  Harriet 
Warner  of  Salem,  Nov.  8,  1835. 

William  Stow  of  Ohio  m.  Lucene  Upson, 
d.  of  Mark,  Mch.  i,  1824. 

Lydia  Streeter  m.  Lewis  Parsons,  1851. 

David  Strickland  [d.  1754].  His  widow, 
Lois,  m.  Samuel  Scott,  1756. 

[Heirs:  Mary  Doolittlc,  Elizabeth,  John,  Abiah. 
w.  of  Nathaniel  Edwards,  Jr.,  Samuel,  and 
Persis.J 

John  Stricklin,  s.  of  David,  m.  Hannah 
Prichard,  d.  of  James,  dec'd,  July  15, 
1757.  [He  d.  Oct.,  1 761,  and]  Hannah 
m.  Nath'l  SuUiff. 

I.  David,  b.  Jan.  13,  1759. 

a.  I^urain,  m.  Cyrus  Gnlley,  1776. 

Adinah  Strong  of  Southbury  m.  Anne 
Scott  of  Salem,  May  17,  I779.' 

Esther  Strong  m.  E.  R.  Lampson,  1851. 

Hannah  Strong  m.  Jesse  Hickcox,  1775. 

Hiel  B.  Strong  of  Derby  m.  Susan  E. 
Trowbridge  of  New  Haven,  July  6, 
1840. 

Jerome  B.  Strong  of  Bethlem  m.  Julia 
Camp  of  Middlebury,  Mch.  17,  1835. 

Johanna  Strong  m.  Benj.  Warner,  1720. 

Maria  Strong  m.  Jarvis  Johnson,  1832. 

Polly  Strong  m.  Silas  Porter,  1802. 

Sarah  Strong  m.  Thomas  Clark,  1717. 

Sarah  Strong  m.  Theoph.  Baldwin,  1776. 

Sarah  Strong  m.  Lucius  Hine,  1835. 

Abel  Sutliff,  s.  of  John,  m.  Sarah  Ford, 
d.  of  Barnabas,  Oct.  23,  1745.  She  d. 
Sept.  14,  1777. 

1.  Dinah,  b.  Dec.  4,  1746. 

2.  Abel,  b.  AuR.  23,  1751. 

3.  Darius,  b.  Mch.  18,  1756;  d.  Sept.  26,  1776. 

4.  Lucas,  b.  Nov.  4,  1768  (1758?) 

Abel  Sutliff,  s.  of  Abel,  m.  Charity  Bar- 
ber, Nov.  15,  1770. 

1.  Harna  (?),  b.  Jan.  16,  177a. 
a.  Miles,  b.  July  aQ,  1773. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Men.  a7,  1776;  d.  July  26,  1777. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  ai,  1778. 

John  Sutliff  d.  Oct.  14,  1752,  a.  77.  Han- 
nah, his  wife,  d.  Nov.,  1761. 

[John,  b.  in  Durham,  Mch.  8,  1713-14. 
Abel.     Hannah,  m.  Thomas  Harrison. 


SUTLIFJ 

Mar 
Lydi 

Abifi 
Elifl 
Debt 

St< 

in 
Man 

So 
Dina 

Br 

John  St 

Ives, 
July  a 

I.  John 

Anne 
m.  Mc 
Havei 
1790, 

a.  Hani 
on 

3.  Sami 

4.  Anni 

5.  Man 

John  Si 
m.  L< 
1770. 

1.  The 

2.  Jose 

3.  Ann 

4.  Lois 

Di 

5.  Ann 

6.  Johi 

Joseph 

viah  I 
1771. 

I.  Zer 

G 

a.   Tow 

3.  Mic 

4.  Lvc 

5.  Abi 

6.  Nat 

Nathai 

nah  v^ 
of  Ja 

1.  Tit 

2.  Hai 

3.  Am 

4.  Nat 

6.  Tit 

7.  Ruf 

s< 

8.  Sar 

9.  Eli: 

Han 
m.  I: 

3.  17 

Samuc 
Hun 

1.  Be 

2.  Ms 

3.  Ro 

4.  Gi) 

5.  Co 

6.  As 

7.  Hi 

Sarah 


\ 


184  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATBRBURT. 


SunoN.  Taylor. 

Abraham  Sutton  d.  Oct.  20,  1758,  and 
hear  his  things— is  written  upon  a  slip 
of  paper,  pasted  upon  the  Record. 

Ann  Sutton  m.  James  Carberry,  1824. 

Isaac  Sutton  d.  Mch.  22,  1840,  a.  86.* 
Ann,  his  wife,  d.  Apr.  25,  1836,  a.  78. 

Richard  Sutton,  s.  of  Isaac,  m.  Sally 
Bronson,  July  27.  1828.  [She  d.  Mch. 
20,  1834,  and]  Richard  m.  Julia  A. 
Candee,  d.  of  Moses  of  Oxford,  Mch. 
29»  1835. 

I.  James  Carberry,  b.  Apr.  lo,  1836. 

Richard  d.  Tan.  22,  1842,  and  Julia  m. 
Gilbert  Prichard. 

[Walter  Swain  d.  1767,  and]  Mary,  his 
widow,  m.  David  Arnold. 

Joshua  H.  Swan  m.  Louisa  A.  Marr, 
Feb.  I,  1850. 

Robert  Swan  and  Agnes  Porter — both 
from  Scotland — m.  Jan.,  1842. 

William,  b.  June  9,  1845. 

James  F.  Swift  m.  Hannah  S.  Anderson, 
Dec.  22,  1847. 

Charlotte  Taft  m.  John  Adams,  1850. 

Dorothy  Talmage  m.  Stephen  Hopkins, 

1747- 
[Ichabod  Talmage  m.   Hannah  Minor, 

Mch.  9,  1774] 
Jacob  Talmage,  b.  July  28,  1800,  s.  of 

Jacob  of  Plymouth,  m.  Chloe  Hickcox, 

d.  of  Timothy.     She  d.  Nov.  24,  1848. 

Nancy  Maria,  b.  May  22,  1832;  d.  Dec.  ix,  1844. 

Josiah  Tatmag  (Talmage)  and  Hannah: 

XI.  Margara,  b.  June  ai,  1760. 

Lucinda  Talmadge  m.  G.  W.  Pusha, 
1849. 

Charles  Taylor  of  Newtown  m.  Mary 
Ann  Tomlinson,  May  5,  1834.* 

David  Taylor,  s.  of  John  of  Wethers- 
field,  m.  Jemima  Judd  [d.  of  John], 
July  14,  1760. 

1.  John,  b.  Mch.  29,  1761  [m.  Elizabeth  Hale,  wid. 

of  Dr.  Samuel  Rose.] 

Jemima  d.  May  12, 1761,  and  David  m. 
Huldah,  relict  of  Joseph  Fairchild, 
June  24,  1762.  "He  d.  Aug.  19,  1801  [a. 
63;  she,  Mch.  i,  1823,  a.  90]. 

2.  Cloe,  b.  Mch.  27,  1763;  d.  July  6,  1780. 

3.  David,  b.  Oct.  8,  1771. 

David  Taylor,  Jr.,  s.  of  David,  m.  Mil- 
liscent  Lewis,  d  of  Isaac  [Booth], 
dec'd,  June  13,  1791. 

1.  Lewis,  b.  Nov.  3,  1791. 

2.  Chloc,  b.  Feb.  17,  1796. 

3.  Sophia,  b.  in  Canaan,  Apr.  13,  1800. 

Elnathan  Taylor  and  Desire  [Blaksley, 
d.  of  Ebenezer,  Jr.;  she  was  b.  in  New 


Taylor.  Terrell. 

Haven,  Nov.,  1708,  and  m.  there,  Dec. 
26,  1727.] 

1.  Marv,  b.  in  North  Haven,  Jan.  9,  1728-9. 

2.  Nathan,  b.  in  North  Haven,  Nov.  n,  1730. 

3.  Desire,  b.  Sept.  6,  1732. 

4.  John,  b.  Apr.  5,  1735. 

(This  entry  marked  ••  Removed.") 

Mary  D.  F.  Taylor  m.  Rev.  J.  L.  Clark,^ 

1848. 

Samuel  Taylor  from  Birmingham,  Eng.^ 
b.  Aug.  24,  1811,  m.  Dec.  i,  1833,  Har- 
riet M.  Price  from  Attleborough,  Mass.^ 
b.  Aug.  21,  1812. 

I.  Harriet  Jane,  b.  Aug.  23,  1834. 
a.  Ann  Maria,  b.  Mch.  13,  1838. 
3.  Samuel  Slater,  b.  Sept.  5,  1841. 

Theodor  Tavlor,  s.  of  John  of  Glaston- 
bury, m.  Bette  Frost,  d.  of  SamueU 
Mch.  I,  1781. 

1.  Theodore,  b.  June  12,  1782. 

2.  William,  b.  June  30,  1785. 

3.  Timothy  Newton,  b.  Oct.  28,  1788. 

Wealthy  Taylor  d.  Dec.  19,  1841,  a.  49.* 

Aaron  Terrell,  s.  of  Josiah,  m.  Sarah 
Warner,  d.  of  Obadiah,  Jan.  23,  1760. 

1.  Tryphena,  b.  Jan.  23,  1761. 

2.  Esther,  b.  July  28,  1762. 

3.  Orpha,  b.  Oct.  9,  1764. 

4.  Elias,  b.  Sept.  20,  1766. 

Alvin  Terrell's  wife  d.  Jan.  31,  1845,  a> 
71.* 

Amos  Terrell,  s.  of  Gamaliel,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Greele.  d.  of  Heu,  Mch.  7,  1764. 

X.  Amos,  b.  Nov.  24,  1764. 
2.  Philena,  b.  Jan.  28,  1766. 

Benjamin  Terrell,  s.  of  Gamaliel,  m. 
Lois  Andrews,  Dec.  29,  1756. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  4,  1757. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  13,  1759. 

Lois  d.- July  30,  1761,  and  Benjamin  m. 
Mary  Robbards,  Dec.  14,  1763.  He  d. 
June  20,  1796. 

3.  Ame,  b.  Sept.  17,  1764. 

4.  Lois,  b.  Feb.  14,  1767;  ra.  Daniel  Abbot. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  July  i^,  1769. 
Elizabeth,  bap.  Feb.  28,  1773.* 

Benjamin  Terrell  m.  Electa  Cook,  d.  of 
Jonathan. 

Charles  Cook,  bap.  Oct.  13,  z8x6. 

Charlotte  Terrel  m.  Albon  Hoppen,i8o8. 

Clarissa  S.  Terrel  m.  William  A.  Root, 
1826. 

David  Terrell  m.  Emeline  Nichols,  Sept. 
19,  1830.  [He  d.  June  12,  1831;  she, 
Nov.  4,  1834.] 

Elihu  Terrel  [s.  of  Josiah]  m.  Elizabeth 
Hickox,  d.  of  Gideon,  Apr.  20,  1783.' 

Elisha  Terrel  m.   Lucinda  Terrel,  Jan. 

II,  1784.'^ 
Emily  G.  Terrell  m.  Judson   Bronson,. 

1S27. 


FAMILY  BECOB 


'^^'^'^ELL.  Terrell. 

Enoch  Terrell,  a  Baptist,  d.  Mch.  o.  1804, 
a.  62.* 

Eunice  Terrell  m.  G.  P.  Warner,  1831. 

Experience  Terrell  d.  Mch.  12,  1820.  a. 
80.' 

[Gamaliel  Terrell  of  New  Milford  m. 
Elizabeth  Scott.  May  17,  1725,  and  d. 
1769.     Chil.  b.  in  New  Milford: 

1.  Joshua,  b.  Dec.  i8,  1725. 

2.  Benjarnin,  b.  Apr.  17,  1728. 

3.  EliMbeth,  b.  Jan.  14,  1729;  m.  Robert  Scott. 

4.  Amos,  b.  May  11,  1732. 

5.  Mercy,  b.  Dec.  22,  173,;  d.  June  23,  1737. 

6.  Mercy,  b.  Apr.  4,  1738J  ra.  Henry  Grilley. 

Hannah  E.  Terrel  m.  M.  Wooster,  1822. 
Hannah  Terrel  m.  S.  P.  Treat,  1842. 
Harriet  Terrell  m.  Ashbel  Storrs,  1845. 
Henry  Terrell  of  Watertown  m.  Mrs.  (?) 
Rebeckah  Merriman,  Aug.  24,  1828. 

Horatio  Terrel  m.  wid.  Sarah  B.  Hay- 
den,  Dec.  28,  1826. 

Ichabod  Terrell  m.  Mch.  i,  1784,  Rhoda 
Williams.'  [He  was  the  grandfather 
of  92  children. 

X.  Tillotson,  b.  May  i,  1785;  ra.  in  1804,  Electa 
Wilmot,  b.  1^86,  d.  of  Elisha  and  Hannah 
(Gladdin).  They  were  the  first  white  pair  to 
settle  in  Ridj^eville,  Ohio,  reaching  that  place 
with  their  children,  Horatio,  Eliza  and  Alonzo, 
July  6.  18 10,  after  a  journey  of  seven  weeks 
from  Waierbury.  Their  d.  Lucinda,  b.  Dec. 
19,  1812,  m.  Laurel  Beebe,  s.  of  Chester,  who 
has  furnished  much  Beebe  and  Terrel  informa- 
tion. 

a.  Lydia,  b.  Nov.  i,  1787;  m.  James  Emmons. 

3.  Philander,  b.  1789;  m.  Lora  Beebe,  d.  of  Bor- 

den. 

4.  Oliver,  b.  Sept.  2,  1791;  m.  Anna  Bunnel. 

5.  Lucinda.  b.  Nov.  6,  1795. 

6.  Orpha,  b.  May  2,  1798. 

7.  Ichabod,  b.  Oct.  i,  1800. 

8.  Elihu  Franklin,  b.  Jan.  3,  1802. 

9.  Horace,  b.  Aug.  10,  1803. 
xo.  Henry,  b.  Apr.  7,  1806.] 

Irijah  Terrell,  s.  of  Moses,  m.  Hannah 
Buckingham,  d.  of  Abijah  of  Milford, 
Tune  4,  1778.  [She  d.  Jan.,  1813;  he, 
May,  1824.] 

1.  Hannah    Buckingham,    b.    Feb.    10,    1779    [m. 
Chauncey  Lewis].  //v    l    • 

(Lately  found  at  Salem  in  Irijah  Ter- 
rell's old  well,  a  quantity  of  fourpenny 
cut  nails  not  headed.  The  owner  may 
have  them  on  proving  property  and 
paying  the  cost  and  trouble. 
For  particulars  inquire  of 

James  Frisbie. 
Wat.,  Salem,  Sept.  6,  1799. 
Rec'd  to  record  Sept.  7,  1799.) 
Isaac  Terrell,   s.  of  Josiah,   m.    Sarah 
Smith,  d.  of  Jonathan  of  Lime,  Feb. 
25,  1762. 

1.  Jane,  b.  July  22, 1764. 

Isaac  Smith  Terrell: 

Child  d.  June  5,  1802,  a.  4.' 


Tyrre 

Israel 

Beet 

X.  Aai 

2.  Abi 

3.  Hai 

4.  Rej 

5.  Ma 

6.  Tir 

7.  Jos 

c; 

8.  Isni 

Zerui 
Lois 

[9.  He  I 

Jared 

ther 
rec.)  I 

1.  Est 

2.  Noi 

3.  Let! 

Joel  Ti 

1778. ' 

Joel  Ti  I 

1832. 

Joshua 

Merr 

X.  Mat  I 

Josiah 

1655; 
— Jai 

1.  Mo)  ! 

2.  Aai  I 

3.  Eui 

4.  Oli^  I 

5.  Jos  I 

6.  Isai  : 

7.  Isrs  I 

8.  Ma;  , 

9.  Abi 

Josiah 

nice 
1756. 

X.  Joe 

2.  Eli! 

3.  Mai  ; 

4.  Am 

5.  Alb   I 

Josiah   : 
Lewi  , 

1.  Alfi   I 

2.  Rac    I 
3-  Eut 

4.  Jen 

5.  Eliz 

la   : 

6.  Poll 

Julia  1  ! 
and  ] 

Laura     I 

1822. 

Loly  T   I 

Louisa   I 

1850. 

Major 

19,  i^ 


UfsrORY  OF   WATERBVRY. 


Thomas.  Thomfsiiv 

John  Thomas,   s.    of  Sanmel,   deed,  n 


Marshal  L.  Terrel  m.  Ann  J.  Martin  of 

,    WiHxi bridge,  Nov.  20,  1S30. 

Matthew  Terrel  m.   Mary  Parker,  Aug. 


1769. 
'■  1a'.1U  b.  ,"jt.\'  "'"■ 

John,  hap.  Apr,  j(S,  .77B.' 

Moses  Terrel,  s.  of  Josiah.   m. 
Barnes,   d.  of  Thomas,   Sept.  3, 
IHe  d.  Apr.  1,   1783;  she.  Apr.  3. 
from  small  pox.] 


Myron  E.  Terrell  of  New  York.  s.  of 
Alfred,  ra.  Leva  J.  Farrell.  d,  of  Benj., 
Apr,  21,  1844. 


ck,  Feb. 


.18*5. 


OIlTcr  Terrell,  s.  of  Josiah,  m.  Lidda, 
Relick  of  Eli  Lewis  of  Lime,  Dec.  2, 
1760.     [He  d.  in  Ohio  in  181&,  a.  86.] 
1.  Liacindy,  b,  Feb.  S,  i7(«;  "n.  F.lisha  TtrrtlL. 
■,  Icabcxl.  b.  Dec.  jo,  1764  (17^3  i)^ 
Lidda  d.  ^n.  25.  1764,  and  Oliver  m. 
Damarai!,  Rellick  of  Bela  Lewis,  May 
15,  1764.    She  d.  Oct.  24,  1808,  a.  71.* 

Rebecca   Terrell    m.    Henry    Chatfield. 


,.  Zeni,  b,  J.n,  «.  ,7&j. 
3.    Rulh,  b.  .Miy.l.  .7*3- 

Lucy  Thomas  m.  Stephen  "Welton,  1764. 
Mansfield  Thomas,   li.   May,    179''    *.  of 

Elijah  of  Woodbridge.  m.  J«n.  31.  ifi3. 

Sybei  Piatt,  b.  Mch.,  1797.  d.  of  En.jch. 

I.  I»cph  E..  b.  Jan.  36,  tii,. 

1.  CarDliile  SvhcC  b.  Fib.  i,  iBzg. 

3.  Ihu  Manifitld.  b.  Apr.  >a,  1S19. 

4.  Marv  line,  b.  Sepl  S,  Igil. 

;.  junathao  Frantlin.  b.  June  g,  .8jj. 

Maty  Ann  Thomas  m.   C.    A.   Warner, 

Rhoda  Thomas  m.  Jesse  Hickcon.  itSo- 
Samuel  Tommus  (Thomasil,  s.  of  John  of 
Wtwdbury,  ra.  Rebecca  Warner,  i  of 
John,  Apr,  S.  1725-  He  d.  at  Cape 
Britton,  Jan.  a,  17456,  and  Rebecca  iB. 
Caleb  Clark. 

1.  Mubcl,  b.  Adz.  14,  1713;  in.  Abr.  Aadrna. 
Kcbeglch.  b.TJ»y  1^  i7>«- 


WilliS 


1  P.  Terrell  d.  Apr.  16,  1845, 


Norman  Terry  of  Plymouth  m.  Orrelia 

Painter.  Sept.  4,  1.^42, 
Calvin  Thayer,  s.  of  Joshua  of  Williams. 

burgh,  Mass.,  m.  Anna  Beecher.  d.  of 

Daniel,  Apr.  ;2,  i3o8. 


J.  Churl 


Elizabeth    Thomas    1 


I.  lial 


?■  Kt 


Toiiher, 


b.  Ort,  I 


i  Sin.uel.k  IulyA>7J7: 
7.  Keubcn.b.l<ov.  5,1739. 


[3.  Snsin,     4.  Aoluinelte.J 

Abby  A.   Thomas    m.    D.    H.   Moi 

1846. 

Berlin  Thomas  m.  Polly  H.  Downs,  Dec. 
6,  1837. 

Asahel    Smith, 


Gilbert  Thomas  of  Haddam  r 

Fmch,  Jan.  1,1^32. 
Harriet  Thomas  m.  Horace  Cande,  1827. 
Henrietta  Thomas  in.  J.  M,  Gray,  1843. 


WilUs  Thomas  m.  Abigail  Roberts,  Jan. 

6,  1S30. 
Alonzo  Thompson,  s.  of  John,  m,  Jan 
13.   1845,   Jane   E.   Pardee,   b.   May  7, 
iSig,  d.  of  Roswel. 

1.  Hfnry  A.,b.  Julyi,  1845. 
1.  Gilberi  Nelson,  b.  Mch.  19,  1S4J. 
Caleb  Thompson,  s.  of  William,  deed, 
of  New   Haven,  m.  Rebeckah  Hikcox. 
d.  of  William,  Aug.  16,  1731. 
■.  Syhtl.  b.  Apr.  8.  173'- 
a.  William,  b.  Feb,  5.  '73S-«. 
3.  Rachel,  b.  Dec.  «.  T737- 

Charlotte  Thompson  m.  Henry  Bronson, 

Chloe  Thompson  m,  Jesse  Fenn,  i;?' 
David  Thompson  from  North  Haven  o, 
■     mtha  Bliss  from  Litchfield.  May:;. 

laiy  Eliiabelh,  b.  July  i.  18)9;  d.  iB^i. 
1,   nlary  Ann,  b,  Feb,  =6.  183'- 

Esther    Thompson    m.   Zaccbaus  Ho«, 

Harriet  Thompson  m.  J.  S.  Welton,  i-'j" 
John  Thompson,  jr.:' 

A^'igail,  bap.  Apr,  Jl,  1783, 


FAMILY  BECO, 

Thompson.                                         Titus.  Tituj 

John  Thompson  and  Mary:  Olive 

I.  Edward,  b.  in  Hamden,  Aug.  15,  1809.  24> 

a.  Nelson,  b.  Aug.  21,  i8n;  d.  Aug.  x6,  1830.  rfc«w« 

3.  Mary,  b.  Sept.,  i8n.  UAYU 

4.  Alonzo,  b.  in  Hamden,  Nov.  34,  1815.  JamCi 

John  E.  Thompson  m.  Mille  Johnson,  Jan 

Oct.  2,  1829.  J.  H 

Mary    Thompson    m.   David    Hopkins,  '•  JJ 

i7yi.  4^  ji 

Mary    Thompson    m.     Wm.    Langdon  Ann ' 

[^^'^1  Chris 

Mary  E.  Thompson  m.  Harvey  Wells,  jj^jj 

'^^'^'  5.  H 

Patrick  Thompson  m.  Rosanna  McAn-  £sthc 

tee,  May  5,  1851.8  HezG\ 

Peter  Thomson  m.  Bridget  Medlar,  Sept.  _ 

6.  1849.  ^""° 

Ruhamah    Thompson    m.   John   Smith,  ^"I?** 

1768.  CJai 

182c 

Samuel  Thompson  m.  Betsey  Hull,  Nov.  jg  • 

I,  1801.*  f- 

I.  M 

William  Thompson  d.  1760.  2.  P( 

Heirs:  Sybcl  Williams,  and  Rachel,  w.  of  Jed.  3-  g 

Turner.]  4-  g 

William  S.  Thompson  from  North  Haven  6".  c 

m.  Charlotte  H.  Warner,  d.  of  Amos,  Mary 

Nov.  2,  1834.  i^ii^g 

1.  William  Henry,  b.  Jan.  2,  1835.  .•, 

2.  Thomas  James,  b.  Nov.  17,  1841.  ,  . 

3.  Frederic  Homer,  b.  Sept.  33,  1845.  klSS 

Zachariah  Thompson,  s.  of  Hezekiah.  m.  ^°y 

Sarah  Punderson,  d.  of  David  of  New  i-  ^' 

Haven,  Nov.  26,  1771.  ^' 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  28,  177a.  Noah 

2.  Betsey,  b.  Feb.  14,  1774.  C 

3.  Hezelciah,  b.  Dec.  2,  1776.  ^ 

4.  Zachariah,  b.  July  10,  1779.  renil 

Joshua  Thornton  of  Hudinsfield,  Eng.,  Pheb 

m.  Sarah  Alma  Hoadley  (Scovill*),  June  pheij 
23,  1838. 

Eli  Thrall  and  Lucy:* 

Candice,  b.  Dec.  9,  1789. 

Elnathan  Thrasher,   s.   of  Bezalion   of  ^^ 
Middletown,  m.  Hannah  Frisbie,  d.  of 

Elijah,  Mch.  26,  1778.  l\  i 

X.  John,  b.  Mch.  19,  1779. 

2.  Abigail,  b.  Dec.  15,  1781.  gj^ 

Absolom    Tinker,    s.   of  Benjamin,   m.  sel 

Mar>^  Eelles,  d.   of   Lent  of  Milford,  Ju 

May  26,  1780.  Hf 

1.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  24,  1781.  fRe^ 

2.  Sarah,  b.  July  26,  1782.  "• 


2 

3.  Phineas,  b.  Dec.  3,  1783. 


1779.' 


Pollj 

[18 


s. 
31 

X. 


Benjamin  Tinker  and  Elizabeth: 

5.  Amos,  b.  Aug.  4,  1761. 

6.  Louise,  b.  Mch.  i,  1763. 

John  Tinker  m.  Thenia  Beebe,  Mch.  24,  2. 

3. 

4- 


Wealthy  Tinker  m.  E.  S.  Barnes,  1826.  5 

Hannah  Titus  m.  Justus  Dayton,  1777.  7! 


138  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATEBBUBT, 


:e, ) 
d    U. 

5,    ) 


Tompkins. 


Todd. 

9.  Luce, 

and   Vb.  Aug.  7,  1756. 
xo.  Cloc,  ) 

Susanna  Todd  m.  Caleb  Humaston,  1738. 

Harriet  Tolles  m.  John  Downs,  1805. 

Thankful  Toles  m.  Dan.  Sanford,  1753. 

Harrison  Tomlinson  of  Derby  m.  Eme- 
rett  Davis  [d.  of  Truman],  Jan.  10, 
1841. 

Henry  W.  Tomlinson  of  New  Haven  m. 
Lucy  Perkins  [d.  of  EliasJ,  Nov.  2, 
1845. 

Josiah  S.  Tomlinson  m.  Harriet  Good- 
year, Dec.  12.  1830. 

Mary  A.  Tomlinson  ra.  Chas.  Taylor, 
1834. 

Nancy  F.  Tomlinson  m.  Wooster  War- 
ner, 1832. 

Victory  Tomlinson  m.  Eunice  Dunbar, 
Apr.  27,  1785."* 

Zachariah,  b.  July  4,  1786. 

Eunice,  b.  Apr.  27,  1788  fm.  May  11,  1808,  Rev. 
Joseph  D.  Welton,  s.  of  Richard]. 

David  Ball  Tompkins,  s.  of  Nathaniel, 
m.  Betty  Baxter,  Nov.  5,  1783. 

Nathaniel,  b.  Jan.  24,  1785. 

Edmund  Tompkins  [probably  s.  of  Na- 
thaniel of  Eastchester,  N.  Y.,  d.  1732; 
only  s.  of  Nathaniel,  d.  1684;  s.  of  John 
of  Concord,  Mass.  1640,  and  Fairheld, 

1644;]  m.  Hannah ,  who  d.  Apr. 

9,  1780.     He  d.  June  30,   1783,  in  the 
82d  year  of  his  age.* 

Edmund,  ra.  Bethiah  Wetmore. 

Else,  m.  Phineas  Matthews,  1747,  and  Stephen 

Judd,  1768. 
Hannah,  m.  James  Brown,  X744,  and  Gideon 

Scott,  1762. 
Jerusha,  m.  Ephraim  Merrill,  1753. 
Susanna  [b.  1734]  m.  Caleb  Merrill,  1753. 

6.  Elizabeth   [b.  at  Woodbury,  Dec.  4,  1835],  d. 

Oct.  8,  1749. 

7.  Nathaniel  [b.  at  Woodbury,  Mch.  22,  1738]. 

Children  b.  at  Waterbury: 

8.  Rachel,  b.  Jan.  23,  1 740-1;  m.  Ben.  Nichols. 

9.  Mary,  d.  Nfch.  11,  1742-3;  m.  Samuel  Adams, 

and  Amos  Pri chard, 
xo.  Philips,  b.  May  6,  1748. 

Edmund  Tompkins,  s.  of  Edmund 
(above),  m.  Bethiah  Wetmore,  d.  of 
Benjamin,  July  10,  1754. 

1.  (2.)  Edmund,  b.  May  21,  1757  [m.  Aug.  29, 1783, 

Lucinda  Wildraan]. 

2.  fs.^  Ira,  b.  Oct.  18,  1758. 

3.  h.)  ,  b.  Jan.  19,  d.  Tan.  ai,  1756. 

4.  Mercy,  b.  Feb.  24,  1760  [a.  Aug.  xi,  1771]. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  18,  1761. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  10,  1763. 

7.  Philip,  b.  Mch.  25,  1765. 

8.  Benjamin,  b.  Jan"  30,  1767. 

9.  Frances,  b.  Feb.  14,  1769. 

Edmund  Tompkins  [s.  of  Ira]  m.  Electa 
Frost,  Sept.  7,  1828. 


Tompkins.  Tompkins. 

Eleazer  Tompkins,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m. 
Hannah  Hikcox,  d.  of  William  of 
Watertown,  June  10,  1784.  [She  d. 
1822;  he,  1824,  in  Paris,  N.  Y.,  they 
having  removed  there  in  1800.] 

1.  Gilbert,  b.  Oct.  20,  1786  [m.  1813,  Dorothy  Stan- 

ton, and  had  Edward  (of  Oakland,  Cal.,  who 
m.  Mary  E.  Cooke  of  Bridgeport),  Sarah  E., 
Frederick  W.,  and  Daniel  S.l. 

2.  Maranda,  b.  June  2,  1789  [m.  LJri  Doolittle. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  Dec.  14,  1794;  m.  Anson  Hubbard. 

4.  Isaac,  b.  June  5,  1797. 

5.  Nathaniel  W.,  b.  Oct.  27,  1799.] 

George  Tompkins  fs.  of  Merrit]  m.  Fran- 
ces Ann  Sandland,  Oct.  6,  1845. 

Harriet  Tompkins  m.  H.  C.  Judd,  1824. 

Merritt  Tompkins,  b.  June  10,  1799,  s.  of 
Ira  of  Northfield,  m.  Jan.  27,  1822. 
Laura  Terrell,  b.  May  17,  1802,  d.  of 

Albin. 

ft 

1.  George,  b.  May  10,  1823. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  10,  1825:  d.  June  25,  1829. 

3.  Willard,  b.  Apr.  4,  1828. 

4.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Apr.  6,  1831;  d.  July  2,  1832. 

5.  John,  b.  May  10;  d.  June  2,  1833. 

6.  Frederick,  b.  Mch.  14,  1835. 

7.  Franklin,  b.  Dec.  12,  1830. 

Nathaniel  Tompkins,  s.  of  Edmund,  m. 
Oct.  14,  1762,  Hannah  Ball  [b.  i745]- 
He  d.  Mch.  9,  1778,  and  Hannah  m. 
Jesse  Hikcox. 

X.  David  Ball,  b.  Dec.  13,  1763. 

2.  Eleazer,  b.  Oct.  17,  1766. 

3.  Gilbert,  b.  Oct.  3;  d.  Oct.  8,  1768. 

Philip  Tompkins,  s.  of  Edmund,  m. 
Mary  Bull,  Dec.  25,  1766. 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  20;  d.  June  2,  1767. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  24,  1768. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  8,  1770. 

4.  Mary,  b.  June  8,  1772. 

5.  John,  b.  May  i,  1774  [m.  Polly  Benedict]. 

6.  Sarah,    i 

and      >-b.  July  22,  1777. 

7.  A  dau.,  )  d.  same  day. 

8.  Rusha,  b.  Tuly  22,  1780. 

9.  Lucy,  b.  Nlay  7,  1783. 

10.  Chancy,  b.  May  xo,  1785. 

11.  Daniel,  b.  June  27,  1787;  d.  July,  1790. 

Philip  Tompkins  m.  Esther  Blakeslee, 
Nov.  15,  1787. 

Sabra,  b.  Aug.  8,  1788. 

Solomon  Tompkins  m.  Zuba  Barnes, 
Mch.  10,  1765. 

1.  Abraham  Barnes,  b.  Feb.  7,  1766. 

2.  Martha,  b.  Nov.  2,  1767. 

3.  Phebc,  b.  Mch.  15,  1770. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  Apr.  15,  1772. 

5.  Obadiah,  b.  June  2,  1774. 

6.  Charlotte,  b.  Jan.  z6,  1777. 

7.  S>amuel,  b.  Mch.  16,  1779. 

8.  Vashti,  b.  Nov.  19,  1781. 

9.  Edmond,  b.  Mch.  28,  1784. 
10.  Sylvea,  b.  Feb.  18,  1787. 

[Solomon  Tompkins,  said  to  have  been 
born  in,  or  near,  Waterbury,  Conn., 
Aug.  4,  1740,  m.  in  1792,  at  South  East, 


*  The  place  of  Edmund's  marriage  is  unknown,  also,  place  and  dates  of  birth  of  the  first  five  children. 


FAMILY  BECO 

Tompkins.                                     Turner.  Turi 

N.  Y.,  Mrs.  Deborah  Dan  Brown,  and  ^ 

had  four  children.     He  d.  at  Reading,  } 

N.   Y.,   June   23,   1823;  she,   in  Mch.,  1 

1830,  a.  89.    Relationship  with  Solomon  j^^^ 

(above)  has  not  been  proven.]  ^^^^ 

Willard  Tompkins  m.  Mary  J.  Orton,  W< 

Jan.  14,  1849.  J 

Samuel  Towner  and  Ame  [Ward]:  Jesse 

3.  Lciticc,  b.  July  25,  1733.  Hu 

Henry  Townsend  m.   Emma  Abbott —  i.  B 

both  of  Middlebury-:— Nov.  21,  1827.  '•  ^ 

Thomas  Townsend  of  New  Haven  m.  Marj 

Amanda  Maria  Bronson  of  Middlebury,  Rach 

Nov.  26,  1835.  Saral 

Asa  Train  of  Enfield,  Mass.,  m.  Lucia  Susai 

Leavenworth,   [d.  of  Dr.   Frederick],  fht 

Nov.  2,  1826.  j^^^ 

Frederic  Tread  way,  b.  Mch.  12,1812,  s.  _, 

of  Harvey,   m.   July    5,    1836,    Esther  °^^^ 

Johnson,  d.  Jan.  31,  1816,  d.  of  Robert  "»  ' 

— both  of  Middletown.  ^ 

X.  Emma  Jones,  b.  Apr.  13,  1840.  MrS. 

2.  Robert  Frederic,  b.  June  8,  1845.  33.' 

3.  [Louise]  b.  Apr.  25,  1847.  Dan  ' 

Samuel  P.  Treat   m.   Hannah   Terrel,  j^h 

Aug.  27,  1842.  ,   L 

Dennis  Trian  (Tryon  ?)  of  Middletown  m.  2.  s 

Lorana  Johnson,  Apr.  23,  1S23.  Jabes 

Esther  Trowbridge  m.  Aaron  Benedict,  Lie 

1769.  177 

Lydia  Trowbridge  m.  John  Woodward, 

I786.» 

Susan  E.  Trowbridge  m.  H.  B.  Strong,  4- 

1840.  i: 

[Rev.]  John  Trumble,  s.  of  Jon  the  first 

of  Suffield.  was  mar.  to  Sarah,  d.  of  \' 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitman  of  Farmington,  9! 

July  3, 1744  [and  d.  Dec.  13, 1787,  a.  72].  »o- 

1.  Sarah,  b.  June  20,  1745  [m.  Dr.  Caleb  Perkins  of  t^— : 

HartfordJ.  J®™> 

2.  A  son,  b.  Feb.  27,  1746-7  [d.  same  month].  1 7.' 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  17,  1747-8  fd.  youn^.  T*»««i 

4.  John,  b.  Apr.  ij.  1750;  d.  at  Detroit,  1831.  J  CSS' 

5.  Lucy,  m.  Rev.  Air.  Langdon  of  Danbury.] 

Lyman  L.  Trumbull  from  Milford   m.  • 

Sarah  J.  Bronson,  d.  of  Anson,  Jan.  24,  J^®* 

1842.  17 

X.  Jane  Sophrona,  b.  Feb.  X4,  1844;  d.  1845.  Johl 

2.  Jane  Grace,  b.  Sept.  28,  1846.  St 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Tucker,  a.  28,  d.  Mch.  3,  Josl 

1840.'  ve 

Eunice  Tucker  m.  John  C.  Booth,  1840.  ia: 

17 

Deborah  Tuller  m.  Asa  Porter,  1765.  ' 

Elizabeth  Turner  m.  J.  H.   Guernsey,  2! 

1829.  3- 

Jediah  Turner  m.  his  second  wife  Rachel  5! 

Thomson,  Apr.  5,  1760.  loi 

William,  b.  Apr.  6,  1761.  _  -    , 

Thomas,  b.  Dec.  6,  1762.  Ma 


I. 
2. 

3. 


140  AP 


niSTORT  OF  WATERBURT, 


TUTTLE.  TWITCHELL. 

Martha  Tuttle  m.  Nathl.  Welton,  1764. 

Mary  Tuttle  m.  John  Brown,  1760. 

Melisse  Tuttle  m.  John  A.  Smith,  1842. 

Noah  Tuttle  m.  Thankful  Royce,  d.  of 
Capt.  Phineas,  June  6,  1771. 

1.  Andrew,  b.  Nov.  19,  1772. 
3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  5,  1775. 

3.  Sar>',  b.  Mch.  3,  1777. 

4.  Phineas,  b.  Sept.  8,  1779. 
Orrimon  (?),  b.  Jan.  31,  178a.* 
Noah  Pangman,  b.  July  16,  1787. 
Cloc,  b.  Mch.  13,  1789. 

Obed  Tuttle  and  Liicretia: 

Lauren,  Eben  Clark,  Leonard,  and  Philemon, 
bap.  July  8,  i8ax.* 

Polly  Ann  Tuttle,  d.  of  Daniel,  dec'd, 
was  b.  Mch.  6,  1800.  The  above,  re- 
corded at  the  request  of  Mr.  David 
Hungerford. 

Polly  Tuttle  m.  Henry  D.  Upson,  1838. 

Rebekah  Tuttle  m.  Benj.  Benham,  1790. 

Rebecca  M.  Tuttle  m.  Orrin  Byington, 

1832. 

Rebecca  A.  Tuttle  m.  David  Hull,  1838. 

Rollin  Tuttle  m.  Emeline  Higgins— both 
of  Wolcott— July  iS,  1832. 

Stephen  Tuttle,  s.  of  Jabez,  m.  Anner 
Judd,  d.  of  John  of  Watertown,  Apr. 
19,  1796. 

1.  Amanda,  b.  Mch.  30,  1797. 

2.  John  Nelson,  b.  Aug.  8,  1801  [burned  to  death 

in  the  Tudd  house] . 

3.  Pamela,  b.  Mch.  6,  1804. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  29,  1806. 

5.  Mary  Anner,  b.  Mch.  16,  1808. 

Tabitha  Tuttle  m.  Josiah  Bronson,  1780. 

Timothy  Tuttle  m.  Mehitable  Royce, 
July  7,  1768. 

1.  Amos,  b.  Scot.  13,  1770. 

2.  Miriam,  b.  June  20,  177a. 

3.  Truman,  b.  May  21,  1774. 

4.  Nancy,  b.  May  11,  1780. 

5.  Jared,  b.  May  15,  1782.3 

6.  Content,  b.  July  3,  1784. 

Vincent  Tuttle,  s.  of  Wooster,  m.  Mary 
Hitchcock,  d.  of  Joash  of  Hartland, 
Oct.  25,  1824, 

William  Tuttle  m.  Taphar  Castle,  Aug. 

8,  I7f>5. 
I.  Arad,  b.  Apr.  30,  1766. 

Wooster  Tuttle  m.  Mercy  Baldwin,  Oct. 
3,  1802. 

1.  St.  Vincent,  b.  Jan.  15,  1804. 

2.  Zophar,  b.  Jan.  6,  1806. 

3.  Damaris  L.,  b.  Mch.  19,  1808. 

4.  Julia,    I 

and      Vb.  Aug.  26,  z8jo; 

5.  Julius,  1  d.  Nov.,  1810. 

Fanny  Twitchell  m.  Geo.  Hoadley,  1841. 

Isaac  Twitchell  m.  Deborah  Alcox, 
Mch.  27,  176S. 

1,  Joseph,  b.  July  15,   1769   [m.  Electa  Hopkins, 
and  Phebe  Atkins]. 


Twitchell. 


Upson. 


a.  Mary,  b.  June  29,  1773  [m.  John  Norton]^ 

3.  Deborah,  b.  Aug.  14,  1775;  m.  Ebenezer  Frisbie. 

Isaac  d.  Feb.  12,  1776,  and  Deborah  m. 
Wait  Hotchkiss. 

Alma  Tyler  m.  Elias  Porter,  1792. 

Charles  Reuben  Tyler  from  Cheshire  m. 
Betsey  Warner,  d.  of  David,  Oct.  2, 

1843. 

X.  David,  b.  May  14,  1847. 

Corydon  J.  Tyler  from  New  York  m. 
Lois  Fowler,  May  3,  1851. 

Daniel  Tyler  d.  May  21,  1794. 

Daniel  Tyler  [s.  of  Daniel,  above]  m. 
Mehitable  Tyler,  Dec.  17,"  1770. 

1.  Joseph,  b.  Apr.  12,  1773;  d.  Dec.  14,  1776. 

2.  Mehitable,  b.  Dec.  24,  1774;  d.  Dec.  14,  1776. 

Mehitable  d.  Feb.  9,  1776,  and  Daniel, 
Jr.,  m.  Mercy  Osborn,  July  2,  1778. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  23,  1779. 

4.  Mehitable,  b.  Nov.  22,  1780. 

5.  Phebe,  b.  Jan.  16;  d.  Feb.  23,  1783. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  and  d.  June  3,  1785. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  July  24,  1786;  d.  Sept.,  1790. 

8.  Eli,  b.  Aujr.  IX,  1789. 

9.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  19,  1793. 

Ebenezer  Tyler  m.  Anna  Beebe,  d.  of 
Simeon,  Jan.  16,  1771. 

Enos  Tyler  d.  June  2,  1804,  a.  69. • 

Esther  Tyler  m.  Asa  Hoadley,  1785. 

Eunice  Tyler  m.  Nathl.  Hoadley,  1780. 

Hannah  Tyler  m.  Elijah  Welton,  1769. 

James  Tyler,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Anne  Hun- 
gerford, d.  of  David,  Nov.  21,  1763. 

I.  Rossel,  b.  Sept.  3,  1764. 

Lyman  Tyler  d.  Oct.  4,  1836,  a.  70. 

Mary  Tyler,  wid.,  d.  Nov.  20,  1806,  a. 
72.» 

Phineas  Tyler:* 

Rufus,  and  Eldad  Simons,  bap.  June  8,  x8oo. 
Lucy,  bap.  June  3,  1804. 

Richard  Tvler  m.  Flora  Tylor  (Taylor?) 
— both  of  Prospect — Apr.  18,  1830^ 

Sarah  Tyler  m.  Jesse  Welton,  1770. 

Spencer  Tyler,  s.  of  Ichabod,  m.  Sarah 
Farrel,  d.  of  Zebah— both  of  Prospect 
— Nov.  7,  1827. 

Allen  Umberfield,  b.  in  Woodbridge, 
Mch.  II,  1788,  m.  in  1812,  Sena  San- 
ford,  b.  in  Milford,  Apr.  23,  1791. 

1.  Norris,  b.  Tuly  11,  1813. 

2.  Willis,  b.  Apr.  26,  1815. 

3.  William,  b.  Apr.  18,  1821. 

William  Umberfield,  s.  of  Allen,  m. 
Mary  Ann  Morris,  Feb.  8,  1842. 

I.  Franklin,  b.  Oct.  lo,  1843. 

Benjamin  Upson,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Nov. 
17,  1743,  Mary  Blakeslee  [b.  in  New 
Haven,  Jan.  29,  1726-7],  d.  of  Moses. 

X.  Ruel,  b.  June  12,  1744. 

2.  Susanna,  b.  Jan.  22,  1745-''  F"™-  '^cn.  Gaylord], 


FAMILY  EEOK 

Upson.                                               Upson.  Ups 

3.  Lois,  b.  May  la,  1748;  in.  Israel  Tyrrell.  H 

4.  Joseph,  b.  May  s,  1750.  -e 

5.  BeDjamin,  b.  July  3,  1752. 

6.  Tesc,  b.  Nov.  a8,  1754;  d.  Mch.  28,  1755.  i. 

7.  Jesse,  b.  May  25,  1756  [m.  Ruth  Bronson].  2. 

8.  Noah,  b.  Sept.  26,  1758.  3, 

9.  Ashbel,  b.  Apr.  25,  176a.  Tohl 
10.  Mary,  b.  June  22,  1765.  J^"' 
IX.  Sarah,  b.  July  23,  1768.  J^^ 

Benjamin  Upson,  s.  of  Benj.,  m.  Mary  '^ 

Clark,  relict  of  Thomas,  Jan.  24,  1780.  \ 

[She  d.  June  13,  1816,  a.  74;  he,  Mch.  3'. 

12,  1824,  a.  72.]  4. 

z.  Stephen,  b.  June  xa,  1783.  g 

Benjamin  Upson  m.  Luanna  Bunnel  of 

Southington,  June  26.  1832.  J* 

[Rev.]  Benoni  Upson,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Jose 

Leava  Hopkins,  d.  of  Joseph,  Aug.  6,  fo; 

1778.  13 

Caroline    Upson    m.    Isaac    Houghton, 
1833. 


N< 


X. 

a. 


X. 

a. 


Charles  Upson  [s.  of  Thomas]  m.  Weal-  j^g^ 
thy  Hopkins,  May  26,  1773.  She  d.  ^j 
Dec.  28,  1783.  p^ 

X.  Washington,  b.  Sept.  2,  1775.  j  -.1, 

2.  Lee,  b.  May  7,  1778.  *-*'** 

3.  Gates,  b.  July  18,  1780.  \^0\\ 

Charles  Upson,  s.  of  Horatio,  m.  Emma     Luc 
Clark,  d.  of  William,  dec'd,  Jan.   15,      j^ 
1823  [who  d.  the  same  year,  a.  23]. 

Charles  Dwight  Upson,  s.  of  Samuel  W. ,         t 
m.  Martha  A.  Ilotchkiss,  d.  of  David     « 
of  Bethany,  Oct.  30,  1843.  g 

I.  Martha  Ellen,  b.  Nov.  12,  1844;  d.  Apr.  X7,  1846.       -^ 

Daniel  Upson  [s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Mary  ^\ 
Adams,  d.  of  Samuel,  Nov.,  1796.]  ^ 

1.  Stephen,  b.  May  8,  1797;  d.  Dec.  6,  1822.  . 

2.  Alvin,  b.  Dec.  4,  1798  ^J 

3.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  16,  1801.  tl 

4.  Minerva,  b.  Mch.  10, 1803;  d.  June  16,  1805. 

5.  Polly  Maria,  b.  Dec.  29,  1805;  d.  Jan.  X9,  1807. 

6.  William,  b.  Nov.  i,  1807. 

7.  Merlin,  b.  Feb.  28,  1810. 

8.  Sarah  Maria,  b.  Nov.  19,  1813;  m.  David  Soraert. 

9.  Thomas  Clark,  b.  Dec.  20,  18 19.      .  Rei 

Mary  d.  June  29,  1830  [and  Daniel  m.         ^ 
Phebe  Kirtland,  Sept.  4,  1831].  ^ 

Eunice  Upson  m.  S.  M.  Morris,  183 1. 

Ezekiel  Upson,  s.  of  Joseph,  dec'd,  m.      «« 
Mary  Bronson,  d.  of  Andrew.  ^ 

5.  Ethelinda,  b.  Apr.  26,  1786.  ^ 

Fidelia  Upson  m.  Lucius  Odell,  1837. 

Henry  D.  Upson,  s.  of  Selah  of  Wolcott, 
m.  Polly  Tuttle,  d.  of  Abram  [Apr.  25, 
1838]. 

X.  Elliott  Abraham,  b.  Dec.  9,  1840. 
a.  Emilyett,  b.  May  31,  1846. 

Horatio  Upson :^ 

Frederic,  Lucy,  and  George,  bap.  Nov.  3,  1822. 

Jesse    Upson,   b.   May  22,   1809,    s.    of     Sa 
Mark,  m.   June   26,   1838,   Esther    L. 


142  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WAJ'EBBURT. 


Upson.  XJ  bson. 

1820,   S.   Maria  Stevens,   b.   Nov.  20, 
1802,  d.  of  Oliver. 

1.  Charles  Dwiii^ht,  b.  Aug:.  20,  xSax. 

2.  Albert  S.,  b.  Mch.  x6,  1823. 

3.  Emeline   Maria,  b.   Dec.  5,  1824;  "i-   Franklin 

Downs. 

4.  Clark  W.,  b.  Nov.  6,  i8a6. 

5.  M.  Ashmun,  b.  Nov.  23,  1838. 

6.  Ambrosia  M.,  b.  Nov.  29,  1830. 

Ye  account  of  Stephen  Ubson's  of  Water- 
bury  marriage  with  ye  birth  of  his 
children  given  by  him. 
Stephen  Upson  of  Waterbury  was  mar- 
ried to  maRy  Lee  ye  daughter  of  John 
lee  senior  of^farmington  decem :2s -.1682. 

May  their  z  born  Mary  was  born  november  ye :  5  : 

(1683);  ra.  Richard  Wclton. 
17    their  a    Stephen  was  born   September    ye :  30 

(1686) 
tToi    their   3   Elizabeth  was  born   Febcwary  ye :  14 

(1689-90);  m.  Thomas  Bronson. 
their  4  Thomas  was  born  March  ye  :  1  (1692) 
their  5  Hannah  was  bornabouKht  march  ye  :  16  : 

(1695)*  ro.  Thomas  Richards  and  John  Bron- 
son. 
their    6    Tabitha    was    born  :  march  :  ye  :  xi  : 

(1698)  m.  John  Scovill. 
their  7  John  was  bom  December  ye  :  13  (1702) 
their  8  thankfull  was  born  march  :  14  =»  1706-7; 

m.  James  Blakeslce. 

Mary  Upson,  wife  of  the  above  named 
Stephen  Upson  died  Feb.  15,  171 5- 16. 
[He  d.  1735.] 

Stephen  Upson,  s.  of  Stephen  (above), 
m.  Sarah  Brounson,  d.  of  Isaak,  Feb. 

26,  1713. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Mch.  8;  d.  May  xx.  X714. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  July  26,  1715:  m.  Gideon  Hikcox. 

3.  Stephen,  b.  Dec.  9,  1717. 

4.  Joseph,       I  d.  Aujf.  5,  1749. 

and  _      Vb.  Aug.  4,  1720. 

5.  Benjamin,  \ 

6.  Mary,  b.  May  2,  1724;  m.  Samuel  Porter. 

7.  Ebenezer,  i  d.  Aui?.  5,  1749. 

and         >-b.  Sept.  29,  1727. 

8.  Thankful,  )  ra.  febenezer  Johnson. 

9.  Jemima,  b.  Apr.  8,  1730;  d.  Nov.  13,  1736. 
10.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  28,  1735;  m.  Jesse  Sperry. 

Sarah  d.  1748,  and  Stephen  m.  Eliza- 
beth, wid.  of  James  Prichard,  Nov.  28, 
1750.     He  d.  Sept.   10,   1777   [she,   in 

1797]. 

Stephen  Upson,  s.  of  Stephen  (above),  m. 
Sarah  Clark,  d.  of  Thomas  (2d),  Jan. 
14,   1749-50.     Stephen,    Esq.,    d.    Mch. 

27,  1769.  [Sarah  d.  Sept.  29,  18 13,  a. 
90.] 

1.  Mary,  b.  Nov.  21,  T750;  d.  Sept.  25.  1757. 

2.  Olive,  b.  Feb.  18,  1753;  m.  Isaiah  Prichard. 

3.  Ebenezer,  b.  Aug.  17,  1755;  d.  Sept.  20,  17^7. 

4.  Stephen,  b.  Sept.   12,  1758    [shot  in  New  York, 

1776;  a  Rev.  soldier]. 

5.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  21,  1760;  m.  Asahel  Bronson. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  July  15,  1763  fm.  Stephen  Gilbert]. 

7.  Mark,  b.  Feb,  20,  1766  [m.  Susanna  Allen,  and 

d.  ^ulv,  i8j-)J. 

8.  Dantel,  b.  Mch.  9,  1769. 

Thomas  Ubson,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Rachill 
Judd,  d.  of  Deac.  Thomas,  Jan.  28, 
1718-19. 


Ubson.  Waldon. 

1.  Thomas,  b.  Dec.  20,  1719. 

2.  Mary,  | 

and    >-b.  Jan.  21,  1721. 

3.  John,  )  d.  June  5,  1741. 

4.  Josiah,  b.  Jan.  28,  1724-5. 

5.  Asa,  b.  Nov.  30,  1728. 

6.  Timothy,  b.  Oct.  8,  1731. 

7.  Amoz,  b.  Mch.  17,  X734. 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  8,  1737. 

9.  Freeman,  b.  July  24,  1739;  d.  July  19,  1750,  and 

his  mother  d.  the  same  day. 

Thomas  Upson,  s.  of  Thomas  of  Farm- 
ington,  m.  Hannah  Hopkins,  d.  of 
Capt.  Timothy,  dec'd.  May  28,  1749. 
She  d.  June  6,  1757. 

X.  Benoni,  b.  Feb.  14,  x  749-50. 

a.  Charles,  b.  Mch.  18,  1752. 

3.  Silva,  b.  June  7, 1756;  d.  Sept.  5,  1764. 

Timothy  Upson  m.  Mercy  M.  Holt,  Dec. 
I,  1833. 

Willis  Upson,  s.  of  Freeman  of  South- 
ington,  m.  Hannah  E.  Wakelee,  d.  of 
Almus,  Oct.  9,  1842. 

I.  Sarah  Eliza,  b.  Nov.  30,  1843. 

Hannah  d.  Jan.  18,  1847,  and  Willis  m. 
Julia  Ann  iJaniels  of  Harwinton,  Apr. 
20,  1848. 

Abraham  Utter  (husbandman)  and  Lydia: 

7.  Sarah,  b.  luly  3,  1730. 

8.  Tat)ez,  b.  Nov.  7,  1733. 
Lydia;  m.  Thomas  Welton. 

Cornelius  S.  Vancleef  of  Millstone,  N.  J., 
m.  Sarah  E.  Clark,  d.  of  Elon,  May  19, 
1845. 

Peter  Vandebogart  m.  Electa  Osbom, 
Apr.  12,  1832. 

John  Clark  Vanduzer  from  Silver  Creek, 
N.  Y.,  b.  Aug.  30,  1824,  and  Lucina 
Norton  from  Meriden,  b.  Sept.  4,  1826, 
m.  in  New  Haven,  Feb.  8.  1846. 

X.  Ada  M.,  b.  in  Poughkeepsie,  Aug.  a,  1846. 

Increase  Wade:' 

John,  b.  Nov.  2,  1779. 
Polly,  b  Mch,  2,  1782. 
Aaron,  b.  May  3,  1785. 

Joseph  Wadsworth,  b.  Nov.  26,  1821,  m 
in  England,  Sept.,  1841,  Kczia  Newton, 

b.  May  5,  1820. 

Charles  Buttz,  b.  Aug.  3,  1846. 

Abigail  Wait  ill.  S.  C.  Fisk,  1839. 

Ebenezer  Wakelin,  s.  of  James  of  Strat- 
ford, m.  Elizabeth  Nichols,  d.  of  Joseph, 
dec'd,  Apr.  30,  1740.  [He  d.  Jan.,  1800; 
she,  Aug.  II,  1802,  a.  85.] 

1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  28,  1744;  m.  Joseph  Warner. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  19,  1747;  d.  July  23,  174^. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Feb.  16,  1751-2;  m.  Reuben  Frisbie. 
[David,  b.  1754;  d.  Oct.,  1822.] 

Hannah  E.  Wakelee  m.  Willis  Upson, 
1842. 

Marietta  Waldon  m.  William  Moss,  1847. 


\ 


FAMILY  BBOOl 


"Walker.  Warner. 

Andrew  Walker  m.  Agnes  McLean  in 
Scotland. 

1.  Jane,  b.  in  New  York,  May  s,  1844. 

2.  John  Alexander,  b.  July  8,  1846. 

James  Walker,  s.  of  James  of  Scotland, 
m.  Ann  McDougall,  June  21,  1843. 

1.  James,  b.  in  N.  Y.,  July  5,  1844. 

2.  Ann,  b.  Mch.  a,  1847. 

Redmond  Walsh,  b.  Dec.  1805,  and 
Mary  Phelan.  b.  July,  1806,  m.  in  New 
York,  Apr.,  1841. 

X.  Richard,  b.  Dec.  6,  1843. 

2.  Timothy,  b.  July  7,  1844. 

Jane  Wanza  m.  Isaac  R.  Castle,  1832. 

Arah  Ward  [of  Goshen,  1742;  from  Rip- 
ton,  1746 — and  Dinah  Towner?] 

Aner  (Arah>),  bap.   Oct.  28,  1758.* 
[Dinah,  m.  David  Candee. 
Eunice,  m.  Jesse  Cady.] 

[Richard  Ward,  .s.  of  Abel.  b.  in  Wood- 
bridge,  Sept.  21,  1787,  m.  Dec.  15, 1811, 
Roxana  Hoadley,  d.  of  Culpepper. 

I.  Lewis,  b.  Sept.  ^17,  1812' m.  April  19,  1835,  Mary 
Ann  Curtis,  and  had  James  Burton,  b.  1836. 

a.  I^uren,  b.  Dec.  27,  1814:  m.  Mch.  23,  1840, 
Emily  Hotchkiss  of  Bethany. 

3.  Maria,  b.  Feb.  11,  1819;  m.  Ralph  Smith,  d.  of 

Philo  of  Washington. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  17,  1823;  ra.  D.  Gano  Potter,  and 

d.  Aug.  2,  1842,  leaving  a  dau.  Mary. 

5.  William,  b.  Mch.  7,  1825— all  b.  in  Salem  So- 

ciety.] 

Aaron  Warner,  s.  of  David,  m.  Lydia 
Welton,  d.  of  Levi,  Feb.  12,  1782. 

1.  Jeremiah,  b.  Aug.  9,  1782. 

2.  Arad,  b.  Nov.-  27,  1784. 

Abijah  Warner,  s.  of  Dr.  Ephraim,  m. 
Rene  (Irena)  Warner,  d.  of  Obadiah, 
Dec.  13,  1764. 

1.  Garmon,  b.  Aug.  2,  1765. 

2.  Lucy,  b.  Oct.  23,  1766. 

3.  Agnes,  b.  Dec.  25,  1769. 

4.  Rene,  b.  Oct.  xo,  1771. 

5.  Rebcckah,  b.  Feb.  34,  1773. 

Abraham  Warner,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd, 
m.  Keziah  Welton,  d.  of  Richard,  Dec. 
12,  1734,  and  d.  Nov.  23,  1749. 

1.  Chads,  b.  Jan.  18,  1735-6. 

2.  Levi,  b.  Mch.  16,  1737-8;  d.  Apr.  20,  1753. 

3.  Zuba,  b.  July  12,  1740;  m.  Jon.  Beebe. 

4.  Keziah,  b.  Oct.  6,  1742;  m.  Zera  Beebe. 

5.  Zilpha,  b.  May  18,  1745. 

6.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  8,  1748. 

Ard  Warner,  s.  of  Dr.  Benjamin,  m. 
Elizabeth  Porter,  d.  of  Dr.  Dan.,  Jan. 
12,  1764  [and  d.  Apr.  30,  1824.] 

X.  Joanna,   b.   Sept.   3,   1764    [m.    Rev.    Samuel 

GunnJ . 
a.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  4,  1766;  m.  Sam.  Alcox. 

3.  Ephraim,  bap.  May  15,  1768*  [drowned,  1786]. 

4.  Elizabeth,  bap.  Feb.  11,  1770. 

5.  [Prudence,  b.  X772. 

6.  David,  b.  Jan.  11,  X774. 

7.  Irena.  b.  1776. 

8.  Ard,  D.  Oct.,  1778. 

9.  Hannah,  b.  1780;  m.  Anson  Warner. 
10.  Asahel,  bap.  Jan.  a6,  1783.* 


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144  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURT. 


Warner.  Warner. 

I  Si 9,    d.   of    Elisha    and    Asenath   of 
Straitsville. 

X.  Marion,  b.  Aug.  6,  1841. 

a.  Josephine  M.,  b.  Oct.  3,  1843. 

Charlotte  H.  Warner  m.  W.  S.  Thomp- 
son, 1834. 

Daniel  Warner,  s.  of  Daniel  of  Farming- 
ton  [dec'd],  m.  Mary  Andruss,  d.  of 
Abraham,  in  April.  1693. 

I.  A  aon,  b.  and  d.  July, 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  3,  1604-5. 

3.  A  son,  b.  and  d.  in  Mch.,  1695-6. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  16,  1698. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  Apr.  11,  1706. 

6.  Abraham,  b.  Nov.  x6,  1708. 

Mary  d.  Apr.  10,  1709;  and  Daniel  m. 
Johanna  Richason,  d.  of  Thomas,  Apr. 

6.  1710.     He  d.  Sept.  13,  1713,  and  she 
m.  Isaac  Castle  of  Woodbury. 

7.  Abigail,  b.  Feb.  zo,  1710-zi  fm.  Daniel  Judsonj. 

8.  Mary,  b.  July  z6,  Z7Z2  [ra.  Isaac  Tuttle,  Apnl, 

X73»]- 

David  Warner  J  s.  of  [Dr.]  Benjamin,  m. 
Abigail  Harrison,  d.  of  Benjamin,  Dec. 

II,  1753. 

X.  Josiah,  b.  Oct.  6,  1754. 
a.  Aaron,  b.  Nov.  24,  1756. 

3.  Urania,  b.  Oct.  1,  1758;  m.  Justus  Warner. 

4.  James  Harrison,  b.  Dec.  18,  1760. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  17,  Z762. 

David,  bap.  at  the  house,  Feb.  19,  i77i.' 
[Abigail,  b.  Feb.  Z9,  1770;  m.  Oliver  Todd. 
Anna,  b.  Nov.  32,  Z77a;  m.  Chancey  Warner.] 

David  Warner,  s.  of  Ard.  m.  Lois  Sut- 
liff  (wid.  of  Ira  Tompkins)  from  Ply- 
mouth, Nov.,  1809. 

X.  Amanda,  b.  Dec.  29,  1810  [m.  J.  T.  Terry]. 

a.  Vienna,  b.  Jan.  20,  1815. 

3.  Betsey,  b.  Jan.  30,  1818;  m.  Reuben  Tyler. 

David  Warner  m.  Betsey  Johnson— both 
from  Humphreys ville,  July,  18 19. 

I.  Sarah  Maria,  b.  Oct.  x8,  zSso;  d.  Aug.,  Z840. 
a.  Delia,  b.  July  z^,  Z823;  d.  X824. 

3.  David  Dewey,  d.  Oct.  21,  1825;  d.  Jan.,  Z841 — 

all  b.  in  HumphreysvilTe. 

4.  Margaret  Eliz.,  o.  in  New  Haven,  Dec.  14,  X833. 

Ebenezer  Warner,  s.  of  John,  m.  Mary 
Welton,  d.  of  Richard,  Jan.  22,  1728-9. 
She  d.  Apr.  30,  1747:  he,  Feb.  16, 
1749-50. 

1.  Stephen,  b.  June  25,  1730;  d.  Feb.  24,  Z749-50. 
a.  Dorcas,  b.  July  z,  Z732;  m.  [ Lewis?  and] 

Amos  Scott. 

3.  Phebc,  b.  Aug.  i,  1735. 

4.  John,  b.  Mch.  zo,  Z739;  d.  Nov.  8,  1750. 

Ebenezer  Warner,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd, 
m.  Martha  Scott,  wid.  [of  Edmund] 
and  d.  of  John  Andrus,  in  Wat. ,  Apr. 
i8,  1734. 

z.  Jemima,  b.  July  a,  Z735. 

2.  Benajah,  b.  Tan.  Z7,  1737-8;  d.  Dec.  Z7,  Z74Z-2. 

3.  Benajah,  b.  Jan.  8,  Z74i-a. 

Ebenezer  Warner,  s.  of  Ephraim,  m. 
Elizabeth  Brounson,  d.  of  Thomas, 
Apr.  2,  1740. 


Warner. 


Warner. 


z,  Noah,  b.  Nov.  2z,  1740;  d.  Apr.  6,  Z759. 

2.  Ebenezer,  b.  Sept.  17,  Z742;  d.  Dec.  2z,  Z746. 

3.  Margret,  b.  Oct.  16,  Z744;  m.  Rich.  Welton. 

4.  Eben,  b.  Jan.  z6,  Z747-8;  d.  Aug.  Z3,  1750. 

5.  Jemima,  b.  Nov.  5,  Z749;  d.  Nov.  7,  Z751. 

6.  Annis,  b.  Mch.  2Z,  Z752. 

7.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  Z7,  Z754;  m.  Ard  Welton. 

8.  Justus,  b.  Mch.  27,  Z756. 

9.  Mark,  b.  Dec.  22,  Z757. 

zo.  Jemimah,  b.  May  Z7,  Z76Z. 

[Ebenezer  m.  his  second  wife,  Damaris 
Finch,  wid.  of  Dr.  Ichabod  Foote,  who 
d.  Apr.  15,  1797,  a.  71.  He  d.  Oct.  5, 
1805,  a.  94.] 

Edward  Warner  m.  Hannah  Adams  [d. 
of  Andrew],  Apr.  15,  1824. 

Elijah  Warner,  s.  of  Deac.  John,  was 
mar.  to  Esther  Fenn,  d.  of  lliomas.  by 
Mr.  Andrew  Stores,  v.  m.,  Nov.  19, 
1767.     [He  d.  June,  1834;  she,  1826.] 

z.  Lvman,  b.  May  22,  Z768  [m.  Annis  Welton]. 
a.  Chancey,  b.  June  5,  Z770  [m.  Anna  Warner,  d. 
of  David,  Z703]. 

3.  Rosetta,  b.  Feo.  25,  Z773  [m. Talmajj;e. 

Elijah.    Apollos,  m.  Chloe  Wilcox  of  Simsbury.] 

Emma  Warner  m.  Almon  Farrel,  1826. 

Enos  Warner  m.  Lydia  Williams,  Apr. 
28,  1769. 

z.  Jotham,  b.  Apr.  22,  Z770. 

2.  Asa,  b.  Dec.  2z,  Z77Z. 

3.  Lydia,  b.  Mch.  za,  Z774. 

4.  James,  b.  Mch.  24,  Z776. 

Ephia  Warner,  s.  of  Ephraim,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Perkins  of  New  Haven,  Jan.  8, 

1774. 

X.  Ephraim,  b.  July  3,  Z774  [m.  Tryphena  Leaven- 
worth; and  d.  z8z5.J 

Dr.  Ephraim  Warner  [b.  1670],  s.  of 
John,  m.  Esther  Richards,  d.  of  Oba- 
diah— booth  of*  Wat. — Aug.  16,  1692. 
He  dyed  in  Aug.,  1753,  in  ye  84th  year 
of  his  age. 

Apr.    X.  .Marpit,  b.  in  Feb.;  d.  in  Mch^  '693. 

20,     a.  Ephraim,  b.  Oct.  29,  Z695;  d.  Dec.,  Z704. 

X703.   3.  Benjamin,  b.  Sept.  30,  1698. 

4.  John,  b.  June  24,  Z700. 

5.  Obadiah,  b.  Feb.  24,  Z702-3. 

[The  last  two  bap.  in  Woodoury,  May  23,  Z703. 
Probate  records  also  mention  Kl>enezer. 
Ephraim,  and  Elsther,  w.  of  Nathaniel 
Merrills.] 

Ephraim  Warner,  s.  of  [Dr.]  Benjamin, 
m.  Lidda  Brown,  d.  of  Samuel,  dec'd, 
Mch.  30,  1760.  [He  d.  May  25,  1S08,  a. 
70;  she,  July  20,  1815.] 

Ephraim  Warner,  s.  of  [Dr.]  Ephraim 
m.  Elenor  Smith,  d.  of  William  of 
Farmington,  Feb.  14,  1739.  Dr.  Eph- 
raim d.  Nov.  5,  1768. 

I.  William,  b.  Sept.  Z3,  1740. 

a.  Abijah,  b.  Jan.  5,  z 742-3. 

3.  Rebeckah.  b.  June  Z5,  Z745;  m.  Barnabas  Scott. 

4.  Epha,  b.  Apr.  29,  Z748. 

5.  Seth,  b.  Oct.  4,  Z750;  d.  Oct.  23,  X75Z. 

6.  Seth,  b.  Jan.  15,  Z753. 

7.  Elinor,  b.  Sept.  28,  Z757;  m.  Jesse  Tuttle. 

8.  Elsther,  b.  Mch.  30,  Z760. 


FAMILY  BECOh 


Warner.  Warner. 

Hzra  J.  Warner  from  Pittsfield  m.  So- 
phia Morgan,  d.  of  Walter  of  Amenia, 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  I,  1840. 

1.  Helen,  b.  July  xo,  1841. 

a.  Sarah  Adelaide,  b.  Mch.  25,  1843. 
3.  Charles  Burton,  b.  May  35,  1845. 

Frederick  A.  Warner  of  Pittsfield  m. 
Ann  M.  Stanley,  June  14,  1846. 

Garrett  P.  Warner  was  mar.  to  Eunice 
Terrill  by  Rev.  Mr.  Barlow  (between 
Jan.  20,  and  Apr.  3),  1831. 

George  Warner,  s.  of  Hermon  of  New- 
town, m.  Julia,  d.  of  Joseph  Davis 
Wei  ton,  Oct.  19,  1826. 

X.  Catharine  E.,  b.  July  20,  1828. 
a.  Juliette  S.,  b.  Dec.  6,  1829. 

Hannah  Warner  m.  Augustus  Fox,  1839. 

Hannah  Warner  m.  Dan.  Hubbard,  1842. 

Harriet  Warner  m.  Thomas  Stow,  1835. 

James  Warner,  s.  of  [Deac]  John,  m. 
Eunice  Dutten,  Jan.  i,  1761.  [She  d. 
Mch.  7,  1815,  a.  76;  he,  May  27,  1819, 
a.  81.] 

X.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  12,  X76X. 

a.  Noah,  b.  Aur.  15,  1763  [d.  Sept.  18,  iSso]. 

3.  Lucinde,  b.  Sept.  20,  1765;  m.  Elijah  Hotchkiss. 

4.  Eunice,  b.  Apr.  3;  d.  Au>j.  qo,  1769. 

5.  James,  b.  Jan.  25,  177X;  d.  Jan.  15,  1773. 

6.  Eunice,  b.  May  31,  X773  [m.  Eli  TerryJ. 

7.  James,  b.  Nov.  i,  1775. 

Capt.  James  s  Polly,  bap.  July  18,  1780.8 

Jared  Warner,  b.  Oct.  i6,  1785.  s.  of 
Mark,  and  Mary  Bronson,  b.  May  3, 
1785,  d.  of  Levi,  m.  Aug.,  1803. 

X.  Amanda,  b.  Nov.  19,  1804;  m.  Wesley  Bronson. 

2.  Levinus  Bronson.  b.  Aug.  12,  1809. 

3.  Olive  Caroline,  b.  Nov.  i,  181 1  [in.  James  Con- 

verse], 

4.  Mary  Anna,  b.  Dec.  8,  1828;  m.  C.  I.  Pierpont. 

•  [Dr.]  John  Warner  [b.  Mch.  i,  1670],  s. 
of  John,  m.  Rebeckah  Richason,  a.  of 
Thomas,  Sept.  28,  1698.  She  d.  Aug. 
I,  1748;  he,  Mch.  3,  1751. 

X.  Tabitha,  b.  July  22,  X699  [bap.  at  Woodbury], 

2.  Kebeckah,  b.  Nov.  24,  X703  [bap.  at  Woodbury, 

July  9,   X704]   m.   Sam.  Thomas,  and  Caleb 
Clark. 

3.  Ebenezer,  b.  Tune  24,  1705. 

4.  Lidiah,  b.  Feb.  23.  1706-7. 

5.  John,  b.  [at  Stratford]  Mch.  31,  X7X7. 
Tapher,  m.  Isaac  Castle,  1^23. 
Mary;  m.  Ebenezer  Baldwm,  1736. 
Sarah;  m.  Samuel  Renolds,  1742. 

John  Warner,  s.  of  f^r.]  Ephraim,  m. 
Esther  Scott,  d.  of  David,  Dec.  17,  1724. 
Esther  d.  Feb.  18,  1726-7,  and  John  m. 
Mary  Hikcox,  d.  of  Thomas,  Oct.  3, 
1728. 

1.  Esther,  b.  Sept.  xx,  1729;  d.  Nov.  4,  1730. 
a.  Phebe,  b.  Jan.  8,  X731-2. 

3.  Annise,  b.  Jan.  13,  X734-5;  m.  Ebenezer  Curtis 

and  Noah  Blakeslee. 

4.  Tames,  b.  Dec.  xi,  1737. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Oct.  9,  X74a;  d.  Apr.  2x,  1745. 

6.  Elijah,  b.  Mch.  21,  1745-6. 

7.  John,  b.  Oct.  14,  X749. 

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HIS  TOE  r  OF  WATERS  URT. 


Warner.  Warner. 

Lydia  Warner  m.  Stephen  Judd,  1751. 
Mark  Warner*  [d.  Oct.  25,  1815]: 

Elizabeth,  bap.  Nov.  xo,  1782. 
Noah,  bap.  Sept.  5,  1784. 

Nancy  Warner  m.  L.  D.  Frisbie,  1831. 

NancjT  Warner  [d.  of  Reuben,  and  Lu- 
cretia  Porter]  m.  Smith  Beers,  1834. 

Nelson  Warner  d.  July  13,  1846,  a.  43.* 

Noah  Warner  m.  Esther  Hull,  d.  of  Dr. 
Benjamin. 

Betsey,  b.  Apr.  5,  1787.'* 
Lauren,  b.  July  17,  1789. 

Obadiah  Warner,  s.  of  Ephraim,  m. 
Sarah  Lewis,  d.  of  Joseph,  Feb.  i, 
1726-7. 

I.  Jerusha,  b.  Dec.  13,  1727;  m.  Aaron  Harrison. 
a.  Lydia,  b.  June  6,  1729;  m.  Thomas  Welton,  and 
Dr.  Preserved  Porter. 

3.  Obadiah,  b.  June  20,  1731;  d.  June  25,  1750. 

4.  Esther,  b.  Nov.  9,  1733;  d.  Feb.,  1746. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  23,  1735. 

6.  Lois,  b.  Mch.  30,  1738;  m.  Asa  Scovill. 

7.  Enos,  b.  Aug.  11,  1740;  d.  Sept.  i,  1740. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  Fcd.  21,  1742-3;  m.  A.  Tcrrill. 

9.  F.lloner,  b.  Jan.  13,  1744-5;  ro-  Samuel  Hikcox. 

10.  Agnes,  b.  Feb.  24,  1747;  d.  Jan.  13,  1759. 

11.  Irena,  b.  July,  1749;  m.  Abijah  Warner. 

12.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  6,  1751. 

Obadiah  Warner,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Polly 
Welton,  d.  of  Reuben,  Oct.  12,  1794, 
and  d.  Sept.  16,  1845.  a.  76. 

1.  Ransom,  b.  May  6,  1795. 

2.  Melinda,  b.  Mch.  i,  1797. 

3.  Eri,  b.  Mch.  I,  1799  [d.  June  20,  i8oiJ. 

4.  Eri  W.,  b.  May  9,  1801. 

5.  Nelson,  b.  Feb.  16,  1803. 

6.  Reuben,  b.  Feb.  36,  1805. 

7.  Roxana.  b.  Dec.  15.  1806;  m.  Burritt  Judsoo. 

8.  Richard  Lewis,  b.  Jan.  12,  1809. 

9.  Polly,  b.  Aug.  13,  181 1 ;  m.  Isaac  Newton. 

10.  Bela,  b.  Sept.  28,  18 13. 

11.  Philomela,  b.  Apr.  21,  1816. 

12.  Marietta,  b.  Oct.  5,  18 18. 

13.  Caroline,  b.  Nov.  27,  1821;  m.  E.  S.  Lane,  and 

Nathan  Fenn. 

Olive  Warner  m.  Riley  Alcott,  18 10. 

Ozias  Warner,  s.  of  Tosiah,  dec'd,  m. 
Tamer  Nichols,  d.  of  Richard,  Oct.  9, 
1770. 

1.  Becca,  b.  Apr.  16,  1771. 

2.  Eunice,  b.  in  the  Kings  District  in  the  County 

of  Albany,  Apr.  2,  1773. 

3.  James,  b.  Oct.  18,  1774. 

4.  Anson,  b.  Aug.  9,  1778  [d.  Apr.  14,  1813]. 

5.  Tamer,  b.  Aug.  13,  1780. 

6.  Lydia,  b.  Mch.  14,  1782. 

7.  David,  b.  Feb.  20,  1784. 

8.  Levi,  b.  Feb.  14,  1786. 

Rev.  Ransom  Warner  m.  Polly  Austin, 
Jan.  5,  1S23. 

Samuel  Warner,  s.  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  may- 
ried  Sarah  Scott,  d.  of  Edmund,  Sr., 
May  12,  1715  [and  died,  1741]. 

The  two  first,  sons,  still-born. 

3.  Mary,  b.  June  5,  or  July  5,  1718  [m.  Robert 

Drakely  of  Woodbury,  July  4,  1751J. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  sometime  in  Sept.,  or  Oct.,  1720;  ra. 

Timothy  Warner. 


Warner. 


Warner. 


5.  Thomas,  b.  June  20,  or  June  5,  1722. 

6.  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  22,  or  Nov.,  1724;  d.  Apr.  «, 

1760. 

7.  Thankfull, )  m.  Thomas  Hammond. 

and        Vb.  Mch.  16,  1727. 

8.  Patience,     \  d.  before  1758,  unm. 

9.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  20,  or  July,  1729;  m.  Abraham 

Adams. 

10.  Stephen,  b.  Sept.  30,  or  Oct.  4, 1731. 

11.  Phcbc,  b.  Feb.  6,  1735-6;  m.  Wait  Wooster. 

12.  Martha,  b.  July  21,  1738;  m.  Charles  Warner. 
(There  are  two  different  entries;  both  ar« given.) 

Samuel  Warner,  s.  of  Daniel,  dec'd,  m. 
Elizabeth  Scott,  d.  of  Edman,  in  Dec. 
21,  1719. 

X.  Daniel,  b.  Aug.  27,  1720  [d.  at  Cape  Breton]. 

2.  1  imothy,  b.  July  26,  1722. 

3.  >fathan,  b.  July  6,  1724. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  26,  1726;  m.  Zebulon  Scott. 
[5.  Thomas;  ace.  to  Dr.  Bronson.J 

6.  Nathan,  b.  Dec.  25,  1729. 

7.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  15,  1732;  m.  George  Scott. 

8.  Hulda,  b.  May  17,  1734;  m.  Thomas  Warner 

and  Sam.  Williams. 

9.  Enos,  b.  June  4,  1736. 

10.  Susanna,  b.  Aug.  3,  1738;  m.  Ephraim  Bissell 

and  Abial  Roberts. 

11.  Samuel,  b.  Jan.  10,  1741-2. 

Samuel  Warner,  s.  of  Samuel  (and  Eliza- 
beth), m.  Ame  Camp,  d.  of  Abel,  May 
6,  1760. 

1.  Lcvinah,  b.  Sept.  16,  1761. 

2.  Antha,  b.  Feb.  25,  1764. 

3-  5?***^f7,TJ)ede)   b.  July  5,  1766. 
4.   1  hankful,  b.  July  8,  1768. 

Samuel  Warner  of  Plymouth  m.  Mary 
Maria  Brown,  Dec.  24,  1832. 

Sarah    Warner    m.    Benjamin  Hikcox, 

1783. 
Seth  Warner,  s.  of  Dr.  Ephraim,  dec'd, 

m.  Irene  Parker,  d.  of  John,  Dec.  25, 

1772. 

I.  Esther,  b,  July  11,  1773. 

Stephen  Warner,  s.  of  Samuel  (of 
Thomas)  m.  Phebe  Baldwin,  d.  of 
James  of  Derby,  Nov.  13,  1754.  He  d. 
Nov.,  1812,  a.  81;  she,  June  22,  1824,  a. 
97.* 

1.  Millesent,  b.  Oct.  27,  1755;  m.  Abel  Sperry  [and 

Joseph  Porter]. 

2.  Roxana,  b.  Apr.  13,  1757;  m.  Francis  Porter. 

3.  Bede,  b.  July  6,  1761. 

4.  Diana,  b.  Jan.  4,  1764. 

5.  Anna,  b.  Nov.  11,  1765. 

6.  Arbe,  b,  Apr.  13,  1768. 
[Stephen,  b.  1770.J 

7.(?>  Reuben,  b.  Oct.  11,  1773. 

Stephen  Warner,  Jr.,  s.  of  Stephen 
(above),  m.  Sarah  Smith,  d.  of  John, 
Mch.,  1792.  [He  d.  Nov.,  1825,  a.  55; 
she,  Mch.,  1847,  a.  74.] 

I.  Baldwin,  b.  June  29,  1793  [d.  in  the  South. 
Sally,  b.  Ian.,  1795;  m.  Thomas  Porter, 
Clarissa,  b.  1798;  m.  Giles  Hotchkiss. 
Reuben,  d.  in  Canada. 
Minerva,  b.  1801.     Garry,  b.  1803. 
Mary.     Benjamin.    Stephen  C.J 

Stephen  C.  Warner  [s.  of  Stephen],  b. 
Nov.  18,  1815,  and  Letetia  Combs  of 


FAMILY  RBCOl 


Warner.  Way. 

Southwick,  Mass.,  b.  Mch.  17,  1818,  m. 
in  Wolcottville,  Sept.,  1841. 

1.  Charles  Stephen,  b.  Jan.  19,  1843. 

2.  Mary  Letetia,  b.  Men.  17,  1845. 

Thomas  Warner  and  Elizabeth ;  children: 

[Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  Chatterton. 
Benjamin,  of  New  Haven.] 

Those  of  them  that  were  b.  in  Wat. : 

4.  John  (tailor),  b.  Mch.  6.  1680-1. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  9,  1682;  a.  June  7,  1705. 

6.  Martha,  b.  Apr.  i,  1684;  m.  John  Andrus. 

7.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  38,  1687  [m.  Abigail  Barnes] . 

8.  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  16,  1690. 

9.  Margaret,  b.  Mch.  16,  1693;  m.  Ebenezer  Richa- 

son. 

Thomas  died  Nov.  24,  1714. 

Thomas  Warner,  s.  of  Samuel,  dec'd 
(and  Sarah),  m.  Huldah  Warner,  d.  of 
Sam.,  Jan.  16,  1753.  He  d.  Apr.  5, 
1753,  and  Huldah  m.  Samuel  Williams, 

1754. 

Thomas  Warner,  late  from  England,  m. 
Mrs.  Martha  Arnst,  July  22,  1832. 

Thomas  Warner  m.  Susan  Forrest,  Oct. 
16,  1848. 

Timothy  Warner,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Sarah 
Warner,  d.  of  Samuel,  Feb,  25,  1745. 

X.  Naomi,  b.  Jan.  4,  1745-6;  m.  Samuel  Webb. 

2.  Mindwell,  b.  Aug.  14,  1749. 

3.  Rosanna,  b.  Aug,  1,  1753. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  9,  1755. 

5.  Jcse,  b.  Nov.  12,  1757. 

6.  Keigne,  b.  Nov.  i,  1759. 

7.  Consider,  b.  May  19,  1762. 

Dr.'  William  Warner,  s.  of  Dr.  Ephraim, 
m.  Mary  Chambers,  d.  of  Thomas,  Dec. 

8.  1762. 

X.  Austin,  b.  Dec.  x6,  1764. 
2.  Loretta,  b.  Jan.  30,  X767. 

Wooster  Warner,  b.  July  24,  1809,  s.  of 
Herman  of  Newtown,  m.  Oct.  7,  1832, 
Nancy  Fenn  Tomlinson,  b.  Oct.  17, 
181 1,  d.  of  Beach  of  Plymouth. 

Mary  Jane  Darrow,  d.  of  Leonard  F.  of  New 
Haven,  b.  in  Mch.  1834— an  adopted  child. 

Lyman  Warren  and  Abigail: 

Edward,  Nancy,  Samuel,  Delia,  Emeline,  Jan- 
ette,  bap.  Mch.  31,  1833.1 

Asahel  Watrous  of  Chester  m.  Adelia 
Fenn  of  Middlebury,  Nov.  10,  1839. 

B.  Pier  son  Watrous  m.  Sarah  H.  Lea- 
venworth [d.  of  William,  Jr.] — both  of 
Albany,  N.  Y. — Oct.  6,  1839. 

Polly  Watrous  m.  John  Painter,  1786.* 

William  Wattles  of  Bethlehem  m.  Fran- 
ces A.  Biscoe,  Apr.  26,  1840. 

Delia  M.  Waugh  m.  Luther  Pierpont, 
18 14. 

Abigail  Way  m.  Eben.  Allen,  1756. 

Abigail  Way  m.  Thomas  Richason,  1756. 


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BIBTOST  Of   WATERS URT. 


:.  Rtubcn-b.  lnn.B. 
1.  loimh.  b.  M.y  iS, 
r.  Nathan,  b.  Feb.  i 


..78s. 


b.  and  A.  Julr  3..  17B,. 

Annie  Webster  m.  Jos,  Nichols,  1757. 

Elias  W.  Webster  m.  Melissa  Allen, 
Sept.  z,  1844. 

Hannah  Webster  m.  Jcdiah  Turner, 
1772. 

Lucy  Webster  m,  Preston  Hall,  1839. 

Rhoda  Webster  m.  Hobert  Williams, 
1841. 

Sarah  J.  Webster  m.  G.  W.  Mitchell. 
1S49. 

Susaaoa  Webster  m.  David  Ailing,  iSjg. 

WilUaiii  W.  Webster  m.  Mary  A.  See- 
ley  of  Bethany.  Apr.  IQ,  1S51. 

Chauncej  Wedg  m.  Mrs.  Polly  Salina 
Terrelf,  Apr.  1,  1833. 

Martin  C.  Wedge,  b.  Mch.  23,  i3io,  s.  of 
Stephen  of  Warren,  m.  Chloe  U.  Far- 
rell,  d.  of  Benjamin,  Aug.  14.  1831- 


Weed.  Weltonl 

Jonas  Weed,  s.   of  John  of  Derbj-,   m. 


Joseph  Weed,  s.  of  John  of  Derby,  m. 

Deborah  Moses,  d.  of  John  of   Syms- 
bury,  June  5-  1740. 


L.  Hen 


[aU.,  ■ 


L  Be^hV M.',  b.  Apr.iB, 
5.  Polly  teve.  b.  May  17, 

[Andrew  Weed  d.  175 


.  .3}S- 


-:."^Ck%. 


J:t^^b,'b.>iv'9;.^,'" " 

o.  Lydia,  b.  Mch.  7,  17"^. 
10.  Mary,  b.  Stpt.  8,  1766. 


John  Weed,  s,  of  John  of  Derby,  m. 
Allice  Clark,  d.  of  Daniel  of  New 
Haven,  Sept.  11,  1735- 

■.  Eliiabmh, b,  Dec.  ii,  i7j6. 


a,  AmBP.  b.  MayjS,  iMa. 
3.  M<«9,  b  Ian.  5,  ,7,5-6. 
4-  Dorou,  b.  Mch.  ig,  1747-a. 

Sarah  Weed  d.  Feb.  15,  1747-B.  [She  was 

d.    of   John    Richason,    and    wTfe    of 

Samuel    Weed,    "who    lately    resided 

under  covert  at  Waterbury,  being  an 

outlaw,"  ace.  to  Probate  rec.   Children: 

Samuel,  d.  175.1  anmamrd.     Dand,   dead  Id 

1750.    Naihaniel,    Dan.     Reuben.    John  at 

Little  Britain,  N.  Y.     Abel.) 

Thankful  Weed  m.  James  Cnrtis,  1779. 
Rev,  Holland  Weeks  m,  Harriot  Byron 

Hopkins,  d.  of  Moses,  Esq.,  of  Great 

Harrington,  Dec  10,  1799. 


B.  Jan 


CharlotU  M.  Wells  m.  Samuel  Nichols, 


1:  Saniue!,  John.  Jo- 
sepb.  Jonas,  l^iep,  ^jcorgei   and  the  en.  OI 

and'all^<^re  ch?^ot  John  of  Derby.] 

Caleb  Weed,  s.  of  John,  dec'd  [and  Mary 
Beeman.  d.  of  Geo,]  of  Derby,  m. 
Martha  Peck,  d.  of  Mr.  Jeremiah.  July 


Aaron  Weltou  [s.  of  Eliakim]  m.  Zenh 
Bronson  [d.  of  Capt.  Amos],   Jan.  13. 


3.  Harvey,  h.  Oct.  18.  1780;  d.  Feb.  7.  17B1. 
,.  Harvey  Bronion,  b.  Nov.  ,,  ,781. 
J.  lunlni  b.  July  7,  .794.1 
6.  Leve,  b.  June  4,  17B6. 
Amasa  Welton,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Mary 
Nichols,  d.  of  Benjamin,  Sept.  6,  177a 

».  Oipha.  i>,  JuMO,  17711. 

4!  Chandler,  b,  Dec,  «,  I'tSl. 
5.  Sarah,  b.  Jan,  ....784. 
[Arad  W.   Welton,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m, 
Sally  Smith  of  Northfield, 

Ellen,  b.  Apr.  .7.  [S17;  m.  Chulei  Wooster. 
outer,  b.  Aug.  14,  t8»;  d.  Jan..  1841.    t 
Andrew  b.  Aog.  .7,  >8a3:  d.  Dec,  iS:,..  f 

Sludentj  at  Trinflr  CoOefc 
Noah  K.,  b.  Mcb.  ai.  iSi^.] 
Ard  Welton,  s.  of  Oliver,  m.  Elizabeth 
Warner,  d.  of  Ebeneier,  Sept.  13,  1773, 
and  d.  July  19,  1803.  [She  d.  Apr., 
18S7-] 
I.  Annis,  b.  Sept.  13,  1774  [m.  Lyman  Warner  auj 

d.  ,844]. 
..  EfaMuj.b,  Aug,6,i776, 
3.  Margalana.  b.  Feb.  ir    "    " 


FAMILY  RBCOl 


Welton.  Welton. 

Ard  Welton  [s.  of  Erastus]  m.  Caroline 
Welton  [d.  of  Richard  F.],  Jan.  25, 
1826. 

[x.  Ma]::garet  A^  b.  Jan.  4,  1827. 
a.  Ellen  S.,  b.  Oct.  18,  1839.] 

Benjamin  Welton  [s.  of  Oliver]  m.  Agnes 
Gunn,  Aug.  5,  1779.  [He  d.  Aug.  31, 
1836,  a.  82;  she,  Feb.  3,  1827,  a.  67.] 

z.  Anne,  b.  May  zo,  Z780. 
a.  Willard,  b.  Jan.  14,  178a. 

3.  Abel  Gunn,  b.  Feb.  15,  X785. 

4.  Benjamin  Smith,  b.  Mch.  5,  1791. 

5.  Arad  Warren,  b.  May  i,  1794. 

Charles  Welton  m.  Sally  M.  Judd,  May 

I,  1834. 
Chauncey  P.  Welton  of  Wolcott  [s.  of 

Hershel]  m.  Janett  Cleveland  of  Har- 

winton,  Nov.  8,  1847. 
Dan  Welton,  s.  of  George,  m.  Ann  Brus- 

ter,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Lebanon,  Apr.  16, 

1755.     [She  d.  May  17,  1790,  a.  58.] 

1.  Hannah,  b.  May  za,  Z757. 

2.  Gaal,  b.  Tuly  X5,  X759. 

3.  Martha,  o.  May  a,  1762. 

4.  Ann  Bnister,  b.  Apr.  22,  1764. 

5.  Tabitha,  b.  Aug.  X4,  X766. 

6.  Rachel,  b.  Oct.  Z4, 1769. 

7.  James,  b.  July  x,  X772. 

David  Welton,  s.  of  Ebenezer,  m.  Sarah 
Tuttle,  d.  of  Jabez,  June  20,  1781.  He 
d.  July  3,  1827,  a.  75. 

z.  Daniel,  b.  Nov.  19,  X781  [m.  Susanna  Selkrig] 
and  d.  May  26,  1824. 

2.  Jabez.  b.  May  30,  1783. 

3.  David,  b.  June  27,  X78S  [d.  Mch.  8,  x8x2]. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  z8,  1789. 

David  Welton,  s.  of  Jabez,  m.  Huldah 
Bronson,  d.  of  Joseph  of  Prospect, 
Sept.  16,  1833. 

z.  Frances  E.,  b.  Sept.  2,  1837. 

2.  Maria  P.  (or  Marion),  b.  May  8,  1643. 

Delia  A.  Welton  [d.  of  Jared]  m.  Daniel 
B.  Clark.  1834. 

Ebenezer  Welton  [s.  of  John]  and 
Sarah,  m.  Mercy  Earl,  Junr.,  of  East 
Hampton,  L.  I.,  May  22,  1740. 

X.  Nathaniel,  b.  Apr.  4,  o.  s.,  X741. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  5,  o.  s.,  1743. 

3.  Mercy,  b.  Sept.  xs,  o.  s.,  1746;  m.  Ezek. Welton. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  July  X4,  o.  s.,  i74[9]. 

5.  David,  b.  July  37,  Z75[2]. 

6.  Phebe,  b.  Apr.  xz,  Z755;  d.  Sept.  z6,  Z777. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  June  5,  Z760;  d.  Apr.  22,  Z777. 

Edward  Welton  [s.  of  Richard]  m. 
Laura  W.  Brown  of  Reedsborough, 
Vt,  Apr.  10,  1825. 

Eli  Welton,  s.  of  Eliakim,  m.  Ann  Bald- 
win, d.  of  Ebenezer,  July  i,  1771.  He 
d.  Jan.  2,  1792,  a.  46.* 

z.  Eli,  b.  Aug.  zo,  Z773. 

3.  Asa.  b.  Nov.  24,  X773. 

3.  Phebe,  b.  Sept.  29,  X775;  d.  Sept.  z6,  Z777. 

4.  Eunice,  b.  Aug.  Z2,  Z777  [m.  J.  H.  Waters]. 

5.  Benoni,  b.  Apr.  Z9,  1780. 

6.  Anna,  b.  Nov.  7,  Z78i.» 

7.  Ruthe,  b.  Mch.  6,  Z785. 

8.  Selden,  b.  May  3Z,  1787. 

9.  Phebe,  b.  Nov.  6,  Z788. 


Welt 

Eliak 

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1731 

1.  E 

2.  E 

3.  A 

4.  R 

5.  E 

6.  W 

7.  A 

8.  B< 

9.  B 

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176 

z.  J 

2.    ] 

3-  ^ 

S-  J 
6.  . 

7-  ^ 

9.  ] 

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Eliali 

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Jar 

z.  c 

3.  A 

4.  S 

5.  S 

Elija  I 
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3.  I 

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160AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS UBY. 


Welton.  Welton. 

The  record  of  the  children  of  George 
Welton,  s.  of  John,  sen',  and  Eliza- 
beth [Mallory  of  Stratford,  m.  Dec.  lo, 
1712].     He  d.  Jan.  7;  she,  Dec.  20, 1773. 

1.  Stephen,  b.  Oct.  97,  1713  (probably  in   Strat- 

ford). 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  20,  1715;  d.  June  16,  1738. 

3.  Pcatcr,  b.  Sept.  28,  1718. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  23,  1721;  m.  Samuel  Hikcoz. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  June  11,  1723;  m.  Samuel  Frost. 

6.  James,  b.  Oct.  9.  1725. 

7.  Josiah,  b.  June  xo,  1728. 

8.  Dan  (Daniel,  on  tax  records),  b.  May  19,  1731. 

George  H.  Welton,  b.  Apr.  21,  1822,  s. 
of  Ephraim,  m.  Mary  T.  Nichols,  d.  of 
Joseph,  Jan.  28,  1844. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  20,  1844. 

2.  Ella  Maria,  b.  May  i,  1846. 

George  S.  Welton,  b.  Apr.  4,  1804,  s.  of 
Daniel,  and  gr.  s.  of  David,  m.  Aug. 
29,  1835,  Fila  C.  Smith,  b.  Sept.  3, 1810, 
d.  of  Marshall. 

1.  Sarah  Lucina,  b.  May  lo,  1837. 

2.  George  Marshall,  b.  July  15,  1839. 

George  W.  Welton  [b.  Aug.  26,  1809,  s. 
of  Richard  F.  of  John]  m.  Harriet 
Minor  [d.  of  Archibald]  of  Wolcott, 
Sept.  II,  1837. 

[i.  Harriet  Minor,  b.  May  11,  1839.] 

Harriet  d.  May  26,  1839,  a.  27*  [and 
George  m.  Dec.  22,  1840,  at  Berlin, 
Mary  A.  Graham. 

2.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  13,  1841. 

3.  Emily  J.,  b.  Aug.  27,  1845. 

4.  Ellen  (Jaroline,  b.  Sept.  7,  1851]. 

Hannah  A.  Welton  [d.  of  Herschel]  m. 
E.  L.  Frisbie,  1850. 

Hobart  [Victory]  Welton,  s.  of  Rev. 
Joseph  D.,  m.  Mary  Adeline  Richards 
rd.  of  Luther  Abijah]  from  Vermont, 
Oct.  28,  1834. 

1.  Edwin  Davis,  b.  Apr.  4,  1836. 

2.  Sarah  Cornelia,  b.  Sept.  10,  1839. 

Horace  Clark  Welton,  b.  Feb.  15,  1801, 
s.  of  Adrian  and  gr.  s.  of  John,  Esq., 
m.  June  29,  1823,  Sophia  Bradley,  b. 
Apr.  I,  1804,  d.  of  Daniel  of  Plymouth 
Bay. 

J.  William  Alonzo,  b.  Dec.  20,  1824. 
2.  Frederic  Alonzo,  b.  Apr.  8,  1827. 

Horace  P.  Welton,  s.  of  Nathaniel,  m. 
Julia  Ann  Finch,  d.  of  Asahel,  Nov.  23, 
1823. 

1.  Edwin  Austin,  b.  June  27,  1824. 

2.  Augustus  Peck,  b.  Mch.  16,  1826. 

3.  James  Horace,  b.  Mch.  i6,  1829. 

Julia  d.  May  i,  1830,  and  Horace  m. 
Susan  Amelia  Hitchcock,  d.  of  Samuel 
of  Prospect,  Nov.  13,  1831. 

4.  Julia  Amelia,  b.  Dec.  23,  1832. 

5.  David  Frederic,  b.  Sept.  26,  1834. 

6.  Stella  Maria,  b.  Mch.  9,  1838. 

7.  Nelson  Clark,  b.  Nov.  17,  1840. 

8.  Mary  Eliza,  b.  Dec.  15,  1843. 

9.  William  Nathaniel,  b.  Apr,,  d.  June,  1846. 


Welton.  Wklton. 

Irena  Welton  m.  J.  M.  Granniss,  1838. 

Jabes  Welton,  s.  of  David,  m.  Betsey 
Moore  of  New  Haven  [and  d.  Sept.  25, 
1850]. 

X.  Ebenezer,  b.  Nov.  22,  1805. 

a.  [Rebecca],  b.  Jan.  27,  1809;  m,  Tyler  Brooaoa 
and  Lucius  Beach. 

3.  David,  b.  Aug.  26,  x8ia. 

4.  Polly  [b.  Aufr.  6,  18x3]  m.  Comelins  Mansoa. 
[5.  Deac.  Francis,  b.  Jan.  26,  18x7.] 

James  Welton,  s.  of  George,  m.  Mary 
Prichard,  wid.  of  Joseph,  late  of  Md- 
ford,  Dec.  26,  1763.  She  d.  Nov.  17. 
1807;  a°d  ^e»  May  19,  181 2. 

Jared  Welton's  wife  [Philomela  Norton] 
d.  May  12,  1843,  a.  88. 

Jennet  Welton  m.  Eric  Scott,  183 1. 

Jerusha  Welton  m.  Benjamin  Pitcher, 
1777. 

Jesse  Welton,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Sarah 
Tyler,  d.  of  Isaac  of  Wallingford,  Dec 
13.  1770. 

X.  Parthena,  b.  July  4, 1772. 
a.  Abigail,  b.  Nfch.  5,  1774. 
3.  Enos,  b.  Sept.  ^,  1776. 

Jesse,  b.  Men.  x6,  i763.> 

Sarah,  b.  Aug.  37,  X784. 

The  Record  of  the  children  of  John  and 
Mary  Welton  Se*^  of  ye:  Children  that 
were  bom  In  Waterbury: 

Their  seventh  child  a  son  Richard  bom  s&mu^ 
tinte  in  March  ^  x68o. 
9.  Hannah,  b.  Apr.  i,  X683  [m.  Thomas  Sqnires, 

J'-] 
xo.  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  4,  X684-5. 

XX.  George,  b.  Feb.  3,  1686-7  [was  bonnd  oat  to  his 
brother  Stephen  to  learn  the  weaver's  trvide] . 

xa.  Else,  b.  sometime  in  Aug.,  1690  Tm. Grimn 

of  Simsbury.  Was  she  '*  Else  Jones  of  Wa.t." 
in  X74a  ? 

Children  bom  (at  Parmington  ?) 

X.  Abigail,  m.  Cornelius  Bronson,  X69X. 
3.  Mary,  m.  John  Richards,  X693. 

3.  Elizabeth,  m.  Thomas  Griffin  of  Simsbury;  was 

a  widow  in  1736,  and  d.  1733. 

4.  John.      5.   Stephen.     The  sixth  and   eighth, 

probably  died  young.] 

John  d.  June  18,  1726;  his  wife,  Oct,  iS, 
1716. 

John  Welton,  s.  of  John,  m.  Sarah  Buck, 
d.  of  Ezekiel,  Jr.,  of  Wethersfield,  Mch. 
13,  1706.  She  d.  Sept.  6,  1751  [he,  in 
1738]. 

1.  John,  b.  Jan.  24,  X706-7. 

2.  Ezekeill,  b.  Mch.  4,  1709  [went  to  Nora  Sco- 

tia]. 

3.  George,  b.  Aug.  x6,  17XX. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  Aug.  3X,  X7X3. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  36,  17x6;  d.  Jan.  5,  X7XS-X9. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Feb.  23,  X7x8. 

7.  Mary,  b.  Oct.  xo,  X730;  m.  Samuel  Earla. 

8.  Rachel,  b.  Dec  10,  X723;  m.  Abel  Camp. 

9.  Oliver,  b.  Dec.  X4,  X734. 
xo.  Silence,  b.  Dec.  34,  1737. 

John  Welton,  s,  of  John  (above),  m. 
Elizabeth  Hendrick  of  Fairfield,  Feb. 
12,  1738-9.    She  d.  Dec.  20,  1773;  he. 


FAMILY  REOOl 


Welton.  Welton. 

Jan.  6,  1780.  [The  town  took  his 
estate.  Feb.,  1755,  and,  by  evidence, 
cared  for  him  until  his  death.] 

1.  Lois,  b.  Mav  9,  1744  [m. Jacobs.] 

2.  Luff,  b.  Men.  9,  1747-8;  d.  Aug.  xi,  1749. 

John  Welton  [Esq.],  s.  of  Richard  (and 
Anna),  m.  Dorcas  Hikcox,  d.  of  Capt. 
Samuel,  Jan.  5,  1758  [who  d.  June  13, 
1815;  he  d.  Jan.  22,  1816]. 

X.  Abi,  b.  Nov.  2,  1758;  d.  May  14,  i8a8. 
a.  A  dau.,  still- bom. 

3.  Mary,  b.  June  xo,  1760  [m.  Hez.  Phelps,  and 

d.  Sept.  6,  181  x]. 

4.  Anne,  d.  Feb.  11,  1762  [d.  May  10,  1803]. 

5.  Titus,  b.  July  3,  X764. 

6.  Richard  Fenton,  b.  Apr.  17,  1767. 

7.  John,  b.  Oct.  28,  1769;  d.  Dec.  i,  X776. 

8.  Dorcas,  b.  Oct.  29,  1771;  d.  July  23,  1793. 

9.  Adrian,  b.  Feb.  X5,  X77S  [d.  Oct.  26,  1804]. 
10.  John,  b.  Jan.  13,  1778  [d.  Apr.  a,  18x3]. 

John  S.  Welton  m.  Harriet  Thompson  of 
Norfolk,  Sept.  3,  1838. 

Joseph  Welton,  b.  Mav  15.  1814,  s.  of 
Rev.  Joseph  Davis  and  Eunice  m.  Mary 
Salina,  d.  of  Seabury  and  Clorana  Pier- 
pont,  Jan.  20,  1836. 

I.  Homer  Heber,  b.  Feb.  22,  1837. 

3.  Eunice  Clorana,  b.  Oct.  7,  1839. 
3.  Lucy  Adeline,  b.  Nov.  X4,  X84Z. 

Joseph  C.  Welton  [s.  of  Richard  F.]  m. 
Jane  E.  Porter,  June  28,  1839. 

[x.  Caroline  Josephine,  b.  June  7,  1842.] 

Josiah  Welton,  s.  of  George,  m.  Martha 
Keley  (Kelsey?)  d.  of  Jonathan  of 
Woodbury,  Dec.  28,  1752.  He  d.  Jan. 
5.  1758. 

Julia  Welton  m.  Vinson  Gunn,  1812. 

Julia  Welton,  d.  of  Rev.  J.  D.,  m.  George 
Warner,  1826. 

Levi  Welton,  s.  of  Stephen,  dec'd,  m. 
Mary  Seymur,  d.  of  Richard,  June  3, 
1761. 

X.  Deborah,  b.  Mch.  a8,  1762. 

a.  Lydia,  b.  Oct.  28,  X763;  m.  Aaron  Warner. 

3.  Stephen,  b.  Oct.  i,  X765  [m.  Sus.  Bronson?J 

Mary,  w.  of  Levi,  d.  Feb.  7,  1768  [and 
Levi  m.  Molly  Hall]. 

4.  Mali  (Molly)  Seymour,  bap.  Mch.  25,  1770*  [m. 

Jesse  Silkrigff  of  Wolcottj . 

5.  Hannah,  bap.  July  a8,  177X  [m.  Hez.  Welton]. 

6.  Rosanna,   bap.   Oct.  6,   1776  (b.    July   3)    ['"• 

Michael  Harrison]. 

7.  Lavinia,  bap.  Apr.  5,  X778;  m.  James  Brown. 

Lucinda  Welton  m.  Neh.  Hubbell,  1774* 
Lydia  A.  Welton  m.  Anson  Lane,  1828. 

Lyman  Welton,  s.  of  Thomas,  and 
Minerva  Judd,  b.  June  29,  1800,  d.  of 
Benjamin  of  Watertown,  m.  Dec.  24, 
1822. 

1.  Henry  Augustus,  b.  Dec.  2,  1823. 

2.  Lyman  Franklin,  b.  Dec.  xi,  1827. 

3.  James  Nelson  (Nelson  J.),  b.  Feb.  15,  x8a9. 

Mary  Welton,  d.  of  Adrian,  m.  R.  L. 
Judd,  1826. 


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152  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERS URT, 


Welton.  Welton. 

Fairfield,  Nov.  .3,  1724.  She  d.  Dec. 
i7»  1765;  and  he,  Jan.  11,  1766. 

X.  Anna,  b.  Aug.  17,  1725;  ra.  John  Brown. 

2.  John,  b.  Jan.  6,  1726-7. 

3.  Abi,  b.  Oct.  29,  1729. 

4.  Titus,  b.  Oct.  20,  1732;  d.  Tuly  9,  1757. 

5.  Abi,  b.  Oct.  5,  1738;  m.  Tnomas  Fenn. 

Richard  Welton,  s.  of  Eliakim,  m.  Mar- 
gret  Warner,  d.  of  Ebenezer,  Apr.  27, 
1766. 

X.  Noah,  b.  Feb.  15,  1767. 

2.  Richard  Warner,  b.  Oct.  10;  d.  Dec.  14,  1768. 

Marjjraret  d.  Oct.  19,  1768,  and  Richard 
m.  Hannah  Davis,  Aug.  7,  1770  (1769?). 
[He  d.  Feb.  26,  1820;  she,  Dec.  11, 183S, 
a.  94.] 

Their  first  child  Thomas  b. (probably  an 

error). 
Richard,  bap.  June  17,  1770.* 
^Nlargaret,  b.  July  2,  1772]  m.  Dan.  Steele. 
Thomas,  bap.  Jan.  5,  1775. 
Hannah,  bap.  Dec.  9,  1777  [m.  David  Warner]. 
Joseph  Davis,  bap.  June  i,  1783. 

Richard  Welton,  Jr.,  s.  of  Richard 
(above),  m.  Sarah  Gunn,  d.  of  Nathl., 
Mch.  19,  1797  [and  d.  Sept.  26,  1807,  a. 
38]. 

I.  Artemesia,  b.  Apr.  15,  1798;  m.  Lauren  Frisbie. 
[2.  Edward,  b.  Jan.  19,  1800. 

3.  Merrit,  b.  Apr.  5,  1802. 

4.  Amy,  b,  Apr.  18,  i8o<4. 

5.  Hannah  Maria,  b.  July  10,  1807.] 

Richard  F.  Welton  m.  Nancy  Horton, 
Apr.  8,  1830. 

Samuel  Welton  [s.  of  Stephen]  m.  Jeru- 
sha  Hill,  Nov.  23,  1769,  and  d.  May  9, 

1777- 

X.  Annah,  b.  Dec.  23,  1770. 

2.  Jonathan,  b.  Feb.  14,  1774. 

3.  Lydia,  b.  Oct.  18,  1776. 

Sarah  Welton  [d.  of  Dan.]  m.  D.  P. 
Bunce,  1833. 

Seymour  H.  Welton,  b.  Oct.  13,  1822,  s. 
of  Bela,  and  Elizabeth  Merriam,  b. 
Dec.  5, 1825,  d.  of  Edward  S.  of  Water- 
town,  m.  Dec.  18,  1844. 

I.  Bela  S.,  b.  Jan.  7,  1846. 

[Shelden  Welton,  s.  of  Erastus,  m.  Bet- 
sey Jordan,  Sept.  12,  1825. 

1.  Adeline  E.,  b.  Nov.  ii,  1826. 

2.  Birdsey  S.,  b.  Aug.  X7,  1831. 

3.  Hiram  E.,  b.  Oct.  14,  1834.] 

Stephen  Welton,  s.  of  John,  m.  Mary 
Gaylord,  d.  of  Joseph,  Mch.  4,  1701-2. 

1.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  14,  170X-2;   m.  Gershom  Ful- 

ford. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  10,  X704;  m.  Thomas  Porter. 

3.  Unis,  b.  Apr.  19,  1707   [m.  Caleb  Lewis  of  Wal- 

lingford,  Jan.  10,  1736J . 

4.  Sarah,  b.  July  14,  1709. 

Mary  d.  July  18,  1709,  and  Stephen  m. 
Jan.  28,  1712-13,  Johannah  Westover 
of  Simsbury.     He  d.  Mch.  13,  1713. 


Welton.  Wklton. 

Stephen  Welton,  s.  of  Richard,  m.  De- 
borah Sutliff,  d.  of  John,  Dec.  13, 1731, 
and  d.  Apr.  30,  1759. 

1.  Martha,  b.  Nov.  19,  1732;  d.  Dec.  ao,  1736. 

2.  Levy  (I,evi),  b.  Nov.  lo,  1734;  d.  Dec.  27,  1736. 

3.  Martha,  b.  Mch.  i,  1736-7:  m.  Jehulah  Grillcy. 

4.  Dinah,  b.  May  22,  1738;  m.  Jas.  Doolittle. 

5.  Levy,  b.  Mch.  6,  1741-2. 

6.  Stephen,  b.  Jan.  7,  1744-5. 

7.  Thomas,  b.  Dec.  32,  1749;  d.  Aug.  7,  X75x. 

8.  Thomas,  b.  Nov.  22,  1751. 

Stephen  Welton,  s.  of  George,  m.  Abi- 
gail Baldwin,  d.  of  Jonathan,  Aug.  27, 
1 741.     Shed.  Nov.  i,  1776. 

X.  Elijah,  b.  Aug.  13,  1742. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  a,  1744. 

3.  Jesse,  b.  Nov.  23,  1746. 

4.  Amasa,  b.  Apr.  a6,  1749. 

5.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  i,  1752;  d.  Nov.  17,  X753. 

6.  Achsah,  b.  Sept.  15,  1754. 

7.  Josiah,  b.  Feb.  17,  1759. 

Stephen  Welton  (above?)  m.  wid.  Ann 
Hotchkiss,  Mch.  3,  1779. 

Stephen  Welton,  s.  of  Stephen,  dec'd, 
(and  Deborah),  m.  Lucy  Thomas,  May 

2.  1764. 

I.  Lemuel,  b.  Nov.  24,  1766. 
a.  Dinah,  b.  June  25,  1770. 

3.  Levi,  b.  Oct,  9,  X772. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Mch.  19,  X774. 

5.  Zilphe,  b.  Jan.  25,  1776. 

6.  Elihu,  b.  Oct.  31,  1779. 

Thomas  Welton,  s.  of  John,  Senr.,  m. 
Hannah  Allford,  d.  of  Josiah,  Mch.  9, 
1714  and  d.  Apr.  19,  1717. 

I.  Thomas,  b.  Dec.  X5,  17x4  [d.  young], 

Thomas  Welton,  s.  of  John  (and  Sarah), 
m.  Mary  Cosset,  d.  of  Ranny  of  Syms- 
bury,  Sept.  15,  1742.  [He  a.  May  12. 
1803.] 

X.  Ezekiel,  b.  Aug.  29,  X743. 
a.  Ruben,  b.  Feb.  19,  1745-6. 

3.  Ailing,  b.  July  14,  X748;  d.  July  3X,  1749. 

4.  Allyn,  b.  May  16;  d.  June  28,  1750. 

5-  Bethel,  b.  Aug.  9,  X7S1;  d.  Jan.  5,  1763. 

6.  Lucretia,  b.  Jan.  20,  17^4. 

7.  Roscrty,  b.  Feb.  10;  d.  Mch.  a, 

8.  Levina,  b,  Apr.  20,  1759. 

9.  Shubill,  b.  July  29,  1761, 
o.  Bethel,  b.  July  x8,  1767. 


1757- 


10 


Thomas  Welton,  s.  of  Richard,  m.  Lydia 
Utter,  d.  of  Abr.,  Feb.  21,  1739-40. 
She  d.  Aug.  21,  1750,  and  Thomas  m. 
May  28,  175 1,  Lydia  Warner,  d.  of 
Obadiah.  [He  adopted  his  nephew, 
Richard,  and  d.  Dec.  i,  1780.  Lydia 
m.  Dr.  Preserved  Porter.] 

Thomas  Welton,  the  third  [s.  of  Ste- 
phen], m.  Abigail  Hikcox,  d.  of  Lieut. 
William,  Jan.  22,  1772. 

1.  Seymer,  b.  July  2,  X772. 

2,  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  28,  1773;  ^«  J*"**  '9«  >774« 


6.  Chloe,  b.  Nov.  2,  1780. 

7.  Lydia,  b,  July  ai,  1783. 

8.  Fanna,  b.  Apr.  i,  1785. 


FAMILY  REOO 


'^ 


Welton.  Wheeler. 

9.  Lorra^  b.  Feb.  15,  1787. 

10.  Ransom,  b.  July  18,  1789. 

Abigail  d.  Jan.  13,  1791,  and  Thomas 
m.  Ruth,  wid.  (of  Ziba)  Norton,  Sept. 
26,  1792.  She  d.  July  6,  1793;  he,  Apr. 
24,  1835,  a.  83.' 

11.  Thomas  Hikcoz, ) 

and  vb.  June  34,  179^. 

X2.  Ruth  Hopkins,     )  [m.  Street  Todd]. 

Thomas  Welton,  b.  Dec.  8,  1774,  s.  of 
Richard,  and  Sybel  Cook  from  Wal- 
lingford,  b.  Oct.  18,  1778,  m.  Jan.  3, 
1797. 

X.  Lyman,  b.  June  15,  1798. 

a.  Evelina,  b.  Jan.  23,  x8oo;  m.  Anson  Downs. 

3.  Minerva,  b.  Mch.  19.  i8oa. 

4.  Sally  Desire,  b.  Sept.  5,  1807;  d.  Mch.,  1808. 
5    Sally  Desire,  b.  June  14,  18x0. 

6.  Nancy,  b.  Apr.  12,  1812. 

William  A.  Welton  [s.  of  Horace  C] 
m.  Eliza  Prichard,  d.  of  Leonard,  Nov. 
16,  1847. 

Eunice  Westover  m.  Oliver  Titus,  1850. 

Johannah  Westover  m.  Stephen  Welton, 
1712. 

Rachel  Westover  m.  Jer.  Kilborn,  1844. 

Anne  Wetmore  m.  Seth  Blake,  1769.' 

Benjamin  Wetmore :  Marcv,  wife  of 
Benj.  [d.  of  Sam.  RobertsJ.  d.  May  2, 
1757,  and  he  m.  Apr.  4,  1758.  Frances 
[d.  of  John  BoamJ,  wid.  of  Richard 
Anthony  of  Middletown.  [He  d.  May, 
1770;  she,  April,  1776.] 

Bethiah  Wetmore  m.  Edmund  Tomp- 
kins, 1754. 

Josiah  Whetmore  [b.  1721,  s.  of  Benja- 
min and  Mercy  Roberts]  and  Mehit- 
able: 

4.  Benjamin,  b.  July  23:  d.  Sept.  7,  1753. 

FMehi table  was  b.  July  28,  1721,  d.  of 
James  Leavenworth  and  Hester  Trow- 
Dridge  of  Stratford,  and  was  niece  of 
Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth.]  She  d. 
1807.  a.  86. 

Timothy  Wetmore  and  Martha  [Eggles- 
tone,  m.  in  Middletown,  Nov.  2,  1768. 

Timothy  Clark,  and  James,  b.  in  Mid.] 

3.  Polle,  b.  Feb.  7,  1774. 

4.  Constant,  b.  Apr.  4,  1780. 

Ana  Wheeler  m.  Edmund  Austin,  1795. 

David   Wheeler  from  Oxford  m.   Mary. 
Ann  Pritchard.  d.  of  Eliphalet,  Aug., 
1807. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Mch.  10,  x8o8. 

2.  Rosctta,  b.  Nov.  12,  1812  [m. Thorp]. 

3.  Mary  Ann,  b.  May  2,  x8i8;  d.  Jan.,  1845. 

4.  Harriet  Jane,  b.  k\\%.  2,  1820. 

David  d.  Mch.  3,  1822  [a.  43],  and  Mary 
Ann  m.  Jesse  Brown. 

Joseph  Wheeler  of  Watertown  m.  Sarah 
A.  Leavenworth,  Oct.  26,  1834. 

16  ♦ 


Whea! 
Mary> 
Mary' 

Reubd 

fiel<| 

Ruth^ 

Ruthl 

Sarah 

Ambr<i 
Wool 
Mch. 

I.  Ma 

9.  Am 
3.  Sad 

Hiram 

Aug. 

Janett< 

John    ^ 

Sami 
born; 

I.  Anc 
3.  Abr 

3.  Sey 

4.  Am 

5.  Sail 

6.  Rel 

John  \ 

1849. 

Thoma 

land. 

1.  Cai 

2.  Job 

3.  Ma  ; 

Betseji 

1836. 

Sarah  i 

1744. 

Jane  \ 

Mary 

1845. 

Willia 

by  R 

1780. 

Joanni 

1825. 

Joel  \ 
Cool  I 

Larnei 

of  J<  I 
Lou:  I 
ham 

X.  Eli    I 

Lou 
m.  ^   I 
b.  i: 
mov 

2.  Ml  I 

3.  U 

4.  M  ! 

5.  Fr  I 


164  ^p 


mSTOnr  OF  WATtSRBVBr, 


Wilkinson.  Williams. 

Phcbe  Wilkinson  m.  R.  C.  Nichols,  1845. 

Thankful  Wiliard  m.  Elisha  Hikcox, 
1764. 

[Bartholomew  Williams  d.  1759;  wid. 
Sybel  (Thompson);  children: 

Israel.     Rebecca.    Bartholomew.] 

Benjamin  Williams,  s.  of  Thomas  dec*d, 
m.  Sarah  Painter,  d.  of  John,  Apr.  8, 
1762. 

1.  Isabel,  b.  Dec.  21,  1763. 

2.  Deborah,  b.  June  s,  1766.  • 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  29,  1768. 

Charles  Williams  m.  Polly  McDonald — 
both  of  Columbia — Jan.  3,  1802.* 

Daniel  Williams  [b.  1710],  s.  of  James, 
dec'd,  of  Wallingford,  m.  Mary  Lewis, 
d.  of  Joseph,  May  9,  1732,  and  d.  July 
18,  1754.  [She  m.  Obadiah  MunsonJ 
and  d.  1802. 

1.  Susanna,  b.  Feb.  14,  1733-3;  d.  Aug.  24,  Z749> 

2.  Anna,  b.  May  s6,  1735;  m.  Isaac  Judd. 

3.  Dan,  b.  Nov.  22,  1737. 

4.  Unice,  b.  Sept.  3,  1740;  m.  Samuel  Webb. 

5.  Zuba,  b.  Dec.  25,  X744  [m.  Abner  Lewisl. 

6.  Ame,"  b.  Jan.  31,  1747-8   [m.  Joseph  Tyler  of 

Wallingford]. 

7.  Ruben,  b.  Men.  25,  1754. 

Dann  Williams,  s.  of  Daniel  (above), 
dec'd,  m.  Mary  Prindle,  d.  of  Nathan, 
dec'd,  Dec.  12,  1755. 

X.  Phebe,  b.  Nov.  23,  1756;  d.  Tuly  7,  1758. 
a.  Anne,  b.  Oct.  10,  1759;  d.  Nlay  3,  1762. 

Daniel  Williams  m.  Patience  Weed, 
Nov.,  1782.' 

Roxana,  b.  Aug.  19,  1789.3 

Eliza  Williams  m.  Alexander  Hine,  1849. 

Hannah  Williams  m.  George  Prichard, 
Jr.,  1767. 

Hannah  Williams  m.  Henry  Book,  1789. 

Hiram  Williams  of  Bristol  m.  Lydia  M. 
Frost  [d.  of  Alpheus],  Nov.  7,  1842. 

Hobert  Williams,  s.  of  Horace,  m.  Rhoda 
C.  Webster,  d.  of  Ozias  of  Harwinton, 
June  7,  1 841.  , 

X.  Horace  Ozias,  b.  July  26,  1842. 
3.  Hannah  Eliza,  b.  June  20,  1844. 

James  Williams  [b.  Sept.  14,  1692,  s.  of 
James  of  Hartford,  who  d.  in  Walling- 
ford, 1725,  and  Sarah  Richason,  m. 
Sarah  Judd,  d.  of  Thomas,  Jr.,  Dec. 
29,  1715. 

Abigail,  and  two  boys  both  named  James,  d.  in 

Wal. 
Martha,  ra.  William  Andrews. 
Mary,  probably  m.  Thomas  Coles. 
Sarah.     Timothy,  b.  1724. J 

10.  Abigail,  b.  Keb.  20,  1729-30. 

11.  Lois,  b.  Feb.  20,  1731-2. 

12.  Ruth,  b.  Oct.  o,  1734. 

13.  Hepsibah,  b.  Feb.  23,  1736-7;  m.  John  Fenn. 

James  d.  Oct.  13,  1740  [and  in  1751, 
Sarah  was  called  Saran  Wood  or 
Weed]. 


Williams.  Williams. 

James  Williams  [s  of  Thomas?  m.  Lydia 
Smith  of  Wallingford,  1743]. 

4.  Jotharo,  b.  Apr.  90,  1750. 

(See  also  Thomas.) 

James  Williams  [s.  of  Timothy  of  James] 
m.  Sarah  Boardman,  Apr.  i,  1776. 

1.  Eunice,  b.  Nov.  rg,  1776. 

2.  Jonathan,  b.  July  28,  1778. 
[3.  Mary,  b.  X780. 

Sarah  d.  Aug.  27,  1780,  and  James  m. 
Hannah  Chilson,  1787.] 

Lewis  Williams  [s.  of  Reuben]  m.  Polly 
Porter,  June  14,  1801.* 

Lydia  Williams  m.  Enos  Warner,  1769. 

Obed  Williams  m.  Elizabeth  DoolitUe. 
Dec.  10,  1776.* 

1.  Obed,  b.  Sept.  26,  1777. 

2.  Sally,  b.  Sept.  3,  X779. 

3.  Becca,   ) 

and     Vb.  Jan.  90,  1781. 

4.  Betsey,) 

5.  Chauncey,  b.  Apr.  23,  1782. 

6.  Isaac,  b.  May  23,  1783. 

7.  Polly,  b.  Aujf.  30,  1784. 

8.  Billy,  b.  June  28,  1786. 

9.  Clarry,  b.  Sept.  6,  17S8. 

Rebeckah  Williams  m.  Thomas  Murfee, 

1783.' 
Reuben  Williams,  s.  of  Daniel,  m.  Anna 

Hotchkiss,  d.  of  Capt.  Gideon,  Mch.  i6, 

1775. 

z.  Huldah,  b.  Apr.  10,  1776. 
a.  Lewis,  b.  Oct.  30,  X780. 
3.  Reuben,  b.  May  24,  1788. 

Rosanah  Williams  m.  David  Hunger- 
ford,  1760. 

Samuel  Williams,  s.  of  Samuel  of  Wal- 
lingford [who  was  b.  June,  1700,  and 
Hannah  Hikcox.  m.  Nov.  13,  1722].  m. 
Lois  Scott,  d.  of  Samuel  of  Edmund, 
May  28,  1752. 

I.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  9;  d.  Dec.  31,  1753. 

Lois  d.  Sept.  23,  1753,  and  Samuel  m. 
Huldah,  widow  of  Thomas  Warner, 
Aug.  27,  1754. 

a.  I^is,  b.  Mav  24,  1755.  , 

3.  Zcbah,  b.  ftlay  9,  1757. 

4.  Huldah,  b.  Jan.  26,  1760;  m.  .Sam.  Branson. 
•5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  21,  X762. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  Apr.  26,  1764. 

7.  Khoda,  b.  Apr.  17,  1767;  ra.  Ichabod  Terrell? 

8.  Sibbel,  b.  Oct.  a,  1769. 

9.  Samuel  Warner,  b.  May  11,  1772. 

10.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  15,  1775. 

Sarah  Williams  m.  Asahel  Hotchkiss, 

1781. 

Susanna  Williams  m.  John  Hotchkiss, 
1790. 

Thomas  Williams  dyed  Septem  29,  A.D. 
1749,  in  his  49  year.  His  dau.  Cat  tern, 
in  her  19th  yv,  d.  Aug.  14,  1749.  His 
son  Reuben,  in  his  istn  year,  d.  Nov. 
29,   1749.     Isabel,   wife  of  the  above- 


FAMILY  EECOH 


Williams.  Wilmot. 

named  Thomas,  in  her  53d  yr.  d.  Apr. 
25.  1751.  Jotham,  s.  of  James  Will- 
iams d.  Sept.  6,  1749. 

[His  heirs  were  wid.  Isabel!:  chil.  James  (of  New 
Haven^  >75i)i  Thomas,  Benjamin  and  Obedi- 
ence,w.  of  Nathan  Brownson.  Waliingford  rcc. 
give  James,  b.  1721,  Hannah,  1733,  and  Obe- 
dience, b.  1732,  to  Thomas  and  Isabel.] 

Thomas  Williams,  s.  of  Thomas,  dec'd, 
m.  Jerusha  Brounson,  d.  of  Moses,  Jan. 
31,  1749-50. 

1.  Reuben,  b.  Nov.  34,  1750. 

2.  Rachel,  b.  Nov  27,  1752. 

3.  Rosin,  b.  Feb.  21,  1755. 

4.  Catern.  b.  Sept.  5,  1757. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  8,  1759. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Apr.  21,  1762. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Oct.  10,  1764;  d.  May  17,  1768. 

8.  John,  b.  Mch.  28,  1767. 

9.  Mary,  b.  July  4,  1769;  d.  May  30,  1783. 

Titaiothy  Williams,  s.  of  James,  dec'd, 
m.  Eunice  [Lydia]  Foot,  d.  of  Jona- 
than, Mch.  2^,  1750.  She  d.  Dec.  5, 
1776  [he,  1803]. 

1.  Jonathan,  b.  Sept.  13,  1751  [d.  1776]. 

2.  Jerusha,  b.  Nov.  27,  1753  [m. Soardman 

and  d.  June,  1783]. 

3.  lames,  b.  Sept.  23,  1755. 

4.  i)anit>l,  b.  Apr.  27,  1759. 

5.  Timothy,  b,  Jan.  8;  d.  Jan.  16,  1763. 
[6.  Timothy,  b.  May  13,  1765. 1 

6.{})  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  16,  1769  [a.  June,  1795.] 

Timothy  Williams,  Jr.,  s.  of  Timothy, 
m.  Susa  Maria  Hill„  d.  of  Jared,  Nov. 
I,  1792. 

1.  Tcrusha,  b.  Aug.  3,  1793;  m.  Alpheiis  Frost. 

2.  Lydia,  b.  Apr.  10,  1795;  m.  Mark  Warner. 

3.  Horace,  b.  in  Plymouth,  Dec.  28,  1796  [m.  Sa- 

lina  Scott,  d.  of^Joel], 

4.  Jere  Hill,  b.  Sept.  2,  1803. 

5.  Anson,  b.  Au(f^28,  1807  [m.  Marietta  KeelcrJ. 

Widow  Williams  d.  Oct.  13,  1808,  a.  78.' 

Abigail  Wilmot  m.  Thaddeus  Bronson, 
1772. 

Abijah  Wilmot,  s.  of  Benjamin,  m.  Ruth 
Hikcox,  d.  of  Ambrose,  Aug.  5,  1763. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  28,  1764. 

2.  Silas,  b.  June  17,  1766. 

3.  Abijah,  b.  Mch.  20,  1768. 

4.  Electa,  b.  Jan.  3,  1770. 

Ruth  d.  Feb.  26.  1771,  and  Abijah  m. 
Tapher  Castle  [d.  of  Isaac],  July  9, 
1771. 

5.  Fraderick,  b.  May  25,  1772. 

6.  Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  i6,  1774. 

7.  Kuth,  b.  Sept.  30,  1776. 

8.  Ebenezer,  b.  Dec.  25,  1780. 

Amos  Wilmot  d.  June  6,  1809,  ^*  53-' 

Amy  Wilmot  m.  Bennet  Pritchard,  1825. 

Benjamin  Wilmot  d.  June  25,  1768.  Abi- 
gail, his  wife,  d.  Dec.  30,  1771. 

Benjamin,  his  son,  d.  Dec.  28,  1770. 

Elijah  Wilmot's  wife  d.  Dec.  29,  181 1,  a. 

7i.» 
Eunice  Wilmot  m,  Isaac  Hine,  1768, 


WiLMO 

Jesse  ' 
Sc« 

Mary  ', 
1829. 

Metra 

Wid.  S 

89.* 

ElizatM 

James 

Mary 

Hanna] 
17^7. 
Mary  \ 

Obadial 

25.  17 

I.  Jam 

Henry  ] 
June 

David  1 

Aloi 

Rut 

A: 

Rev.  L 

Mar 
Urs 

Child 

Luk 
Sert 
Con 
Con 
Juli 

Edmun  I 
Oct. 

Aner  I 

John 
Mari 
field. 

1.  Ma   I 

Mari 
Delij 
pect, 

2.  Par   I 

3.  Eli: 

Georg< 

Neal 

Enoch  ' 
Oxfc 

Frank 

ris,  <  I 

Hanna 

1697 

Isaac    i 


Sa 


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Is; 
CI 

G 


i 


166  ^P 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUR7. 


Woodruff.  Woodward. 

Mary,  b,  Nov.  15,  1782. 

Luke,  a  negro  servant  of  Isaac,  b.  Jan.  31, 1784. 

Isaac  d.  Mch.  31,  1782,  a,  36. 

John  L.  Woodruff  of  Watertown  m.  El- 
mira  Downs  of  Wolcott,  June  6,  1832. 

Jonah  Woodruff  m.  Mabel  Adams,  d.  of 
Abraham,  July  30,  1777.' 

Marietta  Woodruff  m.  E.  E.  Smith,  1841. 

Mary  Woodruff,  wid.  of  Miles  J.,  d.  Oct. 
6,  1S40.  a.  25.* 

Samuel  Woodruff  [s.  of  John]  and  Jemi- 
ma: 

Hannah,  b.  May  ao,  1783. 
Enoch  J.,  b.  Jan.  15,  1786. 

Ensine  Abel  Woodward,  b.  Apr.  i,  1736, 
old  stile,  s.  of  Capt.  Israel,  m.  Lucy 
Atward  fb.  May  4,  1735],  d.  of  Jonathan 
of  Woodbury,  Mch.  21,  1765. 

1.  [Dr.]   Reuben  Sherman,  b.  Jan.  9,  1766*  [m. 

Rachel  Prindle,  d  of  David]. 

2.  Eunice,  b.  Mch.  t8,  1767. 

3.  Lucv,  b.  Mch.  13,  1769;  d.  Jan.  14,  1770. 

4.  Abel,  b.  Oct.  13,  1770;  m.  Susanna  ^Voodruf!  of 

Oxford,  Oct.  ao,  i793.' 

5.  James,  b.  Sept.  25,  1772. 

6.  David,  b.  Oct.  26,  1774. 

7.  Lucy,  b.  July  23,  1776. 

8.  John,  b.  Auif.  12,  1778. 

9.  Jerusha,  b.  Apr.  2,  1781. 
zo.  Russell,  b.  Jan.  10,  1783. 

Antipas    Woodward    m.    Annis    Flinn, 
Nov.  6,  I788.» 
I.  Warren,  b.  Sept.  8,  1789. 

Israel  Woodward  [b.  June  5,  1707;  d. 
Aug.  17,  1799,  a.  92;  s.  of  John.  Jr.,  of 
Lebanon,  bap.  1674;  s.  of  Jonn  of 
Northampton;  s.  of  Henry  of  Dorches- 
ter,  Mass.,  1636;  m.  Abigail  Beard  of 
Huntington,  and  came  to  Waterbury 
about  1749,  with  his  six  sons]. 

10.  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  25,  1750. 

[An  Indian  woman  belonging  to  Israel 
d.  July  II,  1774.] 

Israel  Woodward  [b.  1740],  s.  of  Israel, 
m.  Abigail  Stoddard,  d.  of  Eliakim, 
Oct.  28,  1765.* 

I.  Sarah  Bard,  b.  Dec.  4,  1767. 
a.  Pamelia,  b.  Apr.  15,  1770. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  May  19,  1772. 

4.  Anna,  b.  Dec.  4,  1774. 

5.  Asa,  b.  Aug.  24,  1779. 

John  Woodward  m.  Lydia  Trowbridge, 

July  13,  I786.« 

I.  William,  b.  May  3,  17^7. 
a.  Rebecca,  b.  Jan.  9,  1789. 

Nathan  Woodward,  s.  of  Israel,  m. 
Sarah  Hikcox,  d.  of  Thomas,  June  6, 

1757. 

I.  A  dau.,  b.  Tune  3,  d.  June  25,  1758. 

a.  Grace,  b.  C5ct.  25,  1759;  d.  June  ix,  1760. 

3.  Moses  Hawkins,  b.  Mch.  31,  1761. 

4.  Antipas,  b.  June  24,  1763. 

5.  Saran,  b.  Sept.  17,  1765. 

6.  Lois,  b.  May  x8,  176JB. 


Woodward.  Wooster. 

Sarah  d.  July  9,  1771;  and  Nathan  m. 
Eunice  Painter,  July  i,  I773.«  [She  d- 
Mch.  II,  1813,  a.  62;  he,  Apr.  29,  1824. 
a.  92.] 

7.  Polly,  b.  June  19,  1775. 

8.  Laura,  b.  June  3,  1779. 

9.  John,  b.  July  9,  1782. 

Rebeckah  Woolsey  m.  Stephen  Scott, 
1734. 

Azariah  Woolworth  m.  Rebekah  Allen 
of  Woodbridge  [grand-dau.  of  David 
Wood],  Apr.  5,  i3i2. 

z.  Chester  Allen,  b.  Sept.  5,  1814. 

2.  Philemon  Porter,  b.  Mch.  ai,  z8i8. 

3.  Azariah,  b.  June  2a,  1819. 

4.  Janies  Harvey,  b.  Aug.  10,  xSaa. 

5.  Robert,  b.  Jan.  ao,  1824. 

6.  Franklin,  b.  Dec.  5,  1825. 

7.  Lyman,  b.  in  Winchester,  Sept.  16, 1828. 

Abigail  Wooster  m.  R.  C.  Beebe,  1836.* 

Albert  Wooster,  s.  of  Levi  [eldest  s.  of 
Walter,  and  Ursula  BeebeJ  m.  Mitte 
Chatfield,  d.  of  Joseph,  Nov.  19,  1826. 

Charles  W.  Wooster  of  New  York  m. 
Ellen  A.  Welton  [d.  of  Ard],  Oct,  16. 
1842.    She  d.  July  18,  1843,  a.  26.* 

Cleora  Wooster  m.  J.  J.  HoUister,  1842. 

Daniel  Wooster,  s.  of  David,  m.  Ruth 
Wheeler,  d.  of  Obadiah  of  Southbuiy, 
Nov.  4,  1792. 

David  Wooster  and  Mary  [d.  of  Nath. 
Gunn?  Patience,  M^ary  and  Ann 
Wooster,  grandchildren,  are  mention- 
ed in  Nathaniel's  will  of  1767]: 

3.  David,  b.  Dec.  ai,  1756;  d.  Feb.,  1757. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Mch.  10,  1760;  d.  June,  i79<5. 

5.  Eunice,  b.  July  22,  1761. 

Mary  d.  Oct.  5,  1761,  and  David  m. 
Ann  Doolittle,  d.  of  Thomas,  Jan.  7, 
1762. 

6.  David,  b.  Nov.  2, 1762. 

7.  Haniwh,  b.  Oct.  x6, 1764. 

8.  Anna,  b.  Sept.  22;  d.  Sept.  28,  1766. 

9.  Ann,  b.  Dec.  24,  1767;  d.  June,  1807. 
10.  Phcbe,  b.  Mch.  2,  1770. 
It.  Rebecka,  b.  May  to,  1772. 


Z2.  Sibel,     ) 

and     Vb.  Aug.  31,  1774. 

13.  Daniel,  I 

14.  Naomi,  b.  June  16,  1776. 

little,) 


IS.  Ruth, 
and 
x6.  James  Doolittle 
17.  Abigail,  b.  June  27,  1780 


June  27,  1778. 


David  Wooster  m.  Anna  Chatfield,  Feb. 
2,  1821. 

Polly  bap.  Dec.  17, 1823. 

Elijah  Wooster  was  m.  to  Mary  Osbom, 
d.  of  Daniel,  by  Rev.  Mark  Leaven- 
worth, Apr.  4,  1764. 

z.  Ephraim,  b.  Sept.  17,  1764. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  xo,  1767. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Sept.  27,  1769. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  28,  177Z. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  May  9,  1774. 


FAMILY  RECOl 


WOOSTER.  WOOSTER. 

Henry  Wooster,  s.  of  Moses  of  Wood- 
bury: 

Ned  Allen,  d.  Oct.  30,  1772. 

Mary,  his  wife  d.  Apr.  29,  1772,  -and 
Henr^  m.  Mercy  Gillett,  d.  of  Thomas 
Coshier,  Jan.  5,  1773. 

Mary,  b.  Sept.  5,  1773;  d.  May  10,  1775. 
Henry,  b.  Sept.  14,  1775. 
Naomi,  b.  Nov.  20,  1777.* 
Marv,  b.  Nov.  27,  1779. 
Rachel,  b.  Oct.  5,  1781. 

Jane    Wooster    m.   Jonathan    Baldwin, 
1849. 

Jesse  Wooster,  s.  of  Walter,  m.  Rhoda 
Brocket,  d.  of  Zenas,  Mch.  13,  18 13. 

1.  AbijFail  U.,  b.  Dec.  to,  1813. 

2.  Emily,  b.  Jan.  xi;  d.  Mch.,  1816. 

3.  Emily,  b.  Jan.  8,  1817. 

4.  Walter  Z.,  b.  Mch.  8,  1820. 

5.  JesM  C,  b.  June  7,  1823. 

Miles  Wooster: 

Mabel  and  John,  bap.  July  21,  1765.9 

Mitchel  Wooster  m.  Hannkh  £.  Terril, 
Mch.  6,  1822. 

Nancy  Wooster  m.  A.  S.  White,  1832. 

Rebeckah  Wooster  m.  Lyman  Smith, 
1821. 

Wait  Wooster,  s.  of  Abraham,  m.  Phebe 
Warner,  d.  of  Samuel,  Mch.  9,  1758. 
[He  was  dead  June  5,  1770.] 


X.  Moses,     ) 

and      >b.  Dec.  21,  1758. 

2.  Hinman,}^ 

3.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  21,  1760. 


Mary, 

Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  29,  1762. 


Wool 

6.  A 

Joho 
Od 

Natlt 
F. 

183^ 

Rebel 

176) 

Joscp 
wic 

Melii 

Asa  4 
Dai 

Carol 

i85< 

Charl 

Ira  \ 

ley, 

Mary 

tis, 

Saral 

175^ 

Rufus 

Bea 

i76r 

Jane    1 

i85<. 

Thoa  i 
of  J: 


PAUS. 

COL. 

LINE 

6 

9 

35 

8 

2 

34 

12 

z 

43 

13 

2 

49 

19 

2 

zo 

ao 

I 

zo 

2Z 

Z 

45 

2 

54 

23 

2 

37 

24 

2 

49 

25 

2 

6 

27 

Z 

32 
34 
37 

34 

Z 

51 

39 

2 

35 

39 

2 

36 

43 


46 
58 

65 
86 

90 

Z04 

108 
Z26 

»43 
H3 


2 

2 

2 
2 
I 

Z 
2 
I 

2 

Z 
Z 


23 


62 
2Z 

16 

6z 
6z 

54 


«5 
z8 


ADDITIONS  AND  COl . 

Wait>r  A. 
Eliab /br  Eliah. 
Hoadley^r  Hadley. 

*7«5  /<^  »775« 

Richard  left  also  Richard  and  **  Lucrecy." 

A  fid  m.  Jesse  Fenn. 

Add  Scott,  d.  of  Richard  of  Sunderland,  Maa* 

Ohed  far  Obad. 

Mary  and  Andrew  were  children  of  Deacon  7  1 

Erase  this  line. 

Anne  was  wife  of  Isaac  Tuttle  in  Z75Z. 

Martha  m. Hill. 

Comfort  m. Martin. 

Esther  m. Peck. 

Elizabeth  m. Cook. 

Z652  /or  Z647. 

Salem /i»r  Plymouth.    Cook  m.  before  Z725, 5   . 

ford,  who  was,  probably,  mother  of  a/Jhat    i 
Samuel  Curtiss  d.  Z770,  leaving  wife  Elizabe    1 

Levit,  Manr  Benham,  Elizabeth  Andrus, 

Mindwell  Clark  and  Olive  Blakley. 
Add  Feb.  3. 
Joseph  Gamsey  d.  Z764,  leaving  wife  Rachel.    1 

Ann,  wife  of  Daniel  Steele,  Mary,  wife  of  ;    I 
ijgiybr  Z87Z. 
Probate  records  (Z758)  mention  also  David,  'A 

i7S9/^''/79S.      . 
Norm y or  Moms. 

Benjamin  left  a  j^randson,  Charles  Plumb. 

This  is  probably  Ruth,  d.  of  John. 

Gideon  Skinner,  brother  of  Ebenezer  of  He    < 

dren— Ann,  Timothy  and  Dorcas. 
Arab  Ward,  s.  of  Capt.  William  of  Killingwc 
Diantha^r  Diana. 


I 


158  Ap 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBUBY. 


DEATHS  IN  WATERBURY, 

Exclusive  of  Salem,  since  March  i6,  1797,  taken  from  Capt,  Ben- 
jamin Upson's  Account,  by  Bennet  Bronson.* 


1797. 


July. 


"799- 


x8oo. 
Jan. 


1801. 
Jan.   xa. 
Feb.  17. 
Mch.  4. 

"     12. 

Apr.    5. 

35. 

May  15. 

Aug. 

Sept.  31. 

1802. 
Tan.  15. 
tjunca^. 

"    34. 
July    7. 

"    21. 
Aug.   3. 


.1: 


Sept.  17. 


Oct.     3. 


1803. 

Jan. 

x8. 

Apr. 

5. 
26. 

May 

5- 

June 

Aug. 

26. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

39. 

Eldad  Hotchkiss*  child. 

Joseph  Wooster. 
ohn  McCloud's  wife. 
Lev.  Mr.  Thompson's  wife. 
Thomas  Pavne's  child. 
Nathaniel  Welton^s  wife. 
William  Rowley's  child. 
Samuel  Nichols. 
Levi  Beardsley's  child. 
Mille  Pardee's  child. 
Reuben  Warner's  wife. 
Fortune,  a  negro. 
Elizabeth  Scott. 
Aseph  Brown's  child. 
Eli  Rowlev's  child. 
Samuel  Blakeslee's  child. 
Benjamin  Hitchcock's  wife. 
Andrew  Bronson, 
John  Robbinson. 
Joseph  Pnchard's  child. 

Noah  Candee. 

Genhom  Bartholomew. 

Mingo,  a  negro. 

Ezra  Pierpont's  child. 

Claud  (?)  Lewis'  wife. 

3  children  of  Amasa  Cowel. 

3  children  of  William  Clark. 

Luc^  Bronson. 

Levi  Bronson, 

Jesse  Johnson's  wife. 

Cyrus  Grilley's  child, 

James  Cowers  wife, 

Joseph  Bartholomew's  wife, 

Capt.  Ben  Hine, 

iesse  Johnson's  child, 
Irs.  Qames]  Baldwin, 
William  Perkins'  child, 
Isaac  Bradley, 
Daniel  Tuttle, 
Mary  Slater, 
John  Thompson, 
Cloe  Bartholomew, 
Levi  Smith's  girl^ 
Jesse  Hikcojc's  wife, 
Wid.  Hoadley, 

Amos  TefHil} 
Israel  Holmes, 

iames  H.  Warner's  child, 
[ichael  Harrison's  child, 
Titus  Fulford, 
Andrew  Hoadley. 
Aurelia  Clark's  child, 
Obadiah  Richard's  child, 
Jonah  Hall's  wife, 
Fannv  Adams, 
David  Hoadley's  child, 
Joseph  Tompkins'  child, 
Widow  Clark's  boy, 
Isaiah  Prichard's  child, 
Joseph  Fairchild's  child, 
Truman  Hotchkiss*  child, 
Ephraim  Warner's  child, 
Hez.  Phelps'  child, 
Titus  Welton's  child, 
Joseph  Fairchild's  child, 
John  W^elton,  Jr.'s  child, 
Anne  Welton, 
William  Hoadley's  child, 
Daniel  Hill, 


79 


45 


45 
35 

82 

5 

97 

X 

8 
97 

75 
53 

«9 
20 

56 
79 

70 

34 
I 
I 

69 

55 
3m 

X 

56 

19 
3m 
I 

9 
6m 

X 
X 

3m 

4 
3 
xm 

X 

x8 
5 

75 


X804 
Feb. 
Mch. 


Manly  Hitchcock's  child, 
Wid.  Scott, 
Enos  Warner's  child, 
Mch.  30.  Cyrus  Grilley's  wife  (44);  child, 
Apr.    9.  Joseph  Pnchard's  child, 

xo.  Tustus  Warner's  child,         ^ 
Benj.  Hikcoz, 
Moses  Hall's  child, 
May.        Mrs.  Elizabeth  Skinner, 
June.       Calvin  Monson's  child, 
William  Comes'  child, 
Aug.  29.  William  Rowley, 

Mr.  TerriU's  child, 
Oct.  16.  Enoch  Piatt's  child, 

Leonard  Baldwin's  wife, 
X805.     Daniel  Jackson's  child, 

Apr.        Hikcox, 

Aug.  24.  Southmayd  Bronson's  child, 
'^    39.  John  Cossett's  wife, 
"    31.  Rev.  Mr.  Bronson's  child, 
Sept.  X3.  Truman  Hotchkiss'  child, 
"    18.  Bethuel  Todd's  wife, 
x8o6. 
Mch.   -x,  James  Blaksley's  child, 

"    36.  John  Nolton's  child, 
Apr.    7.  Joanna  Nolton, 

^'  Seth  Worden's  child, 

June  13.  Peg,  a  negro, 

"    3x.  Daniel  Brown, 
Aug.  34.  Samuel  Hill's  child, 
Sept.  33.  Samuel  Adams'  child, 

35.  Cornelius  Johnson's  wife, 
Oct.  30.  Eldad  Mix, 
Nov.   9.  Reuben  Warner, 
Dec.  19.  Ebenezer  F.  Bennet, 
'*    31.  David  Hine's  wife, 
X807. 

Lvdia  Hull, 

Mercy  Hull, 

Scott. 


Mch. 


May. 
June. 


II 

II 

14 


Jehulah  Grillcy*s  wife, 
Samuel  Bronson,  3d's,  child, 
Jerusha  Bradley, 
Ephraim  Sanford  of  Ind., 
"    26.  Lemuel  Nichols, 

Nov.  15.  Eunice  Culver, 

Dec.         Titus  Welton's  child, 
x8o8. 

Jan.    3.  Esther  Payne, 

Feb.    x.  Lorana  Warner, 

Mch.   4.  Wid.  Hull. 

Apr.    8.  Crys,  a  negro, 
14.  Herraon  Hall, 
tAsabia  Baxter, 
Enos  Beecher,  Wolcott, 
Mark  Leavenworth's  child, 
Samuel  Nichols'  child, 
Rachel,  wife  of  Ben.  Nichols, 

Sept.   3.  Seth  Castle's  child, 
**    22.  James  Frisbie  of  Salem, 

Oct.  25.  Fhilo  Beers, 

Joshua  Morgan's  child, 
X809.     Benjamin  Hitchcock, 
Elijah  Crook's  wife^ 

Mch.  XX.  Ethel  Hoadley*s  child, 
'*    36.  Lemuel  Allen, 

Oct.         Joseph  Root's  child, 

"   x8xo. 

Jan.     7.  Caleb  Todd. 

Feb.  13.  Wd.  Mary  Welton, 


May 

Aug. 


29. 
29. 
«4. 

X3. 
28. 


4m 

X  w 

6w 
4 
40 
X  w 

83 


74 

X 

5 
21 

X 

14 

X  < 

69 

t 

¥> 

X  I 

X 

6 

4 
54 
76 

3 

X 

80 

73 

7a 
34 
64 


d 
d 


53 
a3 

70 

3 

»9 

33 
6x 

84 
7 

30 
13 

77 
34 
as 
26 

40 
xm 

2d 

68 

2 
37 

19 
I 

56 

35 

6m 
6a 

6m 

46 
87 


*  More  than  six  hundred  names  were  found  in  this  list,  but  certain  of  the  number  have  been  omitted 
because  given  elsewhere.  For  the  year  1815,  the  year  of  greatest  mortality  within  the  period,  the  list  is  given 
entire.  After  Capt.  Benjamin  Upson's  decease,  in  March  of  1824,  the  work  was  continued  by  a  person  unknown 
to  the  compiler,  to  August,  1825,  when  it  was  taken  up  in  the  Public  Records. 

t  Probably  date  of  burial.    He  died  at  Demerara,  May  xx.  X  ^f^'  Asabia  Scoviilon  grave-stone« 


DBAma  nr  wATi 


Mch.   5.  Abraham  Prichard*s  wife, 

''      6.  Joseph  Root's  wife. 
Joseph  Root's  chila, 
Apr.  20.  Kunice  Bronson, 
Aug.  15.  Two  children  of  Isaac  Allen, 

Wife  of  Do.         Jr., 

"    a8.  Infant  of  Isaac, 
Sept.  93.  Roswell  Pardee's  child, 
Hannah  Nichols'  child, 

x8ii.     Samuel  Grilley's  child, 
Mch.  24.   lohn  Lounsbury's  wife. 
Apr.  15.  Horace  Harrison's  chila, 
May  25.  Amos  Prichard,  Jr.'s, 

"    28.  Lorren  Barnes,  Esq., 
July.        Moses  Beach's  child, 

"    ao.  John  I|Ounsbury, 
Sept.   9.  Asahel  Roberts, 

'^    27.  Joshua  Pelly  of  Vir., 
Oct.  19.  Reuben  Adams*  child, 
Nov.  30.  Woster  Allen, 

Z8l2. 

Apr.    X.  James  Blakesley's child, 

*'      3.  Koxy  Adams'  cnild, 
Aug.  30.  A  stranger, 

Isaac  Bronson's  child, 
Sept.        Lewis  Hungerford's  child, 
Nov.  27.  Mr.  J^ounsburvj 

18x3.     Elias  Root's  child, 

Hannah  Bartholomew, 
Mch.  12.  Shadrack  Benhara, 

"    13.   Julia  Nichols, 

"    19.  Wid.  Mercy  Bronson, 
May.        James  Warner, 
Sept.  X4.  Rosa  Bill  Selkrigg, 

*'    19.  Sarah  Merrill, 
Oct.  30.  Zenas  Brockett's  wife, 

Hannah,  a  negro, 
Nov.  28.  Isaac  Benham, 
Dec.  Z2.  Daniel  Roberts, 

1814. 
Jau.    8.  Joel  Perkins'  wife, 

Luther  Pierpont's  child, ' 

"    30.  Samuel  Biakeslee, 
Feb.     z.  Edmund  Austm's  child, 

''    18.  Sally  Hotchkiss, 
Mch.  12.  Saloma  Peck, 

"     19.  Samuel  Seymour's  child, 
Asa  Bronson's  child, 
Apr.  x8.  Harriet  Hodges, 
June    a.  William  Bradley, 
Nov.   2.  Ralph  Doohttle's  wife, 
Dec.  15.  Amos  Terrel's  child, 

*'    17.  Wid.  Cook, 

"     19.  Elijah  Porter, 

"     20.  Amos  Prichard, 

''    28.  Wid.  Elizabeth  Brown, 

1815. 
Jan.         Moses  Beach's  child, 

"      8.  Sally  Nettlelon, 

"     19.  George  Cook, 

"     22.  Alfred  Payne, 
Feb.     I.  Thomas  Clark's  wife  Elizabeth, 
8.  Miles  Nichols, 


"    xo.  Joel  Roberts, 
"     22.   Wid.  ~ 


Elizabeth  Terrell, 
Mch.        A.  Bryan's  child, 
J  une.        Preserved  Porter  Bronson, 

Wife  of  John  Wclton,  Esq., 
Apr.  13.  Benj.  Hotchkiss, 
June  30.  Wm.  Warner's  child, 

Charles  Leonard's  child, 
July  X3.  Moses  Beach's  wife,  Anne, 
"    20.  Wid.  Lydia  Warner, 
"    21.  Elizabeth  Terrell, 
•*     26.  Rev.  Luke  Wood's  child, 
"    28.  Johnson  Warner's  child, 
Aug.  19.  Calvin  Hotchkiss, 
"    25.  Sophia  Judd, 
"     26.  Albert  Burton, 
"    28.  John  Tuttle's  wife, 
"    29.  William  Secly's  child, 
"    30.  Samuel  Judd,  Jr.'s  widow, 
Wid.  Lucy  Porter's  child, 
Sept.    2.  Enoch  Woodruff's  child, 
Wm.  Seely's  child, 
"      4.  Luke  Wood's  child, 


7» 

bept. 

94 

4» 

a 

(» 

19 

X  w 

%% 

30 

1 

X  w 

'*  i 

id 

X  w 

"   i 

2m 

1 

73 

^"  * 

1^ 

Oct. 

t* 

7 

i 

30 

ti 

3m 

"     , 

86 

"    1 

IZ 

"    % 

33 

"    « 

3m 

"    ^ 

33 

"  »; 

**  « 

aw 

"    3i 

xm 

60 

Nov.  n 

X  w 

X 

2a 

6m 

"    ^ 

66 

77 

Dec.  ac 

«7 

x8x6. 

76 

52 

Ian.  tj 
Feb.    1 

X2 

Apr.    1 

23 

*    ai 

60 

12 

Aug.   i 

77 

Sept.3r 

x6 

Nov.  3c 

• 

Dec.  z^ 

30 

X 

18x7. 

41 

z 

Apr.    ; , 
May  x:  , 

25 

June  2.  . 

18 

6m 

x8i8. 

am 

Feb.  X.  . 

19 

U 

May 

June  X  . 
Nov.  a  . 

2 

80 

X819. 

74 

Feb.  X  . 

75 

"    a  . 

74 

'*     2  . 

Mch.     . 

2 

"    I  . 

29 

Sept.  I  . 

xi 

Nov.     . 

73 

"     X    . 

9 

iSao 

77 

Jan. 

75  . 

it 

id 

Aug. 

21 

"     1   . 

U 

"    1   . 

"    1   . 

6 

"    s   . 

xd 

Sept. 

28 

Dec.  !    . 

80 

1821 

22 

Jan.  :    . 
Feb.  :    . 

X 

4 

Mch. 

20 

May 

Z2 

9 

• 

49 

a 

6 

3 

4 

4 

BISTORT  OF  WATERBVRT. 


U^.Vi 


»:-;j; 


MilHnda  Todd, 

Elijuh  NlifhoU'  w 

A  Mr.  Cady, 
1.  Swnud  Poller. 

I»vid  Ford  of 
:>.  Huuh  Hirubam 

Mr,  Luke  Wood'i  < 
S.  Col.  Bt\m  Wcllon, 


>.  Joihua  MoKL 

I.  Martin  Ujwo'ichiy, 
Thomas  fudd'i  child, 
Nobkjudd't  child. 

8.  John  Hull. 

ShepardHayden'scbild, 

S.  Mr.  BvingloB  [Aiigmlus, 

Wile  or  Mr.  Foech, 

Cyru.  Grill./. 
Lc^  McClDud, 


y  Id.  Qf  B. 
Id  Mil, 


S 


I.  Silly  L.  Pridurd,  dan.  of  Dand.  Jr. 

(dropay  in  the  head), 
F.  Child  □(  ChauDccy  Adams  (drap^  in 


r.  David  Baldwla.  Jr.  (fall  froi 


anu  Chat  lie  Id  fcSd'  age), 
(eiTsipclHs). 


:  3: 


I.  Ralph  Dooliule, 
i.  Lue  [Leavy]  Treai 


bury  Becords  of  Marriagei,  Birthi 
Illy  la  1763."  entitled  "  Account  c 
iryfimSoiieiy."  [BjrAihley.'koi 

CaM.  Samuel  Judd  (old  age). 
Marcui  Botsford'i  wife, 
Kotatio  Gate*  Bnruon     (tip-  fe 

Wph  Nichoia,  ;; 

}.  Ge«geW,Cami>,>.ofGideaii," 
1.  John  McLand  (old  age). 
'■  Col.  Marcui  Bn>n»B  (lyphui  fet 
].  Capt,  Pliny  Sheldon  (cooHimplig 
3.  Almon  Clark's  wire  (lyphni  fevei 
J.  Roiwell  Pnii  (died  al  Windwii 

buried  here  (typhoi  fever). 
i.  Capl.  Timothy  Uibbud  in  Sociel] 

Salem  (lyphui  (over), 
"   lame.  Scov[ll.  E«i.  (complicated 
).  EnkielSmilb  (fever). 

I.  Cap!.  Joseph  BronwD.         " 
1.  Edward  Priebard,  1.  Isaac,  ■' 
,.  William  Clark. 
,.  Austin  nerpDui's  child  (blaek  ca 


I.  Else 


it  Hn.nx 
pleuri^), 
panielGrilley(p 


i'). 


f  H.  G.  ( 


""», 


:ph  Lane  (dysentery), 


July  ,0.  JoMph  Hnl 
iug.   g.  Chili oljo. 

■•    ,7.  Wid.  Hann...  „ ., — .^„|, 

Sep>.  a.      "    Elii.  Haldwin, 

■'      g.  Stephen  HuIchkiH. 
l)et.  13.  Samuel B.Nonhrop(dropiyinthecl 

"     11.  Widow  Rachel  Tohnson  (dropay). 
Dec.  iS.        "      Eunice  Hill  (old  aae). 


"  6.  Charles  Leonard's  i 
'-  17.  E.  F.  Memll'schil. 
1;    16.  Joseph  E.Chatfield 


0  Plan 


_,''"";i 


!■  J.'^iiL"'.'' <^-:'' 


le  (old  agel, 

mplv), 
li  (old  age), 

I,  Richard  F.  Welcoo  ('typhus 
J.  Widow  Lydi-  T-J-l  ' 


>i.  Hin 


.  Tompkins' cbAd  (who 

Sept,  7.  Lydia,  wife  ij  Giles  □« 

■'  '•  Amos  Terrill  (fever). 
Oct,    3.  Huldnh.  wife  of  Noah  l..un. 

"      7.  Amos  Tenill,  >d  (lung  (ever) 

"     17.  Philena,  widow  of  David  Perl 
dau.ofAmosTerril],dec'd(l 

"  9g,  David  Dowos'  wile, 
Nov.  17.  Bin  Todd  an  Idiot. 
Dec,  li.  Mary  Pratt  (coniumatiDn), 

'*    16.  Ichabud  Merrill  (old  age). 


"  16.  ji>hn  Sandland's  child  (dropsy  in  head).  5 
"     19.  UlilM  Holt  (lung  fever),  i« 

June   7.  Benjamin  Furell'sion  (canker),  n 

"     v).  Daniel  Upion'i  wife  (drnpay),  57 

July    6.  Benjamin  Btockell'i  wife  (Jropjir).  6s 

Dick,  a  negrn.  d,  Jan.  il,  183;.  a.  qa—acc.  to  BesDct 

Bronun. 
Richard  freeman  [oegro]  d.  Jan.  11,1835.8,  about  jS 

— says  Rev.  Allen  C.  Morj^an. 


ADDITIONS   TO   THE  FA 

Adams.                                       Andrews.  Arn< 

Abraham  Adams:  Eliza 

David,  b.  June  6, 1764;  m.  Sarah  Tyler.  Ma 

Andrew  Adams:  Noali 

The  first  three  children  died  in  infancy.  F*e1 

Clarissa  (called  Clara);  m.  David  Hopkins  about  'Pimfl 

Hannaji;  m.  Edwin  Warner,  and  had  Mary,  b.  b.lS 

1826;  Andrew,  b.  Dec.  28, 1838.  i?^«,. 

Nabby;  m.  about  1828  Lewis  Mansfield,  and  had  '^^^ 

George,  Henrv,  Harriet,  Warren  and  Sarah.  Wa 

Removed  to  New  York.  m. 

Constant  L.;  m.  Emily  Davis,  dau.  of  Truman,  _ 

x8^o,  and  had   Betsey,  b.  Dec.  4,  1831  (Mrs.  Beilj£ 

Willard  Hopkins),  and  Enos  Osborn,  b.  Sept.  j^ 
10,  1833. 

Harriet;  m.  Oliver  Evans  and  had  Grace  and  Ebcn 

Richard.  lutl 

Emeritt*  m.  Theo.  Bocimsdes  and  had  Orrow,  <%       , 

Franklin  and  Ellen.  Capt. 

Lyman  Adams,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Alma  7-  £ 

Rebecca  Baldwin  of  Watertown,  Sept.  Dani( 

17,  1840.  \ 

John  Alcox's  wife  was  dau.   of  John  ^ 

Blakeslee  (according  to  James  Shep-  Stepl 

ard  of  New  Britain).  16, 

Gideon  Allyn,  from  Guilford    in    1740, 

says  "my  brother  Elwell."  '•  | 

Abraham  Andrus,  Sr.,  was  s.  of  Francis  3*  c 

of  Hartford  and  Fairfield,  who  died  J;  j 

^^^2-  Benj^ 

Abraham  Andrus,  cooper,  s.  of  John  and  Ca 

Mary  of  Farmington,  b.  Oct.  31,  1648,  josei 

m    about  1682  Sarah  Porter,  dau.  of  ^  j^J 

Robert  and  his    wife  Mary  (dau.   of  £  , 
Thomas  Scott).    Sarah  was  b.  Dec.  20, 

1657,  and  both  joined  the  Farmington  \  \ 

church  July  15.   1683.     He  d.  May  3,  {.  \ 

1693,  and  Sarah  m.  Mch.  2, 1707,  James  4.  \ 

Benedict  of  Danbury.  J-  - 

1.  Sarah,  bapt.  at  Farminj^ton,  Mch.  9,  1683-4;  m.  7.  ^ 

Th.  Raymond.  Moa 

2.  Abraham,  bapt.  at  Farmington,  July  17,  1687;  «»OS 

probably  d.  unmarried.  AuiT 

3.  Mary,  bapt.  at  Farmington,  May  18,  1689;  m.  q~! 

James  Benedict,  Jr.  ^" 

4.  Benjamin,  probably  d.  young.  i. 

5.  Robert,  b.  1693;  m.  Anna  Olmstead.  a.  ] 

Gordon  Spencer  Andrews,  b.  Tune  17,  3^ 

1809,  s.  of  Timothy  F.,   m.  Nov.  17.  jj.^ 

1844.   Catharine     Denning    of     New  ^^ 

Britain  y^ 

Hannah  Andrews,  b.  Feb.  26,  1647,  dau.  d. 

of  John,  m.  Obadiah  Richards,  1666.  g^^^^ 

Henry  R.  Andrews,  s.  of  Gordon,  m.  mi 

July  18.  1840,  Lucinda  M.   Brooks  of  2,tti 
Haddam. 

James  Andrews  and  Martha:  Dan 

Thomas,  b.  Aug.  19,  1785.  0< 

Laura  Andrews,   dau.   of  William,    m.  d. 
Seth  Thomas,  Apr.  14.  1811. 

Thomas  Andrews,  d.  in  Hartford,  Sept. 
12,  1754. 

17* 


I 


162  AP 


HI8T0BT  OF  WATERBUBT. 


Ben  HAM.  Bronson. 

Ebenezer  Benham,  was  s.  of  Ebenezer 
of  New  Haven,  who  d.  before  1763. 

Ruth  Benham  d.  May  30,  1826,  a.  47. 

Jacob  Bidwell,  Jr.,  m.  Martha  Tomp- 
kins at  Watertown,  Nov.,  1790. 

Joseph  Blake  of  Middletown,  s.  of  John, 
m.  1734,  Esther  Bacon. 

X.  Esther,  b.  Oct.  14,  1736;  m.  Amos  Guernsey. 

2.  Toaeph,  b.  Dec.  22,  1738  (of  Torrington). 

3.  Richard,  b.  Nov.  3,  1740;  d.  1744. 
'4  Seth,  b.  Mch.  35,  1743. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  and  d.  1746. 

Esther  d.  Apr.  12,  1746,  and  Joseph  m. 
Sept.  25,  1746,  Rebeckah  Higby,  wid. 
of  John  Dowd.  Joseph  d.  Nov.  i,  1760. 
Rebeckah  probably  returned  to  Middle- 
town  and  m.  Joseph  Wetmore,  Oct.  12, 
1761. 

6.  Richard,     |         m.  in  Litchfield,  Damaria 

and  >-b.  Oct.  7,  1747.  Smedley. 

7.  Elizabeth,    ) 

8.  Ruth  (or  Lucretia),  b.  Sept.  4.  1749. 

9.  Frcelovc,  b.  in  Waterbury,  1751. 

Seth  Blake,  s.  of  Joseph,  m.  Anne  Wet- 
more,  and  d.  June  5.  1781.  Anne  m. 
Hezekiah  Hale  of  Middletown,  Oct. 
29,  1783. 

Thomas  Blake,  nephew  of  Richard,  en- 
listed in  Waterbury,  i77g,  and  received 
three  bounties. 

Bede  Blakeslee,  dau.  of  David,  m.  Eben- 
ezer Goss. 

Abigail,  w.  of  Ephraim  Bostwick,  d. 
April  20,  1700,  aged  77-6-3. 

Giles  Brackett,  s.  of  Richard  (and  a 
granddaughter  of  Rev.  James  Pierpont 
of  New  Haven),  was  b.  in  North 
Haven,  Apr.  30,  1761,  and  m.  Sarah 
Smith,  b.  July  10,  1 768,  dau.  of  Capt. 
Stephen  of  East  Haven.  He  came  to 
Waterbury  1803,  and  d.  June  2,  1842. 
Sarah  d.  Nov.  27,  1841. 

I.  Polly,  b.  Nov.  17,  1786;  m.  Maj.  Samuel  Hill. 

3.  Sally,  b.  June  30,  1788;  m.  Smith  D.  Castle  and 
removed  to  Camden,  N.  Y.;  had  Samuel  D., 
Chloe  S.,  Grace  A.,  Giles,  Harriet,  Sarah, 
Orlando,  Orson,  Almira  and  Flora. 

3.  Patty,  b.  Apr.  29,  1791;   m.  Andrew  H.  John- 

son— who  made  spinnm^-wheels  in  Waterbury 
in  1807 — and  had  William,  Edward,  Nancy, 
Lydia. 

4.  Harriet,  b.  Nov.  38,  1794;  m.  Ol.  Samuel  Peck 

of  Prospect  and  removed  to  Bloomfield,  N.  Y. 

5.  Roswell,  b.  July  17, 1796. 

6.  Lydia,  b.  July  st,  1798-    m.   Smith  Miller 

removed  to  Camden,  N.  Y. 

John  Bronson,  b.  Jan.,  1644,  s.  of  John, 
m.  Sarah,  dau.  of  Moses  Ventris  and 
d.  1696,  before  Nov.  7.  Sarah  d.  Jan. 
6,  1711-12. 

X.  John,  b.  1670;  d.  in  Farm.,  June  15, 1716. 
a.  Sarah,  b.  1072;  m.  Ezekicl  Buck. 

3.  Dorothy,  b.  1675;  m.  Stephen  Kelsey  of  Weth- 

ersfield. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  1677;  m.  Mary   Munn,  Aug.  13, 

z  703,  and  d.  1727. 


and 


Bronson.  Constant. 

5.  William,  b.  1683;  m.  1707,  Esther  Barti«s,  and 

d.  1761  in  Farmington. 

6.  Moses,  b.  x686,  m.  Jane  Wiat. 

7.  Grace,  b.  x68a;  m.  in  1711,  Jacob  Barnes,  x  o£ 

Joseph  of  Farmington. 

James  Brown  m.  Oct.  31, 1704,  Klizabeth 
Kirby.  b  Feb.  20,  1683,  eldest  child  of 
Joseph  Kirby  (b.  July  17,  1656.  only 
surviving  son  of  John  Kirby,  one  of  the 
original  settlers  of  Middletown)  and 
Sarah  Markham,  who  were  m.  at,Weth- 
ersfield,  Nov.  10.  1681. 

Children  b.  at  New  Haven: 
z.  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  1705. 
3.  Eunice,  b.  Oct.  z,  1707. 

3.  James,  b.  June  5,  1709. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  9   17x1;  m.  Dan.  Thomas. 

5.  Dinah,  b.  June  14,  17x4. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Sept.  20,  17x6. 

7.  Klam,  b.  July  28,  17 19. 

8.  Asa,  b.  Sept.  17,  1731. 

William  Brown: 

3.  Eliza  J.,  b.  Apr.  1, 183b. 

Hezekiah  Bunnell  d.  Nov.  24,  1797.  a.  37. 

John  Camp,  s.  of  Joab,  was  a  Congrega- 
tional minister. 

John  Castle  m.  Freelove,  dau.  of  Samuel 
Brown.  Her  heirs  were  Isaac  B., 
Chloe  Tuttle,  Minerva  Matthews,  Be- 
thial  and  Joel. 

Daniel  Chatfield's  children  were  bapt. 
May  26.  1817. 

George  E.  Chipman  m.  Mary  (or  Maria) 
Dutton  of  Watertown,  June  13,  1843. 

Caleb  Clark,  s.  of  Ebenezer  and  Eliza- 
beth (Royce),  b.  at  Wallingford,  Sept 
6,  1701. 

Chauncey  Clark  d.  Dec,  1795. 

Elon  Clark  m.  Sally  HalL 

Joseph  Clark  m.  Marah  Parker  of  Wal- 
lingford. 

Lydia;  m.  Caleb  Wheeler. 
Deborah;  m.  Samuel  Sanford,  Jr. 

Rev.  Silas  Constant  is  said  to  have  been 
"  son  of  Col.  Joseph  Constant,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  French  army,  who  m.  in 
March,  1849,  Susan  Terrell,  dau.  of 
Elijah  of  Salem,  Mass.  (?)  Soon  after 
this  marriage.  Col.  Constant  sailed  for 
France  to  arrange  his  aflFairs.  The 
vessel  on  which  he  sailed  was  never 
heard  from,  and  Mrs.  Constant  died 
soon  after  the  birth  of  Silas  in  Water- 
bury, bequeathing  him  to  the  care  of 
her  sister,  who  had  married  a  Beebe." 
Although  Silas  Constant's  name  ap- 
pears frequently  on  our  records,  and 
his  birth  is  recorded  with  the  familv  of 
Jonathan  Beebe,  there  is  no  hint  of  his 
relationship  to  the  family.  Beebe's 
will— which  he  did  not  sign  —  gives 
"to  Silas  Constant  j^so,  when  he  be- 
comes of  age."    No  Elijah  Terrell  has 


siHa 


ADDITIONS  TO  THE  FAl 

Constant.                                        Evans.  Pen 

been  found  at  Salem  nor  in  Waterbury.  Cap 

It  is  said  "he  married  in  1770  Amy  Sc 

Lewis,  his  second  cousin."    Mrs.  Jona-  N« 

than  Beebe    and    John    Lewis    were  of 
second   cousins.      After  his    thirtieth 

year  he  became  a  minister.     He  prob-  Tho 

ably  studied  under    the    direction  of  \\^ 

Rev.  Jacob  Green  of  Hanover,  N.  J.,  (f 

and  was  ordained  May  29,  1783.     He  jy 

? reached   in  various   places   in  New  'pj 

ersey,   until  Nov.  8,  1785,  when  he  5^ 
removed  to  Yorktown,  and  remained 

pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  "f* 

nearly  forty  years.  ^7' 

Ebenezer  Cook:  ^ 

Justus,  grad.  at  Yale,  1779.  RlCll 
Rozell,  grad.  at  Yale,  1777:  m.  Sarah  Blakeslee, 
June  xo,  1784.    He  (not  Ebenezer)  was  pastor 

at  Montviile  until  his  death,  Apr.  18,  1798.  JOSe 

Henry  Cook,  b.  1683,  s.  of  Henry,  b.  Dec.  W 

30,  1652,  at  Salem,  Mass..  to  Henry  '4 

and  Judith  (Birdsall),  m.  Experience  o^ 

L3rman.  x. 

X.  Martha,  b.  at  Wallingford,  Aug.  2a,  1706;  m. 

Nov.  x8,  1729,  Joseph  Chittenden.  ^' 

Experience  d.  Oct.  8,  1709,  and  Henry  4. 

m.  Mary  Frost,  who  d.  July  31,  1718.  5- 
Henry  m.  before  1720,  his  third  wife, 

Mrs.   Sarah,  eldest   dau.  of   Richard  6. 

Towner,  and  wid.  of  Samuel  Frost.  y 

o. 

Amos  Culver:  Clarissa,  b.  1791,  was  dau.  , 

of  the  second  wife.  ,2 


xo. 


w 


Abel  Curtis,  s.  of  Stephen,  m.  Freelove 
Bartholomew  of  Branford,   Mch.    20,      Isai  1 

1741-  ^7  ' 

X.  Isaac,  b.  June  13,  1743.  lAe\  I 

Lieut.  Daniel  Curtis,  b.  Aug.  7,  1707.  A  i 

Stephen  Curtis,  Jr.,  b.  July  14,  1726,  m.  ?^  ' 

Thankful  Royce,  ly^i  ace.  to  Walling-  ^ 

ford  records.  ^^ 

7.  Thomas,  bapt.  Apr.  6,  1766. 

Capt.  Michael  Dayton  d.  Sept.  22,  1776, 
a.  55.     His  wife  d.  July  9,  1813,  a.  87. 

Enos  Doolittle  m.  Marv  Doolittle,  June 
25,  1747,  and  d.  in  Wallingford,  Oct 
27.  1756. 

Katharine,  b.  Aug.  17,  1749. 

John,  b.  Dec.  31,  1754;  d.  1755.  Qbl 

Patience,  b.  May,  1756.  t 

Deacon  David  Dutton  d.  Feb.  20,  1774,  2 

a.  73.  t 

Ebenezer  Elton    had   twenty-one  chil-  E 

dren,  the  fourth,  Bradley,  b.  Apr.  11,  3^, 
1742;  Patience  was  the  fitth. 

Charles  Englishes  wives  were  sisters,         6< 
daus.  of  Asa  Bronson.  Jqi, 

Randol  Evans  m.  Phebe,  dau.  of  John         A 
Warner.  ,^ 

Mary;  m.  Levi  Hubbard.  •' 

Chloc;  m.  Moses  C.  Welch.  ^ 

Arad,  bapt.  Feb.,  1766.  C 


HIBTOBT  OF  WATSRBURT. 


Holmes.  Lewis. 

Isrftel  Holmes,  a  young  silverRinith  from 

Greenwich,  where  he  was  b.  Dec.  ao, 
1768,  came  to  Waterbuiy  about  I7g3. 
He  was  s.  of  Reuben  Holmes,  b.  about 
1733,  and  Ruth  Wood;  grandson  of 
Benjamin  Holmes,  who  was  living  in 
Greenwicli  in  1711;  great-gran dsou  of 
Stephen,  b.  in  Stamford.  Jan.  14, 
1664-5.  m.  to  Mary  Hobby,  dau.  of 
John,  Nov.  i3.  1686,  and  d.  in  Green- 
wich, 1710;  great-great-grandson  of 
John,  who  was  b.  in  England,  m. 
lachel  Waterbury  (dau.  of  John  and 
Kose).  May  la,  1659.  and  d.  in  Bed- 
ford, N.  Y.  John  Holmes  was  s.  of 
Francis  and  Ann.  who  were  in  Stam- 
ford as  early  as  1648. 
Iaa«c  HapkiDs: 

Rult,  noi  Wcilihy,  m.  Thomai  Wilioo. 
RoswellHopkiii*,  of  Nine  Partners.  1768. 
Timothy  Hapkiiia  was  deacon  in  1743. 
Darid  Hotcbkias  m.  Peninah  Peck,  wid. 

of  Charles  Todd. 
Frederick  Hotcbkiaa   was  drowned  at 

Windsor.  N.  Y. 
Gideon    Hilla     Hotchklsa     m.    Ar villa 

Brooks. 
Lauren  Hatchkisa  m   Nancy  Hill. 
Saronel  How    m.    Elitabeth    Benedict, 

Nov.  14,  1780, 
Elnathan  Judd  d  about  Jan.  1,  1777. 
Eunice  Judd  d.  Sept.  7,  1837,  a.  52. 
Harrey  Judd,  s,  of  Isaac  and  Anna: 
Niacf  Ann.  b.  iSoirni.  Manhill  Hojuller. 

Lieut.  Thomas  Judd,  b.  about  1638,  s.  of 
Thomas,  m.  Sarah  Steel,  dau.  of  John 
of  Farm. 

I,  ThomM,  b.  sboui  1661. 
1.  John;  m.  Hmiuh  Hikeoit. 

William  Judd,  s  of  Thomas  of  Farming- 
ton,  m.  Mary  Steele,  dau.  of  John, 
Mch  30,  1658,  and  d.  1690.  Mary  d. 
Oct.  27,  1718,  aged  about  80. 

I.  M«r,  b.  %(<%»-.  en.  Abel  Jana. 

I.  Tbomis,  biic>i.  Oa.  13. 1669;  d.  Jan.  4. 1747. 

J.  John,  b.  -667:  i.  »  Farm.  1710. 

;.  Samuel,  b.  1673:  m.  Ann  Han,  1710,  and  AU- 


I.  Eliu 


~'tl^i.. 


.  .7*8. 


Rev,   Hark    Leavenwortb     was    s.    of 

Thomas  and  Mary  (Dorman).  She 
was  b.  iGSo  to  Edmund  Dorman  and 
Hannah,  dau.  of  Richard  Hull,  who 
were  m.  1661.     Edmund  d.  1711. 


Lewis.  Peck. 

Asahel  Lewis  m.  Sarah  Atkins,  dau.  of 
Josiah,  and  had  Larmon,  Lawrence 
Sterne,  Lucian,  Asahel.  and  Sarah 
Clarissa. 

Caleb  Lewis  and  Eunice  Welton: 


Ucob.  b.  Sept.  7. 
Caleb,  b,  Apr. '.j 


Erastus  Lewis,  b.  June,  1774.  5.  of 
Adonijah  and  Elizabeth  (Newelli,  m. 
Mav28.  1801.  Salome  Booth,  b.  Mcb. 
15.  1785,  dau.  of  Robert.  Removed  in 
1824  to  New  Britain. 

Jacob  Lewis,  see  Abaer  Lewis. 

Samuel  Lewis,  Jr.,  b.  1748:  A.  July  iS. 
1S32,  a.  74. 

Uoses  Luddington  d.  before  Oct-  3, 175^. 

ThoniAS  UaJlorj  m. Elizabeth .who 

d.  1795.  a.  69. 

Caleb  Uerriman  m.  Margaret  Robinsoo, 
dau.  of  Capt.  Josiah  and  Rutb  (Mer- 
riam),  May  12,  1747.  and  d.  Aug.  A. 
1797,  a.  72. 

William  Horriss  m.  Elizabeth  Scott  of 
Watertown,  Sept.  3.  1848, 

Abner  Hunson  was  s.  of  Caleb  Munson 
and  Abigail  (Brocket)  of  Wall.,  who 
were  m.  Apr.  23,  1735-  Abner  wash. 
Mch.  2.  1736;  Herraon.  Oct.  28,  1738: 
Cornelius,  Apr.  16.  1742;  Benjamin. 
Aug.  23.  1744:  and  Caleb  Mch.  13, 
1746-7.  Caleb  d.  and  Abigail  m.  Isaac 
Bronson  (3). 

Stephen  HnasoD  of  Plymouth  m.  Sally 
Boughton,  Sept.  18,  1842. 

George  Nichols's  will  was  dated  Sept 
15,  1788,  in  which  he  mentions  "mv 
daughters  Prue— wife  of  Dr,  Daniel 
Southmayd  —  Susanna,  and  Molly 
Nichols," 

Simeon  Nichols,  b.  Jan.  21,  s.  of  Simeos, 
m.  Jan.  7,  1818,  Ronana  Prichard,  b. 
May  19,  1794,  and  removed  to  Colum- 
bia, Ohio. 

John  Painter  m.  Deborah  Welsber,  Mcb. 
27,  1738,  at  Wall. 

JohanDali,  b.  Jan.  31,  ]7w- 

gaiah,  b.  Apr.  1.  174':  >n.  Benj.  WiUianu. 

John,  b.  May  J9,  .743. 

Edoard,  b.  Oci.  3.  174!- 

HenryH.  and  Harriet  Peck:  children: 

1.  Henrr  Braadagee.  b.  Feb.  14,  iSii. 

1       d.  in  New  Haven. 


,.  Kaiharine  Louu 


ADDITIONS  TO  THE  FAM 

Perkins.                                         Prindlk.  Prin 

Elias  Perkins  m.  Sally  Adams,  dau.  of  John 

Reuben.  5, 

Jonathan  Pond,  s.  of  Phineas  and  Martha  ^^® 

of    Branford,  was    b.    1739.     He    m.  OhBi 

Susanna   Hungerford  of  Bristol,  and  b.  ] 

Jerusha  Jerome.     He   had  nine  chil-  John 

dren,  of  whom  were  Phineas,  b.  before  of 

1770,  and  Philip,  b.  1778.  j^^ 

Dr.  Daniel  Porter's  wife  was  dau.  of  Oc 

Joshua  Holcombe  and  Ruth  Sherwood  Qq\^  < 

of  Windsor.  (j^ 

Edward  Porter,  s.  of  Ezra,  d.  in  Troy,  Hu 

NY.,  1794.    Heirs,  his  brothers  and  Du 

sisters,      Francis,      Nathan,     Daniel,  Phin^ 

Joseph,   Ezekiel,    Ezra,    Mary    Buell,  of  ] 

Elizabeth,  Huldah  Wilcox.  Milei 

Dr.  James  Porter  and  Lucy:  Zach 

5.  Henry,  b.  June  2,  1775.  ^^^ 

Levi  G.  Porter,  b.   June  8,  1760,  s.  of  Edmi 

Gideon  of  Farm. ,  and  Catharine  Jones,  Yf'ii 

b.  Oct.  6,  1763,  were  m.  Jan.  16,  1783.  j 

X.  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  24,  1784. 

2.  Huldah,  b.  Feb.  a8,  1786;  d.  1794. 

3.  Philander,  b.  Feb.  19,  1788. 

4.  Horace,  .b.  June  15,  1790. 

5.  Rhoda.  b.  Apr.  20,  1792;  d.  1795.  Esth 

6.  Levi  Goodwin,  b.  Apr.  10,  1794.  rTi 

7.  Abel,  b.  Apr.  15,  1706.  aOl 

8.  Amanda,  b.  Aug.  18,  1798.  Gidei 

9.  Huldah,  b.  June  ao,  1801.  t> 
10.  Rhoda,  b.  Oct.  25,  1805.  *  a 

Robert  Porter  m.  1644,  Mary  Scott,  dau.  *'" 

of  Thomas  of  Hartford:  Andi 

X.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  24,  1646;  m.  Benj.  Andrua.  txt'II 

2.  John,  b.  Nov.  12,  1648;  d.  before  1686.  Vvill  i 

3.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  29,  1650;  m.  May,  1678,  Abigail  pn 

Cowles,  and  d.  X7X9.  p*i; 

4.  Robert,  b.  Nov.  X2,  1652;  d.  X689. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  ix,  1653-4;  ™*  Thomas  An-  Calv  ! 

dreivs,  s.  of  Francis  of  Hartford.    He  lived  in  \^i  \ 

Milford,  X675-X700.  . .  I 

6.  Joanna,  bapt  Jan.  6, 1655-6.  Stl  I 

7.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  20,  1657;  ^'  Abr.  Andrus.  OU 

8.  Benjamin,  b.  Mch.  x8, 1659-60;  d.  1689.  j^^ 

9.  Hannah,  b  Apr.,  X664,  m.  John  Browne.  .^^  '. 
xo,  Hepiibah,  b.  Mch.  4,  x666.  ™< 

Robert  mar.,  after  1675,  Hannah,  wid.  ^P 
of  Stephen  Freeman  of  Newark. 

Stephen  Porter,  s.  of  Thomas,  m.  Lydia 
Manvill  of  Watertown. 

Daniel  Potter  d.  Oct.  29,  1773;  his  wife 
was  aged  54  yrs. 

Russell  Potter  of  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  m. 

Sarah  Scott,  Apr.  22,  1840.  Isbm  : 

Benjamin   Prichard   of    Watertown  m. 
Mrs.  Alma  Prichard,  Apr.  10,  1842. 

David  Prindle  m.  Hope  Wetmore:  sv 

Rachel,  b.  Oct.  15,  X77S;  m.  Dr.  R.  S.  Wood-  w; 

ward  of  Watertown;  Sally  m.  Jacob  Turner;  rjati 

Linus;    Rebecca  m.  Bronson;   Eleaser;  ^T 

Jonathan;   Rhoda  m.  Welton;  Ruth  m.  G* 

Asa  Bronson:    David;    Hannah  m.    Eleazer  TaVk 

Woodruff;   Chauncey;    Eunice    m.    Hershel  J"°' 

Welton.  at 


Sc 
w: 

vi 


166  AP 


HISTORY  OF  WATERBURY. 


Stanley.  Tyler. 

TimothT  Stanley,  living  in  Waterbury 
1707,  had  land,  •*  one  parcel  given  him 
by  the  town  (Farming^n)  which  is 
called  a  soldier*  s  lot" 

Jared  Terrell: 

Esther;  m.  Capt.  Levi  Wooster. 

Letsom;  m.   Smith,  and  had    Monroe,  b. 

Feb.  4,  x8x6;  m.  1844,  Mary,  dau.  of  David 

Beecher. 

Daniel  Thomas,  Jr.,  of  New  Haven  m. 
Sarah  Brown,  dau.  of  James,  Dec.  25, 

1735. 
Joshna  Thornton  m.  Sally  (Judd),  wid. 
of  Benj.  Hoadley. 

Stephen  Tinker  m.  Rachel  Chatfield, 
dau.  of  Samuel,  and  d.  in  Pough- 
keepsie. 

Rev,  Samuel  Todd,  b.  Mch.  6,  1716-17. 

Samuel  Towner,  b.  at  Branford.  1690, 
yoimeest  s.  of  Richard  of  Guilford  and 
branford  (who  d.  in  1727),  m.  Rebecca 
Barnes,  dau.  of  Thomas,  Jan.  25,  1716, 
who  d.  Jan.  31,  1728,  in  Walhngford; 
and  he  m.  June  27,  1728,  Amy  Ward, 
b.  Apr.  7,  1707,  dau.  of  Captain  Wil- 
liam of  Wall.  In  1 73 1  he  removed  to 
Waterbury,  in  1739  to  Goshen,  to 
Woodbury,  to  Newtown,  where  in  1750 
he  sold  his  lands  for  ;f2ooo,  and 
moved  on  to  the  now  town  of  Sherman, 
where  he  d.  in  1784,  a.  94.  Of  his 
thirteen  children,  Phebe,  the  eldest,  b. 
Sept.  14,  1 717,  m.  Arah  Ward,  brother 
of  Amy,  his  second  wife;  Samuel,  his 
eldest  son,  was  living  in  Waterbury; 
1742,  and  must  have  died  soon  after, 
as  his  youngest  son,  b.  1746,  was  called 

Samuel;  Lettice  m.  Pringle  and 

lived  on  Phillips'  Patent;  Amy,  b.  in 
Waterbury,  1735,  m.  David  Barnum 
of  New  Fairfield,  and  two  settled  in 
St.  John's,  Canada. 

Dan.  Tuttle: 

Simon  and  Salmon  are  elsewhere  j^iven  as  Lyman 
and  Solomon. 

Jesse  Tuttle  m.  Eleanor  Warner,  dau.  of 
Ephraim  and  Eleanor  (Smith).  She 
was  b.  Sept.  28,  1757. 

Noah  Tuttle  removed,  1795,  to  Camden, 

N.  Y. 

3.  Sarah  may  be  Laura. 

Obed  Tuttle,  b.  June  26,  1776,  at  New 
Haven,  s.  of  Reuben,  m.  Lucretia 
Clark. 


z.  Rachel,  b.  Apr.  3,  xSoo. 
a.  Lauren,  b.  Mch.  13,  180a. 


3.  Eben  Clark,  b.  Apr.  27,  1806. 

4.  I^eonard,  b.  Mch  3,  iSoiS. 

5.  Philemon,  b.   Nov    19,  1814;  m.   1836,  Jane  E. 

Eaves  of  Birmingham,  Eng. 

Alma  Tyler  m.  Elias  Porter,  1817. 


Tyler.  Wooster. 

Esther  and  Eunice  Tyler  had  brothers, 
Isaac,  Abram,  Enos,  Jacob  and  Mile*, 
whose  births  should  be  on  our  records. 

Phineas  Tyler  m.  Elizabeth  Hoadley,  b. 
1776,  dau.  of  Jude. 

Jesse  Upson,  s.  of  Benjamin,  was  a  phy- 
sician. He  had  a  son,  Benjam  n, 
killed  in  the  war  of  18 12. 

Arah  Ward,  b.  in  Wallingford,  July  5, 
1718,  s.  of  William  and  Lettice  (Beach 
of  Milford),  m.  in  Goshen,  Aug.  13, 
1740,  Phebe  Towner,  dau.  of  Samuel. 

Diantha,  b.  1741;  m.  David  Candee. 

Daniel  Warner: 

2.  Sarah;  m.  John  Hough,  of  Hanover,  N.  J. 

David  Warner,  s.  of  Benj.,  d.  in  Strat- 
ford, Mch.  18,  1794,  a.  62. 

John  Warner,  Sr.,  m.  Ann  Norton, 
June  28,  1649;  d.  1679,  leaving  John, 
baniel,  Thomas,  and  Sarah  bapt.  Mch. 
15,  1656-7,  and  m.  William  Higason. 
Daniel  d.  before  Nov.  26,  1679. 

John  Warner,  Jr;,  d.  before  Mch,  1706-7. 

X.  John,  b.  Mch.  x,  1670. 

3.  Ephraim,  d.  Aug.  i,  1753,  in  hia  84th  year. 

3.  Robert  of  Woodbury,  d.  1759. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  1677;  was  "capuin"  and  ''doc- 

tor," and   d.  Apr.  26,  1755,  a.  78.    (Roxbury 
cemetery.) 

5.  Lydia,  bapt.  Mch.  23,  x68o-i;  m.  Samuel  Bron- 

son. 

6.  Thomas,  bapt.  X683;  d.  before  his  father. 

John  Warner  m.  Anne  ^\x\X\^, 
David  Wood:  children: 

Olive;  m. North  of  New  Haven;  Alonzo; 

Lorenzo.    (Erase  Ruth  Allen.) 

Samuel  Woodruff  m.  Jemima  Judd, 
Sept.  6,  1 78 1. 

Israel  Woodward  m.  Mch.  31,  1731. 
Israel  Woodward,  Jr.: 

X.  Israel  Bard. 

Azariah  Wool  worth:  erase  granddau. 
of  David  Wood. 

Albert  Wooster  m.  Mitte  (Chatfield), 
wid.  of  Lyman  Smith, 

C.  W.  Wooster  m.  E.  A.  Welton,  dau.  of 
Arad, 

The  following  physicians,  in  addition 
to  those  mentioned  in  the  second  vol- 
ume, were  living  here  between  1730  and 
1780: 

William  Andrews,  David  Arnold  (1769), 
John  Crane  (1768),  Daniel  Clifford  (re- 
moved to  Stratford),  1769,  Benjamin 
Hull,  Tames  Porter,  Peter  Powers  (1755), 
Daniel  Scott  (1733),  Daniel  Southmavd, 
Jesse  Upson,  John  Warner,  Ozias  War- 
ner, William  Warner  (1773),  Jonas  Weed 

(1737.) 


.4. 


II 


TOWN  CLERKS  OF  WAT! 


WITH    THE   DATES   OF    THEI 


r" 

r. 

If 
\ 


,  JOHN  STANLEY, 

1696,  THOMAS  JUDD.  Jr., 
1709,  Deacon  THOMAS  JUDD, 

1712.  JOHN  HOPKINS, 

1713,  JOHN  JUDD, 
1717,  WILLIAM  JUDD. 

1721.  The  Rev.  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD, 

1755.  THOMAS  CLARK. 

1764.  EZRA  BRONSON, 

1782.  MICHAEL  BRONSON. 

1784.  ASAHEL  CLARK, 

1787.  WILLIAM  LEAVENWORTH, 

1793,  JOHN  KINGSBURY, 

18C4,  ABNER  JOHNSON, 

1806,  ASHLEY  SCOTT, 

1812,  JOHN  KINGSBURY, 

1817,  ASHLEY  SCOTT, 

1831,  ELISHA  S.  ABERNETHY, 

1837,  WILLARD  SPENCER, 

1839,  CHARLES  SCOTT. 

1840,  NORTON  J.  BUEL, 

1841,  SOLOMON  B.  MINOR, 

1842,  CHARLES  SCOTT, 

(Henry  B.  Clark, 
1^43.  "j  Horace  Tuttle, 

^     appointed  by  the  selectmen, 

1844,  SOLOMON  B.  MINOR, 

1847,  JOHN  KENDRICK, 


1848, 
1849, 

i85i» 

1852. 

1854, 
1856, 

1858, 

1859, 
1861, 

1862, 
1863. 
1869, 

1870, 

1871, 

1877 
1878 
1881 
1882 
1890 
1894 


1894 
1895 


•&• 


rial  .^  <£>rv«^vMV 


Umtit  Brvmfffn/n 


■  Hl'lii/ai-t"  I 


LOAN  DEPT. 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  beloiw,  or 
on  the  date  to  whidi  renewe^ 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


^PYl7lQRRftft   -- 


I. 


JAN  11  19 


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LOAN 


jm  ai  1980 


8E6.Qi^MIG2^«0 


liD  21A-60m-l?  'HT 
(H2<llslOM7<?B 


General  Library 

iTniversity  of  California 

Berkeley